Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With housing or protective covering
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-07
2001-10-16
Le, Hoanganh (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With housing or protective covering
C343S872000, C343S702000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304231
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to utility meter assemblies and more particularly, to a meter antenna for radio-based automatic meter reading systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Utility meters are used to determine the amount of a utility, such as electricity, gas or water, consumed at a given site. In particular, conventional residential electric meters are watt-hour meters which measure total energy consumed at the site and indicate the usage in standard kilowatt hours. Modern residential electric meters typically include solid-state electronics for monitoring, storing and displaying utility usage data over time. Total energy consumed, as well as other data, is digitally displayed.
For billing and management purposes, a utility provider periodically sends a meter reader to the site to directly view and report the meter display. Data from the meter may also be downloaded from the meter into a handheld device. This is a time-consuming and costly process which has produced a growing demand for more cost-efficient methods of utility accounting.
In response to the growing demand, automatic meter reading (AMR) technologies have been introduced, including radio-based, telephone line based, and power line based systems. Known radio-based apparatus and methods include meters equipped with low power radio frequency transmitters to transmit utility usage data from the meter to a central location such as a mobile van unit, or a central building. Optimal transmission efficiency requires an antenna equal in length to about ¼ the wavelength of the transmission frequency. In particular, at the low frequencies typically used in remote meter assemblies, optimal transmission efficiency requires the use of antennas having lengths which are difficult to incorporate within a standard meter housing.
Known radio meter assemblies address this problem by using a non-standard meter housing having towers or projections to accommodate an antenna projecting from the meter assembly. However, the manufacture of such specially designed, non-standard meter housings is costly. Further, the towers or projections can present obstacles for individuals passing or working near the meter assembly.
Thus it would be desirable to provide a utility meter apparatus which includes a suitable antenna within a standard type meter housing. It would be further desirable to provide such apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. In addition, it is generally desirable in providing meter apparatus to minimize the number and size of components and mounting hardware to minimize costs and labor. It would also therefore be desirable to provide utility meter apparatus which integrates a suitable antenna with other meter components, to minimize costs and labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are attained by a utility meter label support and antenna which are incorporated in a standard meter housing. In one embodiment, the meter label support and antenna are included in a solid state electronic meter assembly. The assembly generally includes solid state electronics on a printed circuit board, and a remote module including a radio transceiver. The label support is fabricated substantially from plastic and generally includes a substantially planar member on which is mounted the antenna. A label such as a product label, name plate or the like which includes information such as the name and address of the meter manufacturer, or service information, is also mounted on the label support. Multiple support members extend from the substantially planar member and include insertion tabs for securing the label support to the printed circuit board. A conducting element extends from the antenna to the printed circuit board. The meter assembly further generally includes a current/voltage sensor assembly linking the electrical supply through a transducer to acquisition, storage and display circuits on the printed circuit board.
In use and in one embodiment, the antenna in the flexible circuit is mounted with adhesive on the label support, and the label mounted over the antenna. The label support with attached antenna is generally included when the utility meter assembly is assembled for mounting on a residence or other building. More specifically, the label support is secured to the printed circuit board by inserting the tabs through openings in the circuit board. Upon insertion of the tabs into the printed circuit board, the conducting element provides an electrical connection between the transceiver and the antenna. The sensor assembly communicates the usage data to acquisition electronics on the printed circuit board. The transceiver provides a signal representing the usage data, and uses the antenna to transmit the signal to a remote location where a remote receiving apparatus reads the signal.
The utility meter label support and antenna described above provide an antenna which is both suitable for transmission of utility usage data and incorporated within standard type meter housing. Further, by integrating the label support and antenna, the described label support and antenna provides remote meter apparatus which reduces the size of components and the amount of mounting hardware, thus reducing costs and labor.
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Rajotte Paul
Reed Eric B.
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
General Electric Company
Horton Esq. Carl B.
Le Hoang-anh
Wasserbauer Esq. Damian
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