Utility meter with insulated external antenna
First Claim
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1. A utility meter, comprising:
- a cover comprising an end wall and an open end, wherein the end wall is opposite the open end and the end wall is vertical;
a communication device positioned adjacent to an inside surface of the end wall of the cover;
an antenna housing fixedly attached to an outside surface of the end wall of the cover, wherein the antenna housing extends horizontally across a lower half of the end wall of the cover and projects outwardly from an outer surface of the end wall of the cover; and
an antenna received under the antenna housing such that the antenna housing covers an upper surface of the antenna, wherein the antenna is mounted externally with respect to the cover by the antenna housing, and wherein the antenna is coupled to the communication device through the end wall of the cover.
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Abstract
The present technology discloses a utility meter with an externally-mounted antenna that is electrically insulated to prevent conduction outside of the meter. The antenna is coupled to a communication device that is positioned adjacent to an inside surface of a meter cover and that is configured to connect to a metrology board. The utility meter also comprises an antenna, having one or more leads for coupling with the communication device, the leads extending through openings in the meter cover. The communication device is advantageously positioned to minimize or eliminate radio frequency interference with the metrology board.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A utility meter, comprising:
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a cover comprising an end wall and an open end, wherein the end wall is opposite the open end and the end wall is vertical; a communication device positioned adjacent to an inside surface of the end wall of the cover; an antenna housing fixedly attached to an outside surface of the end wall of the cover, wherein the antenna housing extends horizontally across a lower half of the end wall of the cover and projects outwardly from an outer surface of the end wall of the cover; and an antenna received under the antenna housing such that the antenna housing covers an upper surface of the antenna, wherein the antenna is mounted externally with respect to the cover by the antenna housing, and wherein the antenna is coupled to the communication device through the end wall of the cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A utility meter cover, comprising:
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an end wall and an open end, wherein the end wall is opposite the open end and the end wall is configured to be vertical when the utility meter cover is attached to a utility meter; an antenna housing fixedly attached to an outside surface of the end wall, wherein the antenna housing extends horizontally across a lower half of the end wall and projects outwardly from an outer surface of the end wall; and wherein the antenna housing is configured to; receive an antenna under the antenna housing such that the antenna housing covers an upper surface of the antenna; and mount the antenna externally with respect to the utility meter cover; wherein the utility meter cover is configured to allow the antenna to be coupled to a communication device of a utility meter through the end wall; and wherein the utility meter cover is configured to cover the communication device such that the communication device is positioned adjacent to an inside surface of the end wall. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification