Capacitively coupled external antenna system and method for electric meters
First Claim
1. A meter comprising:
- a dielectric cover;
a sensing component configured to generate a measurement signal representing an amount of a commodity;
a central processing unit (CPU) configured to receive the measurement signal and generate a corresponding communication signal;
a transceiver coupled to the CPU and having an output port configured to provide an output signal including measurement data indicative of the communication signal; and
an antenna system including an electric field source and an antenna element, the electric field source located within the dielectric cover and electrically connected to the output port of the transceiver for forming an electric field indicative of the output signal, the antenna element separated from the electric field source by and located external to the dielectric cover and configured to capacitively couple to the electric field source and radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal,wherein the antenna element is a tuned structure comprised of a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein one end of the first antenna element capacitively couples in a coupling area with the electric field source and the other end of the first antenna element radiates electromagnetic radiation.
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Abstract
An antenna system for a meter and/or other communication device, including a capacitive electric field source and an external antenna element. The capacitive electric field source is positioned within a dielectric cover and is electrically connected to an output port of a transceiver for forming an electric field indicative of the output signal. The external antenna element is separated from the capacitive electric field source by the dielectric cover and is configured for capacitively coupling to the capacitive electric field source and radiating electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal. The external antenna element then efficiently radiates and receives electromagnetic waves for wireless communications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A meter comprising:
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a dielectric cover; a sensing component configured to generate a measurement signal representing an amount of a commodity; a central processing unit (CPU) configured to receive the measurement signal and generate a corresponding communication signal; a transceiver coupled to the CPU and having an output port configured to provide an output signal including measurement data indicative of the communication signal; and an antenna system including an electric field source and an antenna element, the electric field source located within the dielectric cover and electrically connected to the output port of the transceiver for forming an electric field indicative of the output signal, the antenna element separated from the electric field source by and located external to the dielectric cover and configured to capacitively couple to the electric field source and radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal, wherein the antenna element is a tuned structure comprised of a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein one end of the first antenna element capacitively couples in a coupling area with the electric field source and the other end of the first antenna element radiates electromagnetic radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An antenna system comprising:
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a dielectric substrate; a component configured to generate a signal; a central processing unit (CPU) configured to receive the signal and generate a corresponding communication signal; a transceiver coupled to the CPU and having an output port configured to provide an output signal including data indicative of the communication signal; an electric field source, the electric field source located within the dielectric substrate and electrically connected to the output port of the transceiver for forming an electric field indicative of the output signal; and an antenna element separated from the electric field source by and located external to the dielectric substrate and configured to radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal, the antenna element comprising a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein one end of the first antenna element capacitively couples in a coupling area with the electric field source and the other end of the first antenna element radiates electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the second antenna element tunes the first antenna element to a predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of manufacturing a replacement dielectric cover for a meter, comprising:
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locating an electric field source on an inside surface of a replacement dielectric cover, wherein the electric field source comprises one or more metallic planar strips configured to be electrically coupled to an output port of a transceiver of the meter, and wherein the electric field source is configured to generate an electric field indicative of an output signal received from the output port, said output signal representing an amount of a commodity measured by the meter; locating an antenna element on an outside surface of the replacement dielectric cover opposite the electric field source, wherein the antenna element comprises a plurality of metallic planar strips configured to capacitively couple to the electric field source and radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal; and tuning, with one of the metallic planar strips, another one of the metallic planar strips to radiate at a desired frequency. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification