Embedded antenna and filter apparatus and methodology

• US 20060055610A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron Electricity Metering, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Borisov, Vladimir, Lapushin, Semyon, Chiummiento, Philippe, Thumaty, Sudhir
• Granted Patent: US 7,372,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/719
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/203 Strip line filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2039 Galvanic coupling between Input/Output
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/081 Microstriplines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/52 Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure absorbing means H01Q17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/528 reducing the re-radiation of a support structure in a parabolic reflector antenna H01Q19/023
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0216 Reduction of cross-talk, noise or electromagnetic interference grounding H05K1/0215
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0237 High frequency adaptations H05K1/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1006 Non-printed filter

Abstract

Apparatus and methodology are disclosed for providing effective transmission of data to and/or from an electricity meter by providing embedded radio frequency components. An antenna and stripline or microline filter arrangement are provided as embedded components in association with a transmitter or transceiver portion of the electricity meter'"'"'s metrology circuitry so as to provide control of out of band harmonic radiation and to provide enhanced signal transmission to and/or from the electricity meter, to accomplish automated meter reading communications or similar. The antenna element is configured and mounted such that, once the electricity meter is fully assembled, the meter case itself can be used as part of a radiating element. An overall resulting integrated design can achieve greater economy utilizing printed circuit board approaches with no additional parts, and with less uncontrolled surface radiation because of the otherwise buried or embedded structure.

Claims

1. A method for reducing harmonic frequency radiation from a printed circuit board, comprising the steps of:

providing a printed circuit board and including thereon a transmitting portion configured for transmission of radio frequency signals at a predetermined frequency;

embedding in said printed circuit board an antenna, with said antenna configured so as to radiate said predetermined frequency;

embedding in said printed circuit board a filter, said filter including at least one paired portion tuned to a predetermined harmonic of said predetermined frequency; and

connecting said filter between said transmitting portion and said antenna.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of embedding in said printed circuit board a filter comprises embedding a stripline filter in said printed circuit board.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said step of embedding a stripline filter in said printed circuit board comprises embedding in said printed circuit board a predetermined number of quarter-wave tuned resonators tuned to a predetermined number of selected harmonics of said predetermined frequency.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of embedding in said printed circuit board a filter comprises embedding a microline filter in said printed circuit board.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of embedding in said printed circuit board a filter comprises embedding a filter including at least two paired portions tuned to different predetermined harmonics of said predetermined frequency.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of embedding a filter in said printed circuit board comprises the step of embedding in said printed circuit board a stripline filter comprising a transmission line portion, a pair of third harmonic portions, a pair of fourth harmonic portions, and a fifth harmonic portion.

7. A method as claim 1, wherein said step of providing a printed circuit board and including thereon a transmitting portion further includes providing a receiving portion included on said printed circuit board and operatively associated with said transmitting portion for forming a transceiver function on said electricity meter.

8. A method as claim 1, wherein:

said method further includes the step of providing an electricity meter; and

said step of providing a printed circuit board and including thereon a transmitting portion further includes mounting said printed circuit board within said electricity meter for forming a transmitter function for said electricity meter.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said step of providing an electricity meter includes providing an electricity meter case operatively interconnected with said antenna so as to function as part of a radiating element of said antenna.

10. A utility meter, comprising:

a metrology portion;

a transmitter portion configured to transmit radio frequency signals at a predetermined frequency; and

a display portion;

wherein said transmitter portion comprises a printed circuit board supporting a transmitter, and with an antenna and a filter respectively embedded in said circuit board, with said filter being connected between said transmitter and said antenna, and with said filter comprising a predetermined number of quarter-wave tuned resonators tuned to a predetermined number of selected harmonics of said predetermined frequency.

11. A utility meter as in claim 10, wherein said filter is a stripline filter.

12. A utility meter as in claim 10, wherein said quarter-wave tuned resonators are tuned to the third, fourth, and fifth harmonics of said predetermined frequency.

13. A utility meter as in claim 10, further comprising a housing, wherein said housing is configured to function as a portion of said antenna.

14. A utility meter as in claim 10, wherein said utility meter is an electricity meter, and further wherein said transmitter portion further includes receiver features, operatively interconnected with said transmitter portion for forming transceiver features for said electricity meter.

15. An electricity meter with embedded radio frequency features to provide control of out of band harmonic radiation, said electricity meter comprising:

a metrology portion;

a printed circuit board;

a transmitter, supported on said printed circuit board and configured to transmit radio frequency signals at a predetermined frequency;

an antenna embedded in said printed circuit board; and

a filter embedded in said printed circuit board, with said filter being connected between said transmitter and said antenna and comprising one of a stripline filter and a microline filter, whereby said electricity meter with embedded radio frequency features provides enhanced electricity meter data signal communications for effective communication of data such as for automated meter reading communications or related.

16. An electricity meter as in claim 15, wherein said transmitter has operatively associated therewith a receiver portion, for collectively forming transceiver features, for respectively transmitting signals to and from said electricity meter via said antenna.

17. An electricity meter as in claim 15, wherein said filter includes a predetermined number of quarter-wave tuned resonators tuned to a predetermined number of selected harmonics of said predetermined frequency.

18. An electricity meter as in claim 15, wherein:

said electricity meter further includes a meter case; and

said antenna is configured and mounted such that, once said electricity meter is fully assembled, said meter case performs as part of a radiating element of said antenna, to provide an overall resulting integrated design utilizing printed circuit board approaches with no required additional parts, and with less uncontrolled surface radiation.

19. A stripline filter for reducing harmonic radiation from a transmitter designed for operation at a predetermined frequency, comprising:

a stripline transmission line extending from a first terminal to a second terminal;

a first pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators tuned to a first predetermined harmonic of a predetermined frequency and coupled to said stripline transmission line; and

a second pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators tuned to a second predetermined harmonic of said predetermined frequency and coupled to said stripline transmission line.

20. A stripline filter as in claim 19, further comprising a fifth quarter-wave tuned resonator tuned to a third predetermined harmonic of said predetermined frequency and coupled to said stripline transmission line.

21. A stripline filter as in claim 20, wherein said first and second pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators and said fifth quarter-wave tuned resonator are coupled to said stripline transmission line in a symmetrical configuration so that said first terminal and said second terminal are electrically interchangeable.

22. A stripline filter as in claim 20, further comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

wherein said stripline transmission line, said first pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators, said second pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators, and said fifth quarter-wave tuned resonator are embedded in said printed circuit board.

23. A stripline filter as in claim 22, wherein said printed circuit board is a multi-layer printed circuit board.

24. A stripline filter as in claim 22, wherein said first predetermined harmonic is the third harmonic of said predetermined frequency, said second predetermined harmonic is the fourth harmonic of said predetermined frequency, and the third predetermined harmonic is the fifth harmonic of said predetermined frequency.

25. A stripline filter as in claim 20, further comprising:

a printed circuit board; and

wherein said stripline transmission line, said first pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators, said second pair of quarter-wave tuned resonators, and said fifth quarter-wave tuned resonator are formed on said printed circuit board.

26. A stripline filter as in claim 25, wherein said printed circuit board is a multi-layer printed circuit board.