Above ground antenna and transmitter for utility meters

• US 20070018849A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OW Investors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Floyd S. Salser, Jr. & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Salser, Floyd
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology includes communication apparatus comprising a transmitter associated with an antenna wherein the transmitter is in communication with a utility meter installed in an underground enclosure. The communication apparatus includes a housing comprising a top-section and a depending base. The top-section at least partially houses the transmitter and the antenna with the depending base housing a power source operatively connected to the transmitter. The top-section is adjacent to an exterior side surface the underground enclosure. The depending base extends from the top-section, through an opening in said exterior side surface, and into the underground enclosure.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location wherein the utility meter is installed in an underground pit enclosure associated with a pit lid that is generally at ground level, said pit lid having an opening there through, said communication apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a top-section and a depending base, wherein said top-section rests generally on top of the pit lid and wherein said depending base extends from said top-section to a point at least partly through the pit lid opening;

a circuit board comprising a transmitter, said circuit board disposed at least partially inside the top-section;

a power source associated with said circuit board and configured for supplying power to said circuit board;

a transmitter-meter communication link for transferring system-data between the transmitter and the meter;

an antenna situated at least partially inside the top-section, said antenna associated with said transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signals comprise at least part of said system-data.

2. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1, wherein said power source is located inside the pit enclosure, said power source associated with the circuit board via a power-buss that runs through the pit lid opening, wherein said power-buss has a first access point and a second access point, and wherein said first access point is associated with the power source and said second access point is associated with the circuit board.

3. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1, wherein said power source is at least one battery disposed within said depending base and wherein said apparatus further comprises an auxiliary power connector.

4. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 3, wherein said battery is supplied with at trickle charge from at least one of (a) a photovoltaic device and (b) a betavoltaic device.

5. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1, wherein said transmitter-meter communication link is a multiple conductor data-cable comprising a terminal block, said terminal block providing a node for making and breaking the communication link between the circuit board and the meter for at least one conductor.

6. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 5, wherein said multiple conductor data-cable comprises a ground conductor, a first data conductor, and a second data conductor coupled to a depending base connector.

7. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 5, wherein said power source is located inside the enclosure, said power source associated with the circuit board via a power-buss that runs through the pit lid opening.

8. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 7, wherein said power-buss comprises a ground conductor and a power conductor, and wherein said power conductor runs through said terminal block comprising a node configured for at least one of (a) making a connection to the power conductor, (b) breaking a connection to the power conductor, and (c) for making and breaking the power conductor connection between the circuit board and the power source.

9. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1, further comprising a receiver associated with the circuit board, said receiver suitably configured for receiving signals transmitted from a second transmitter associated with the meter thereby forming a wireless communication link between the second transmitter and the receiver.

10. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1, wherein said circuit board further comprises data-logger circuitry for recording system-data.

11. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1, wherein said circuit board further comprises touch-pad circuitry suitably configured for at lease one of (a) reading the meter and (b) reprogramming a processor associated with the transmitter.

12. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location wherein the electronic device is installed in an underground pit enclosure associated with a pit lid that is generally at ground level, said pit lid having an opening there through, said RF module comprising:

a housing having a top-section and a depending base, wherein said top-section rests generally on top of the pit lid and wherein said depending base extends from said top-section to a point at least partly through the pit lid opening;

a RF transmitter disposed at least partially inside the top-section;

a power source associated with the RF transmitter for supplying power to the RF transmitter;

a communication link for transferring system-data between the RF transmitter and an electronic device disposed within an underground pit enclosure;

an antenna situated at least partially inside the top-section, said antenna associated with said RF transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signal comprises at least part of said system-data.

13. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 12, wherein said power source is disposed within said pit enclosure, said power source associated with the RF transmitter via a power-buss that runs through the pit lid opening, wherein said power-buss has a first access point and a second access point, and wherein said first access point is associated with the power source and said second access point is associated with the RF transmitter.

14. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 12, wherein said power source is at least one battery.

15. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 14, wherein said at least one battery comprises a nuclear battery.

16. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 14, wherein said battery is supplied with a trickle charge from at least one of (a) a photovoltaic device and (b) a betavoltaic device.

17. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 12, wherein a second transmitter is associated with the electronic device, and wherein a receiver is associated with said transmitter, and wherein said communication link is a wireless communication link between the second transmitter and the receiver.

18. A transmitter module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location wherein the electronic device is installed in an underground pit enclosure, said pit enclosure associated with a detachable pit lid that is generally at ground level, said transmitter module comprising:

a module pit lid suitably sized to replace said detachable pit lid;

a battery operated RF transmitter disposed within said module pit lid wherein said RF transmitter is associated with an electronic device through a communication link, said communication link suitably configured for transferring system-data between said RF transmitter and said electronic device;

an antenna associated with said RF transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said RF transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signal comprises at least part of said system-data.

19. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid that at least partially covers an underground enclosure, said lid having an opening there through, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a top-section and a depending base, wherein said top-section rests generally on top of said lid with said depending base extending at least partially through said opening;

disposing a battery operated transmitter associated with an antenna at least partially within said top-section, said antenna configured to propagate data-signals generated by said transmitter to a remote location;

providing a communication link between an electronic device within said pit and said transmitter; and

associating at least one battery with said transmitter, said battery configured for providing power to said transmitter.

20. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19, wherein said housing is integral to said lid.

21. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19, wherein said battery is disposed within said depending base.

22. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19, wherein said battery is disposed underneath said lid and wherein said battery is operatively connected to said transmitter via a wired connection that runs through said depending base.

23. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19, further comprising the steps of associating a receiver with said transmitter and wherein said communication link is a wireless link.

24. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location wherein the electronic device is installed in an enclosure and wherein one side of said enclosure has an opening there through, said RF module comprising:

a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber rests generally adjacent to said opening and wherein said second chamber extends from said first chamber to a point at least partly through the opening;

a RF transmitter disposed at least partially inside the first chamber;

a power source associated with the RF transmitter suitably configured for supplying power to the RF transmitter;

a communication link for transferring system-data between the RF transmitter and the electronic device disposed within the enclosure;

an antenna situated at least partially inside the first chamber, said antenna associated with said RF transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signals comprise at least part of said system-data.

25. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 24, wherein said power source is located inside the enclosure, said power source associated with the RF transmitter via a power-buss that runs through the opening, wherein said power-buss has a first access point and a second access point, and wherein said first access point is associated with the power source and said second access point is associated with the transmitter.

26. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 24, wherein said power source is at least one battery located inside said second chamber.

27. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 26, wherein said battery is supplied with a trickle charge from at least one of (a) a photovoltaic device and (b) a betavoltaic device.

28. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 24, further comprising a receiver associated with said RF transmitter, and wherein said communication link is a wireless communication link.