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 the dielectric cover and configured to capacitively couple to the electric field source and radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal.
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Accused Products
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 the dielectric cover and configured to capacitively couple to the electric field source and radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal. - 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; and an antenna system including an electric field source and an antenna element, 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, the antenna element separated from the electric field source by the dielectric substrate and configured to radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal. - 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; and locating an antenna element on an outside surface of the replacement dielectric cover opposite the electric field source, wherein the antenna element comprises one or more metallic planar strips configured to capacitively couple to the electric field source and radiate electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification