CHANGEABLE EXTERNAL METER ANTENNA FOR METER ASSEMBLIES

• US 20190319336A1
• Filed: 04/12/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Bell, Veronica V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,727,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/061 Details of electronic electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1264 Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters

Abstract

A meter assembly includes an meter, a meter collar, and a modular antenna assembly. The meter includes a meter antenna housed within the meter. The meter collar is coupled to the meter and includes a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable. The modular antenna assembly includes a modular antenna and a modular antenna connector. In some cases, the modular antenna assembly is detachably mounted to the meter collar, and the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector such that the modular antenna is electrically coupled with the meter antenna. In various examples, a gain of the modular antenna is higher than a gain of the meter antenna.

Claims

1. A meter assembly comprising:

an meter comprising a meter antenna housed within the meter;

a meter collar coupled to the meter and comprising a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable; and

a modular antenna assembly comprising a modular antenna and a modular antenna connector, wherein the modular antenna assembly is detachably mounted to the meter collar, wherein the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector such that the modular antenna is electrically coupled with the meter antenna, and wherein a gain of the modular antenna is higher than a gain of the meter antenna.

2. The meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular antenna is a directional antenna that is adjustable relative to the meter antenna.

3. The meter assembly of claim 2, wherein the modular antenna assembly further comprises an adjustable dial, and wherein the adjustable dial is physically connected to the modular antenna such that positioning of the adjustable dial adjusts a direction that the modular antenna is directed.

4. The meter assembly of claim 3, wherein the adjustable dial further comprises a dial lock configured to selectively secure the adjustable dial in a position relative to the modular antenna assembly, and wherein the dial lock is a tamper resistant dial lock.

5. The meter assembly of claim 3, wherein the adjustable dial further comprises a position indicator configured to indicate that direction that the modular antenna is directed.

6. The meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular antenna assembly is at a position vertically offset from the meter antenna such that the modular antenna is vertically offset from the meter.

7. The meter assembly of claim 6, wherein the position of the modular antenna assembly is above the meter such that the modular antenna is above the meter.

8. The meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the meter collar is configured to connect to a meter socket, and wherein the meter collar is configured to form a single connection of the meter assembly between the meter socket and the meter assembly.

9. The meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular antenna is an omnidirectional antenna.

10. The meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the collar connector comprises a radio frequency (RF) connector.

11. A meter assembly comprising:

a meter comprising a meter antenna housed within the meter;

a meter collar coupled to the meter and comprising a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable; and

a modular antenna assembly comprising a modular antenna and a modular antenna connector, wherein the modular antenna assembly is coupled to the meter collar, wherein the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector such that the modular antenna is electrically coupled with the meter antenna, and wherein the modular antenna is a directional antenna that is adjustable relative to the meter antenna.

12. The meter assembly of claim 11, wherein the modular antenna assembly further comprises an adjustable dial, wherein the adjustable dial is physically connected to the modular antenna such that positioning of the adjustable dial adjusts a direction that the modular antenna is directed, and wherein the adjustable dial further comprises a position indicator configured to indicate that direction that the modular antenna is directed.

13. The meter assembly of claim 11, wherein the modular antenna assembly is at a position vertically offset from the meter antenna such that the modular antenna is vertically offset from the meter, and wherein the position of the modular antenna assembly is above the meter such that the modular antenna is above the meter.

14. The meter assembly of claim 11, wherein the meter collar is configured to connect to a meter socket, and wherein the meter collar is configured to form a single connection of the meter assembly between the meter socket and the meter assembly.

15. The meter assembly of claim 11, wherein the collar connector comprises an RF connector.

16. A meter assembly comprising:

a meter comprising a meter antenna housed within the meter;

a meter collar coupled to the meter and comprising a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable; and

a modular antenna assembly comprising a modular antenna, an adjustable dial, and a modular antenna connector, wherein the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector, wherein the modular antenna is a directional antenna that is adjustable relative to the meter antenna, and wherein the dial is physically connected to the modular antenna such that positioning of the adjustable dial adjusts a direction that the modular antenna is directed.

17. The meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the modular antenna assembly is coupled to the meter collar.

18. The meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the adjustable dial further comprises:

a position indicator configured to indicate that direction that the modular antenna is directed; and

a dial lock configured to selectively secure the adjustable dial in a position relative to the modular antenna assembly.

19. The meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the modular antenna assembly is at a position vertically offset from the meter antenna such that the modular antenna is vertically offset from the meter, and wherein the position of the modular antenna assembly is above the meter such that the modular antenna is above the meter.

20. The meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the collar connector comprises an RF connector.