Passive radiator

• US 6,262,685 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Whissemore, Grant R., Welch, Eugene E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/178,213
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.104, 343/719, 343/700.MS, 343/795, 343/702, 343/872, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.06, 340/870.37, 455/41, 455/88
• US Class Current: 343/719
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• 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: 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

An ERT (Encoder, Receiver, Transmitter) for monitoring the consumption of a metered commodity and having an ERT transmitter for transmitting a signal related to commodity consumption, the ERT transmitter being disposed internally in an ERT housing, the ERT housing providing for the transmission of RF energy therethrough, includes a passive radiator being disposed external to the ERT housing and being communicatively, capacitively coupled to the ERT transmitter and receiving RF wireless communications from the ERT transmitter for wireless transmission. The passive radiator includes a radiator device being disposed spaced apart from an ERT antenna and being communicatively, capacitively coupled to the ERT antenna for enhancing the reception and transmission of RF wireless communications by an ERT transmitter/receiver. A method of enhancing transmission and reception of wireless RF energy communications is also included.

Claims

1. An ERT (Encoder Receiver Transmitter) for monitoring the consumption of a metered commodity and having an ERT transmitter for transmitting a signal related to commodity consumption, the ERT transmitter being disposed internally in an ERT housing, the ERT housing providing for the transmission of RF energy therethrough, comprising:

a single passive radiator being disposed external to the ERT housing and being communicatively, capacitively coupled to the ERT transmitter, the single passive radiator receiving RF wireless communications from the ERT transmitter for wireless transmission and radiating said RF wireless communications.

2. The ERT of claim 1 wherein the passive radiator is an end-coupled, vertical, half-wave dipole.

3. The ERT of claim 1 wherein the passive radiator is formed in a substantially T shape.

4. The ERT of claim 3 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator is suspended below the ERT housing in a generally inverted T disposition.

5. The ERT of claim 4 wherein the invertedly disposed T-shaped passive radiator has a base leg and a cross-piece, the base leg being bent in a substantially right angle disposition when disposed relative to the ERT housing.

6. The ERT of claim 3 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator has a base leg and a crosspiece.

7. The ERT of claim 6 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator crosspiece has a length dimension of between 2.0 inches and 5.0 inches.

8. The ERT of claim 7 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator crosspiece has a length dimension that is substantially 3.82 inches.

9. The ERT of claim 6 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator crosspiece has a width dimension that is between 0.010 inch and 1.50 inches.

10. The ERT of claim 9 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator crosspiece has a width dimension that is substantially 0.500 inch.

11. The ERT of claim 6 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator base leg has a length dimension of between 1.5 inches and 4.0 inches, taken from the point of intersection with the crosspiece.

12. The ERT of claim 11 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator base leg has a length dimension that is substantially 2.66 inches, taken from the point of intersection with the crosspiece.

13. The ERT of claim 6 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator base leg has a width dimension that is between 0.010 inch and 0.750 inch.

14. The ERT of claim 13 wherein the T-shaped passive radiator base leg has a width dimension that is substantially 0.500 inch.

15. The ERT of claim 1 wherein the passive radiator is formed of a conductive metal foil.

16. The ERT of claim 15 wherein the passive radiator metal foil is selected from a list consisting of:

aluminum;

brass; and

copper.

17. The ERT of claim 15 wherein the passive radiator metal foil is formed of half-hard sheet brass.

18. The ERT of claim 17 wherein the passive radiator sheet brass metal foil is between 0.001 inch and 0.030 inch thick.

19. The ERT of claim 18 wherein the passive radiator sheet brass metal foil is substantially 0.010 inch thick.

20. The ERT of claim 15 wherein the passive radiator metal foil is laminated between a first and a second substantially opaque plastic layers.

21. The ERT of claim 20 wherein at least one of the first and the second substantially opaque plastic layers has a pre-applied, all-weather adhesive disposed on an external surface thereof, a peel-off backing being applied over the adhesive.

22. A passive radiator for use with an ERT, the ERT for monitoring the consumption of a metered commodity and having an ERT transmitter/receiver coupled to an ERT antenna for transmitting a signal related to commodity consumption and for receiving signals, comprising:

radiator means being disposed spaced apart from the ERT antenna and being communicatively, capacitively coupled to the ERT antenna for enhancing the reception and transmission of RF wireless communications by the ERT transmitter/receiver, the radiator means radiating RF communications received from the ERT transmitter/receiver and transmitting RF communications received to the ERT transmitter/receiver, the radiator means comprising the only radiator means of the ERT.

23. The passive radiator of claim 22 wherein the radiator means is an end-coupled, vertical, half-wave dipole.

24. The passive radiator of claim 22 wherein the radiator means is formed in a substantially T shape.

25. The passive radiator of claim 24 wherein the T-shaped radiator means is suspended below a ERT housing in a generally inverted T disposition.

26. The passive radiator of claim 25 wherein the invertedly disposed T-shaped radiator means has a base leg and a crosspiece, the base leg being bent in a substantially right angle disposition when disposed relative to the ERT housing.

27. The passive radiator of claim 24 wherein the T-shaped radiator means has a base leg and a crosspiece.

28. The passive radiator of claim 27 wherein the T-shaped radiator means crosspiece has a length dimension of between 2.0 inches and 5.0 inches.

29. The passive radiator of claim 28 wherein the T-shaped radiator means crosspiece has a length dimension that is substantially 3.82 inches.

30. The passive radiator of claim 27 wherein the T-shaped radiator means crosspiece has a width dimension that is between 0.010 inch and 0.750 inch.

31. The passive radiator of claim 30 wherein the T-shaped radiator means crosspiece has a width dimension that is substantially 0.500 inch.

32. The passive radiator of claim 27 wherein the T-shaped radiator means base leg has a length dimension of between 1.5 inches and 4.0 inches, taken from the point of intersection with the crosspiece.

33. The passive radiator of claim 22 wherein the T-shaped radiator means base leg has a length dimension that is substantially 2.66 inches, taken from the point of intersection with the crosspiece.

34. The passive radiator of claim 27 wherein the T-shaped radiator means base leg has a width dimension that is between 0.010 inch and 0.750 inch.

35. The passive radiator of claim 34 wherein the T-shaped radiator means base leg has a width dimension that is substantially 0.500 inch.

36. The passive radiator of claim 22 wherein the radiator means is formed of a conductive metal foil.

37. The passive radiator of claim 36 wherein the radiator means metal foil is selected from a list consisting of:

aluminum;

brass; and

copper.

38. The passive radiator of claim 36 wherein the radiator means metal foil is formed of half-hard sheet brass.

39. The passive radiator of claim 38 wherein the radiator means sheet brass metal foil is between 0.001 inch and 0.030 inch thick.

40. The passive radiator of claim 39 wherein the radiator means sheet brass metal foil is substantially 0.010 inch thick.

41. The passive radiator of claim 36 wherein the radiator means metal foil is laminated between a first and a second substantially opaque plastic layers.

42. The passive radiator of claim 41 wherein at least one of the first and the second substantially opaque plastic layers has a pre-applied, all-weather adhesive disposed on an external surface thereof, a peel-off backing being applied over the adhesive.

43. A method of enhancing transmission and reception of wireless RF energy communications, the communications being related to commodity usage, comprising the steps of:

providing a transmitter/receiver;

disposing a single passive radiator proximate the transmitter/receiver and physically spaced apart therefrom;

capacitively coupling the passive radiator to the transmitter/receiver; and

receiving and transmitting wireless RF energy by the transmitter/receiver via the capacitively coupled passive radiator.