Forward throw antenna utility meter

• US 8,188,884 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Randall, Bruce E., Seal, Robert Bryan, Buchanan, William Medford
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murphy, Jerold
• Application Number:
  US11/935,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 340/870.28, 340/313, 702/45, 702/57, 702/60
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a utility meter assembly comprising: a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, wherein the meter components include a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network; a faceplate, configured such that meter reading information is displayed on the front of the faceplate; an exterior cover configured to enclose the meter components and the faceplate, wherein the faceplate is forward of the plurality of meter components; and an internal dipole antenna situated within the exterior cover, wherein the internal dipole antenna is beyond the front of the faceplate and toward the front of the utility meter assembly. The internal dipole antenna is typically situated away from the meter components, so as to minimize interference by the meter components. The internal dipole antenna is typically tuned for optimal matching impedance in an 850 MHz or 1900 MHz receiving band, so that the desired receiving band Standing Wave Ration (SWR) is achieved, and also a specified minimum radiated power threshold is maintained.

Claims

1. A utility meter assembly comprising:

a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, the plurality of meter components including a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network and a display of meter reading information;

a faceplate, mounted such that meter reading information from the display is displayed on the front of the faceplate;

a cylindrical exterior cover enclosing the faceplate and the meter components and including a closed end, the faceplate being disposed within the exterior cover a predetermined distance from the closed end so as to define a predetermined space between the faceplate and said closed end; and

an internal dipole antenna with arcuate radiating elements disposed forward of the meter components within said predetermined space,

the antenna comprising a center-fed driven element that supports a pair of elongate, metallic radiating elements, the arcuate radiating elements having a radius of curvature that is substantially similar to the radius of curvature of the cylindrical exterior cover such that the radiating elements conform to the interior curved shape of the cylindrical exterior cover,

the center-fed driven element extending outwardly from the faceplate into said predetermined space and parallel to the axis of the cylindrical exterior cover toward the front of the utility meter assembly; and

the dipole antenna having a length corresponding to the arcuate radiating elements, a width, and a thickness, the length being oriented such that the arcuate curvature is proximate to the interior curved shape of the cylindrical exterior cover, the width is oriented generally parallel with the axis of the cylindrical exterior cover, and the thickness is oriented generally aligned with a radius of the cylindrical exterior cover.

2. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network.

3. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal dipole antenna is further situated away from the plurality of meter components, so as to minimize interference by the plurality of meter components.

4. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the faceplate is the front of an inner cover, the inner cover configured to enclose the plurality of meter components.

5. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the faceplate is extended from a metering information component.

6. The utility meter assembly of claim 5, wherein the metering information component is an LCD board.

7. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connection point on the faceplate for securing the internal dipole antenna to the faceplate.

8. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal dipole antenna is attached to meter components behind the faceplate for securing the antenna.

9. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal dipole antenna is 5.2 inches in length and 0.9 inches in width.

10. The utility meter assembly of claim 9, wherein the center-fed driven element is 0.5 inches in length and 0.725 inches in width.

11. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal dipole antenna is concealed by a coversheet material, the coversheet material configured for providing environmental protection and electrical insulation, and wherein the thickness of the antenna comprises the thickness of the coversheet material.

12. The utility meter assembly of claim 11, wherein the coversheet material has a total finish thickness of 0.0178 inches.

13. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the utility meter assembly is configured for measuring and collecting data related to at least one of:

electrical power, natural gas, water.

14. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal dipole antenna is tuned for optimal matching impedance in an 850 MHz receive band, wherein a desired receive band Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is achieved, and wherein a specified minimum radiated power threshold is maintained.

15. The utility meter assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal dipole antenna is tuned for optimal matching impedance in a 1900 MHz receive band, wherein a desired receive band Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is achieved, and wherein a specified minimum radiated power threshold is maintained.

16. A utility meter assembly comprising:

an exterior cover including an open end for receiving and enclosing a plurality of meter components of the utility meter assembly and a closed end, the closed end defining an inner surface and an outer surface;

the plurality of meter components housed within the exterior cover and operative for measuring and collecting data, the plurality of meter components including a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network and a metering information component;

a faceplate providing a surface for the metering information component and disposed a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the exterior cover, thereby defining a space between the inner surface of the exterior cover of the utility meter assembly and the faceplate; and

an internal dipole antenna comprising a center-fed driven element that supports a pair of oppositely disposed, elongate, metallic, radiating elements deformed into a shape that conforms to the internal shape of the exterior cover and positioned such that the radiating elements extend into the space defined between the inner surface of the exterior cover of the utility meter assembly and forward of the surface of the faceplate, the radiating elements of the dipole antenna being operatively coupled to the transceiver, the dipole antenna having a length corresponding to the radiating elements, a width, and a thickness, the length being oriented such that the radiating elements are proximate to the interior shape of the exterior cover, the width is oriented generally parallel with the axis of the exterior cover, and the thickness is oriented generally aligned with a radius of the exterior cover.

17. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the faceplate is the front of an inner cover, the inner cover configured to enclose the plurality of meter components.

18. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the meter components include a metering information component.

19. The utility meter assembly of claim 18, wherein the faceplate is substantially coplanar with the metering information component.

20. The utility meter assembly of claim 18, wherein the metering information component is an LCD board.

21. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, further comprising a connection point on the faceplate for securing the internal dipole antenna to the faceplate.

22. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the exterior cover is cylindrical.

23. The utility meter assembly of claim 22, wherein the internal dipole antenna is conformed to a curved shape of the cylindrical exterior cover.

24. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the internal dipole antenna is 5.2 inches in length and 0.9 inches in width.

25. The utility meter assembly of claim 24, wherein the center-fed driven element is 0.5 inches in length and 0.725 inches in width.

26. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the internal dipole antenna is concealed by a coversheet material, the coversheet material configured for providing environmental protection and electrical insulation, and wherein the thickness of the antenna comprises the thickness of the coversheet material.

27. The utility meter assembly of claim 26, wherein the coversheet material has a total finish thickness of 0.0178 inches.

28. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the utility meter assembly is configured for measuring and collecting data related to at least one of:

electrical power, natural gas, water.

29. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the internal dipole antenna is tuned for optimal matching impedance in an 850 MHz receive band, wherein a desired receive band Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is achieved, and wherein a specified minimum radiated power threshold is maintained.

30. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, wherein the internal dipole antenna is tuned for optimal matching impedance in a 1900 MHz receive band, wherein a desired receive band Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is achieved, and wherein a specified minimum radiated power threshold is maintained.

31. The utility meter assembly of claim 16, further comprising a secondary cover that encloses the faceplate and the plurality of meter components and wherein the dipole antenna is mounted on the secondary cover.