RF local area network antenna design
First Claim
1. An improved-antenna for mounting under the housing of utility meters for coupling thereof by radio frequency signals to other system components, said antenna comprising:
- an insulating substrate having major front and rear surfaces, and respective lateral ends;
a first conductive layer secured on said rear surface of said substrate, and defining a slot shaped opening therein, said slot shaped opening starting from a first edge of said substrate and extending toward but not reaching a second edge of said substrate, said first conductive layer except for said slot shaped opening thereof covering substantially the entire rear surface of said substrate; and
a second conductive layer secured on said front surface of said substrate, and covering substantially equally portions of said substrate from said slot shaped opening of said first conductive layer toward said lateral ends of said substrate but short of said lateral ends so as to leave predetermined substantially equal area substrate portions left uncovered on said substrate front surface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology subject matters relating to an antenna configured for mounting under the glass in a utility meter. The antenna is configured as a patch antenna where a radiating element is mounted on one side of a plastic substrate while a conductive ground plane element is mounted on the other side of the substrate. The ground plane element faces the meter electronics and thereby provides protection to the electronics from the electromagnetic field of the antenna. Both the radiating element and ground plane element may be provided by hot stamping conductive material directly on to the front and rear surfaces of the substrate. The antenna may be feed by a microstrip feedline mounted on the printed circuit board supporting other meter components.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An improved-antenna for mounting under the housing of utility meters for coupling thereof by radio frequency signals to other system components, said antenna comprising:
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an insulating substrate having major front and rear surfaces, and respective lateral ends; a first conductive layer secured on said rear surface of said substrate, and defining a slot shaped opening therein, said slot shaped opening starting from a first edge of said substrate and extending toward but not reaching a second edge of said substrate, said first conductive layer except for said slot shaped opening thereof covering substantially the entire rear surface of said substrate; and a second conductive layer secured on said front surface of said substrate, and covering substantially equally portions of said substrate from said slot shaped opening of said first conductive layer toward said lateral ends of said substrate but short of said lateral ends so as to leave predetermined substantially equal area substrate portions left uncovered on said substrate front surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A meter with an under the housing antenna for use employing a radio frequency local area network, comprising:
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a metrology printed circuit board including components relating to the collection and display of metrology information; radio transmission components received on said circuit board; a microstrip feedline connected with said radio transmission components and received on said circuit board; and an antenna secured to said printed circuit board for support thereof, and electrically grounded thereto, said antenna including an insulating substrate, with respective first and second conductive layers on opposite surfaces of said substrate; wherein said first conductive layer comprises a ground plane of said antenna, and said second conductive layer comprises a radiating element of said antenna, said first conductive layer being positioned between said second conductive layer and the metrology printed circuit board to isolate said metrology printed circuit board from an electromagnetic field generated by said second conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Methodology for providing a patch antenna for mounting under the housing of utility meters for coupling thereof by radio frequency signals to other system components, comprising:
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providing an insulating substrate having major front and rear surfaces, and respective lateral ends; securing a first conductive layer on such rear surface of the substrate, covering substantially the entire rear surface of such substrate except for a slot shaped opening defined in such first conductive layer, said slot shaped opening starting from a first edge of said substrate and extending toward but not reaching a second edge of said substrate; and securing a second conductive layer on such front surface of the substrate, such that substantially equal portions of such substrate are covered from the slot shaped opening of such first conductive layer toward the lateral ends of such substrate but short of such lateral ends so as to leave predetermined substantially equal area substrate portions left uncovered on the substrate front surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Methodology for providing a meter with an under the housing antenna for use with framework employing a radio frequency local area network, comprising:
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providing a metrology printed circuit board having thereon components relating to the collection and display of metrology information; providing radio transmission components; supporting on such circuit board a microstrip feedline connected with such radio transmission components; providing an antenna including an insulating substrate, and respective first and second conductive layers on opposite surfaces of such substrate; and securing the antenna to the printed circuit board for support thereof, and electrically grounded thereto, wherein said first conductive layer comprises a ground plane of said antenna, and said second conductive layer comprises a radiating element of said antenna, said first conductive layer being disposed between said second conductive layer and said metrology printed circuit board of said utility meter to isolate such metrology printed circuit board from an electromagnetic field generated by said second conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification