Antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter

• US 8,310,403 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nahar, Rathindra
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US12/862,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 343/719, 343/872, 343/873, 340/870.02, 361/659, 361/679
• US Class Current: 343/719
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters
• 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 antenna attachment scheme is provided, according to one aspect of the invention, for mounting an antenna to a meter. The antenna attachment scheme comprises a housing mountable to a meter. The housing comprises a top surface; an open-end; and a side surface. The side surface of the housing comprising a mounting surface for the antennae to the housing.

Claims

1. An antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to

a meter, the antenna attachment scheme comprising:

a housing mountable to a meter, the housing comprising;

a top surface;

an open-end; and

a side surface;

wherein the side surface of the housing comprising a mounting surface for the antenna to the housing and the side surface comprising a flange for mounting the antenna to the housing.

2. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a strip antenna.

3. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 2, wherein the strip antenna is configured to extend between about ¼

of a periphery of the side surface of the housing to fully encapsulating the periphery of the side surface of the housing.

4. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 2, wherein the strip antenna is configured to fully encapsulate the periphery of the side surface of the housing.

5. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 1, further comprising a tab, the tab comprises an integral hinge for securing the antenna to the housing.

6. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the housing comprises a top surface aperture allowing viewing of the meter through the top surface of the housing.

7. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 1, further comprising a meter top cover, the meter top cover being disposed over the housing, the meter top cover comprising a meter top cover top surface, a meter top cover side surface, and a meter top cover bottom surface, the meter top cover nesting over the housing.

8. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 7, the housing further comprising at least one spacer, the at least one spacer positioning the meter top cover from the housing.

9. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 1, wherein the side surface of the housing further comprises a recess for mounting the antenna.

10. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 9, wherein the recess is provided in the side surface of the housing, and the recess comprises an antenna aperture.

11. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 10, wherein the antenna aperture comprises antenna aperture recess legs in a configuration to receive a T-shaped antenna.

12. An antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter, the antenna attachment scheme comprising:

a housing mountable to a meter, the housing comprising;

a top surface;

an open-end; and

a side surface;

wherein the side surface of the housing comprising a mounting surface for the antenna to the housing;

wherein the side surface of the housing further comprises a recess for mounting the antenna and the side surface comprising a flange for mounting the antenna to the housing and the antenna comprises a strip antenna.

13. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 12 the recess comprises an antenna aperture, wherein the antenna aperture comprises antenna aperture recess legs in a configuration to receive a T-shaped antenna.

14. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 12, wherein the strip antenna is configured to extend between about ¼

of a periphery of the side surface of the housing to fully encapsulating the periphery of the side surface of the housing.

15. The antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter of claim 14, wherein the strip antenna is configured to fully encapsulate the periphery of the side surface of the housing.

16. An antenna attachment scheme for mounting an antenna to a meter, the antenna attachment scheme comprising:

a housing mountable to a meter, the housing comprising;

a top surface;

an open-end; and

a side surface;

wherein the side surface of the housing comprising a mounting surface for the antenna to the housing

wherein the side surface of the housing further comprises a recess for mounting the antenna, and the side surface comprising a flange for mounting the antenna to the housing and the antenna comprises a strip antenna, and the recess is provided in the side surface of the housing, and the recess comprises an antenna aperture, wherein the antenna aperture comprises antenna aperture recess legs in a configuration to receive a T-shaped antenna.