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Optimized conformal-to-meter antennas

  • US 9,525,202 B2
  • Filed: 03/14/2014
  • Issued: 12/20/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of optimizing performance of an asymmetrical conformal antenna in a utility meter having a meter housing and distributed electrical components, including:

  • vertically positioning the antenna including a low-band portion with left and right low-band arms and a high-band portion having left and right high-band arms inside the utility meter having the meter housing and the distributed electrical components forming a high component density area and a low component density area, such that at least a portion of the low-band portion is located above a plane formed by a top surface of the meter housing, and a portion of the high-band portion is located below the plane and adjacent the distributed electrical components, the left low-band arm being substantially the same as the right low-band arm such that the low-band portion is substantially symmetrical about a central axis of an antenna trace, and the high-band portion having a left high-band arm having a left length and a right high-band arm having a right length, the left high-band arm and the right high-band arm being asymmetrical about the central axis of the antenna trace such that the right length of the right high-band arm is not substantially equal to the left length of the left high-band arm, and wherein a left-side conductive area of the antenna trace is substantially equal to a right-side conductive area of the antenna trace;

    radially positioning the antenna about the meter housing and electrical components such that the left high-band arm is adjacent the low electrical component density area and the right high-band arm is adjacent the high electrical component density area; and

    causing the antenna to radiate the energy at either a low-band frequency or a high-band frequency.

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