Nameplate carrier and antenna holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10965003-B2
Application number	US-201916358037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 19, 2018
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices, designs, and methods of attaching an antenna to a utility meter faceplate. The faceplate is capable having an antenna adhesively attached to a side surface of the faceplate in a manner that minimizes noise from meter components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combination faceplate antenna holder for an electric utility meter, the combination faceplate antenna holder comprising:
a generally round faceplate member, wherein the faceplate member has a side surface, wherein the side surface of the faceplate member has a faceplate circumference, wherein the faceplate member is configured to have a dipole antenna attached to the side surface;
a retention clip extending from a peripheral edge of the faceplate member;
the dipole antenna having an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface having an antenna arc curvature, wherein the antenna arc curvature is similar to a portion of the faceplate circumference, such that the dipole antenna may be attached to the side surface of the faceplate member.

2. The faceplate antenna holder of claim 1 , wherein the dipole antenna comprises a planar metal sheet.

3. The faceplate antenna holder of claim 1 , wherein the dipole antenna comprises copper.

4. The faceplate antenna holder of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate member is configured to display meter identifying data.

5. A utility meter for monitoring utility usage, the utility meter comprising:
a faceplate member, wherein the faceplate member has a side surface, wherein the side surface of the faceplate member has a faceplate circumference;
a dipole antenna configured to engage the side surface of the faceplate member, the dipole antenna having an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface having an antenna arc curvature, wherein the antenna arc curvature is similar to a portion of the faceplate circumference, such that the dipole antenna may be attached to the side surface of the faceplate member;
the faceplate member further defining a housing for a metering component base, the metering component base for housing one or more metering components; and

a meter base,
wherein the faceplate member further comprises a retention clip extending from a peripheral edge of the faceplate member, wherein the retention clip engages the meter base.

6. The utility meter of claim 5 , wherein the metering component base is disposed between the faceplate member and the meter base.

7. The utility meter of claim 5 , wherein the dipole antenna is isolated from components on engaged to the metering component base to minimize interference.

8. The faceplate antenna holder of claim 5 , wherein the dipole antenna comprises a planar metal sheet.

9. The faceplate antenna holder of claim 5 , wherein the dipole antenna comprises copper.

10. The faceplate antenna holder of claim 5 , wherein the faceplate member is configured to display meter identifying data.

11. A method of attaching a dipole antenna to a utility meter, the method comprising:
attaching an inner surface of the dipole antenna to a side surface of a faceplate antenna holder;
attaching a metering component base to a meter base; and
attaching the faceplate antenna holder to the meter base,
wherein the faceplate member further comprises a retention clip extending from a peripheral edge of the faceplate antenna holder, wherein the retention clip engages the meter base.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, affixing one or more metering components to a metering component base.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein attaching the dipole antenna to the faceplate antenna holder isolates the dipole antenna from the one or more metering components to minimize interference.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the metering component base is disposed between the faceplate member and the meter base.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dipole antenna comprises a planar metal sheet configured to match a curvature of the side surface of the faceplate antenna holder.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dipole antenna comprises copper.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising affixing meter identifying data to the faceplate antenna holder.

Assignees

• Aclara Tech Llc

Inventors

• Donkle Steven
• Fink Iii Lewis E
• Smith Michael
• Therrien Wayne

Classifications

• H01Q1/2233 Primary

  used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters · CPC title

• G01D4/00 Primary

  Tariff metering apparatus (in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00) · CPC title

• H01Q9/285

  Planar dipole (H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407) · CPC title

• G01D4/008

  Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading · CPC title