Methods and apparatus for sealed communication interfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9523586-B2
Application number	US-201514641042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for sealed communication interfaces are disclosed. One example apparatus includes a translucent portion of a sealing gasket to allow signals to pass therethrough, a sealing wall of the gasket to define a substantially environmentally-isolated zone proximate the translucent portion, and a transmitter to transmit a signal across the translucent portion. The example apparatus also includes a receiver to detect a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, where the detection enables data communications across the translucent portion, and where the reflected signal is to be reflected from a surface on an opposite side of the translucent portion from the transmitter and receiver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a translucent portion of a sealing gasket to allow signals to pass therethrough;
a sealing wall of the gasket to define a substantially environmentally-isolated zone proximate the translucent portion;
a transmitter to transmit a signal across the translucent portion; and
a receiver to detect a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, wherein the detection enables data communications across the translucent portion, and wherein the reflected signal is to be reflected from a surface on an opposite side of the translucent portion from the transmitter and receiver.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the translucent portion contacts the transmitter.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the data communications are related to a utility metering communication system.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are infrared-based.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the translucent portion is approximately 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm thick.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a mirror surface.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a tinted surface.

8. A method comprising:
transmitting a signal from a transmitter of a first device through a translucent portion of a sealing gasket, wherein the sealing gasket defines a substantially environmentally-isolated zone proximate the translucent portion;
detecting, at a detector of the first device, a reflected signal of the signal transmitted from the first device, the reflected signal reflected from a second device on an opposite side of the translucent portion from the first device; and
enabling communication between the first and second devices across the translucent portion based on the detection using the transmitter and the detector.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising powering communication circuitry, based on the detection, to enable communication between the first and second devices across the translucent portion.

10. The method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising transitioning a communication circuitry from a power-saving mode based on the detection.

11. The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the signal is infrared-based.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the communication between the first and second devices is infrared-based.

13. The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the signal is reflected via a mirror surface of the second device.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a module comprising a first endpoint of a communication interface;
a utility meter comprising a second endpoint of the communication interface; and
a sealing interface between the first and second communication endpoints, the sealing interface defining a substantially environmentally-isolated zone at the communication interface and comprising a translucent portion, wherein the module is to transmit a signal from the first endpoint and detection, at the first endpoint, of a corresponding reflected signal from a surface of the utility meter is to enable communication between the first and second endpoints across the translucent portion.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sealing interface comprises molded silicone.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the translucent portion comprises a portion of a wall of the sealing interface.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein a transmitter of the communication interface contacts the translucent portion.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , further comprising a clasp or a latch to compress the sealing interface.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sealing interface further defines a second substantially environmentally-isolated zone of the module.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sealing interface is coupled to the utility meter.

Assignees

• Itron France
• Itron Global Sarl

Inventors

• Torres Matthieu
• Guillot-Jerome Denis
• Rigomier Vincent

Classifications

• G01D4/002 Primary

  Remote reading of utility meters · CPC title

• H04B10/1143

  Bidirectional transmission · CPC title

• G01F15/14

  Casings, e.g. of special material · CPC title

• H05K5/06

  Hermetically-sealed casings {(specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095)} · CPC title

• G01R22/061

  Details of electronic electricity meters · CPC title