Meter antenna

Abstract

The antenna configuration presented is an integral component of a retrofit module designed to incorporate a data telemetry transceiver within the confines of a utility meter.

1 . A method for use with differing metallic infrastructures of resource-measuring meters, to minimize the effects on the performance of a first RF radiating/receiving element located within one such infrastructure due to its interactions with said such one infrastructure, comprising the step of placing a first metallic structure physically closer to said first RF radiating/receiving element than said such one infrastructure is.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of 
 (i) placing a second RF radiating/receiving element within said one such infrastructure and    (ii) placing a second metallic structure physically closer to said second RF radiating/receiving element than said such one infrastructure is    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said placing of first and second metallic structures is performed to effect cooperative RF performance of said first and second antennas.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said placing of first and second metallic structures is performed to effect cooperative RF performance of said first and second antennas.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cooperative performance is achieved by locating said first and second metallic structures so that the dominant null of the first RF radiating/receiving element is mitigated by the second RF radiating/receiving element.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cooperative performance is achieved by locating said first and second metallic structures so that the dominant null of the first RF radiating/receiving element is mitigated by the second RF radiating/receiving element.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cooperative performance is achieved by locating said first and second metallic structures so that the dominant null of the first RF radiating/receiving element is mitigated by the second RF radiating/receiving element.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cooperative performance is achieved by locating said first and second metallic structures so that the dominant null of the first RF radiating/receiving element is mitigated by the second RF radiating/receiving element.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said placing of first metallic structure includes (a) the supporting of said first metallic structure with a supporter having dielectric properties that do not adversely affect the performance of said first RF radiating/receiving element and (b) the shaping of said supporter to maximize the amount of surface space for supporting said first metallic structure.  
   
   
       17 . An RF telemetry unit for use with resource-measuring meters having differing metallic infrastructures, comprising: 
 (a) a first RF radiating/receiving element locatable within one such infrastructure; and    (b) a first metallic structure located physically closer to said first RF radiating/receiving element than any said one such infrastructure is when said first RF radiating/receiving element is located within said one such infrastructure.    
   
   
       18 . The unit of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 (d) a second RF radiating/receiving element locatable within one such infrastructure;    (e) a second metallic structure placed physically closer to said second RF radiating/receiving element than said one such infrastructure is when said second RF radiating/receiving element is located within said one such infrastructure.    
   
   
       19 . The unit of  claim 17 , wherein said first and second metallic structures are located to effect cooperative RF performance of said first and second radiating/receiving elements.  
   
   
       20 . The unit of  claim 19 , wherein the cooperative RF performance is achieved by locating said first and second radiating/receiving elements so that the dominant null of said first radiating/receiving element is mitigated by said second radiating/receiving element.