Electrical equipment comprising a first part and a second part electrically insulated from the first part

Abstract

An electrical device comprising a first part and a second part electrically insulated from the first part, the first part comprising a front-end component (10), a diode (12), a photodiode (13) and a processing module (15), the second part comprising a first connector (20) and a receiving space (25), the first connector (20) being electrically insulated from the front-end component while being connected to the front-end component, the receiving space (25) being arranged to receive a second connector that can be connected to the first connector, the processing module being arranged to supply power to the light-emitting diode (12) so that the light-emitting diode (12) generates an emitted light signal, so as to obtain a detection electrical signal generated by the photodiode (13) and representing the light signal received by the photodiode, and so as to detect whether the second connector is present in the receiving space or not depending on the detection electrical signal.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electrical equipment, which comprises a first part and a second part electrically isolated from the first part. Background Art

[0002] Some modern meters, such as electricity, water or gas meters, are equipped with a radio frequency (RF) communication module, with which the meter can communicate directly or via a data concentrator with the supplier of electricity, water or gas, or even with a network operator or distributor.

[0003] As an example, data transmitted or received by such meters may include data related to consumption of electricity, water or gas, pricing policies, subscriptions, monitoring the meter, shut-off components commanding the meter to be turned on or off (if an electrical meter), etc.

[0004] The RF communication module of such a meter is then connected to an internal antenna located within the meter housing. Sometimes, particularly when the meter is located in a geographical area that is isolated or far from the nearest data concentrator, RF communication is difficult and it is advantageous to connect an external antenna to the meter to improve data transmission and reception.

[0005] Using an external antenna does not cause any problems when the voltage inside the meter is relatively low. Such voltages are sometimes referred to as "safety extra low voltage" (SELV).

[0006] However, this situation becomes problematic as the voltage inside the meter may be high. Such voltages are sometimes referred to as Telecommunications Network Voltage (TNV).

[0007] Specifically, in such cases, in order for the meter to comply with common electrical standards, it should be ensured that the external antenna and the cable connecting it to the meter are electrically isolated from the interior of the meter. This requirement for electrical isolation makes the design of the electrical interface between the external antenna and the meter more complicated, and also makes the design of the switching function between the internal antenna and the external antenna more complicated.

[0008] Purpose of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above. Summary of the invention

[0010] To achieve this purpose, an electrical equipment is provided, which includes a first part and a second part electrically isolated from the first part, the first part including a front-end component, a light emitting diode (LED), a photodiode and a processor module, the second part including a first connector and a accommodating space, the first connector being electrically isolated from the front-end component while being connected to the front-end component, the accommodating space extending toward the first connector and being arranged to accommodate a second connector suitable for being connected to the first connector, the LED and the photodiode being arranged on both sides of the accommodating space, the processor module being arranged to supply power to the LED so that the LED emits a light signal, so as to obtain an electrical detection signal generated by the photodiode and representing the light signal received by the photodiode, and so as to detect the presence or absence of the second connector in the accommodating space as a function of the electrical detection signal.

[0011] High voltage may be present in the first part of the electrical equipment. When an operator or user connects an external antenna to the electrical equipment, the external antenna is linked to the second connector via a cable, and the operator or user connects the second connector to the first connector of the second part of the electrical equipment, which is electrically isolated from the first part.

[0012] Therefore, no high voltages are present in the second part and the operator or user can handle the external antenna and cables without risk.

[0013] The LED and the photodiode make it possible to detect the presence of the second connector when the optical signal is interrupted by the connector or its cable, and therefore, in the above context, they make it possible to detect that the external antenna is connected to the electrical equipment. This detection makes it possible to effectively manage the potential switching between the internal antenna and the external antenna of the electrical equipment. Both the LED and the photodiode, which may be affected by high voltages, are isolated from the second part. Therefore, the detection is performed without risk to the operator or user of the external antenna handling the cable.

[0014] Also provided is an electrical equipment as described above, further comprising an internal antenna, an RF communication module and a switch component located in the first part, the switch component having an input connected to the RF communication module, a first output connected to the internal antenna, and a second output connected to the first connector, the processor module being arranged to connect the input to the first output when it is detected that the second connector is not present in the accommodating space, and to connect the input to the second output when it is detected that the second connector is present in the accommodating space.

[0015] A configuration method is also provided for execution in the electrical equipment as described above, the configuration method comprising the following steps:

[0016] emitting the optical signal;

[0017] · Obtaining the electrical detection signal;

[0018] If the absence of the second connector is detected, connecting the input of the switch assembly to the first output of the switch assembly;

[0019] If the presence of the second connector is detected, connecting the input of the switch assembly to the second output of the switch assembly.

[0020] There is also provided a computer program comprising instructions for enabling a microcontroller of an electrical device to perform the configuration method as described above.

[0021] Storage means are also provided, characterized in that they store a computer program comprising instructions for enabling a microcontroller of an electrical equipment to execute the configuration method as described above.

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] With reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] · Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of an electrical device of the present invention, the electrical device being an electrical meter;

[0026] · Figure 2 It is the circuit diagram of the instrument. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] refer to Figure 1 and 2 In this example, the electrical equipment of the present invention is an electrical meter 1 .

[0028] The meter 1 comprises a housing 2, which comprises a box 3, a cover 4 and an end cover ( Figure 1 1 ). The rear surface 5 of the box 3 is used to be fixed to the wall of a house or any building. When the meter 1 is in operation, the cover 4 is sealed to the box 3 and the end cover is sealed to the cover 4. In this example, the cover is sealed to the box by heat riveting. Therefore, when the meter 1 is in operation, any unauthorized entry into the interior of the meter 1 can be detected and punished.

[0029] The meter 1 comprises a first part and a second part electrically isolated from the first part.

[0030] The first part of the meter 1 occupies a first fraction 6 of a circuit board 7. The circuit board 7 comprises a printed circuit. The printed circuit extends inside the housing 2 parallel to the rear surface 5 of the box 3.

[0031] The first part of the instrument 1 comprises electrical and optoelectronic components which are mounted on a first section 6 of a circuit board 7 .

[0032] In this example, the electrical and optoelectronic components include a processor module, an RF communication module 9 , a switch assembly, an internal antenna 11 , an LED 12 , a photodiode 13 and a first portion of an RF coupler 14 .

[0033] The processor module comprises a processor component. The processor component is adapted to execute the instructions of the program in order to perform tasks dedicated to it. In this example, the processor component is a microcontroller 15, but it can also be some other component, such as a processor or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0034] The microcontroller 15 is arranged to control the RF communication module 9 and the switch assembly. The microcontroller 15 is also arranged to both supply power to the LED 12 so that the LED emits a light signal and to acquire an electrical detection signal generated by the photodiode 13.

[0035] The RF communication module 9 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter converts the outgoing data signal generated by the microcontroller 15 into an outgoing radio frequency signal adapted to be applied as input to the internal antenna 11 (and the external antenna, as described below) for transmission by the internal antenna 11 (or by the external antenna). The receiver converts the incoming radio frequency signal received by the internal antenna 11 (or by the external antenna) and converts it into an incoming data signal adapted to be received by the microcontroller 15.

[0036] The switch assembly is an RF switch 10 comprising an input E connected to the RF communication module 9 , a first output S1 connected to the internal antenna 11 and a second output S2 connected to a first part of the RF coupler 14 .

[0037] In this example, the internal antenna 11 is printed on a printed circuit of the circuit board 7 .

[0038] The RF coupler 14 includes a first part and a second part which are electrically isolated from each other. The first part of the RF coupler 14 is included in the first part of the meter 1 and is connected to the second output S2 of the RF switch 10, while the second part of the RF coupler 14 is included in the second part of the meter 1.

[0039] The LED 12 is arranged to emit a light signal in the infrared range. It is advantageous to choose a wavelength that is not in the spectrum visible to the human eye. Therefore, the emitted light signal will not attract the attention of the user. In this example, the LED 12 used emits a light signal in the near infrared spectrum, i.e. exhibits a wavelength typically in the range of 850 nanometers (nm) to 1000 nm.

[0040] The LED 12 is also selected to be relatively oriented, i.e. present an aperture angle that is as small as possible, typically less than ±30° (i.e. a total aperture angle of less than 60°). The LED 12 is also selected taking into account the environmental conditions of use at the location where the LED 12 is located, in particular as a function of the temperature range that may exist in the meter 1. In this example, the LED 12 is a component of the "surface mount" type, oriented at 90°, i.e. the LED 12 has an emission area that extends perpendicularly relative to the printed circuit of the circuit board 7.

[0041] As an example, the selected LED 12 has the reference number SFH4045N from the component manufacturer Osram.

[0042] The photodiode 13 is sensitive to the optical signal emitted by the LED 12. When the photodiode 13 receives an optical signal from the optical signal emitted by the LED 12, the photodiode 13 generates an electrical detection signal representing the received optical signal.

[0043] By way of example, the selected photodiode 13 has the reference number SFH325FA from the manufacturer Osram.

[0044] The following is a description of a second portion of the meter 1 which is electrically isolated from the first portion.

[0045] The second part of the meter 1 occupies a second section 16 of the circuit board 7, which is electrically isolated from the first section 6 of the circuit board 7. The second section 16 presents an area that is rectangular and smaller than the area of ​​the first section 6, and the second section 16 extends vertically from the edge of the printed circuit into the first section 6.

[0046] The second part of the meter 1 comprises both a second part of the RF coupler 14 isolated from the first part of the RF coupler 14 and a first connector 20. The second part of the RF coupler 14 and the first connector 20 are mounted on the second block 16 of the circuit board 7.

[0047] A cavity 21 is formed in the cover 4 of the housing 2 of the meter 1. The entrance of the cavity 21 is located in the bottom surface 22 of the cover 4. The cavity 21 extends inside the cover 4 from the bottom surface 22 of the cover 4 perpendicularly to the bottom surface 22 of the cover 4.

[0048] The first connector 20 is located in the cavity 21 .

[0049] The rear portion of the first connector 20 is connected to the second portion of the RF coupler 14. Thus, the first connector 20 is connected to the front-end component of the first portion of the meter 1, specifically the RF switch 10, via the RF coupler 14.

[0050] In this example, the first connector 20 is a Subminiature Version A (SMA) connector. The first connector 20 is selected to have the reference number R125680000W from the manufacturer radiall.

[0051] The accommodation space 25 defined in the cavity 21 extends toward the front of the first connector 20. The accommodation space 25 is arranged to accommodate a second connector complementary to the first connector 20.

[0052] Specifically, in this example, the second connector is located at a first end of a cable that has an external antenna at a second end thereof.

[0053] The second connector may be screwed onto the first connector 20, and the second connector may be unscrewed from the first connector 20 by hand or using a tool such as an SMA connector torque wrench.

[0054] If no end caps are present, these tightening and loosening operations can be performed while the cover 4 is mounted on the box 3 of the housing 2. These tightening and loosening operations are usually performed when the meter 1 is installed. Once this operation is performed, the end caps are put in place and then sealed to the cover 4.

[0055] A first duct 30 and a second duct 31 are defined in the cover 4 of the housing 2 of the meter 1. The first duct 30 and the second duct 31 form part of a second portion of the meter 1.

[0056] Both the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 extend parallel to the bottom surface 22 of the cover 4, and each conduit has a first end opening extending outwardly into the first portion of the meter 1, and a second end opening extending outwardly into the accommodation space 25 (adjacent to the entrance of the cavity 21) of the cavity 21. The first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 are located on the same axis, and they are located on both sides of the cavity 21.

[0057] The first duct 30 and the second duct 31 are tunnels defined in a single portion forming the cover 4. In this example, the first duct 30 and the second duct 31 are cylindrical with a disc-shaped cross section.

[0058] When the circuit board 7 is located in the housing 2 and the cover 4 is mounted on the box 3 , each of the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 partially extends over the first portion 6 and the second portion 16 of the circuit board 7 .

[0059] The cap 4 and the first duct 30 and the second duct 31 are made by molding and they come from a single mold. Specifically, the mold includes removable slides that are left in the mold when making a cap that does not require any ducts and are removed from the mold when making a cap that requires ducts. Since the same mold can be used to make two different types of caps, this provides a non-negligible reduction in the cost of mass-producing caps.

[0060] The LED 12 is located at a first end of the first conduit 30. The photodiode 13 is located at a first end of the second conduit 31. Therefore, the LED 12 and the photodiode 13 are placed at both sides of the accommodation space 25 opposite to each other.

[0061] Thus, the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 form a waveguide for the optical signal emitted by the LED 12 and for the optical signal received by the photodiode 13 and generated from the emitted optical signal.

[0062] In this example, a respective converging lens 27 is disposed within each of the first duct 30 and the second duct 31 , near the second end of each of the first duct 30 and the second duct 31 .

[0063] The focusing lens 27 is used to guide the optical signal emitted by the LED 12 to the photodiode 13 more efficiently.

[0064] Any type of converging lens can be used: biconvex, plano-convex, etc.

[0065] A respective transparent plastic stopper 28 is placed at the second end of each of the first duct 30 and the second duct 31. The transparent plastic stopper 28 is used to prevent dust from entering the meter 1 via the first duct 30 or via the second duct 31.

[0066] The LED 12 and the photodiode 13 are used as follows.

[0067] At regular intervals the microcontroller 15 supplies power to the LED 12 (optionally via a driver circuit included in the processor module). The LED 12 then emits a light signal.

[0068] When no external antenna is connected to the meter 1 , the antenna that will be used by the meter 1 to transmit or receive data is the internal antenna 11 of the first part of the meter 1 .

[0069] Since there is no second connector in the accommodation space 25 facing the first connector 20, the emitted optical signal travels along the first conduit 30, across the accommodation space 25 and along the second conduit 31 without encountering any obstacles. The photodiode 13 then receives the optical signal. Based on the received optical signal, the photodiode 13 generates an electrical detection signal representing the received optical signal.

[0070] Since the transmitted optical signal does not encounter any obstacles, the received optical signal has a light intensity greater than or equal to the predetermined light intensity threshold, and thus the electrical detection signal exhibits a current or voltage greater than or equal to the predetermined electrical threshold (defined based on the predetermined light intensity threshold).

[0071] The microcontroller 15 acquires the electrical detection signal and thus detects that the second connector does not exist in the accommodation space 25. The microcontroller 15 connects the input E of the RF switch 10 to the first output S1 of the RF switch 10 so that the RF communication module 9 is connected to the internal antenna 11 of the meter 1.

[0072] In contrast, when an external antenna is connected to the meter 1, the antenna that will be used by the meter 1 to transmit or receive data is the external antenna. This external antenna is specifically designed to improve the transmission of outgoing RF signals and the reception of incoming RF signals.

[0073] Then, the second connector is connected to the first connector 20 and is thus placed in the accommodation space 25 .

[0074] The light signal emitted by the LED 12 travels along the first conduit 30 but is blocked by the second connector.

[0075] The photodiode 13 then receives the light signal at a very low light intensity or practically at zero intensity. The light intensity of the received light signal is therefore less than the predetermined light intensity threshold and therefore the electrical detection signal exhibits a current or voltage less than the predetermined electrical threshold.

[0076] The microcontroller 15 acquires the electrical detection signal and thus detects that the second connector exists in the accommodation space 25. The microcontroller 15 connects the input E of the RF switch 10 to the second output S2 of the RF switch 10 so that the RF communication module 9 is connected to the external antenna of the meter 1.

[0077] It is crucial to avoid any false detection of an external antenna. Specifically, in the event of a false detection, the microcontroller 15 will connect the input E of the RF switch 10, and thus the RF communication module 9, to the second output S2 of the RF switch 10, which is not connected to an external antenna. The RF communication module 9 will then not be connected to any antenna, which will prevent the meter 1 from communicating by using RF communication.

[0078] Therefore, the predetermined light intensity threshold is chosen relatively low, and thus the predetermined electrical threshold is chosen relatively low, in order to avoid any risk of falsely detecting an external antenna.

[0079] In order to ensure the safety of detection and avoid any false detection, a signature (i.e. a unique signal characteristic) is introduced into the emitted light signal, making it possible to distinguish the light signal emitted by the LED 12 of the meter 1 from any interfering light signals that may be emitted (intentionally or unintentionally) by sources external to the meter 1.

[0080] In this example, the unique characteristic includes chopping the emitted light signal. The power provided to the LED 12 by the microcontroller 15 causes the LED to emit a light signal during a first predetermined duration and not to emit during a second predetermined duration, the first predetermined duration and the second predetermined duration alternating with each other and being repeated periodically. In this example, the first and second predetermined durations are both equal to 0.5 seconds (s), and thus the chopping is performed at a frequency of 1 Hertz (Hz).

[0081] In order to optimize the power consumption of the meter 1 , it should be observed that such chopping is only possible when the photodiode 13 has detected an unchopped light signal. The chopping then serves to confirm that the received light signal indeed comes from the LED 12 .

[0082] It will be appreciated that the first and second conduits perform an isolation function between the first part of the meter 1 and the outside. This also applies to the isolation distance D between the first connector 20 and the edge of the first block 6 of the circuit board 7.

[0083] Specifically, the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 isolate the LED 12 and the photodiode 13 from the outside. Since the LED 12 and the photodiode 13 are located in an area that may potentially be subjected to high and dangerous voltages, the size of the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 should be suitable to ensure that this isolation meets the recommendations set forth in the applicable safety standards.

[0084] When used in Europe, electrical meters must meet the requirements of European directives, in particular the following standards:

[0085] EN 61010-1;

[0086] EN 62052-31;

[0087] EN 62368-1;

[0088] ·EN 50470-1.

[0089] Depending on the type of voltage surge and the degree of pollution considered, these standards define:

[0090] Creepage distance;

[0091] Air clearance

[0092] Dielectric withstand voltage.

[0093] The design of the meter 1 and therefore the selection of the various components, the materials used and the mechanical interfaces must be such that the meter 1 complies with these standards.

[0094] In this example, very high voltages may be present in the first part of the meter 1 and therefore dangerous. As an example, these very high voltages may be 230 volts (V) (coming from the grid to which the meter 1 is connected). Once the meter 1 has been installed and the cover 4 is in place and sealed on the box 3, it must be ensured that an operator or user who comes into contact with the second connector, the external antenna or with any other surface of the housing 2 of the meter 1 and thus directly or indirectly with the second part of the meter 1 remains isolated from the high voltage and therefore from the first part of the meter 1.

[0095] To determine the lengths of the first and second conduits 30 and 31 and the isolation distance D, properties of a material (eg, FR4) commonly used to manufacture the cover 4, printed circuits of the circuit board 7, and properties of air are used.

[0096] As a function of these characteristics and isolation requirements, it has been determined that the lengths of the first and second conduits 30 and 31 and the isolation distance D should both be at least equal to 8 millimeters (mm). This ensures a 6 kilovolt (kV) pulse voltage dielectric strength.

[0097] The length of each of the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 is selected to be greater than 10 mm. Therefore, each of the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31 extends a certain length on the first block 6 of the circuit board 7, so that the LED 12 and the photodiode 13 can be close to the respective first ends of the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31, or actually be located in the respective first ends of the first conduit 30 and the second conduit 31.

[0098] In this example, the diameter of the first duct 30 and the second duct 31 is equal to 3 mm, which corresponds to the diameter of the emission area of ​​the LED 12. The diameter of the first duct 30 and the second duct 31 is smaller than the diameter of the cable connecting the second connector to the external antenna, thereby avoiding any risk of confusion when installing the second connector.

[0099] When the end covers are in place, it should also be observed that the housing 2 of the meter 1 should provide an ingress protection (IP) rating sufficient to prevent dust and / or water from entering the meter 1 (especially via the first connector 20), which might otherwise degrade the effectiveness of the isolation barrier.

[0100] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but covers any variant coming within the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0101] In the above description, a respective converging lens is used in each of the first and second conduits. It is naturally possible to use only one lens, which is then preferably placed in the first conduit, or indeed to use no lens at all. The lens may also be integrated with the transparent plastic material to form a single component.

[0102] Although it is stated that the first and second conduits are cylindrical with a disc-shaped cross section, the shape of each conduit can naturally differ from the shape described. In particular, each conduit can be in the form of a cylinder with some other cross section, or indeed in the form of a partially hollow cylinder.

[0103] Thus, one of the conduits (or each conduit) may be in the form of a hollow channel portion enclosed by a circuit board. Such a conduit may thus partially cover the diode (or photodiode), so that the top portion of the waveguide will then be formed by the conduit and the bottom portion will be formed by the circuit board.

[0104] The first conduit and the second conduit may be separate components that are assembled to the meter housing.

[0105] Although it is stated that the duct is formed in the cover of the housing, the duct may be formed in any other element of the housing, regardless of its location or name: box, cover, top or bottom cover, end cover, etc.

[0106] All mentioned components (LEDs, photodiodes, connectors, etc.) may be different and in particular may exhibit reference and electrical and optical characteristics other than those mentioned above.

[0107] The first and second parts of the instrument need not necessarily be different partitions of a single circuit board. The first and second parts of the instrument may each include a corresponding partitioned circuit board.

[0108] The invention is naturally applicable to any type of electrical equipment and, by way of example, it may be implemented in a set-top box, a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop or the like.

[0109] In the present description, the invention is implemented in an electrical meter. The invention is naturally applicable to any type of meter, in particular water and gas meters.

[0110] The invention is applicable to any type of electrical equipment having a first part and a second part electrically isolated from the first part (to which a cable may be connected).The electrical equipment may optionally comprise an internal antenna, the cable in question optionally being connected to an external antenna.

[0111] As described in this specification, the manner in which electrical isolation is achieved may be determined by issues related to the safety of personnel and equipment due to the presence of high voltages or high currents in the electrical equipment. The implementation of electrical isolation may be determined by other requirements, such as the requirement to protect computer data used or stored in the electrical equipment, which must not be accessible or destroyed from outside the electrical equipment. The first connector must then also be isolated from any other connectors inside the equipment.

Claims

1. An electrical device, comprising a first part and a second part electrically isolated from the first part, the first part comprising a front-end component (10), a light emitting diode (LED-12), a photodiode (13) and a processor module (15), the second part comprising a first connector (20) and a receiving space (25), the first connector (20) being electrically isolated from the front-end component while being connected to the front-end component, the receiving space (25) extending toward the first connector and being arranged to receive a second connector suitable for being connected to the first connector, the light emitting diode and the photodiode being arranged on both sides of the receiving space, the processor module being arranged to supply power to the LED (12) so that the LED emits a light signal, so as to obtain an electrical detection signal generated by the photodiode (13) and representing the light signal received by the photodiode, and so as to detect the presence or absence of the second connector in the receiving space as a function of the electrical detection signal.

2. The electrical equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The LED is located at a first end of a first conduit (30), the photodiode is located at a first end of a second conduit (31), the first conduit and the second conduit form a waveguide for transmitted optical signals and for received optical signals, each of the first conduit and the second conduit forms a part of the second portion and has a corresponding second end opening extending outwardly into the accommodating space (25).

3. The electrical equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first duct and the second duct are manufactured in an element of a housing (4) of the electrical equipment.

4. The electrical equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The elements of the housing and the first and second ducts are made by moulding and come from a single mould.

5. The electrical equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: It comprises at least one converging lens (27), wherein the converging lens (27) is located at the second end of the first conduit and / or the second end of the second conduit.

6. The electrical equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first conduit and the second conduit have lengths defined to provide a level of electrical isolation between the first portion and the second portion.

7. Electrical equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The emitted optical signal comprises a signature enabling the emitted optical signal to be distinguished from interfering optical signals that may be emitted by a source external to the electrical equipment.

8. The electrical equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The signing includes chopping the emitted light signal.

9. The electrical equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The invention further comprises an internal antenna (11) located in the first part, an RF communication module (9) and a switch component (10), the switch component having an input (E) connected to the RF communication module, a first output (S1) connected to the internal antenna, and a second output (S2) connected to the first connector (20), the processor module being arranged to connect the input to the first output when it is detected that the second connector is not present in the accommodation space, and to connect the input to the second output when it is detected that the second connector is present in the accommodation space.

10. The electrical equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The electrical equipment is an electricity, water or gas meter.

11. A system comprising an electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, an external antenna and a cable provided at a first end with the second connector connected to the first connector and at a second end with the external antenna.

12. A configuration method performed in the electrical equipment according to claim 9, the configuration method comprising the following steps: · transmitting the optical signal; · obtaining the electrical detection signal; If the absence of the second connector is detected, connecting the input of the switch assembly to the first output of the switch assembly; If the presence of the second connector is detected, connecting the input of the switch assembly to the second output of the switch assembly.

13. A computer program comprising instructions for enabling a microcontroller of an electrical device to execute the configuration method as claimed in claim 12.

14. A storage device, characterized in that The storage device stores a computer program comprising instructions for enabling a microcontroller of an electrical device to execute the configuration method according to claim 12 .

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