Meter Housing Integrated Antennas Freeing PCB Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electricity meters face space constraints due to multiple antenna requirements for various RF communications technologies, leading to increased complexity and expense, particularly with PCB-mounted antennas causing signal attenuation and design challenges.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating multiple conductive antenna patterns directly into the electricity meter housing, allowing for solderless connections to communications circuits, which reduces PCB space usage and enhances RF communication performance by integrating antennas within the housing structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are mounted on PCB for various RF communications technologies, then communication capabilities are achieved, but PCB space is consumed and signal attenuation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna structure with the meter housing by incorporating conductive antenna patterns directly into the housing walls. This combines two previously separate functions (housing enclosure and antenna radiation) into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate PCB-mounted antennas and their connecting cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the antenna function from the PCB and relocates it to the housing structure. By taking the antenna elements out of the traditional PCB mounting location and embedding them in the housing, the solution removes the space consumption and signal attenuation problems associated with PCB-mounted antennas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external antennas are added and connected using coaxial cables, then communication capabilities are improved, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna structure with the meter housing by incorporating conductive antenna patterns directly into the housing walls. This combines two previously separate functions (housing enclosure and antenna radiation) into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate PCB-mounted antennas and their connecting cables.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are mounted on PCB, then diverse RF communications are enabled, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical enclosure protection and simultaneously acts as the antenna radiation element. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate antenna components and their associated mounting, wiring, and tuning complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3J
AI summary
An electricity meter includes: a housing; a plurality of antennas, each of the plurality of antennas comprising a contacting portion, the contacting portion formed on an interior surface of the housing; a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the housing, the PCB including a plurality of communications circuits, each of the plurality of communications circuits operable to communicate using different communications technologies; and a plurality of contacts disposed on the PCB, each of the plurality of contacts configured to provide a solderless electrical connection between contacting portions of one or more of the plurality of antennas and one of the plurality of communications circuits when the PCB is installed in the housing.