Multi-Mount Antenna Support for Meter Communication Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication between data concentrators and remote information systems is often degraded due to significant distances or unfavorable positioning, leading to poor radio frequency communication.
Innovation Solution
A support device with multiple fixing means that allows the communication equipment, including an additional antenna, to be easily attached and positioned at a minimum predefined distance from pre-existing reception systems without modifying existing infrastructure, improving communication quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the data concentrator is positioned close to the electricity meter, then installation is simple, but communication with the remote information system is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the data concentrator from the antenna by introducing a support device. The data concentrator remains integrated with the electricity meter for simple installation, while the antenna is independently positioned on the support device at an optimal location for communication, thus resolving the contradiction between installation simplicity and communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device acts as an intermediary between the data concentrator (fixed at the electricity meter) and the antenna (needs optimal positioning). This intermediary structure enables the antenna to be positioned independently away from the data concentrator, improving communication without complicating the data concentrator's installation.
2Reliability
If the antenna is positioned away from the data concentrator, then communication is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is designed with multiple attachment means that can interface with various existing infrastructure elements (walls, poles, utility structures). This universal design allows the antenna to be positioned optimally for communication without requiring custom installation structures, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the antenna separation from a horizontal integration issue to a vertical spatial arrangement. The support device extends the antenna positioning into a separate spatial dimension (away from the data concentrator's location), improving communication without adding complex horizontal integration requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If the antenna is integrated into the data concentrator box, then the system is compact, but communication is degraded due to unfavorable positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is extracted from the data concentrator box and mounted separately on the support device. This extraction allows the antenna to be positioned in a location optimized for communication (away from the box, at an elevated position) while the data concentrator remains compact and integrated with the electricity meter.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device structure allows the antenna to be nested or attached to existing infrastructure (walls, poles, utility structures) while maintaining spatial separation from the data concentrator box. This nesting approach enables communication optimization without requiring a completely separate support structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication equipment support device comprising an equipment attachment means (60) arranged to attach the communication equipment to the support device (1), a plurality of device attachment means (10, 11, 14, 19, 40) each arranged to attach the support device (1) to a separate pre-existing receiving device, the equipment attachment means and the device attachment means being arranged so that, when the communication equipment is attached to the support device (1) by means of the equipment attachment means and the support device (1) is attached to a pre-existing receiving device by means of one of the device attachment means, the communication equipment is at least a pre-defined minimum distance away from the pre-existing receiving device.