公开(公告)号：US06177883B1

公开(公告)日：2001-01-23

申请号：US09145940

申请日：1998-09-02

申请人： Anthony G. Jennetti ,  Richard J. Davis ,  Steven H. Larson ,  Donald L. Rucker ,  Brent Walden ,  Ivan P. DaSilva

发明人： Anthony G. Jennetti ,  Richard J. Davis ,  Steven H. Larson ,  Donald L. Rucker ,  Brent Walden ,  Ivan P. DaSilva

IPC分类号： G08B2300

CPC分类号： H01Q1/2233 ,  G08C17/02 ,  H01Q1/04 ,  H01Q1/22 ,  H01Q1/40

摘要： An arrangement for radio utility meter reading processing of data acquisition for use with an automatic billing system involves a water meter transmitter antenna system installed at or near ground level in an outdoor environment. A radio frequency utility meter communication apparatus transmits utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box. The pit box receives a utility meter and has a generally ground level pit lid with an opening therethrough. An antenna element has an upper member extending at least partly through the pit lid opening and received thereabove. A depending base of the antenna element extends from the upper element and passes through the pit lid opening into the underground pit box. The antenna element is at least partly exposed to its surrounding environment. An RF transmitter inside the underground pit box is associated with the antenna element depending base so that RF signals output by the RF transmitter are propagated by the antenna element. A utility meter also located within the underground pit box is arranged for outputting its data to the RF transmitter, so that the upper portion of the antenna element at least partly situated above an exterior, above ground portion of the pit box lid, propagates utility meter data from the utility meter within the pit box to a remote utility meter data collection unit.

摘要翻译： 用于与自动计费系统一起使用的数据采集的无线电计量表读取处理的布置涉及在户外环境中安装在地平面附近的水表发射器天线系统。 射频公用事业仪表通信装置从地下坑箱向公用事业仪表数据收集单元发送公用事业仪表数据。 坑箱接收一个公用事业计量表，并具有一般具有开口的地平面的坑盖。 天线元件具有至少部分地延伸通过凹坑盖开口并被接纳在其上的上部构件。 天线元件的悬垂底部从上部元件延伸并穿过凹坑盖开口进入地下坑盒。 天线元件至少部分地暴露于其周围环境。 地下坑箱内的RF发射器与天线元件依赖的基底相关联，使得由RF发射器输出的RF信号由天线元件传播。 位于地下坑箱内的公用事业仪表被安排用于将其数据输出到RF发射器，使天线元件的至少部分位于外部的上部，位于凹坑盒盖的地面部分之上，传播效用仪表 从坑箱内的公用事业仪表到远程公用事业仪表数据采集单元的数据。