Patent Application
20230299458
The present disclosure generally relates to minimizing radio-frequency current peaks inside a coaxial cable.
Electricity meters with radios often will use external antennas. These external antennas are located far from the meter. A radio-frequency (RF) coaxial cable can connect the meter to the external antenna.
In order to prevent dangerous voltages to be conducted from the electricity meter to the antenna, wherein a user touching the antenna can get shocked, an isolation board is placed in the electricity meter. The isolation board filters the dangerous alternating current voltage and only allows RF energy to pass.
When the electricity meter, and isolation board are positioned far from the external antenna, various problems can occur. The antenna can reflect back power to the isolation board that can causes functional issues in the coaxial cable connecting the electricity meter to the antenna.
The problems associated with the reflected power onto the coaxial cable can result in a loss of power and functioning for the electricity meter.
As such, a need exists for a system with the electricity meter, isolation board and antenna that are safer from the reflected power back from the antenna. In addition, a need exists for a system that does not have the problems with power due to the reflected power reflecting back onto the isolation board.
The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the features of the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
The aforementioned aspects and other objectives can now be achieved as described herein.
In an embodiment, a system includes an isolation board configured at a first position. The system also includes an insulator configured at a second position. The insulator is configured to encapsulate the isolation board. The isolation board is tuned to deliver maximum power from a radio within an electricity meter and configured to present a fifty-ohm load to the radio. The isolation board is positioned at a distance from an antenna to protect a coaxial cable from reflected power from the antenna. The antenna is positioned next to the isolation board, wherein the antenna receives the maximum power delivered from the isolation board.
The distance of the isolation board to the antenna protects the coaxial cable from current-peaks formed within the coaxial cable.
The distance the isolation board is positioned from the antenna improves radio range of the radio.
The positioning of the isolation board prevents a loss of the power from the radio.
In another embodiment, a system also includes an electricity meter configured at an initial position. The system also includes an isolation board configured within the electricity meter, wherein the isolation board is configured to deliver maximum power from a radio within the electricity meter. The system also includes an insulator configured around the isolation board. The insulator is configured to encapsulate the isolation board, wherein a distance between the isolation board within the insulator and an antenna prevents one or more ripples from occurring within a coaxial cable. The system also includes antenna that receives the maximum power delivered from the isolation board, wherein the coaxial cable is positioned between the isolation board and the antenna.
The distance of the antenna from the isolation board prevents current peaks that dissipate the power.
The distance from the isolation board to the antenna prevents the power reflected back from the antenna to cause a loss of the radio range.
The position of the isolation board relative to the antenna enables for reduced consumption of the power by the radio.
In an embodiment, a method includes positioning an isolation board at a first position. The method also includes configuring an insulator at a second position. The insulator is configured to encapsulate the isolation board. The isolation board is tuned to deliver maximum from a radio within an electricity meter and present a fifty-ohm load to the radio. The isolation board within the insulator is positioned to be at a distance from an antenna to protect a coaxial cable from the reflected power from the antenna. The method also includes positioning the antenna next to the isolation board, wherein the antenna receives the maximum power delivered from the isolation board.
The method includes positioning the coaxial cable between the isolation board and the antenna.
The distance between the isolation board and antenna reduces potential ripples within the coaxial cable.
The method also includes increasing a radio range for an electricity meter.
The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate one or more embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
Subject matter will now be described more fully herein after with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific example embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different form and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein, example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other issues, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The followed detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be interpreted in a limiting sense.
Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein may not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in another example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein may or may not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part.
In general, terminology may be understood, at least in part, from usage in context. For example, terms such as “and,” “or,” or “and/or” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend, at least in part, upon the context in which such terms are used. Generally, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as a “a,” “an,” or “the”, again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context.
One having ordinary skill in the relevant art will readily recognize the subject matter disclosed herein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects. This disclosure is not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed embodiments belong. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention.
Although claims have been included in this application to specific enumerated combinations of features, it should be understood the scope of the present disclosure also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein.
References “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible embodiment necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, or characteristic.
Headings provided are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the present disclosure in any way.
Each term utilized herein is to be given its broadest interpretation given the context in which that term is utilized.
The following paragraphs provide context for terms found in the present disclosure (including the claims):
The transitional term “comprising”, which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. See, e.g., Mars Inc. v. H.J. Heinz Co., 377 F.3d 1369, 1376, 71 USPQ2d 1837, 1843 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (“[L]ike the term ‘comprising,’ the terms ‘containing’ and ‘mixture’ are open-ended.”). “Configured to” or “operable for” is used to connote structure by indicating that the mechanisms/units/components include structure that performs the task or tasks during operation. “Configured to” may include adapting a manufacturing process to fabricate components that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.
“Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe factors that affect a determination without otherwise precluding other or additional factors that may affect that determination. More particularly, such a determination may be solely “based on” those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors.
All terms of example language (e.g., including, without limitation, “such as”, “like”, “for example”, “for instance”, “similar to”, etc.) are not exclusive of other examples and therefore mean “by way of example, and not limitation . . . .”
A description of an embodiment having components in communication with each other does not infer that all enumerated components are needed.
A commercial implementation in accordance with the scope and spirit of the present disclosure may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any function of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably changed by those skilled in the art.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems and methods according to various embodiments. Functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.
Further, any sequence of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a condition that the steps be performed in that order. Some steps may be performed simultaneously.
The functionality and/or the features of a particular component may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Also, various embodiments of the present invention need not include a device itself.
More specifically, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system and/or method. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a plurality of systems.
Embodiments of the present invention include an electricity meter that includes a radio. Within the electricity meter is an isolation board. An insulator will encapsulate the isolation board within the electricity meter. The isolation board will be placed as close as possible to an external antenna. A coaxial cable will be positioned in between the isolation board and the antenna. The coaxial cable will effectively connect the isolation board to the external antenna.
The isolation board will be an RF matching circuit that is made of reactances such as inductors and capacitors. The reactances of the isolation board are tuned to deliver power to an antenna. The isolation board will deliver maximum power from the radio within the electricity meter to the external antenna. The isolation board will also present a fifty-ohm load to the radio within the electricity meter.
Issues occur with the power being delivered to the external antenna. The external antenna will not be fifty ohms. The external antenna will reflect significant power back into the isolation board. The coaxial cable will be placed between the isolation board and the external antenna. The reflected power can cause waves or ripples inside of the coaxial cable. The ripples inside the coaxial cable can lead to radio-frequency current peaks that dissipate much more power. In addition, there can be a significant loss of radio range for the radio configured within the electricity meter.
The problems with the reflected power can be remedied with the alignment of the isolation board relative to the antenna. When the isolation board is placed as close as possible to the external antenna, the problems associated with the reflected power back from the antenna are dramatically reduced or eliminated, or otherwise minimized. There ripples within the coaxial cable that cause the current-peaks are not as likely to occur. As a result, the dissipation of a lot more power is not as likely to happen. In addition, the lack of waves or ripples in the coaxial cable does not result in a significant loss of radio range of the radio in the electricity meter.
As such, the result of placing the isolation board as close a possible to the antenna will result in a necessary isolation for safety. In addition, the radio-frequency current peaks inside the coaxial cable are minimized. Power consumption of the electricity meter is reduced as well.
Referring to 1, the isolation board 100 and insulator 110 will typically be placed as close as possible to a nearby antenna. Placing the isolation board 100 close to the antenna will prevent the reflected power from the antenna to cause waves or ripples onto the coaxial cable positioned between the isolation board 100 and the antenna. The farther away the isolation board 100 is away from an antenna, the more likely that power reflected back from the antenna can cause ripples within the coaxial cable that is positioned between isolation board 100 and the antenna. The reduced distance between the isolation board 100 and the antenna will effectively reduce the probability for waves to form within the coaxial cable due the power reflected by the antenna onto the cable. With the lesser probability of ripples occurring within the coaxial cable due to the reflected power from the antenna, the loss of power due to current peaks do not occur as frequently due to the reflected power causing ripples within the coaxial cable. The reduction in any reflected power onto the coaxial cable also ensures that there is not a significant loss of radio range for the nearby radio within the electricity meter.
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Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the example embodiments are non-exhaustive and that embodiments other than that described here may be included without departing from the scope and spirit of the presently disclosed embodiments.
An isolation board within an electricity meter is encapsulated within an isolation board. The isolation board is an RE matching circuit that is made of reactances that include inductors and capacitors. The isolation board delivers maximum power to an antenna from the radio within the electricity meter. The isolation board also presents a fifty-ohm load to the radio. When the isolation board within the electricity meter delivers maximum power to the antenna, the antenna reflects the power back to the isolation board. The antenna will not be at fifty ohms. The reflected power can cause problems for a coaxial cable positioned between the isolation board and the antenna.
Potential problems that the reflected power from the antenna can cause to the coaxial cable include waves or ripples that will cause current-peaks that will dissipate more power within the electricity meter. There will also be a loss of radio range within the electricity meter.
The isolation board within the electricity meter is placed as close as possible to the antenna to remedy the problems of reflected power from the antenna board to the isolation board. The very close distance from the isolation board to the antenna will prevent, minimize, or substantially reduce the ripples inside the coaxial cable between the isolation board and the antenna. In addition, the current-peaks that dissipate more power in the electricity meter will also be minimized. Further, the radio range of the electricity meter will also not be lost.
Overall, there is a necessary isolation for safety while minimizing the radio-frequency current peaks inside the coaxial cable. In addition there is longer radio range for the radio within the electricity meter. Further, there is also safer installation for lineman and reduced power consumption by the radio within the electricity meter.
All references, including granted patents and patent application publications, referred herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the system provided thereof may vary depending upon the particular context or application. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
