Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Neptune Technology Group Inc.

Ivan Pereira daSilva

Brent Walden

Anthony G Jennetti

Donald L Rucker

Steven H Larson

Richard J Davis

Apparatus and methodology for radio utility meter reading processing of data acquisition for use with an automatic billing system involves a utility meter transmitter antenna system installed at or near ground level. An RF utility meter communication apparatus transmits utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box. The pit box includes 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 such pit lid opening. 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 depending antenna element is capacitively coupled or provided with some other form of non-mechanical coupling to the output of an RF transmitter also included within the pit box. The antenna element components are nested for ease of attachment to or removal from a pit lid, with a rotatable threaded nut received about a depending antenna element for drawing tight against the underside of the pit lid, with an upper antenna element received above such pit lid. An antenna element may be directly coupled with a metallic pit lid so that such metallic pit lid functions as part of the antenna. Alternative embodiments may be provided for structure of the antenna element, so as to minimize the structure and components needed for removably securing or installing the antenna arrangement, supported on the removable pit lit of a conventional pit box.

Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna antenna assembly and method

A mobile telephone power management method and apparatus is disclosed that places the telephone in a dormant, or idle, mode. In this mode, battery power is only supplied to a device incorporated into the mobile telephone that monitors incoming radio frequency (RF) signals. If the device detects an inbound call, the device sends signals to switch on battery power to the mobile telephone baseband microprocessor. The device also sends stored registration information to the baseband microprocessor, thereby allowing the telephone to rapidly switch to active mode, and to answer the inbound call. This method allows the telephone to effectively emulate standby mode for weeks rather than days without the need for battery recharging.

Methods and apparatus for mobile phone power management

Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna assembly and method

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.

Utility meter transponder exposed ground level antenna assembly

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Hillsborough, NJ, United States of America

Ivan Pereira daSilva