Itron Gmbh

Sudhir Thumaty

Philippe Chiummiento

Vladimir Borisov

Andrew Lancaster

Semyon Lapushin

Apparatus and methodology are disclosed for providing effective transmission of data to and/or from an electricity meter by providing embedded radio frequency components. An antenna and stripline or microline filter arrangement are provided as embedded components in association with a transmitter or transceiver portion of the electricity meter's metrology circuitry so as to provide control of out of band harmonic radiation and to provide enhanced signal transmission to and/or from the electricity meter, to accomplish automated meter reading communications or similar. The antenna element is configured and mounted such that, once the electricity meter is fully assembled, the meter case itself can be used as part of a radiating element. An overall resulting integrated design can achieve greater economy utilizing printed circuit board approaches with no additional parts, and with less uncontrolled surface radiation because of the otherwise buried or embedded structure.

Embedded antenna and filter apparatus and methodology

A power supply system and corresponding methodology is provided for providing a self-protected power supply for use with electronic electricity meters. The self-protecting features are provided, in part, through the use of surface mounted resistive components corresponding to a resistor dropper portion of the power supply. The use of surface mount components also provides a general reduction in circuit board surface area requirements thereby providing a compact overall construction and provides economies with respect to reduction in manufacturing process steps. When the surface mount resistor divider is configured along with a half-wave rectifier, a low voltage DC supply is obtained from a direct connection to a much higher voltage AC mains source without requiring the use of coupling capacitors or transformers. Plural output voltages may be provided and capacitive filtering may be associated with the outputs. The use of a surface mount resistor divider in combination with surge protection elements helps to distribute any power surge over the power supply, which facilitates the use of less robust surge protection devices to achieve desired levels of protection.

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Clemson, SC, United States of America

Sudhir Thumaty