Patent ID: 7843391
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: H01Q,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An improved antenna for mounting under the glass of utility meters for coupling thereof by radio frequency signals to other system components in an open operational framework, said antenna comprising: an insulating substrate having major front and rear surfaces, and respective lateral ends; a first conductive layer secured on said rear surface of said substrate, and defining a slot shaped opening therein, said first conductive layer except for said slot shaped opening thereof covering substantially the entire rear surface of said substrate; a second conductive layer secured on said front surface of said substrate, and covering substantially equally portions of said substrate from said slot shaped opening of said first conductive layer toward said lateral ends of said substrate but short of said lateral ends so as to leave predetermined substantially equal area substrate portions left uncovered on said substrate front surface; and a solder associated with said first conductive layer, for securing said antenna to a supporting printed circuit board of an associated utility meter with a microstrip feedline of such printed circuit board positioned perpendicularly across a generally central portion of said slot shaped opening of said first conductive layer, so that an inductive aperture coupling is provided between said antenna and such printed circuit board.