Antenna assembly detection based on oscillator and variable reactance tank circuit

A device, a method, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which an antenna assembly detection service is provided. A device may include an oscillator circuit whose frequency of operation is determined by a resonant frequency of a tank circuit and reactance of a load associated with the antenna terminal configured to receive an external antenna. A controller may be configured to measure an output signal of the oscillator circuit when the oscillator circuit is connected to the antenna terminal, and determine whether or not the external antenna is connected to the antenna terminal based on the measurement and comparison data.

BACKGROUND

Utility companies and other entities operate distribution systems for various resources (e.g., water, gas, electricity, chemicals, etc.) to deliver these resources to customers connected to the distribution systems. A meter may be used at each point the resource is removed and/or provided from the distribution system to a customer to measure usage. Each meter includes or is coupled to a radio transmitter that has an integral or external antenna. Many metering systems use wireless communications to report meter readings to a backend system via a communication network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Meters that measure usage of a resource, such as a utility resource (e.g., water, gas, electricity, etc.) or another type of resource (e.g., chemical, etc.) are widely used. Further, meters have been combined with electronic components to facilitate communication between the meters and backend systems via a network. For example, a meter interface unit (MIU) may include a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly transmit usage information and other information (e.g., leak information, reverse flow detection, etc.). The MIU may also include a receiver that is configured to wirelessly receive information and commands. The meter and the MIU may be a part of an automated meter reading (AMR) system, such as an AMR system associated with a water utility company, an advanced metering system (AMS), an advanced meter infrastructure (AMI), or another type of architecture associated with a utility company or another entity.

For utility meter radio transceivers that have an antenna port (e.g., a jack, a female port, etc.) for an external antenna, a controller or a processor of the transceiver may determine whether the external antenna is connected to the antenna port or not. Unfortunately, the controller can command the transmitter to transmit without regard to whether the antenna port is being used or not. This circumstance can lead to wasteful use of battery life of the meter and/or radio transmitter when the external antenna is not connected to the antenna port.

According to exemplary embodiments, an antenna assembly detection service is described. According to an exemplary embodiment, the antenna assembly detection service determines whether an antenna or antenna and an intermediary connector (e.g., a cable, a wire, etc.) (referred to herein as an antenna assembly) is connected to a utility meter radio transmitter via an antenna port. For example, the antenna assembly detection service may determine whether an antenna or a connector communicatively coupled to the antenna is plugged into the antenna port. According to an exemplary embodiment, the antenna assembly detection service determines whether the antenna assembly is connected to the radio transmitter based on an effect of a reactance of the antenna assembly on an operating frequency of an oscillator of a detection circuit. According to an exemplary embodiment, the antenna assembly detection service determines whether to transmit via the antenna assembly based on determining the connective state.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the antenna assembly detection service uses an electronic switch that may connect a port or a jack (referred to herein simply as a “jack”) to a transmitter or a transceiver (referred to herein simply as a “transmitter”), or to a detector. According to other exemplary embodiments, the antenna assembly detection service uses an electronic switch that may connect the jack to a transmitter and to an oscillator circuit at the same time.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the detector includes an oscillator circuit whose frequency of operation is determined by a resonant frequency of a tank circuit. According to an exemplary embodiment, the detector may be powered only when the state of the jack (e.g., connected or not connected to the antenna assembly) is being determined. The oscillator circuit may be implemented according to various configurations. For example, the oscillator circuit may be an Inductance Capacitance (LC) oscillator or another type of linear non-LC oscillator, as described herein. According to various exemplary embodiments, the frequency of the oscillator circuit may or may not operate in the same frequency range as the resonant frequency of an (expected) antenna assembly load.

As a result, the antenna assembly detection service may significantly improve communication of data (e.g., meter usage data, etc.) to/from the MIU and minimize waste of resources (e.g., battery, transceiver circuitry, etc.). Additionally, other detection approaches may use components that can degrade in their performance and become unreliable, or are cost prohibitive. In contrast, the antenna assembly detection service may be implemented with use of no moving parts or other elements (e.g., contacts, etc.) that may be subject to corrosion, and at a cost that is not prohibitive.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless device100that provides an exemplary embodiment of the antenna assembly detection service. As illustrated, wireless device100may include a radio frequency (RF) transceiver110, a front-end module (FEM)120, a detector125, a switch130, an external antenna140, an external antenna RF connector terminal150, an internal antenna160, and a controller170.

Wireless device100may include any type of device that communicates using wireless mechanisms (e.g., via radio frequencies). For example, wireless device100may be part of, or couple/connect to, a meter or meter interface unit (MIU). The meter may include a device that is configured to measure usage of a resource. For example, the meter may be a water meter or another type of utility meter (e.g., a gas meter, an electric meter, a chemical meter, etc.). Depending on the meter, the meter may use different measurement technologies (e.g., ultrasonic sensing, magnetic-driven, positive displacement, etc.) to measure usage of the particular resource, such as water, and so forth. The MIU may include an electronic device that collects, analyzes, and stores data from the meter. According to one exemplary implementation, the MIU may be integrated into the meter. According to another exemplary implementation, the MIU (or a portion thereof) may be a separate component from the meter. For example, the separate component may be communicatively coupled to the meter (or a remaining portion of the MIU) via a cable or another type of connector (e.g., a wireless connection). According to an exemplary implementation, the MIU may include a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for communication. The MIU may be configured to access and use multiple wireless access networks. According to some exemplary embodiments, one or multiple components of wireless device100may be included in the MIU. For example, the MIU may include RF transceiver110, FEM120, detector125, switch130, external antenna RF connector terminal150, internal antenna160, and controller170. According to other examples, the MIU may include a different set of the components, as described herein.

If wireless device100is part of a utility meter or MIU, wireless device100may transmit consumption data (e.g., water, electricity, etc.) or meter/MIU status information to a backend system of a utility company or another party, and may additionally transmit data indicating the presence/absence of an external antenna assembly (e.g., external antenna140) of the meter/MIU and/or data associated with an assessment of the external antenna assembly of the meter/MIU.

RF transceiver110includes a receiver that receives RF signals and a transmitter that transmits RF signals via external antenna140, internal antenna160, or both. RF transceiver110may include other components, such as for example, an amplifier, a mixer, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a filter, an oscillator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a buffer, or another type of element that may be used for RF communication.

FEM120may include various components pertaining to RF reception and transmission of signals. For example, FEM120may include an amplifier, a mixer, a filter, an impedance matching circuit, a radio frequency switch circuit, and/or another type of element that may be used for RF communication. According to some exemplary implementations, RF transceiver110and FEM120may correspond to a radio communication interface.

Detector125includes logic that provides an antenna assembly detection service, as described herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, detector125includes an LC oscillator. For example, the LC oscillator may be a Colpitts oscillator, a Clapp oscillator, a Hartley oscillator, an Armstrong oscillator, or another type of LC-based resonant oscillator. According to another exemplary embodiment, detector125includes a non-LC oscillator. For example, the non-LC oscillator may be a crystal oscillator, a dielectric resonant oscillator (DRO), or another type of resonant oscillator. For purposes of description, the LC oscillator and/or the non-LC oscillator is referred to herein as an oscillator circuit.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the oscillator circuit may or may not operate in the same frequency range as a resonant frequency of an expected antenna assembly load associated with external antenna140. According to an exemplary embodiment, the oscillator circuit is configured to oscillate based on a resonant frequency of its tank circuit, and the reactance of the antenna assembly (if connected). The oscillator circuit may oscillate at different frequencies depending on the configuration of external antenna140, as described herein. For example, external antenna140may include a connector (e.g., a wire, a cable, etc.) or not, the connector may vary in length and/or composition, the antenna may be of different configurations, and so forth. As described further below, the output of detector125may be measured and used to detect whether or not external antenna140is connected, as well as other conditions, as described herein.

Switch130may be an electronic switch. According an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 1, switch130may be a discrete switch. However, according to other exemplary embodiments, switch130may be a non-discrete switch. For example, switch130may be included in FEM120or another component (e.g., a transmitter chipset that has a spare switch port, etc.) of wireless device100. According to an exemplary embodiment, switch130may selectively switch between FEM120and detector125, which in turn connects FEM120or detector125to external antenna140via external antenna RF a connector terminal150. According to another exemplary embodiment, switch130may allow a transmitter/transceiver and detector125to be connected to external antenna140via external antenna RF a connector terminal150at the same time. This may be the case when the state of the transmitter/transceiver does not affect the operation of detector125.

External antenna140connects to FEM120via external antenna RF connector terminal150and switch130. External antenna140may be connected to or disconnected from wireless device100via external antenna RF connector terminal150. External antenna140includes an antenna assembly, as described herein. For example, external antenna140may include an antenna or an antenna and a cable, wire, etc., as previously described. According to various exemplary embodiments, external antenna140may include various types or configurations of an antenna (e.g., a dipole antenna, a low-profile antenna, a multi-band antenna, or another type of antenna that may be used for RF communication). According to various exemplary embodiments, external antenna140(and other components of wireless device100) may support various types of wireless networks and communications, such as, for example, a Long Range wide area network (LoRaWAN), a Sigfox low-power WAN (LPWAN), an Ingenu machine network, an Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) (e.g., a Fourth Generation radio access network (4G RAN)), a 4.5G RAN, a next generation RAN (e.g., a 5G-access network), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, a mobile transceiver network (e.g., a mobile or handheld user device (e.g., operated by a user or a technician associated with a utility company, such as a water company), a vehicle mounted device, or another suitable mobile device (e.g., a drone, etc.)), a proprietary wireless network (e.g., owned and operated by a utility company (e.g., a water utility company, etc.), a wireless network that supports an AMR, system, an AMI system, an AMS, etc.), a WiFi network, and/or other types of wireless networks (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).

External antenna RF connector terminal150may include a jack (or other type of port) configured to connect to external antenna140. Internal antenna160may connect to FEM120and may be located internally (i.e., within the housing holding the components of the wireless device100). Internal antenna160may include any type of antenna for receiving and transmitting RF signals.

Controller170may include one or multiple processors, microprocessors, or microcontrollers that interpret and execute instructions, and/or may include logic circuitry (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.) that executes one or more processes/functions. Controller170may include ports for receiving and sending data, including sending control instructions and receiving control acknowledgements, from the components of wireless device100, such as RF transceiver110, and FEM120, and/or detector125. Although not illustrated, controller170may also communicate with switch130.

According to an exemplary embodiment, controller170includes logic that provides an antenna assembly detection service, as described herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, controller170measures an output frequency of detector125, which is dependent on the reactance of the load. For example, a microcontroller may include a built-in timer and/or counter circuit. According to other examples, controller170may include a discrete frequency counting circuit, a downconverter, a frequency discriminator, a frequency-to-voltage converter coupled to an A/D converter, or another suitable component that can measure the frequency of the oscillator circuit with sufficient precision and/or accuracy. According to an exemplary implementation, frequency measurement may be performed by a binary up-counter, which may be clocked by a variable-frequency oscillator that counts from a default value (e.g., zero). A time based generator may stop the counter after a known period, or captures a value while running, to that the counter value accumulated during a gate interval may be read. The number of oscillator cycles during a known gate time may represent the frequency of the oscillator. In some instances, a units scaling factor may be applied to the number of oscillator cycles to produce a frequency value in Hertz.

According to an exemplary embodiment, controller170may store a database or other data repository structure that stores frequency detection information that correlates a frequency or frequency ranges with different external antennas140(when connected), when external antenna140is not connected, and other types of conditions, as described herein. Controller170may perform a lookup, based on a measured output frequency of detector125, to determine a state of wireless device100relative to external antenna140. For example, controller170may compare and attempt to match the measured output frequency to expected frequency values associated with different external antennas140, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, controller170includes logic that can distinguish between different external antennas140, when connected, based on correlated frequencies output by detector125. According to an exemplary embodiment, controller170includes logic that can determine when external antenna140is not connected and/or another type of condition (e.g., a damaged cable, a damaged antenna, partially connected, an open cable with no antenna connected, etc.) pertaining to external antenna140based on correlated frequencies output by detector125. In turn, controller170may determine whether to transmit via external antenna based on the identified state of wireless device100.

According to an exemplary embodiment, controller170may execute software. As an example, the software may include instructions that, when executed by controller170, provide functions of the antenna assembly detection service, as described herein. The software may also include firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language (HDL), and/or another form of instructions. The software may further include an operating system (OS).

AlthoughFIG. 1illustrates an exemplary embodiment of wireless device100that provides the antenna assembly detection service, according to other exemplary embodiments, wireless device100may include additional, fewer, and/or different components. For example, wireless device100may not include internal antenna160. Additionally, for example, multiple components that are illustrated as discrete may be included into a single component. The connections between components depicted inFIG. 1are exemplary. Additionally, for example, the number of each component illustrated is exemplary. For example, wireless device100may include multiple RF transceivers110and front end modules120to accommodate multiple standards or forms of RF communication (e.g., 4G, 5G, LoRaWan, proprietary, etc.). Although not illustrated, wireless device100includes a power source. For example, the power source may include a battery or another suitable source for electrical current, such as a local power grid, a local generator (e.g., a photoelectric generator, etc.), and so forth.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating exemplary frequency detection information that may be stored in a table200by wireless device100(e.g., in a memory). As illustrated, table200may include a device state field210, a frequency field215, and a procedure field220. As further illustrated, table200includes entries201-1through201-X (also referred as entries201, or individually or generally as entry201) that each includes a grouping of fields210,215, and220that are correlated (e.g., a record, etc.). Frequency detection information is illustrated in tabular form merely for the sake of description. In this regard, frequency detection information may be implemented in a data structure different from a table.

Device state field210may store data indicating a state of wireless device100pertaining to a connection or disconnection with external antenna140. For example, device state field210may indicate a state when a type of antenna assembly, such as an antenna or an antenna with a connecting element, as previously described, is connected to wireless device100via external antenna RF connector terminal150. According to some exemplary implementations, device state field210may store other types of information, such as the type of antenna, the type of connecting element (e.g., coaxial cable, a wire, etc.), the length of the connecting element (e.g., 3 feet, etc.), and/or another feature pertaining to the antenna assembly. One entry201of device state field210may store data indicating a state when no antenna assembly is connected. Additionally, for example, one or multiple entries201of device state field210may store other types of states pertaining to external antenna140or the antenna assembly, such as a cable with damaged insulation, shield damage or corroded, crimped cable, a damaged external antenna (e.g., that results in change of capacitance as part of the antenna system, etc.), a damaged connecting element, a loose connection with external antenna140, or other condition (e.g., open cable, a shorted cable, etc.). In some instances, a damaged antenna or another type of defective connection may yield a frequency of zero or some other value within an expected frequency range.

Frequency field215may store data indicating a frequency or a frequency range that correlates to the device state indicated in device state field210. For example, frequency field215may store one or multiple values that can be used for comparison by controller170relative a measured output frequency of detector125. According to some exemplary implementations, the frequency or the frequency range may correspond to a difference frequency relative to an open circuit frequency. For example, the open circuit frequency may be a frequency when wireless device100is not connected to any reactive load except for a reactive load associated with circuit parasitics. According to other exemplary implementations, the frequency or the frequency range may not correspond to a difference frequency.

Procedure field220may store data indicating an action that is permitted when it is determined that wireless device100is in a given state. For example, procedure field220may store data indicating to transmit data via external antenna140when it is determined that wireless device100is connected to external antenna140, and may store data indicating not to transmit data via external antenna140when it is determined that wireless device100is not connected to external antenna140. According to other exemplary implementations, procedure field220may store indicating other types of actions to take based on a given state of wireless device100. For example, when it is determined that external antenna140is damaged or a loose connection exists, procedure field220may store data indicating to transmit, via internal antenna160and to a backend system (e.g., of the utility company) or another device (e.g., a mobile device associated with a customer, etc.), data (e.g., an error message, etc.) indicating the condition of external antenna140. In this way, a utility company, the customer, and/or another interested party may be informed of the issue, and corrective measures may be initiated.

According to other exemplary implementations, table200may store additional, fewer, and/or different instances of information in support of the antenna assembly detection service, as described herein. For example, according to other exemplary implementations, table200may not store procedure field220.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating an exemplary portion300of wireless device100that provides an exemplary embodiment of the antenna assembly detection service. As illustrated, detector125may include a circuit that includes various circuit elements, such as a capacitor, a resistor, an inductor, and a transistor. The circuit includes an LC oscillator whose frequency of operation may be determined by the resonant frequency of its tank circuit and the reactance of the load on external antenna RF connector terminal150. According to this example, the tank circuit may include L1, C2, C3, and C4. The tank circuit may be connected to switch130via C1. C1may be of low-impedance such that it may not appreciably affect the resonant frequency of the tank circuit while still providing DC blocking. The oscillator may be biased via R1, R2, and R3. R1, R2, and R3may have values that trade off the widest range of acceptable load conditions, DC current draw, and oscillator stability over operating conditions. The oscillator may be powered by applying an appropriate voltage between Vcc and ground. According to an exemplary embodiment, the oscillator is powered on only when the state of wireless device100is being assessed, so as to save battery energy.

The application of voltage between Vsw and ground connects the oscillator's tank circuit to external antenna RF connector terminal150and the load. After the oscillator stabilizes, the output frequency of the circuit, which is dependent on the reactance of the load, may be measured at Fmeas. If the load is inductive, the inductance will combine with L1to lower the effective inductance of the tank circuit, thereby increasing the operating frequency. If the load is capacitive, that capacitance will combine with the other capacitors of the tank circuit to increase the overall effective capacitance of the tank circuit, thereby decreasing the operating frequency.

As previously described, detector125may be implemented with various types of oscillator circuits. However, depending on the type of oscillator circuit implemented to provide the antenna assembly detection service, a circuit element (e.g., an inductor, etc.) may yield use of a non-standard value of the circuit element, which may contribute to cost and/or availability. In contrast, other types of oscillator circuits, as described herein, may be implemented to provide the antenna assembly detection service, with use of a standard value associated with the circuit element, which may minimize cost and increase availability relative to the same circuit element having a non-standard value. In either case, the tank circuit may be configured to satisfy one or multiple criteria. For example, the tank circuit may oscillate within a frequency band where the Barkhousen criteria may be satisfied over an expected operating range, taking into account the frequency-dependent gain and the expected effective series RF resistance of the expected antenna assembly (e.g., external antenna140). Additionally, for example, the tank circuit may oscillate within a frequency band where an expected antenna assembly would perturb the resonant frequency of the tank circuit from its nominal resonant frequency. This may or may not be in the same frequency band as the resonant frequency of the expected antenna assembly loads. Also, for example, the tank circuit may have an acceptable nominal resonant frequency, such that there is a significant difference between the state/condition when external antenna140is connected and when external antenna140is not connected. Further, for example, the tank circuit may output a frequency or within a frequency band that is measurable (e.g., by controller170). Additionally, for example, the output of the oscillator circuit may be in a frequency band that minimizes spurious radiation.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the oscillator circuit may operate in the 2-15 MHz portion of the high frequency (HF) band. According to other exemplary embodiments, the oscillator circuit may operate within a different frequency range.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the antenna assembly detection service may include a normalization process. For example, in order to compensate for variations in oscillator frequency due to temperature, supply voltage, or process variations, a frequency normalizing process may be performed. For example, referring toFIG. 3, with switch130open (e.g., connected to the XCVR), controller170(and software) may measure the open-circuit frequency of the oscillator. The open circuit frequency may be subtracted from, or otherwise used to normalize the frequency of the oscillator circuit when the reactive load is connected (e.g., with switch130connected to the oscillator circuit of detector125). In this regard, the normalization process may normalize the reactive load oscillator frequency measurement and associated frequency variation when circuit parameter variation may be present. In this regard, the antenna assembly detection service may identify the state of wireless device100in relation to external antenna140based on the actual oscillator frequency or a normalized oscillator frequency of a particular load. Controller170may have access to the open circuit frequency for use in calculations. The normalization process may yield a difference frequency (e.g., positive or negative) indicative of a type of antenna assembly that is connected, etc.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the antenna assembly detection service may include a signal-conditioning process. For example, the signal-conditioning process may be needed to interface the voltage levels and rise and fall times of the oscillator to that required to enable measurement by controller170or other logic (e.g., a timer and counter circuit, etc.). For example, a sine-to-square slicing circuit may be used.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an exemplary signal-conditioning circuit400. As illustrated, the signal Fmeas from the oscillator circuit ofFIG. 3, may be half-wave rectified by D1, and filtered by R4and C5combination, which may produce a reference voltage Vref. Vref may be a reference voltage that is close to the average value of the oscillator's output signal. The time constant of R4and C5may be chosen to be longer than the period of the lowest expected frequency of Fmeas. For example, the time constant may be about ten times or more than the period of the lowest expected frequency of Fmeas. A comparator or operational amplifier U2may run in an open-loop comparison mode, which outputs a voltage if the voltage of the Fmeas signal is above Vref, or if the voltage of the Fmeas signal is below Vref. In this way, the Fmeas signal may be converted to, for example, a square wave, with a fast rise/fall time that is compatible with a measuring counter, and output at FmeasSQ.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the antenna assembly detection service may be invoked according to various triggering events. According to an exemplary implementation, the antenna assembly detection service may be invoked just prior to data needing to be transmitted via external antenna140. For example, the data transmission may be according to a schedule or not. According to another exemplary implementation, the antenna assembly detection service may be invoked periodically (e.g., about once/hour or another configured periodicity) subsequent to installation of wireless device100(e.g., an MIU, etc.). According to still other exemplary implementations, the antenna assembly detection service may be invoked based on receipt of a message (e.g., via internal antenna160) to perform a diagnostic procedure. For example, a technician via a mobile device or a backend system of a meter network may transmit a message to wireless device100to invoke the antenna assembly detection service. In some instances, the backend system may automatically transmit the message based on certain weather conditions (e.g., extreme temperatures, winds, etc.) that have the potential to damage external antenna140. According to yet another example, based on the time of year (e.g., summer versus fall, etc.), the antenna assembly detection service may be invoked more or less frequently. For example, during the summer time, potential damage to external antenna140may increase due to landscaping activities (e.g., mowing the lawn, etc.).

According to some exemplary embodiments, the invocation of the antenna assembly detection service may cause switch to connect detector125to external antenna RF connector terminal150. According to some exemplary embodiments, controller170may control switch130to make or not make such a connection.

FIG. 5is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process500of an exemplary embodiment of the antenna assembly detection service. According to an exemplary embodiment, wireless device100may perform, in whole or in part, steps of process500. According to an exemplary implementation, controller170may execute software to perform a step illustrated inFIG. 5, and described herein. Alternatively, a step illustrated inFIG. 5, and described herein, may be performed by execution of only hardware.

Referring toFIG. 5, in block505, frequency detection information may be stored. For example, wireless device100stores expected frequencies and/or frequency bands that are correlated to various states of wireless device100in relation to external antenna140, such as connected, not connected, partially connected, and damaged, in table200.

In block510, a triggering event for measuring is detected. For example, wireless device100may be triggered to measure the output voltage of detector125. By way of further examples, the triggering event may include the occurrence of a schedule, data to transmit, or receipt of a message.

In block515, an output signal from an oscillator circuit whose frequency of operation is determined by a resonant frequency of a tank circuit and reactance of a load associated with a jack connectable to an external antenna may be measured. For example, wireless device100may measure the output of detector125. The measured output may correspond to an oscillation frequency, as previously described.

In block520, the frequency of the output signal may be compared to the frequency detection information. For example, wireless device100may perform a lookup to determine if the measured output signal of detector125matches one of the frequency fields215of entries201.

In block525, it may be determined whether a match exists. For example, wireless device100may determine whether a match exists based on a result of the comparison.

When it is determined that a match does not exist (block525—NO), process500may end (block530). According to various exemplary implementations, wireless device100may perform different operations when a match does not exist. For example, wireless device100may transmit an error message, which indicates an unknown state of external antenna140, via internal antenna160to a backend system. Additionally, or alternatively, wireless device100may select a default state for wireless device100(e.g., connected, not connected, damaged, etc.). Alternatively, process500may return to block515, and wireless device100may re-measure the output of detector125. According to other exemplary embodiments, block525—NO may not occur because all conditions would be mapped. In this regard, this step may be omitted.

When it is determined that a match does exist (block525—YES), it may be determined whether an external antenna is connected (block535). For example, wireless device100may identify the correlated device state (e.g., device state field210) based on the matching frequency (e.g., frequency field215). The device state may indicate whether external antenna140is connected or not, or some other state, as previously described.

When it is determined that the external antenna is connected (block535—YES), data may be transmitted via the external antenna (block540). For example, wireless device100may transmit data via external antenna140. According to other examples, wireless device100may check the state, and not transmit data.

When it is determined that the external antenna is not connected (block535—NO), data may be transmitted via another antenna (block545). For example, wireless device100may transmit data via internal antenna160. According to other examples, wireless device100may check the state, and not transmit data.

FIG. 5illustrates an exemplary process500of the antenna assembly detection service, however, according to other embodiments, process500may include additional operations, fewer operations, and/or different operations than those illustrated inFIG. 5, and described herein. For example, process500may include a normalization process and/or signal conditioning process, as previously described, as a part of the measurement process in block515.

The antenna detection techniques described herein may be performed in conjunction with other antenna detection techniques, such as the antenna detection techniques, using noise measurements, described in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,539 (corresponding to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/828,105), and/or the antenna detection techniques, using forward and reflected power measurements, described in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,483 (corresponding to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/835,669). U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,483 and U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,539 are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. The antenna detection techniques described herein, and the antenna detection techniques described in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,483 and U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,539 may be selectively used relative to one another, may be performed in series, or may be performed in parallel, to detect the presence or absence of an antenna connected or coupled to a port or antenna connector terminal of wireless device100, such as a Meter Interface Unit (MIU). For example, wireless device100may execute the exemplary process ofFIGS. 7A and 7B, orFIG. 9, of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,483 in parallel with the exemplary process ofFIG. 5of the present application (that corresponds to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/825,885) and/or the exemplary process of FIG. 6 of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,539. As another example, wireless device100may selectively execute one of: 1) the exemplary process ofFIG. 5of the present application the exemplary process of FIGS. 7A and 7B or FIG. 9 of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,483; or 3) the exemplary process of FIG. 6 of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/832,539 based on certain criteria.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the antenna assembly detection service may be used in combination (e.g., parallel, in series) with other antenna detection approaches. For example, reference is made to pending provisional patent applications that describe antenna detection based on noise measurement and return loss (e.g., reflected power and forward power).

The terms “about” and “approximately” shall generally mean an acceptable degree of error or variation for the quantity measured given the nature or precision of the measurements. Typical, exemplary degrees of error or variation are within 20 percent (%), preferably within 10%, and more preferably within 5% of a given value or range of values. Numerical quantities given in this description are approximate unless stated otherwise, meaning that the term “about” or “approximately” can be inferred when not expressly stated.

Additionally, embodiments described herein may be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores data and/or information, such as instructions, program code, a data structure, a program module, an application, a script, or other known or conventional form suitable for use in a computing environment. The program code, instructions, application, etc., is readable and executable by a processor (e.g., controller170) of a device.

No element, act, or instruction set forth in this description should be construed as critical or essential to the embodiments described herein unless explicitly indicated as such.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects set forth in this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. No claim element of a claim is to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the claim element expressly includes the phrase “means for” or “step for.”