Patent ID: 8188884

Claim:
A utility meter assembly comprising: a plurality of meter components configured for measuring and collecting data, the plurality of meter components including a transceiver operative for signal communications over a network and a display of meter reading information; a faceplate, mounted such that meter reading information from the display is displayed on the front of the faceplate; a cylindrical exterior cover enclosing the faceplate and the meter components and including a closed end, the faceplate being disposed within the exterior cover a predetermined distance from the closed end so as to define a predetermined space between the faceplate and said closed end; and an internal dipole antenna with arcuate radiating elements disposed forward of the meter components within said predetermined space, the antenna comprising a center-fed driven element that supports a pair of elongate, metallic radiating elements, the arcuate radiating elements having a radius of curvature that is substantially similar to the radius of curvature of the cylindrical exterior cover such that the radiating elements conform to the interior curved shape of the cylindrical exterior cover, the center-fed driven element extending outwardly from the faceplate into said predetermined space and parallel to the axis of the cylindrical exterior cover toward the front of the utility meter assembly; and the dipole antenna having a length corresponding to the arcuate radiating elements, a width, and a thickness, the length being oriented such that the arcuate curvature is proximate to the interior curved shape of the cylindrical exterior cover, the width is oriented generally parallel with the axis of the cylindrical exterior cover, and the thickness is oriented generally aligned with a radius of the cylindrical exterior cover.