Patent · US Expired

Circular slot antenna

US5621419A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
10References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 1995
Grant dateApr 15, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY04S20/30
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A radio antenna for mounting in the lid of a water meter box and forming part of a remote meter reading system comprises an annular conductive plate and a circular conductive plate which are coaxial with and parallel to each other and spaced apart to define a slot, the circular plate serving as a ground plate. The antenna has an input in the form of a conductive pillar interconnecting the two members, with a drive input at a selected point along the length of the pillar and a second input on the ground plate. A variable tuning capacitance is disposed between the plates diametrically opposite the conductive pillar. The ground plate also serves for locating the lid in undergrowth or under snow using a metal detector.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.