Above ground antenna and transmitter for utility meters

1. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location wherein the utility meter is installed in an underground pit enclosure associated with a pit lid that is generally at ground level, said pit lid having an opening there through, said communication apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a top-section and a depending base, wherein said top-section rests generally on top of the pit lid and wherein said depending base extends from said top-section to a point at least partly through the pit lid opening;

a circuit board comprising a transmitter, said circuit board disposed at least partially inside the top-section and substantially co-planar with said top-section;

a power source associated with said circuit board and configured for supplying power to said circuit board;

a transmitter-meter communication link for transferring system-data between the transmitter and the meter;

an antenna situated at least partially inside the top-section, said antenna associated with said transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signals comprise at least part of said system-data.

2. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1 , wherein said power source is located inside the pit enclosure, said power source associated with the circuit board via a power-buss that runs through the pit lid opening, wherein said power-buss has a first access point and a second access point, and wherein said first access point is associated with the power source and said second access point is associated with the circuit board.

3. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1 , wherein said power source is at least one battery disposed within said depending base and wherein said apparatus further comprises an auxiliary power connector.

4. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 3 , wherein said battery is supplied with at trickle charge from at least one of (a) a photovoltaic device and (b) a betavoltaic device.

5. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1 , wherein said transmitter-meter communication link is a multiple conductor data-cable comprising a terminal block, said terminal block providing a node for making and breaking the communication link between the circuit board and the meter for at least one conductor.

6. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 5 , wherein said multiple conductor data-cable comprises a ground conductor, a first data conductor, and a second data conductor coupled to a depending base connector.

7. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 5 , wherein said power source is located inside the enclosure, said power source associated with the circuit board via a power-buss that runs through the pit lid opening.

8. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 7 , wherein said power-buss comprises a ground conductor and a power conductor, and wherein said power conductor runs through said terminal block comprising a node configured for at least one of (a) making a connection to the power conductor, (b) breaking a connection to the power conductor, and (c) for making and breaking the power conductor connection between the circuit board and the power source.

9. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1 , further comprising a receiver associated with the circuit board, said receiver suitably configured for receiving signals transmitted from a second transmitter associated with the meter, wherein said receiver and said second transmitter make up at least part of said transmitter-meter communication link.

10. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1 , wherein said circuit board further comprises data-logger circuitry for recording system-data.

11. A communication apparatus for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location as in claim 1 , wherein said circuit board further comprises touch-pad circuitry suitably configured for at lease one of (a) reading the meter and (b) reprogramming a processor associated with the transmitter.

12. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location wherein the electronic device is installed in an underground pit enclosure associated with a pit lid that is generally at ground level, said pit lid having an opening there through, said RF module comprising:

a housing having a top-section and a depending base, wherein said top-section rests generally on top of the pit lid and wherein said depending base extends from said top-section to a point at least partly though the pit lid opening;

a RF transmitter disposed one of (a) at least partially inside the top-section and co-planar to said top-section, and (b) at least partially inside the top-section with none of the RF transmitter disposed in the depending base;

a power source associated with the RF transmitter for supplying power to the RF transmitter;

a communication link for transferring system-data between the RF transmitter and an electronic device disposed within an underground pit enclosure;

an antenna situated at least partially inside the top-section, said antenna associated with said RF transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signal comprises at least part of said system-data.

13. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 12 , wherein said power source is disposed within said pit enclosure, said power source associated with the RF transmitter via a power-buss that runs through the pit lid opening, wherein said power-buss has a first access point and a second access point, and wherein said first access point is associated with the power source and said second access point is associated with the RF transmitter.

14. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 12 , wherein said power source is at least one battery.

15. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 14 , wherein said at least one battery comprises a nuclear battery.

16. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 14 , wherein said battery is supplied with a trickle charge from at least one of (a) a photovoltaic device and (b) a betavoltaic device.

17. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 12 , wherein a second transmitter is associated with the electronic device, and wherein a receiver is associated with said RF transmitter, and wherein said communication link is a wireless communication link between the second transmitter and the receiver.

18. A transmitter module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location wherein the electronic device is installed in an underground pit enclosure, said pit enclosure configured to receive a detachable pit lid that is generally at ground level, said transmitter module comprising:

a module pit lid suitably sized for being associated with the pit enclosure;

a battery operated RF transmitter disposed within said module pit lid wherein said RF transmitter is associated with an electronic device through a communication link, said communication link suitably configured for transferring system-data between said RF transmitter and said electronic device;

an antenna associated with said RF transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said RF transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signal comprises at least part of said system-data.

19. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid that at least partially covers an underground enclosure, said lid having an opening there through, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a top-section and a depending base, wherein said top-section rests generally on top of said lid with said depending base extending at least partially through said opening;

disposing a transmitter associated with an antenna at least partially within said top-section and substantially co-planar with said top-section, said antenna configured to propagate data-signals generated by said transmitter to a remote location;

providing a communication link between an electronic device within said pit and said transmitter; and

associating at least one battery with said transmitter, said battery configured for providing power to said transmitter.

20. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19 , wherein said housing is integral to said lid.

21. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19 , wherein said battery is disposed within said depending base.

22. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19 , wherein said battery is disposed underneath said lid and wherein said battery is operatively connected to said transmitter via a wired connection that runs through said depending base.

23. A method of associating a transmitter module with a lid as in claim 19 , further comprising the steps of associating a receiver with said transmitter and wherein said communication link is a wireless link.

24. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location wherein the electronic device is installed in an enclosure and wherein one side of said enclosure has an opening there through, said RF module comprising:

a housing having a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber rests generally adjacent to said opening and wherein said second chamber extends from said first chamber to a point at least partly through the opening;

a RF transmitter disposed at least partially inside the first chamber and substantially co-planar with said first chamber;

a power source associated with the RF transmitter suitably configured for supplying power to the RF transmitter;

a communication link for transferring system-data between the RF transmitter and the electronic device disposed within the enclosure;

an antenna situated at least partially inside the first chamber, said antenna associated with said RF transmitter whereby data-signals generated by said transmitter are propagated by said antenna to a remote location; and

wherein said data-signals comprise at least part of said system-data.

25. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 24 , wherein said power source is located inside the enclosure, said power source associated with the RF transmitter via a power-buss that runs through the opening, wherein said power-buss has a first access point and a second access point, and wherein said first access point is associated with the power source and said second access point is associated with the transmitter.

26. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 24 , wherein said power source is at least one battery located inside said second chamber.

27. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 26 , wherein said battery is supplied with a trickle charge from at least one of (a) a photovoltaic device and (b) a betavoltaic device.

28. A RF module for transmitting data from an electronic device to a remote location as in claim 24 , further comprising a receiver associated with said RF transmitter, and wherein said communication link is a wireless communication link.