Methods and apparatus for sealed communication interfaces

1. An apparatus comprising:

a translucent portion of a sealing gasket to allow signals to pass therethrough;

a sealing wall of the gasket to define a substantially environmentally-isolated zone proximate the translucent portion;

a transmitter to transmit a signal across the translucent portion; and

a receiver to detect a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, wherein the detection enables data communications across the translucent portion, and wherein the reflected signal is to be reflected from a surface on an opposite side of the translucent portion from the transmitter and receiver.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the translucent portion contacts the transmitter.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the data communications are related to a utility metering communication system.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are infrared-based.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the translucent portion is approximately 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm thick.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a mirror surface.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a tinted surface.

8. A method comprising:

transmitting a signal from a transmitter of a first device through a translucent portion of a sealing gasket, wherein the sealing gasket defines a substantially environmentally-isolated zone proximate the translucent portion;

detecting, at a detector of the first device, a reflected signal of the signal transmitted from the first device, the reflected signal reflected from a second device on an opposite side of the translucent portion from the first device; and

enabling communication between the first and second devices across the translucent portion based on the detection using the transmitter and the detector.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising powering communication circuitry, based on the detection, to enable communication between the first and second devices across the translucent portion.

10. The method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising transitioning a communication circuitry from a power-saving mode based on the detection.

11. The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the signal is infrared-based.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the communication between the first and second devices is infrared-based.

13. The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the signal is reflected via a mirror surface of the second device.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a module comprising a first endpoint of a communication interface;

a utility meter comprising a second endpoint of the communication interface; and

a sealing interface between the first and second communication endpoints, the sealing interface defining a substantially environmentally-isolated zone at the communication interface and comprising a translucent portion, wherein the module is to transmit a signal from the first endpoint and detection, at the first endpoint, of a corresponding reflected signal from a surface of the utility meter is to enable communication between the first and second endpoints across the translucent portion.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sealing interface comprises molded silicone.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the translucent portion comprises a portion of a wall of the sealing interface.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein a transmitter of the communication interface contacts the translucent portion.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , further comprising a clasp or a latch to compress the sealing interface.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sealing interface further defines a second substantially environmentally-isolated zone of the module.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sealing interface is coupled to the utility meter.