IP Library Granted Patent US 9,984,380
Granted Patent B2
US 9,984,380 · App. 15/192,560 · Granted May 29, 2018

Metering apparatus and related methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,984,380
App. No.
15/192,560
Granted
May 29, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a housing having a display area, The apparatus includes at least one of a first stencil or a second stencil to be removably positionable in the display area of the housing. The first stencil has indicia oriented in a landscape orientation and the second stencil has indicia oriented in a portrait orientation. The at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is to be positioned in the display area of the housing such that the indicia of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is in an upright orientation relative to the housing. The apparatus includes a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area.

Claims (41)

1. A meter apparatus comprising:

a housing having a display area, the display area having a first recessed cavity and a second recessed cavity adjacent the first recessed cavity, the first recessed cavity being offset relative to the second recessed cavity such that the second recessed cavity defines a front surface of the display area and a peripheral lip of a front side of the housing;

at least one of a first stencil or a second stencil to be removably positionable in the display area of the housing, a front surface of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil to be flush mounted relative to the front surface of the display area defined by the second recessed cavity, the first stencil having indicia oriented in a landscape orientation and the second stencil having indicia oriented in a portrait orientation, the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil to be positioned in the display area of the housing such that the indicia of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is in an upright orientation relative to the housing, the first recessed cavity to receive the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil; and

a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area, the second recessed cavity of the housing to receive the cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a dimensional length of approximately between 6 inches and 12 inches.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the housing has a dimensional thickness of approximately between 0.50 inches and 1.0 inches.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the housing has a dimensional height of approximately between 1.0 inch and 1.25 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is repositionable relative to the housing to orient the indicia in the upright orientation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a circuit board housed by the housing; and

a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna being positioned on a first surface of the circuit board and the second antenna being positioned on a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first antenna is positioned adjacent a first edge of the circuit board and the second antenna is positioned on a second edge of the circuit board opposite the first edge.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is to be positioned in at least one of a first orientation or a second orientation different than the first orientation when the first stencil is coupled to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the housing is to be positioned in at least one of a third orientation or a fourth orientation different than the third orientation when the second stencil is coupled to the housing, the third orientation and the fourth orientation being different from the first orientation and the second orientation.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first stencil is interchangeable with the second stencil.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil includes indicia representative of a panelist.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first recessed cavity includes a first perimeter that is substantially similar to a perimeter of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil such that the first recessed cavity matably receives the first stencil or the second stencil, wherein the cover is received by the second recessed cavity such that an outer surface of the cover is substantially flush mounted relative to a peripheral lip of the housing, and wherein a perimeter of the cover is substantially similar to a perimeter of the peripheral lip.

13. A meter apparatus comprising:

a housing having a display area;

at least one of a first stencil or a second stencil to be removably positionable in the display area of the housing, the first stencil having indicia oriented in a landscape orientation and the second stencil having indicia oriented in a portrait orientation, the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil to be positioned in the display area of the housing such that the indicia of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is in an upright orientation relative to the housing;

a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area

a circuit board housed by the housing;

a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna being positioned on a first surface of the circuit board and the second antenna being positioned on a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface, the first antenna being positioned adjacent a first edge of the circuit board and the second antenna being positioned on a second edge of the circuit board opposite the first edge; and

a plurality of lights coupled to the circuit board, a first light of the plurality of lights being positioned adjacent the first edge of the circuit board and a second light of the plurality of lights being positioned adjacent the second edge of the circuit board, the first antenna being spaced from the second antenna by at least a distance measured from the first light to the second light.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the meter apparatus includes a first audio sensor positioned on the first surface of the circuit board and a second audio sensor positioned on the second surface of the circuit board.

15. A method to assemble a meter, the method comprising:

coupling a plurality of diffusors in respective openings of a first panel;

attaching a circuit board to the first panel;

attaching a second panel to the first panel to house the circuit board in a cavity formed by the first panel and the second panel;

determining a viewing orientation of a housing defined by the first panel and the second panel;

selecting a stencil for a display area of the housing;

orientating the stencil to position indicia of the stencil in an upright orientation relative to the housing;

positioning the stencil in the display area of the housing; and

attaching a cover to the housing.

16. The method of claim 15 , where the selecting of the stencil for the display area of the housing includes selecting the stencil based on the determined viewing orientation.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining of the viewing orientation of the housing includes orientating the housing in at least one of a first mounting orientation, a second mounting orientation, a third mounting orientation, or a fourth mounting orientation.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the selecting of the stencil includes:

selecting a first stencil when the determined viewing orientation of the housing is the first mounting orientation or the second mounting orientation; and

selecting a second stencil different than the first stencil when the determined mounting orientation of the housing is the third mounting orientation or the fourth mounting orientation.

19. The method of claim 18 , further including interchanging the first stencil with a second stencil after the first stencil is coupled to the housing.

20. The method of claim 15 , further including positioning a first antenna to a first surface of the circuit board and positioning a second antenna to a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2017
From: COOPER, TIMOTHY SCOTT; VITT, JAMES JOSEPH; TURNBOW, DOUGLAS BRENT; NIELSEN, CHRISTEN V.; USAJ, MARKO; BARBIS, ANDREJ; VRANEK, SASO
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 041509/0145 →