Metering apparatus and related methods
Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a stencil and a housing having a display area. The display area has a recessed cavity defining a front surface of the display area. A front surface of the stencil is to be flush mounted relative to the front surface of the display area defined by the recessed cavity when the stencil is positioned in the display area of the housing. A cover is removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area.
1. A meter to measure media content, the meter comprising:
a one-piece stencil defining a front surface having a plurality of visual indicators representative of respective panelists registered with the meter;
a housing defining a cavity for containing a metering circuit of the meter, the housing having a display area on an exterior of the housing that is structured to removably receive the stencil without accessing the cavity or exposing the metering circuit; and
a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the stencil positioned in the display area, the cover to overlap at least a portion of the stencil when the cover is coupled to the housing, wherein the cover does not enable access to the cavity when the cover is removed from the housing.
2. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the housing has at least one of a dimensional length of approximately between 6 inches and 12 inches, a dimensional thickness of approximately between 0.50 inches and 1.0 inches; or a dimensional height of approximately between 1.0 inch and 1.25 inches.
3. The meter of claim 2 , wherein the dimensional height is approximately 1 inch.
4. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the housing is positionable in at least one of a first orientation or a second orientation different than the first orientation when the stencil is coupled to the housing.
5. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the stencil includes indicia representative of a panelist.
6. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the stencil includes a plurality of numerals in ascending order.
7. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the display area has a first recessed cavity, the first recessed cavity including a first perimeter that is substantially similar to a perimeter of the stencil such that the first recessed cavity matably receives the stencil.
8. The meter of claim 7 , wherein the housing includes a second recessed cavity adjacent the first recessed cavity, and 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.
9. The meter of claim 8 , wherein a perimeter of the cover is substantially similar to a perimeter of the peripheral lip.
10. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the display area includes a plurality of openings, the visual indicators to align with respective ones of the openings when the stencil is coupled to the housing.
11. The meter of claim 10 , further including a plurality of lights positioned in the housing, wherein respective ones of the lights to align with respective ones of the openings, the meter to illuminate a visual indicator of the stencil that is representative of a panelist present for a presentation on a media device communicatively coupled to the meter.
12. The meter of claim 11 , further including a plurality of diffusors positioned in the cavity of the housing, respective ones of the diffusors to align with respective ones of the openings.
13. A meter to receive media content, the meter comprising:
a stencil including visual indicators representative of respective panelists registered with the meter;
a housing having a wall defining a front surface of a display area, the wall having a plurality of openings, respective ones of the visual indicators to align with respective ones of the openings when the stencil is coupled to the display area;
a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area;
a circuit board housed by the housing;
a plurality of lights coupled to the circuit board, respective ones of the lights to align with respective ones of the openings; and
a plurality of diffusors positioned in a cavity of the housing, respective ones of the diffusors to align with respective ones of the openings.
14. The meter of claim 13 , further including 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. The meter of claim 13 , further including 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 to operate independently from the second antenna, 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.
16. The meter of claim 15 , wherein a first light of the plurality of lights is 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.
17. The meter of claim 16 , wherein the first antenna is spaced from the second antenna by at least a distance measured from the first light to the second light.
18. A meter comprising:
a housing having an internal cavity to hold a circuit board and an exterior wall to define a display area, the display area defined by the exterior wall to restrict access to the cavity;
a stencil having a front surface including a plurality of visual indicators representative of different panelists, the stencil structured to be removably repositionable in the display area of the housing to orient the visual indicators in a right-side up orientation; and
a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area, the cover to overlap the visual indicators of the stencil when the cover is coupled to the housing, and wherein removal of the cover from the housing does not enable access to the internal cavity of the housing.
19. The meter of claim 18 , wherein the cover is coupled to the housing via a snap-fit connection, and wherein the cover includes a clip having a tab to enable a user to removably couple the cover to the housing.
20. The meter of claim 18 , wherein the display area has a recessed cavity defining a front surface of the display area, the recessed cavity includes a first perimeter that is substantially similar to a perimeter of the stencil, the recessed cavity to matably receive the stencil.
21. The meter of claim 18 , wherein the cover includes a semi-translucent material to allow visual presentation of the visual indicators when respective ones of the visual indicators are illuminated.
22. The meter of claim 20 , wherein the exterior wall includes a first recessed surface and a second recessed surface adjacent the first recessed surface.
23. The meter of claim 22 , wherein the first recessed surface is offset relative to the second recessed surface such that the second recessed surface defines the front surface of the display area.
24. The meter of claim 18 , wherein the display area has a recessed cavity defining a front surface of the display area, the stencil to be flush mounted relative to the front surface of the display area when the stencil is positioned in the display area of the housing.