Taoglas launches first smart meter embedded antennae

ESCONDIDO, USA: Taoglas, the leading M2M antenna provider, launched the first smart meter embedded antennae with over 60 percent efficiency designed specifically for the utility market.

Called the FXP “Freedom” series, this range of six off-the-shelf flexible circuit antennas, works on three Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands; 868 MHz, 915 MHz and 2.4 GHz.

The FXP freedom series antennas will enable metering companies to read smart meters in remote locations where wireless antennas previously did not work, such as basements, car parks and underground cavities. They are mechanically robust, able to withstand extreme temperature and humidity and have proven long lifetimes. They will also enable consumers and organizations to both conserve and cut the costs of energy.

The FXP antenna series is a super-thin 0.1 mm flexible circuit antenna. Similar to a piece of adhesive, it can be stuck directly to the housing or embedded into any metering device. Each design can be characterized and optimized for a meter and can even be integrated into existing meters that are being retrofitted for wireless functionality.

The presence of metal in many meters hinders larger FR4 type antennas, whereas the flexible antenna enables a greater clearance to be achieved. Unlike current market offerings that can take months to produce, Taoglas offers a customized antenna at any frequency that can be produced in three to four weeks or, an off-the-shelf solution for immediate use at the price that is lower than traditional antenna solutions.

“While the utility industry currently measures antenna performance using “gain”, at Taoglas, we think this is an outdated way of rating antenna performance. Antenna gain only measures performance in one direction in specific environments. Due to the wide variety of meter designs, housings and installation environments it is impossible to predict what direction an antenna is facing in relation to the base station.

Therefore, we take and apply mobile phone technology and specify “efficiency” for our antennas which gives metering companies an antenna performance over 360 degrees –- a much better performance indicator,” said Dermot O’Shea, Director, Taoglas.