# US 12,223,556 B2 · Smart meter modules and assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,556 B2 - Document ID: US12223556B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/181,059 - Filed: 2023-03-09 - Published: 2023-07-06 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-24 - Assignees: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC - Applicants: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC - Inventors: Guilibaldo Ruiz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223556B2 ## CPC - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - G01R 22/063: {related to remote communication} - G01R 22/065: {related to mechanical aspects} - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) - Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract The present disclosure describes an assembly for mounting a smart meter on a mounting pole. The assembly includes a support frame and an outer cover. The support frame includes a top mounting plate having a first routing aperture located and a first plurality of elongated apertures located circumferentially around the first routing aperture, a bottom mounting plate having a corresponding second routing aperture and a second plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the second routing aperture, the top mounting plate is spaced apart a distance from the bottom mounting plate to form an interior space of the smart meter module, and an inner bracket between the top and bottom mounting plates and coupled thereto, the inner bracket having an aperture that is generally perpendicular relative to the top and bottom mounting plates and configured to receive and secure a smart meter within the interior space of the smart meter module. The outer cover is sized to extend circumferentially around the interior space of the smart meter module. The bottom mounting plate is configured such that the smart meter module can be secured to the top of a mounting pole. Smart meter modules and related assemblies are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for mounting a smart meter on a mounting pole, the assembly comprising: a support frame, the support frame comprising: a top mounting plate having a first routing aperture and a first plurality of elongated apertures located circumferentially around the first routing aperture; a bottom mounting plate having a corresponding second routing aperture and a second plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the second routing aperture, wherein the top mounting plate is spaced apart a distance from the bottom mounting plate to form an interior space of the smart meter module; and an inner bracket between the top and bottom mounting plates and coupled thereto, the inner bracket having an aperture that is generally perpendicular relative to the top and bottom mounting plates and configured to receive and secure a smart meter within the interior space of the smart meter module; and an outer cover sized to extend circumferentially around the interior space of the smart meter module, wherein the bottom mounting plate is configured such that the smart meter can be secured to the top of a mounting pole. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer cover is divided into a front section and a back section, each section comprising a plurality of apertures that are each configured to receive a respective fastener that secures each section of the outer cover to the support frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer cover comprises a radio frequency transparent material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the top mounting plate is configured such that additional telecommunications equipment can be secured on top of the smart meter module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of apertures have an elongated shape. ### Claim 6 A smart meter module assembly, the assembly comprising: a mounting structure; a smart meter; and a smart meter module, the smart meter module comprising: a support frame, the support frame comprising: a top mounting plate having a first routing aperture and a first plurality of elongated apertures located circumferentially around the first routing aperture; a bottom mounting plate having a corresponding second routing aperture and a second plurality of apertures located circumferentially around the second routing aperture, wherein the top mounting plate is spaced apart a distance from the bottom mounting plate to form an interior space of the smart meter module; and an inner bracket between the top and bottom mounting plates and coupled thereto, the inner bracket having an aperture that is generally perpendicular relative to the top and bottom mounting plates, wherein the smart meter is secured within the aperture of the inner bracket; and an outer cover sized to extend circumferentially around the interior space of the smart meter module, wherein the bottom mounting plate of the smart meter module is secured to the top of the mounting structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The smart meter module assembly of claim 6, further comprising telecommunications equipment secured to the top mounting plate of the smart meter module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The smart meter module assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting structure is a pole. ### Claim 9 An assembly for mounting a smart meter to a mounting pole, the assembly comprising: a support frame, the support frame comprising: a top mounting plate; a bottom mounting plate, wherein the top mounting plate is spaced apart a distance from the bottom mounting plate to form an interior space of the smart meter module; and an inner bracket between the top and bottom mounting plates and coupled thereto, the inner bracket having an aperture configured to receive and secure a smart meter within the interior space of the smart meter module such that the smart meter can transmit signals outside of the interior space; and an outer cover sized to extend circumferentially around the interior space of the smart meter module, wherein the bottom mounting plate is configured such that the smart meter can be secured to the top of a mounting pole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the top mounting plate comprises a first routing aperture located and a first plurality of elongated apertures located circumferentially around the first routing aperture, and wherein the bottom mounting plate comprises a corresponding second routing aperture and a second plurality of elongated apertures located circumferentially around the second routing aperture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer cover is divided into a front section and a back section, each section comprising a plurality of apertures that are each configured to receive a respective fastener that secures each section of the outer cover to the support frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer cover comprises a radio frequency transparent material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the top mounting plate is configured such that additional telecommunications equipment can be secured on top of the smart meter module. ### Claim 14 A smart meter module, the smart meter module comprising: a smart meter; a support frame, the support frame comprising: a top mounting plate; a bottom mounting plate, wherein the top mounting plate is spaced apart a distance from the bottom mounting plate to form an interior space of the smart meter module; and an inner bracket between the top and bottom mounting plates and coupled thereto, the inner bracket having an aperture; and an outer cover sized to extend circumferentially around the interior space of the smart meter module; wherein the bottom mounting plate is configured such that the smart meter module can be secured to the top of a mounting pole; and wherein the smart meter is mounted to the inner bracket such that the smart meter can transmit signals outside of the interior space and through the outer cover.