Abstract: An electronic device using total internal reflection to guide light from a light source housed within the electronic device to the surface of the device. The electronic device has a cover secured to a protective housing to form a protective enclosure for the electronic device. The cover is adapted to use total internal reflection to guide light through the cover to a plurality of surface portion of the cover. A second surface portion of the cover is adapted to totally internally reflect a first portion of the light to the first surface portion.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of utility clients has a meter at the client location. A reader, such as an infrared emitter and optical photosensor arrangement, obtains consumption information from the meter and provides the information to a microprocessor. The microprocessor stores the information as data in memory. A server located remotely from the client locations sends polling messages to the client locations to obtain the consumption data. Messages are sent one at a time, with a period between messages to await a response. Messages from the server and to the client locations and from the client locations to the servers include error correction fields to enable the receiving location to check the message for errors. The server scans a range of radio frequencies to measure traffic and noise and uses information obtained to create a radio frequency hop map. This map is transmitted to client locations for use in future responses to polling messages.