Multi-frequency boring tool locating system and method
First Claim
1. In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region during selective rotation of the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
- configuring the boring tool with a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal for use in tracking an underground position of the boring tool in said region and for changing at least one characteristic of said locating signal responsive to subjecting the boring tool to a predetermined roll sequence during underground operation such that the predetermined roll sequence includes the steps of rotating the boring tool for one time period at a first roll rate in timed relation to rotating the boring tool for another time period at a second roll rate.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Arrangements, apparatus and associated methods are described for use in a multi-frequency boring tool locating system. The boring tool includes a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal at two or more selectable frequencies. One set of above ground procedures may be applied to the transmitter in order to change the frequency of the boring tool transmitter. Another set of procedures is applicable for changing the frequency during below ground drilling operations, for example, by subjecting the boring tool to a predetermined roll orientation sequence. An enhanced portable locator operates in a manual or automatic mode to receive locating frequency information transmitted from the boring tool transmitter including frequency updates. Boring tool transmitter, as well as above ground locator shutdown/restart procedures are described relating to multi-frequency operation. A tone detector is described which implements one or more digital match filters.
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Citations
149 Claims
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1. In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region during selective rotation of the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
configuring the boring tool with a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal for use in tracking an underground position of the boring tool in said region and for changing at least one characteristic of said locating signal responsive to subjecting the boring tool to a predetermined roll sequence during underground operation such that the predetermined roll sequence includes the steps of rotating the boring tool for one time period at a first roll rate in timed relation to rotating the boring tool for another time period at a second roll rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a system in which a boring tool is movable underground in a region during selective rotation of the boring tool using a drill string, a method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the boring tool with a transmitter for transmitting a locating signal for use in tracking an underground position of the boring tool in said region and for changing at least one characteristic of said locating signal responsive to subjecting the boring tool to a predetermined roll sequence during underground operation, said characteristic being selected as at least one of frequency of the locating signal and transmitted power of the locating signal;
selectively rotating the boring tool using the drill string to subject the boring tool to the predetermined roll sequence, said predetermined roll sequence including the steps in the order of for a first time interval, maintaining a non-roll status of the boring tool, rolling the boring tool at a slow roll rate for a second, slow roll rate time interval, rolling the boring tool at a fast roll rate for a third, fast roll rate time interval without stopping rotation following the slow roll rate time interval, and for a fourth time interval, again maintaining the non-roll status of the boring tool. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In a boring tool for use in a system in which the boring tool is moved underground in a region during selective rotation of the boring tool, an assembly comprising:
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a first arrangement for transmitting a locating signal from the boring tool for use in tracking an underground position of the boring tool in said region; and
a second arrangement, cooperating with said first arrangement, for changing at least one characteristic of said locating signal responsive to subjecting the boring tool to a predetermined roll sequence during underground operation including rotation of the boring tool for one time interval at a first roll rate in timed relation to rotation of the boring tool for another time interval at a second roll rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. A transmitter configured for installation in a boring tool, said transmitter comprising:
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a first arrangement for transmitting a locating signal at a selected one of at least two frequencies; and
a frequency selection arrangement, cooperating with said first arrangement, for determining the selected one of said frequencies based, at least in part, on a pitch orientation of the transmitter.
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21. A transmitter configured for installation in a boring tool, said transmitter comprising:
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a first arrangement for transmitting a locating signal at a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool; and
a frequency selection arrangement, cooperating with said first arrangement, for determining the selected one of said frequencies based on an orientation parameter of the transmitter at power-up of the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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23. A transmitter configured having an elongation axis and a forward end for installation in a boring tool, said transmitter comprising:
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a first arrangement for transmitting a locating signal at a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool; and
a frequency selection arrangement, cooperating with said first arrangement, for switching the selected one of said frequencies to another one of said frequencies responsive to detecting a pitch orientation sequence to which the transmitter is subjected.
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31. A transmitter configured for installation in a boring tool, said transmitter comprising:
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a first arrangement for transmitting a locating signal having a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool; and
a frequency selection arrangement, cooperating with said first arrangement, for detecting the selected one of said frequencies as a power-down frequency at a time when the transmitter is transferred from an operational state to an off state and for restarting the first arrangement at the power-down frequency upon switching from the off state to the operational state.
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32. In a transmitter for use in a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said transmitter configured for transmitting a locating signal from the boring tool at least during the underground movement of the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the transmitter for transmitting the locating signal at a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool; and
with the transmitter above or on the surface of the ground, using a frequency selection arrangement, forming part of the transmitter, to determine the selected one of said frequencies based, at least in part, on a pitch orientation of the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 46)
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38. In a transmitter for use in a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said transmitter configured for transmitting a locating signal from the boring tool at least during the underground movement of the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the transmitter for transmitting the locating signal at a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool; and
with the transmitter above or on the surface of the ground, using a frequency selection arrangement, forming part of the transmitter, to determine the selected one of said frequencies based, at least in part, on an orientation parameter of the transmitter at power-up of the transmitter.
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40. In a transmitter for use in a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said transmitter defining an elongation axis configured for transmitting a locating signal from the boring tool at least during the underground movement of the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the transmitter for transmitting the locating signal at a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool;
with the transmitter above or on the surface of the ground, detecting a pitch orientation sequence of the elongation axis of the transmitter using a pitch sensing arrangement forming part of the transmitter; and
using a frequency selection arrangement, forming part of the transmitter, switching from the selected one of said frequencies to another one of said frequencies responsive to detection of the pitch orientation sequence. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65)
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47. In a system including a boring tool which is moved underground in a region, said boring tool including a transmitter configured for transmitting a locating signal at least during the underground movement of the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the transmitter for transmitting the locating signal at a selected one of at least two locating frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool; and
using a frequency selection arrangement forming part of the transmitter, detecting the selected one of said locating frequencies as a transmitter power-down locating frequency at a time when the transmitter is switched from a transmitter operational state to a transmitter off state; and
restarting the transmitter at least initially configured to resume transmitting at the transmitter power-down locating frequency upon switching from the transmitter off state to the transmitter operational state.
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49. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a locator for tracking the position of and/or guiding the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground, a method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a locating signal from the boring tool at a selected one of at least two frequencies for use in tracking the boring tool by receiving the locating signal with the locator; and
indicating the selected frequency of the locating signal to the locator using a frequency control arrangement which forms part of the transmitter.
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64. In a system including a transmitter configured for installation in a boring tool which is moved through the ground in a region, said system further including a locator for tracking the position of and/or guiding the boring tool using the locating signal, said transmitter comprising:
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a first arrangement for transmitting a locating signal at a selected one of at least two locating frequencies for receipt by the locator; and
a frequency control arrangement for indicating the selected locating frequency of the locating signal to the locator. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a locating arrangement for tracking the position of and/or guiding the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground, said locating arrangement comprising:
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a transmitter forming part of the boring tool for transmitting a locating signal at a selected one of at least two locating frequencies and for transmitting a frequency designation identifying the selected locating frequency of the locating signal; and
a locator configured for receiving the locating signal for use in tracking the boring tool and including a frequency tracking arrangement for switching the locator between different ones of the locating frequencies based on said frequency designation. - View Dependent Claims (74)
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75. In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said boring tool being configured for transmitting a locating signal therefrom at least during the underground movement of the boring tool for receipt by a locator for use in tracking the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of:
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configuring the transmitter for transmitting the locating signal at a selected one of at least two locating frequencies;
using a control arrangement forming part of the locator, detecting the selected one of said locating frequencies as a power-down locating frequency at a time when the locator is initially powered down; and
thereafter, powering up the locator at least initially configured for receiving the power-down locating frequency.
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76. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a locating arrangement for tracking the position of and/or guiding the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground, said locating arrangement comprising:
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a transmitter forming part of the boring tool for transmitting a locating signal at a selected one of at least two locating frequencies; and
a locator configured for receiving the locating signal for use in tracking the boring tool and including a frequency control arrangement for detecting the selected one of said locating frequencies as a locator power-down locating frequency at a time when the locator is initially powered down and, thereafter, for causing the locator to power-up at least initially configured for receiving the locator power-down locating frequency. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79)
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80. In a tone decoder for decoding an incoming analog data stream containing at least one tone, a method comprising the steps of:
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converting the incoming analog data stream to a binary data stream based on one switching threshold;
sampling the binary data stream over a sample period to establish a plurality of samples, each of which is characterized as a binary value, at a rate based on said tone; and
using said samples in a way which establishes at least an approximate magnitude of the tone for the sample period. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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97. In a tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream which contains at least one tone that is selectively present, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude the filter intervals in the staggered time relationship; and
determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter. - View Dependent Claims (98)
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99. In a tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in a series of bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude in the staggered time relationship; and
determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter. - View Dependent Claims (100)
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101. In a tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, a method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
b) starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time in relation to a particular bit time;
c) starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration;
d) at the filter stop time of said first digital filter, determining at least an approximate magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter;
e) at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter, determining at least an approximate magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149)
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114. A tone decoder for decoding an incoming analog data stream containing at least one tone, said tone decoder comprising:
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a first arrangement for converting the incoming analog data stream to a binary data stream based on one switching threshold;
a second arrangement for sampling the binary data stream over a sample period to establish a plurality of samples, each of which is characterized as a binary value, at a rate based on said tone; and
a third arrangement for using said samples in a way which establishes at least an approximate magnitude of the tone for the sample period.
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131. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream which contains at least one tone that is selectively present, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
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a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
a first arrangement for starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude the filter intervals in the staggered time relationship; and
a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter.
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132. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in a series of bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
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a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
a first arrangement for starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude in the staggered time relationship; and
a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter.
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133. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
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a) a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
b) a first arrangement for starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time in timed relation to a particular bit time and for starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration; and
c) a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter at the filter stop time of said first digital filter and, thereafter, for determining the average magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter.
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147. In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said boring tool being configured for transmitting a locating signal therefrom at least during the underground movement of the boring tool and for transmitting data relating to the boring tool as an encoded data stream including at least one tone, a locator comprising:
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a locating arrangement for receiving the locating signal for use in tracking the boring tool;
a first arrangement for converting the incoming encoded data stream to a binary data stream based on one switching threshold;
a second arrangement for sampling the binary data stream over a sample period to establish a plurality of samples, each of which is characterized as a binary value, at a rate based on said tone; and
a third arrangement for using said samples in a way which establishes at least an approximate magnitude of the tone for the sample period.
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148. In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said boring tool being configured for transmitting a locating signal therefrom at least during the underground movement of the boring tool and for transmitting a data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, a locator comprising:
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a locating arrangement for receiving the locating signal for use in tracking the boring tool;
a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
a first arrangement for starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time and for starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration; and
a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter at the filter stop time of said first digital filter and, thereafter, for determining the average magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter.
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Specification