Household marker system and method for detecting household features

• US 20030231111A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Gaetzke
• Original Assignee: Richard Gaetzke
• Inventors: Gaetzke, Richard
• Application Number:
  US10/170,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

A household marker system and method for detecting household features facilitates location of line hidden inside a structure, such as natural gas piping, plumbing and electrical lines. The system and method further provide location of property boundaries of a household, making it possible for a householder to detect their property boundaries without requiring a survey. The system includes one or more markers and a detector. The detector radiates an electromagnetic field at one or more frequencies. The markers resonate at a predetermined frequency and re-radiate an electromagnetic field at the predetermined frequency. The detector detects the re-radiated field and provides an indication of intensity of the re-radiated field so that the location of the marker may be determined by the intensity.

Claims

1. A marker system for locating household features, comprising:

at least one marker co-located with a corresponding one of said household features; and

a detector for detecting a location of said at least one marker, whereby a location of said corresponding household feature may be determined.

2. The marker system of claim 1, wherein said at least one marker comprises an electromagnetic resonator and wherein said detector comprises an electromagnetic coupler for exciting a signal within said resonator, whereby a re-radiation from said resonator may be detected by said detector to determined said location of said household feature.

3. The marker system of claim 2, wherein said at least one marker comprises:

a ferrite rod;

a wire coil wrapped around said rod; and

a capacitor having a first terminal connected to a first end of said coil and a second terminal coupled to a second end of said coil, whereby a resonant tank is formed.

4. The marker system of claim 2, wherein said detector comprises an indicator for indicating the amplitude of said re-radiation, whereby said location of said at least one marker may be determined by detecting a maximum of said amplitude when said detector is moved near said at least one marker.

5. The marker system of claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic coupler comprises a coil with multiple windings.

6. The marker system of claim 1, wherein said at least one marker is located underground on a line defining a boundary of said household, whereby said boundary of said household may be detected using said detector.

7. The marker system of claim 1, wherein said at least one marker is co-located with a gas line hidden within the structure of said household, whereby location of said gas line may be detected.

8. The marker system of claim 1, further comprising a gas leak detector co-located with said at least one marker, whereby the location of a gas leak may be detected.

9. The marker system of claim 8, wherein said gas leak detector comprises a sonic transducer, whereby an audible alarm may be emitted when said gas leak occurs.

10. The marker system of claim 1, wherein at least one marker is co-located with a water line hidden within the structure of said household, whereby location of said water line may be detected.

11. The marker system of claim 1, wherein said at least one marker further comprises a housing fabricated from a nailable material and having an extension wherein internal circuity is absent, whereby a nail may be inserted therethrough for attaching said marker to a structure member of said household without damaging said marker.

12. The marker system of claim 11, wherein said housing is a substantially cylindrical plastic housing.

13. A marker system for locating household features, comprising:

means for marking said household features; and

means for detecting a location of said marking means, whereby a location of a corresponding household feature may be determined.

14. The marker system of claim 13, wherein said household features are property boundary locations and wherein said detecting means detects a household property boundary.

15. The marker system of claim 13, wherein said household features are hidden system lines within said household structure and wherein said detecting means detects said hidden system lines.

16. A method for detecting household features, comprising:

co-locating markers with corresponding household features; and

detecting a location of said markers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said detecting comprises:

generating an electromagnetic field at one or more frequencies;

re-radiating an electromagnetic field at a predetermined one of said one or more frequencies; and

detecting a maximum intensity of said re-radiated electromagnetic field.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising burying said marker at a boundary line of said household and wherein said detecting detects a location of said boundary line.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising installing said marker within a structure of said household near a hidden system line and wherein said detecting locates said hidden system line.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said hidden system line is a gas line and further comprising generating an audible alarm at said gas line, whereby said detecting may be performed in response to said alarm.