Single and multi-trace omnidirectional sonde and line locators and transmitter used therewith
First Claim
1. An omnidirectional manually portable system for locating a plurality of buried objects that emit different electromagnetic signals, comprising:
- at least one antenna array including a plurality of antennas;
a portable housing connected to and supporting the antenna array; and
circuit means at least partially mounted in the housing and connected to the antenna array for simultaneously sensing a plurality of different electromagnetic signals emitted from a plurality of buried objects and simultaneously indicating a plurality of different locations of the buried objects.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
At least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point senses an electromagnetic signal emitted by a buried object such as a utility line, pipe or sonde. A circuit at least partially mounted in a housing is connected to the array and determines a location of the buried object by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions without having to align the antenna array relative to the buried object while eliminating nulls and false peaks. A graphical user interface (GUI) has user-friendly icons, symbols, menus, numbers and graphical and auditory representation of signal strength. A plurality of different underground objects can be simultaneously detected and their different locations can be simultaneously indicated to a user via audible sounds and/or visual images on a display.
151 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An omnidirectional manually portable system for locating a plurality of buried objects that emit different electromagnetic signals, comprising:
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at least one antenna array including a plurality of antennas;
a portable housing connected to and supporting the antenna array; and
circuit means at least partially mounted in the housing and connected to the antenna array for simultaneously sensing a plurality of different electromagnetic signals emitted from a plurality of buried objects and simultaneously indicating a plurality of different locations of the buried objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of locating a plurality of buried objects by sensing a plurality of different electromagnetic signals emitted by the objects, comprising the steps of:
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traversing a topside area beneath which a plurality of objects emitting a plurality of different electromagnetic signals are buried with at least one antenna array;
sensing the electromagnetic signals emitted from the buried objects with the one array; and
simultaneously determining a plurality of different locations of the buried object based on the sensed electromagnetic signals and simultaneously indicating the different locations to a user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An omnidirectional manually portable system for locating a plurality of buried objects by sensing a plurality of different electromagnetic signals emitted by the objects, comprising:
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a first antenna array including three substantially mutually orthogonal antennas in the form of a first plurality of coils sharing a first common center point;
a second antenna array including three substantially mutually orthogonal antennas in the form of a second plurality of coils sharing a second common center point;
a portable housing including a handle portion;
an elongate member connecting the first and second antenna arrays to the housing and extending through the first and second common center points and supporting the first and second antenna arrays in spaced apart relation; and
circuit means at least partially mounted in the housing and connected to the antennas in the first and second antenna arrays for sensing electromagnetic signals in a plurality of different bands emitted by a plurality of different buried objects and determining a location and a depth of each of the plurality of buried objects by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions for each buried object utilizing the first and second antenna arrays, the circuit means including means for simultaneously providing visual and/or audible indications of the location and depth of each of the plurality of buried objects.
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21. A transmitter for use with a line locator, comprising:
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a portable housing having at least a pair of outwardly opening pockets;
a control panel mounted on the housing for receiving manually inputted commands;
an electronic circuit mounted in the housing for receiving the commands from the control panel and generating a predetermined electrical output signal in response to the commands;
at least a pair of electrical cords each stowable in a corresponding one of the pockets, the electrical cords each having an inner end electrically connected to the electronic circuit, and means electrically connected to an outer end of each of the electrical cords for coupling the predetermined electrical signal across a selected utility line. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A transmitter for use with a line locator, comprising:
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a portable housing;
a control panel mounted on the housing for receiving manually inputted commands;
an electronic circuit mounted in the housing for receiving the commands from the control panel and generating a predetermined electrical output signal in response to the commands, including means for selecting one of a plurality of different frequency bands and means for selecting a channel frequency within the selected one of the bands that is uniquely associated with one of a plurality of different types of utilities; and
means for coupling the predetermined electrical output signal across a selected utility line. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A clip for use with a transmitter that energizes a buried object for detection by a locator, comprising:
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mechanical meas for establishing an electrical connection to a surface accessible part of the buried object for applying a predetermined output signal from a transmitter to the buried object; and
means associated with the mechanical means for providing a luminous signal to a user indicating that the predetermined output signal has been applied across the buried object. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification