DISTINGUISHING FALSE SIGNALS IN CABLE LOCATING

• US 20060232258A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E., Chau, Albert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/67
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/165 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by the object or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/17
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

Discriminating between a cable locating signal and a false cable locating signal is described. A reference signal, which contains a locating signal frequency impressed on it, is transmitted in a way which provides for detection of a phase shift between the locating signal and the false locating signal. Based on the phase shift, a receiver is used to distinguish the locating signal from the false locating signal.

Claims

1. In a region which includes at least first and second in-ground cables, each of which cables includes an electrically conductive component such that, when the first cable is driven at a locating signal frequency to emit a locating signal in an electromagnetic form, the locating signal can be coupled to the second cable in a way which causes the second cable to generate a false locating signal in electromagnetic form, a method for discriminating between the locating signal and the false locating signal, said method comprising:

transmitting a reference signal, which contains said locating signal frequency impressed thereon, in a way which provides for detection of a phase shift between the locating signal and the false locating signal; and

based on said phase shift, using a receiver, distinguishing the locating signal from the false locating signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the locating signal is electromagnetically coupled from the first cable to the second cable through the ground to cause the second cable to emit the false locating signal and wherein using said phase shift includes

(a) recovering the locating signal frequency from the reference signal, and

(b) synchronously detecting

(i) said locating signal frequency, and

(ii) a selected frequency band, which includes said locating signal and said false locating signal, in a way which substantially rejects the false locating signal while providing an output responsive to the locating signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said locating signal frequency, as contained by the reference signal, is at least approximately in a fixed phase relationship with said locating signal and detection of said phase shift is based, at least in part, on said fixed phase relationship.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said locating signal is driven onto the first cable using inductive coupling and wherein said fixed phase relationship is at least approximately 90 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said fixed phase relationship is of a known magnitude and mathematical sign in relation to said locating signal frequency.

6. The method of claim 5 including driving the locating signal onto said first cable in a given way which establishes said fixed frequency relationship.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said reference signal includes a carrier frequency that is modulated by said locating signal frequency.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a ratio of the carrier frequency to the locating signal frequency is at least 5.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the locating signal frequency is in a range from approximately 1 Hz to 80 KHz and the carrier frequency is in a range from approximately 10 Hz to 300 KHz.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said phase shift is in quadrature.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the locating signal is electromagnetically coupled from the first cable to the second cable through the ground to cause the second cable to emit the false locating signal.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cable and the second cable each include a distal end and the distal ends are resistively connected to one another such that the locating signal is resistively coupled from the first cable to the second cable to produce the false locating signal and the false locating signal of the second cable is in an inverted phase relationship with respect to the locating signal of the first cable.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference signal and the locating signal frequency are produced by a transmitter and wherein transmitting includes sending the reference signal to said receiver using a telemetry arrangement forming part of the transmitter and part of said receiver.

14. The method of claim 13 including modulating an RF carrier with said reference signal and transmitting the RF carrier above ground for reception by said receiver.

15. In a region which contains at least first and second in-ground cables, each of which cables includes an electrically conductive component such that, when the first cable is driven at a locating signal frequency to emit a locating signal in an electromagnetic form, the locating signal can be coupled to the second cable in a way which causes the second cable to generate a false locating signal in electromagnetic form, an apparatus for discriminating between the locating signal and the false locating signal, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for generating said locating signal frequency and for transmitting a reference signal, which contains said locating signal frequency impressed thereon, in a way which provides for detection of a phase shift between the locating signal and the false locating signal; and

a receiver for using said phase shift, as detected thereby, for distinguishing the locating signal from the false locating signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the locating signal is electromagnetically coupled from the first cable to the second cable through the ground to cause the second cable to emit the false locating signal and wherein said receiver uses said phase shift to

(a) recover the locating signal frequency from the reference signal, and

(b) synchronously detecting

(i) said locating signal frequency, and

(ii) a selected frequency band, which includes said locating signal and said false locating signal, in a way which substantially rejects the false locating signal while providing an output responsive to the locating signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said locating signal frequency, as contained by the reference signal, is at least approximately in a fixed phase relationship with said locating signal and detection of said phase shift by said receiver is based, at least in part, on said fixed phase relationship.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said locating signal is driven onto the first cable using inductive coupling and wherein said fixed phase relationship is at least approximately 90 degrees.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said fixed phase relationship is of a known magnitude and mathematical sign in relationship to said locating signal frequency.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said transmitter is configured for driving the locating signal onto said first cable in a given way which establishes said fixed frequency relationship.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the transmitter produces said reference signal including a carrier frequency that is modulated by said locating signal frequency.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a ratio of the carrier frequency to the locating signal frequency is at least 5.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the locating signal frequency is in a range from approximately 1 Hz to 80 KHz and the carrier frequency is in a range from approximately 10 Hz to 300 KHz.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said phase shift is in quadrature.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein locating signal is electromagnetically coupled from the first cable to the second cable to cause the second cable to emit the false locating signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first cable and the second cable each include a distal end and the distal ends are resistively connected to one another such that the locating signal is resistively coupled from the first cable to the second cable to produce the false locating signal in an inverted phase relationship with respect to the locating signal and said receiver indicates a signal strength of one sign for the locating signal when an opposite signal strength is indicated for the false locating signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 15 including a telemetry arrangement forming part of the transmitter and part of the receiver for sending the reference signal to said receiver.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said telemetry arrangement, at the transmitter, modulates an RF carrier with said reference signal and transmits the RF carrier above ground for reception by said receiver and said telemetry arrangement, at the receiver, demodulates the RF carrier to recover the reference signal for use at the receiver.