MARKING DEVICE WITH TRANSMITTER FOR TRIANGULATING LOCATION DURING LOCATE OPERATIONS
First Claim
1. A system for tracking location of a marking device used to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility during performance of a marking operation at a work site, the system comprising:
- the marking device comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal;
a first receiving system coupled to a vehicle at the work site, disposed at a first stationary location on the vehicle, and configured to receive the wireless signal and produce a first output signal;
a second receiving system coupled to the vehicle, disposed at a second stationary location on the vehicle, and configured to receive the wireless signal and produce a second output signal; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the first receiving system and the second receiving system to receive the first output signal and the second output signal and to execute a triangulation algorithm utilizing the first output signal and the second output signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining the location of a marking device during performance of a marking operation using triangulation are described. The marking device may be of the type used to mark the presence or absence of underground facilities and may include a marking material dispenser to dispense marking material as an indicator. The marking device may include a transmitter which transmits a signal received by a receiving system including two or more receiving devices at separate locations. Triangulation algorithms may then be used to determine the location of the marking device relative to the receiving system.
231 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for tracking location of a marking device used to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility during performance of a marking operation at a work site, the system comprising:
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the marking device comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal; a first receiving system coupled to a vehicle at the work site, disposed at a first stationary location on the vehicle, and configured to receive the wireless signal and produce a first output signal; a second receiving system coupled to the vehicle, disposed at a second stationary location on the vehicle, and configured to receive the wireless signal and produce a second output signal; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the first receiving system and the second receiving system to receive the first output signal and the second output signal and to execute a triangulation algorithm utilizing the first output signal and the second output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for tracking location of a marking device used to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility during performance of a marking operation at a work site, the system comprising:
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the marking device comprising; a tip configured to be disposed proximate ground when the marking device is in use; a marking material dispenser disposed proximate the tip of the marking device and configured to dispense a marking material; an actuator operable by a user of the marking device to dispense the marking material; a wireless transmitter disposed proximate the tip of the marking device and coupled to the actuator, wherein the transmitter is configured to, in response to actuation of the actuator, transmit a wireless signal including an identification of the marking device; a first receiving antenna coupled to a vehicle and disposed at a first stationary location of the work site and configured to receive the wireless signal and produce a first output signal; a second receiving antenna coupled to the vehicle and disposed at a second stationary location of the work site and configured to receive the wireless signal and produce a second output signal; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver disposed at a third stationary location of the work site and configured to output a third output signal identifying the third stationary location; and
;at least one processor communicatively coupled to the first receiving antenna, the second receiving antenna, and the GPS receiver to receive the first output signal, the second output signal, and the third output signal, and configured to execute a triangulation algorithm utilizing the first output signal, the second output signal, and the third output signal to determine a location of the tip of the marking device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of tracking a location of a marking device used to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility during performance of a marking operation at a work site, the method comprising:
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transmitting a wireless transmission signal from the marking device to multiple receivers disposed at respective fixed locations at a vehicle at the work site, the multiple receivers forming at least part of a triangulation system; and triangulating, based on reception of the wireless transmission signal by the multiple receivers, the location of the marking device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification