METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR MARKING MATERIAL COLOR DETECTION IN CONNECTION WITH LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one communication interface;
at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and reference color information regarding a plurality of marking material colors; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one communication interface, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processor;
A) analyzes camera system data associated with the surface being marked to obtain detected color information relating to the marking material dispensed by the marking device, the camera system data being provided by at least one camera system attached to the marking device;
B) retrieves, from the at least one memory, the reference color information; and
C) generates marking material color information based at least in part on the detected color information and the reference color information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. In some embodiments, one or more camera systems (e.g., digital video cameras) are mounted on a marking device to capture information (e.g., one or more of image information, color information, motion information and light level information) relating to the surface being marked. The camera system(s) may be mounted near a nozzle of a marking material dispenser, so as to capture information relating to freshly dispensed marking material on the surface being marked. The captured information may be analyzed to determine a color of the freshly dispensed marking material, which may then be correlated with a type of facilities being marked.
174 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one communication interface; at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and reference color information regarding a plurality of marking material colors; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one communication interface, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processor; A) analyzes camera system data associated with the surface being marked to obtain detected color information relating to the marking material dispensed by the marking device, the camera system data being provided by at least one camera system attached to the marking device; B) retrieves, from the at least one memory, the reference color information; and C) generates marking material color information based at least in part on the detected color information and the reference color information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In a system comprising at least one communication interface, at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one communication interface, a method for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:
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A) analyzing camera system data associated with the surface being marked to obtain detected color information relating to the marking material dispensed by the marking device, the camera system data being provided by at least one camera system attached to the marking device; B) retrieving, from the at least one memory, reference color information regarding a plurality of marking material colors; and C) generating marking material color information based at least in part on the detected color information and the reference color information.
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24. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with at least one program including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:
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A) analyzing camera system data associated with the surface being marked to obtain detected color information relating to the marking material dispensed by the marking device, the camera system data being provided by at least one camera system attached to the marking device; B) retrieving, from the at least one memory, reference color information regarding a plurality of marking material colors; and C) generating marking material color information based at least in part on the detected color information and the reference color information.
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25. A marking apparatus for performing a marking operation to mark on a surface a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the marking apparatus comprising:
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at least one actuator to dispense a marking material so as to form at least one locate mark on the surface to mark the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility; at least one camera system to provide camera system data relating to the surface being marked; at least one user interface including at least one display device; at least one communication interface; at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one communication interface, the at least one user interface, and the at least one actuator, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processor; A) analyzes the camera system data to obtain detected color information relating to the marking material dispensed by the marking device; B) retrieves, from the at least one memory, reference color information regarding a plurality of marking material colors; and C) generates marking material color information based at least in part on the detected color information and the reference color information. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification