PHASE SYNCHRONIZED BURIED OBJECT LOCATOR APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for use in a buried object locator system transmitter, comprising:
- receiving a transmitted signal, including timing information, at the transmitter;
generating a timing reference from the timing information at the transmitter;
generating a phase-synchronized output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference at the transmitter; and
sending the output signal from the transmitter to a coupling device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized such that an associated locator may receive magnetic field signals from the output current signal and determine information about the current flow based on independent phase-synchronization timing information.
31 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method for use in a buried object locator system transmitter, comprising:
-
receiving a transmitted signal, including timing information, at the transmitter; generating a timing reference from the timing information at the transmitter; generating a phase-synchronized output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference at the transmitter; and sending the output signal from the transmitter to a coupling device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
-
receiving a magnetic field signal associated with a current in a buried object, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information; receiving a second transmitted signal including second timing information; determining a second timing reference from the second timing information; and determining information related to the current in the buried object based on the received magnetic signal and second timing reference. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A transmitter for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
-
a timing synchronization module including a timing receiver module configured to receive a first transmitted signal that includes timing information and a timing reference module to determine a timing reference from the timing information; and an output signal generation module configured to generate an output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An locator for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
-
a locator receiver module for receiving a magnetic field signal from a buried object associated with a current in the buried object, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information; a timing synchronization module including a receiver module configured to receive a second transmitted signal that includes second timing information and a processor module configured to determine a second timing reference from the second timing information; and a processing module configured to determine information related to the current in the buried object based on the received magnetic signal and the second timing reference. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A computer readable medium including instructions for causing a computer to:
-
receive a first transmitted signal that includes timing information; determine a timing reference from the timing information; generate an output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference; and send the output signal to a coupling apparatus.
-
-
31. A computer readable medium including instructions for causing a computer to:
-
receive a magnetic signal associated with a current in a buried object, wherein the magnetic signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information; receive a second transmitted signal including second timing information; determine a second timing reference from the second timing information; and determine an indicated current direction in a buried object based on the received locator signal and the second timing reference.
-
Specification