Hand-held Radar Device With Direct Printing Based on Radar Input

• US 20140104094A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Feigin, Jeffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04501 Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12

Abstract

The disclosed technology includes a device and method of use for direct printing and ink or other marking, in conjunction with GPR techniques. In a most basic embodiment of the disclosed technology, a relevant date, time, filename, and other parameters are printed or otherwise physically exhibited on the measurement surface, so that RADAR files can be later attributed to a specific data collection site. In a more advanced embodiment of the disclosed technology, actual RADAR target information is printed, or otherwise physically exhibited, on the measurement surface, such as while measuring, or substantially while measuring, the surface and substrate beneath with GPR.

Claims

1. A RADAR transmission and marking device, comprising:

a bottom side and a top side opposite said bottom side;

a radar antenna operative from said bottom side;

a processor;

a distance measurement tool; and

a printing mechanism operative from said bottom side;

wherein said printing mechanism is configured to print indicia on a surface in contact with said bottom side of said device, as a function of a received response to said radar antenna.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to roll or be pushed across said surface while a radio frequency signal is transmitted and received by said radar antenna, and said printing mechanism makes indicia on said surface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said indicia are printed as a result of target detection at a specific location.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein, upon detection of a said target, said printing mechanism makes said indicia calibrated such that the velocity of movement of said device, processing time, and position of said printing mechanism relative to said antenna cause said indicia to be printed on a location associated with said target.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein, before printing said indicia, a user is prompted to accept said target, and said indicia are printed only after receiving input from said user to accept said target.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a screen on a side other than said bottom side, exhibiting a visual representation of said received response of said radar antenna.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein upon receipt of input from a user:

a determination of a point on said surface associated with a part of said visual representation of said received response on said display is made; and

said print mechanism is instructed to make an indicium on said surface at said point.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said device moves from a first position on said surface to a second position on said surface after receiving said input from said user and before said print mechanism is instructed to make an indicium, said distance between said first and second position based, at least in part, on a distance between said antenna and said print head.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said print mechanism is an ink-jet print head.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein said radio frequency sending and receiving by said antenna is carried out in a first pass over said surface, and said indicia are placed on said surface in a second pass over said surface, said antenna being non-operative in said second pass, and said printing mechanism being non-operative in said first pass.

11. A method of marking a surface, based on RADAR measurements, comprising the steps of:

rolling or pushing a combination radio frequency transmitter and printing mechanism device from a start point to an end point;

transmitting radar signals by way of said transmitter into a substrate beneath a surface;

making a determination of at least one target in said substrate beneath a point of said surface;

printing, using said printing mechanism, a mark at said point on said surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of making a determination of a target is made automatically, using migration.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, after said step of making a determination and before said step of printing, further steps are carried out, in order, of:

prompting a user if a marking should be made on said target;

receiving an input from said user indicating that a marking should be made on said target.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said printing mechanism is an inkjet print head.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said radio frequency transmitter and said printing mechanism are spaced apart, such that when said radio frequency transmitter measures said point with said target being beneath, said printing mechanism at a second point on said surface, separate from said measured point.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of waiting until said printing mechanism passes over said measured point, with said target being underneath, until carrying said further step of printing.

17. A device comprising:

a handle on a top side;

a display on a top side;

at least one button adapted to convert mechanical pressure into electrical impulses;

a print head aimed such that ink exiting from said print head exits past a bottom side of said device, opposite said top side;

a radar transmitter aimed such that radar is transmitted, at least, mostly in a direction away from said top side.

18. The device of claim 17, comprising an automatic measurement and marking mode of a surface adjacent to said button side of said device.

19. The device of claim 17, comprising a semi-automatic measurement and marking mode of a surface adjacent to said button side of said device.

20. The device of claim 17, comprising a manual measurement and marking mode of a surface adjacent to said button side of said device.