MULTI-FREQUENCY LOCATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A buried object locator, comprising:
- a mast;
a housing coupled to the mast;
a display element disposed on or within the housing; and
a processing element disposed in the housing;
wherein the processing element is configured to simultaneously receive and process a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from a buried object at different frequencies and generate, based on two or more of the plurality of magnetic field signals, display information associated with the buried object for rendering on the display element.
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Abstract
Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A buried object locator, comprising:
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a mast; a housing coupled to the mast; a display element disposed on or within the housing; and a processing element disposed in the housing; wherein the processing element is configured to simultaneously receive and process a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from a buried object at different frequencies and generate, based on two or more of the plurality of magnetic field signals, display information associated with the buried object for rendering on the display element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing an output display on a buried object locator, comprising:
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simultaneously receiving, at the buried object locator, a plurality of magnetic field signals at different frequencies; simultaneously processing the received plurality of magnetic field signals to generate information associated with the buried object, wherein the information is generated based on two or more of the plurality of magnetic field signals; and providing an output of the generated information associated with the buried object on an output device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for use in a buried object locator system, comprising:
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simultaneously generating, at a buried object transmitter, a plurality of output signals at ones of a plurality of different output frequencies; coupling the output signals from the transmitter to a buried object in the ground to generate a buried object current corresponding to the output signal components; receiving, at a buried object locator, radiated magnetic field signals associated with the buried object current at a plurality of the different output frequencies; and simultaneously determining, at the buried object locator, information associated with the buried object based on two or more of the radiated magnetic field signal components. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A buried object locator system, comprising:
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a buried object transmitter configured to; simultaneously generate, at a buried object transmitter, a plurality of output signal components at ones of a plurality of different output frequencies; a coupling apparatus for coupling the one or more output signal components from the transmitter to a buried object in the ground to generate a buried object current; and a buried object receiver configured to; receive radiated signal components associated with the buried object current at a plurality of the different output frequencies; and determine, at the buried object locator, information associated with the buried object based on two or more of the radiated signal components.
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19. A buried object transmitter configured to:
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simultaneously generate a plurality of output signals at ones of a plurality of different output frequencies, wherein the plurality of different output frequencies are phase-synchronized; and provide the output signals to one or more coupling elements for generating currents in the buried object. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification