GRADIENT ANTENNA COILS AND ARRAYS FOR USE IN LOCATING SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A buried object locator, comprising:
- a mast;
a housing coupled to the mast;
a processing element disposed in the housing;
a display element disposed on or within the housing; and
an antenna node coupled to the mast, the antenna node comprising;
an antenna array support structure;
an interior omnidirectional antenna array disposed on the antenna array support structure; and
a gradient antenna disposed about the omnidirectional antenna array;
wherein the centerline of an antenna element of the gradient antenna substantially intersect a center point of the omnidirectional antenna array.
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Abstract
Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and gradient antenna array signals.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A buried object locator, comprising:
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a mast; a housing coupled to the mast; a processing element disposed in the housing; a display element disposed on or within the housing; and an antenna node coupled to the mast, the antenna node comprising; an antenna array support structure; an interior omnidirectional antenna array disposed on the antenna array support structure; and a gradient antenna disposed about the omnidirectional antenna array;
wherein the centerline of an antenna element of the gradient antenna substantially intersect a center point of the omnidirectional antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An antenna array for use in a locator or other instrument, comprising:
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four or more outer antenna coils; and a central antenna assembly including one or more vertical antenna coils. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. The array of claim 51, wherein the outer antenna coils and the central antenna assembly are nested in a substantially cylindrical housing.
Specification