REMOTE CONTROL SWITCHING DEVICE TO CONTROL SEPARATE DETECTION OF A PLURALITY BURIED CONDUCTORS

• US 20140225617A1
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Original Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Inventors: GREER, Michael Drew
• Application Number:
  US13/762,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

A system for detecting a plurality buried conductors includes a transmitter configured to generate an alternating test signal for a plurality of buried conductors. The system further includes a receiver configured to detect an electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality buried conductors and a remote control configured to control the transmitter to generate the alternating test signal in one of the plurality of buried conductors.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a plurality buried conductors, the system comprising:

a transmitter configured to generate an alternating test signal for a plurality of buried conductors;

a receiver configured to detect an electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality buried conductors; and

a remote control configured to control the transmitter to generate the alternating test signal in one of the plurality of buried conductors.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors;

and wherein the remote control is configured to operate the switch to select which one of the plurality of buried conductors receives the alternating test signal.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors;

and wherein the remote control is configured to wirelessly operate the switch to select which one of the plurality of buried conductors receives the alternating test signal.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

analog to digital converters to convert field strength signals into digital signals; and

a digital signal processor arranged to process the digital signals and to isolate signals of predetermined frequency bands, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of antennas for detecting the electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality of buried conductors, and

wherein each of the plurality of antennas output a field strength signal representative of the electromagnetic field at each of the plurality of antennas.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

analog to digital converters to convert field strength signals into digital signals; and

a digital signal processor arranged to process the digital signals and to isolate signals of predetermined frequency bands, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of antennas for detecting the electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality of buried conductors, and

wherein each of the plurality of antennas output a field strength signal representative of the electromagnetic field at each of the plurality of antennas.

7. A system for detecting a plurality buried conductors, the system comprising:

means for producing an alternating test signal in a plurality of buried conductors;

means for detecting an electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality buried conductors; and

means for remotely controlling the means for producing to generate the alternating test signal in one of the plurality of buried conductors.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for producing is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for producing is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for producing is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors;

and wherein the means for remotely controlling is configured to operate the switch to select which one of the plurality of buried conductors receives the alternating test signal.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for producing is configured to connect to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors;

and wherein the means for remotely controlling is configured to wirelessly operate the switch to select which one of the plurality of buried conductors receives the alternating test signal.

13. A method of detecting a plurality buried conductors, the method comprising:

providing a transmitter for producing an alternating test signal in a plurality of buried conductors;

providing a receiver for detecting an electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality of buried conductors; and

controlling the transmitter with a remote control to generate the alternating test signal in one of the plurality of buried conductors.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the providing a transmitter includes connecting the transmitter to each of the plurality of buried conductors.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the providing a transmitter includes connecting the transmitter to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the providing a transmitter includes connecting the transmitter to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors;

and wherein the remote control includes the switch to select which one of the plurality of buried conductors receives the alternating test signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the providing a transmitter includes connecting the transmitter to each of the plurality of buried conductors through a switch, wherein the switch is configured to transmit the alternating test signal to one of the plurality of buried conductors;

and wherein the remote control includes wireless communication to select which one of the plurality of buried conductors receives the alternating test signal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the receiver comprises analog to digital converters to convert field strength signals into digital signals and a digital signal processor arranged to process the digital signals and to isolate signals of predetermined frequency bands;

wherein the receiver includes a plurality of antennas for detecting the electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality of buried conductors, and wherein each of the plurality of antennas output a field strength signal representative of the electromagnetic field at each of the plurality of antennas.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of antennas for detecting the electromagnetic field produced by the alternating test signal in the plurality of buried conductors.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising associating the remote control with at least one of the transmitter and the switch to one of prevent and reduce erroneous operation.