Validating Operation of an Electronic Marker Locator
First Claim
1. A locator for locating a buried electromagnetic marker, the locator comprising:
- a transmission antenna for generating a first oscillatory magnetic field to couple with an electromagnetic marker; and
a first reception antenna for receiving an oscillatory magnetic field emitted by the electromagnetic marker,the transmission antenna being configured to generate a test oscillatory magnetic field,the first reception antenna being configured to receive the test oscillatory magnetic field and thereby generate a first detected test signal,the locator further comprising a first analogue to digital converter configured to generate a first digitised test signal from the first detected test signal, the first digitised test signal being indicative of the test oscillatory magnetic field received by the first reception antenna.
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Abstract
A locator for locating a buried electromagnetic marker is operable to generate a test signal in order to validate that the locator is operating in accordance with calibration data. The locator comprises a transmission antenna and a first reception antenna. The transmission antenna is configured to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field to couple with an electromagnetic marker and the first reception antenna is configured to receive an oscillatory magnetic field emitted by the electromagnetic marker. In order to validate the operation of the locator, the transmission antenna is configured to generate a test oscillatory magnetic field, and the first reception antenna is configured to receive the test oscillatory magnetic field and thereby generate a first detected test signal.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A locator for locating a buried electromagnetic marker, the locator comprising:
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a transmission antenna for generating a first oscillatory magnetic field to couple with an electromagnetic marker; and a first reception antenna for receiving an oscillatory magnetic field emitted by the electromagnetic marker, the transmission antenna being configured to generate a test oscillatory magnetic field, the first reception antenna being configured to receive the test oscillatory magnetic field and thereby generate a first detected test signal, the locator further comprising a first analogue to digital converter configured to generate a first digitised test signal from the first detected test signal, the first digitised test signal being indicative of the test oscillatory magnetic field received by the first reception antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of validating the operation of a locator for locating a buried electromagnetic marker, the method comprising:
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controlling a transmission antenna of the locator to generate a test oscillatory magnetic field; controlling a reception antenna of the locator to receive the test oscillatory magnetic field and thereby generate a first detected test signal; calculating a validation value from the first detected test signal; and determining if the validation value is within predetermined limits of calibration data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of validating the operation of a locator for locating a buried electromagnetic marker, the method comprising:
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generating a test oscillatory magnetic field in a transmission antenna of the locator; receiving the test oscillatory magnetic field in a reception antenna of the locator and thereby generating a first detected test signal; calculating a validation value from the first detected test signal; and determining if the validation value is within predetermined limits of calibration data. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification