Reference point locator for residential and commercial construction

• US 6,441,599 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald S. Kropidlowski
• Original Assignee: Donald S. Kropidlowski
• Inventors: Kropidlowski, Donald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US09/493,451
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 324/67, 324/207.26, 324/202.17, 324/326, 324/228, 324/133, 324/528, 324/529, 340/653, 340/654
• US Class Current: 324/67
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information

Abstract

A portable electronic reference point locator facilitates location of a reference point, located on one side of a structure (such as a wall, floor or ceiling), from the opposite side of the structure. The system is particularly useful when installing new electrical wiring or hardware, when installing new plumbing, or when performing other construction related tasks that require the location of one side of a structure to be determined relative to the other side of the structure. The system comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is located at a position that defines the reference point, and includes an oscillator and an antenna that cooperate to generate and transmit an electromagnetic signal. The receiver includes a transducer that senses the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the transmitter, and an indicator that indicates whether the receiver is within a given distance of the transmitter. The locator uses different types of indicators, including audible indicators (such as a headphone set), visual indicators (such as one or more lights or LEDs), and tactile indicators (such as a vibratory indicator).

Claims

1. A method of locating a reference point located on one side of a structure from the opposite side of the structure, the method comprising:

(A) generating an electromagnetic signal using a transmitter that is located at a position that defines the reference point, the transmitter being located on the one side of the structure;

(B) sensing the electromagnetic signal using a receiver that is located on the opposite side of the structure, including;

(1) providing a first indication when the receiver is within a first distance of the transmitter, wherein the first indicant is one of a group consisting of an audio indication, a visual indication and a tactile indication; and

(2) providing a second indication when the receiver is within a second distance of the transmitter, the second distance being less than the first distance, and wherein the second indication is another of the group consisting of an audio indication, a visual indication and a tactile indication.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal has a frequency that is in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

3. A locator system for locating a reference point located on one side a structure from the opposite side of the structure, the system comprising:

(A) a transmitter, the transmitter being located at a position that defines the reference point, the transmitter including an oscillator and an antenna that cooperate to generate an electromagnetic signal having a frequency that is in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz;

(B) a receiver, the receiver including a transducer that senses the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the transmitter, and the receiver including an indicator that indicates whether the receiver is within a given distance of the transmitter; and

wherein the indicator is a first indicator is a first indicator and the locator system further comprises a second indicator, from the transmitter,

(4) a second indicator, the second indicator being coupled to the amplifier and becoming active when the transducer is within a second distance from the transmitter, the second distance being less than the first distance; and

wherein the first and second indicators each comprise a different member of the group consisting of visual indicator, an audible indicator, and a tactile indicator.

4. A locator system according to claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic signal has a frequency that is approximately 2 kHz.

5. A locator system for locating a reference point located on one side of a structure from the opposite side of the structure, the system comprising:

(A) a transmitter, the transmitter being located at a position that defines the reference point, the transmitter including

(1) an oscillator, the oscillator generating a first electrical signal having a frequency that is in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz,

(2) an amplifier, the amplifier being coupled to the oscillator, the amplifier amplifying the first electrical signal to produce an amplified electrical signal,

(3) an antenna, the antenna being coupled to the amplifier, the antenna being excited by the amplified electrical signal and in response producing an electromagnetic signal having a frequency that is determined by the frequency of the first electrical signal from the oscillator; and

(B) a receiver, the receiver including

(1) a transducer, the transducer being sensitive to electromagnetic signals at the frequency of the electromagnetic signal produced by the antenna, and the transducer producing a second electrical signal when the electromagnetic signal from the transmitter is sensed,

(2) an amplifier, the amplifier being coupled to the transducer,

(3) a first indicator, the first indicator being coupled to the amplifier and becoming active when the transducer is within a first distance from the transmitter,

(4) a second indicator, the second indicator being coupled to the amplifier and becoming active when the transducer is within a second distance from the transmitter, the second distance being less than the first distance; and

and wherein the first and second indicators each comprise a different member of the group consisting of a visual indicator, an audible indicator, and a tactile indicator.

6. A locator according to claim 5, wherein the first electrical signal has a frequency of approximately 2 kHz.

7. A locator according to claim 5, wherein the amplifier is coupled to the transducer by way of an additional amplifier, the additional amplifier having an adjustable gain to permit the sensitivity of the receiver to be controlled.

8. A locator according to claim 5, wherein the transducer is a narrow band unidirectional audio frequency transducer.

9. A locator according to claim 5, wherein the antenna produces an electromagnetic signal having a cross sectional diameter in the range of twelve to fourteen inches at a distance of twelve to eighteen inches from the antenna.