Position and orientation locator/monitor

• US 6,525,538 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Control Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US09/667,168
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 324/326, 324/327, 324/328, 324/329, 324/207.17, 324/207.19, 324/247, 175/40, 175/45
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0228 using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/20 the indication being based on the inclination of the surface of a liquid relative to its container
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/165 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by the object or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/17

Abstract

An above-ground portable locator is described for locating a boring tool positioned underground. The boring tool includes a transmitter arrangement which transmits an electromagnetic dipole orientation signal. The locator includes a receiver arrangement including at least first and second antennas positioned transverse to one another. These first and second antennas simultaneously sense at least respective first and second orthogonal components of the electromagnetic signal. The receiver arrangement produces respective first and second, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which are functions of the first and second orthogonal components sensed by the said first and second antennas. An electronic processor receives the electrical signals at least substantially simultaneously and is configured for responding to movement of the above ground portable locator, which movement causes variation in the electrical signals, as detected by the portable locator, for using the electrical signals to determine the location of the transmitter.

Claims

1. An above-ground portable locator for locating an elongated boring tool positioned underground and within a region, said boring tool including a transmitter arrangement which transmits within said region an electromagnetic dipole orientation signal, said locator comprising:

(a) a receiver arrangement including at least first and second antennae positioned transverse to one another, said first and second antennae simultaneously sensing at least respective first and second orthogonal components of said electromagnetic orientation signal, said receiver arrangement producing respective first and second, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which last-mentioned electrical signals are functions of said first and second orthogonal components sensed by said first and second antennae; and

(b) an electronic processor for receiving said electrical signals at least substantially simultaneously and configured for responding to movement of the above ground portable locator, which movement causes variation in the electrical signals, as detected by the portable locator, for using the electrical signals to determine the location of said transmitter within said region.

2. A locator according to claim 1 wherein said electrical signals are analog signals simultaneously produced and simultaneously received by said receiver.

3. A locator according to claim 1 wherein said electrical signals are digital signals substantially simultaneously produced and substantially simultaneously received by said receiver.

4. A locator according to claim 1 wherein said boring tool defines an elongation axis and wherein said electromanetic dipole orientation signal has a dipole axis parallel with said elongation axis.

9. The locator of claim 1 wherein said electronic processor is configured for determining a value using said electrical signals that varies monotonically with above ground movement of the portable locator toward and away from the boring tool.

10. The locator of claim 9 wherein said electronic processor is configured for determining a vector sum using said electrical signals.

5. An above-ground portable locator for locating an elongated boring tool positioned underground and within a region, said boring tool including a transmitter arrangement which transmits within said area an electromagnetic dipole orientation signal, said locator comprising:

(a) a receiver arrangement including first, second and third antenna arrangements positioned transverse to one another, said first, second and third antenna arrangements simultaneously sensing respective first, second and third orthogonal components of said electromagnetic orientation signal, said receiver arrangement producing respective first, second and third, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which last-mentioned electrical signals are functions of said first, second and third orthogonal components sensed by said first, second and third antenna arrangements; and

(b) an electronic processor for receiving said electrical signals at least substantially simultaneously and configured for responding to movement of the above ground portable locator, which movement causes variation in the electrical signals, as detected by the portable locator, for using the electrical signals to determine the location of said transmitter within said region.

6. A locator according to claim 5 wherein said electrical signals are analog signals simultaneously produced and simultaneously received by said receiver.

7. A locator according to claim 5 wherein said electrical signals are digital signals substantially simultaneously produced and substantially simultaneously received by said receiver.

8. A locator according to claim 5 wherein said boring tool defines an elongation axis and wherein said electromagnetic dipole orientation signal has a dipole axis parallel with said elongation axis.

11. The locator of claim 5 wherein said electronic processor is configured for determining a value that varies monotonically with above ground movement of the portable locator toward and away from the boring tool.

12. The locator of claim 11 wherein said electronic processor is configured for determining a vector sum using said electrical signals.