Position and orientation locator/monitor
First Claim
1. In an overall system in which a dipole electromagnetic transmitter is disposed within a given region along a path while transmitting a locating field, a portable 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 locating field, said receiver arrangement producing respective first and second, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which first and second 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, and using a vector sum established from the electrical signals to determine the location of said transmitter within said region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a locator/monitor capable of locating a boring tool and monitoring the progress of the tool for control purposes. The locator/monitor may be used in expedited locating methodology and straightforward calibration techniques of the present invention. A durable and cost effective pitch sensor is also provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention provides a slotted transmitter housing formed of an electrically conductive material, where the magnetic field generated by the transmitter is capable of penetrating to the surface.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In an overall system in which a dipole electromagnetic transmitter is disposed within a given region along a path while transmitting a locating field, a portable locator comprising:
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(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 locating field, said receiver arrangement producing respective first and second, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which first and second 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, and using a vector sum established from the electrical signals to determine the location of said transmitter within said region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An above-ground portable locator for locating a dipole electromagnetic transmitter positioned within a region, said dipole electronic transmitter including a transmitter arrangement which transmits within said region an electromagnetic dipole signal, said locator comprising:
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(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 dipole signal, said receiver arrangement producing respective first, second and third, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which first, second and third 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, and using a vector sum established from the electrical signals to determined the location of said transmitter within said region. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification