Procedure and device for radiating and detecting the plurality of frequencies of electronic markers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A marker locator, comprising:
- a transmitter stage that controllably radiates transmitted electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies, each frequency corresponding to a particular marker type;
a receiver stage that controllably detects electromagnetic radiation received at one or more frequencies; and
a processor electrically coupled to the transmitter stage and the receiver stage,wherein the marker locator automatically scans through a selected set of the plurality of frequencies in response to signals from the processor to detect markers of the plurality of marker types.
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Abstract
A procedure and a system for the detection of a plurality of passive electronic markers are disclosed. A marker location device capable of scanning for multiple types of electronic marker thereby increasing operator efficiency and reducing erroneous marker indications is described. In some embodiments, scanning may be performed at the operating technician'"'"'s direction or may be performed in the background while the operating technician is performing other tasks.
53 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A marker locator, comprising:
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a transmitter stage that controllably radiates transmitted electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies, each frequency corresponding to a particular marker type; a receiver stage that controllably detects electromagnetic radiation received at one or more frequencies; and a processor electrically coupled to the transmitter stage and the receiver stage, wherein the marker locator automatically scans through a selected set of the plurality of frequencies in response to signals from the processor to detect markers of the plurality of marker types. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A marker locator comprising:
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a base subsection including a transmit antenna and a receive antenna; a shaft coupled to the base subsection; a top assembly coupled to the shaft, wherein the top assembly includes a control panel, the control panel includes a display screen and input buttons; and electronic circuitry mounted in the base subsection, the shaft and the top assembly, wherein the electronic circuitry includes; a transmitter stage including a transmitting antenna; a receiver stage including a receiving antenna; and a processor electrically coupled to the transmitter stage and to the receiver stage, wherein the processor controls the transmitter stage and the receiver stage to automatically transmit a selected set of particular frequencies and then receive a selected set of particular frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A marker locator, comprising:
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means for scanning a set of a plurality of marker frequencies; means for generating a transmit pulse at a particular frequency of the set of the plurality of marker frequencies; means for transmitting the transmit pulse; and means for receiving responses at the particular frequency from one or more markers. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of locating markers comprising:
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transmitting a first pulse, the first pulse including a sinusoidal wave of a first frequency appropriate for a first marker type; receiving responses from one or more markers at the first frequency; detecting a first marker response appropriate for the first marker type; transmitting a second pulse, the second pulse including a sinusoidal wave of a second frequency appropriate for a second marker type, wherein the second marker type is of a different marker type than the first marker type; receiving responses from one or more markers at the second frequency; and detecting a second marker response appropriate for the second marker type. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method of locating markers including:
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performing a primary scan with a first set of sinusoidal waves of a first set of frequencies appropriate for a first set of marker types; and performing a background scan with a second set of sinusoidal waves of a second set of frequencies appropriate for a second set of marker types. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An underground marker locator, comprising:
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a transmitter adapted to transmit a set of frequencies, each of the set of frequencies corresponding with the resonant frequency of an underground marker type; a receiver adapted to receive the set of frequencies; and a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the processor scans through a subset of the set of frequencies to determine the presence of one or more underground marker types. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification