Obstacle detection system for underground operations
First Claim
1. An apparatus for obstacle detection in an opaque material comprising:
- at least one electromagnetic signal source adapted to produce an electromagnetic source signal suitable for transmission through said opaque material;
at least one electromagnetic signal detector adapted to receive reflected electromagnetic energy signals from discontinuities in said opaque material encountered by said electromagnetic source signal;
a reflected electromagnetic energy signal processor suitable for determining a presence of at least one of obstructions and strata variations within said opaque material; and
a head element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said head element suitable for traversing at least a portion of said opaque material, and said at least one electromagnetic signal source, said at least one electromagnetic signal detector and said at least one reflected electromagnetic energy signal processor disposed at least one of in contact with said head element and proximate to said head element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An obstacle avoidance system for obstacle detection in an opaque material. The system includes at least one electromagnetic signal source adapted to produce an electromagnetic source signal suitable for transmission through the opaque material, at least one electromagnetic signal detector adapted to receive reflected electromagnetic energy signals from discontinuities in the opaque material encountered by the electromagnetic source signal, and a reflected electromagnetic energy signal processor suitable for determining a presence of obstructions and/or strata variations within the opaque material. The system is preferably integral with a head element suitable for traversing the opaque material, for example a subterranean drill bit.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for obstacle detection in an opaque material comprising:
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at least one electromagnetic signal source adapted to produce an electromagnetic source signal suitable for transmission through said opaque material; at least one electromagnetic signal detector adapted to receive reflected electromagnetic energy signals from discontinuities in said opaque material encountered by said electromagnetic source signal; a reflected electromagnetic energy signal processor suitable for determining a presence of at least one of obstructions and strata variations within said opaque material; and a head element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said head element suitable for traversing at least a portion of said opaque material, and said at least one electromagnetic signal source, said at least one electromagnetic signal detector and said at least one reflected electromagnetic energy signal processor disposed at least one of in contact with said head element and proximate to said head element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for obstacle detection in an opaque material comprising:
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communication and radar controller means for controlling at least one radar module to enable capture of radar profiles; sampler and controller means for controlling a radar transceiver and an antenna and sampling an intermediate frequency signal operably connected to said communication and radar controller means; transmit synthesizer means for generating at least one radar transmit waveform operably connected to said sampler and controller means; RF demodulation means for demodulating a received RF signal down to said intermediate frequency operably connected to said antenna and said sampler and controller means; and IF cancellation means for improving a dynamic range of said apparatus operably connected to said sampler and controller means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a controllable head element suitable for traversing an opaque material; and an obstacle avoidance system disposed one of in said controllable head element, on an outer surface of said controllable head element, and proximate said controllable head element, said obstacle avoidance system comprising a system selected from the group consisting of stepped frequency continuous wave radar, impulse radar, frequency modulated continuous wave radar and noise radar. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification