Reconfigurable portable locator employing multiple sensor array having flexible nested orthogonal antennas
First Claim
1. A human-portable locator apparatus for locating a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission, comprising:
- a sensor array, including three substantially-identical EM field sensors each having at least one conductive coil with an outer side and an inner side disposed on a deformable annular wall having a radial centroid defining a sensing axis, said three EM field sensors each having a substantially identical longitudinal height dimension, a substantially identical radial thickness dimension, and a substantially identical circumference dimension;
a structure for supporting the three substantially-identical EM field sensors such that the corresponding sensing axes are disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality and the corresponding conductive coils are disposed in substantial concentricity; and
a circuit operatively coupled to the sensor array for detecting and reporting the EM field emission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable locator for detecting a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission employing three-dimensional (3D) sensor arrays each having three substantially-identical EM field sensors disposed on a flexible annular wall having a radial centroid defining a sensing axis. The flexible annular sensors are retained in substantial concentricity with the corresponding sensing axes disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality. A pair of 3D sensor arrays disposed on a first axis substantially orthogonal to a second axis defined by another pair of EM field sensors each having a sensing axis disposed along the second axis. The locator introduces a user-reconfigurable user interface (UI) employing a “sticky” ratcheting audio UI and a hollow hinge assembly for redisposing the sensor assembly from an operating to a storage disposition.
58 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A human-portable locator apparatus for locating a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission, comprising:
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a sensor array, including three substantially-identical EM field sensors each having at least one conductive coil with an outer side and an inner side disposed on a deformable annular wall having a radial centroid defining a sensing axis, said three EM field sensors each having a substantially identical longitudinal height dimension, a substantially identical radial thickness dimension, and a substantially identical circumference dimension; a structure for supporting the three substantially-identical EM field sensors such that the corresponding sensing axes are disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality and the corresponding conductive coils are disposed in substantial concentricity; and a circuit operatively coupled to the sensor array for detecting and reporting the EM field emission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A human-portable locator apparatus for locating a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission, comprising:
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a sensor array including three substantially-identical EM field sensors each having at least one conductive coil with an outer side and an inner side disposed on a deformable annular wall defining a sensing axis, and a flexible printed-circuit board (PCB) affixed to the deformable annular wall and including a signal contact pad conductively coupled to the conductive coil; a structure for supporting the three substantially-identical EM field sensors such that the corresponding sensing axes are disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality and the corresponding conductive coils are disposed in substantial concentricity; and a circuit operatively coupled to the sensor array for detecting and reporting the EM field emission. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A human-portable locator apparatus for locating a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission, comprising:
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a sensor array including three substantially-identical EM field sensors each having at least one conductive coil with an outer side and an inner side disposed on a deformable annular wall defining a sensing axis, and in each EM field sensor, an electrostatic (ES) shield including a conductive layer disposed over the outer side of the conductive coil; a structure for supporting the three substantially-identical EM field sensors such that the corresponding sensing axes are disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality and the corresponding conductive coils are disposed in substantial concentricity; and a circuit operatively coupled to the sensor array for detecting and reporting the EM field emission. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification