Method of displaying digital image for digital locating system and device for underground object detection

• US 7,723,990 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goldak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Goldak, Inc.
• Inventors: Mulcahey, Butch
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora; Reena
• Application Number:
  US12/558,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 324/326, 324/67
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/06 using ac
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/36 Recording data G01V3/34 takes precedence

Abstract

An underground digital locating system includes a receiver capable of acquiring a signal produced by an underground object and displaying a digital representation of the orientation of underground object and of its depth. The system includes a carrying case for the digital locating receiver, the carrying case further including a transmitter for energizing underground objects to emit a magnetic field. A method of locating an underground object using the described system is also disclosed, as well as methods of measuring a flux field and translating a flux field signal of an underground object into a visual representation of the underground object on the display screen of the locating receiver.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a digital image of an underground object emitting a flux field on a display screen of a locating receiver, comprising the steps of:

providing two measurement points in space around said underground object, each measurement point being connected to said object by a first vector and a second vector;

measuring a degree of misalignment of the first vector and the second vector by assigning a numerical value to said first vector and said second vector and calculating a third vector, said third vector being a cross product of said first and second vectors;

calculating vector gain;

using said cross-product to determine the direction from which the flux field originates;

whereby the components of said third vector are used to produce a digital image of said underground object on the display screen of said receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, said vector gain being a ratio of magnitude of said first vector to magnitude of said second vector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said underground object is a sonde.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said object is an underground line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said antennas are capable of predicting the location of said underground object with a span of 360°

around said receiver.