Multi-sensor mapping omnidirectional sonde and line locators and transmitter used therewith

• US 7,733,077 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Inventors: Merewether, Ray, Olsson, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora; Reena
• Application Number:
  US12/243,191
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 324/67, 324/326
• US Class Current: 324/67
• 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 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/10 using induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• 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

Abstract

Portable locators are disclosed for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities. A articulatable antenna node configuration and the use of Doppler radar and GPS navigation are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable locator, comprising:

a housing;

an elongate support connected to the housing;

a sensor node connected to the elongate support and including at least three substantially mutually orthogonal coils;

a hinge assembly connecting the elongate support and the housing that allows the sensor node to pivot relative to the housing, wherein a pivot axis of the sensor node is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing; and

processing circuitry at least partially mounted in the housing capable of receiving signals from the coils induced by electromagnetic emissions from a buried object, determining a location of the buried object, and providing an indication of the location.

2. The portable locator of claim 1 wherein the three coils share a common center and an axis of the elongate support extends through the three coils.

3. The portable locator of claim 2 wherein the three coils are surrounded by a spherical shell.

4. The portable locator of claim 1 wherein each coil surrounds a corresponding ferrite core.

5. The portable locator of claim 1 wherein the three coils do not surround any ferrite cores.

6. The portable locator of claim 1 wherein the hinge assembly includes a lock mechanism.