Marking apparatus having operational sensors for underground facility marking operations, and associated methods and systems
First Claim
1. A marking apparatus for performing a marking operation to indicate a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the marking apparatus comprising:
- a hand-held housing;
a holder configured to hold to the hand-held housing at least one marking dispenser containing a marking material;
a location tracking system mechanically coupled to the hand-held housing and configured to determine a location of the apparatus;
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the location tracking system; and
at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, configured to sense at least one operating condition of the apparatus, and provide an output signal to the at least one processor indicative of the sensed at least one operating condition,wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of;
an inclinometer configured to sense a degree of inclination of the marking apparatus;
a compass configured to sense a heading of the marking apparatus;
a proximity sensor configured to sense a distance between the marking apparatus and a target surface for the marking material;
a yaw rate sensor configured to sense a yaw rate of the marking apparatus;
a first accelerometer disposed at a first position on the marking apparatus and a second accelerometer disposed at a second position on the marking apparatus;
a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure applied to the marking apparatus;
an audio recorder configured to sense an acoustic signal emitted by the at least one marking dispenser; and
an image capture device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus and systems for performing a marking operation to mark a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using a marking device. Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface via actuation of an actuation system of the marking device. A location tracking system detects a location of the marking device. One or more input devices of the marking device detect(s) one or more operating conditions of the marking device, and marking information is logged into local memory of the marking device. In one aspect, at least some operating information relating to the one or more detected conditions of the marking device are included in the marking information logged into memory.
558 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A marking apparatus for performing a marking operation to indicate a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the marking apparatus comprising:
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a hand-held housing; a holder configured to hold to the hand-held housing at least one marking dispenser containing a marking material; a location tracking system mechanically coupled to the hand-held housing and configured to determine a location of the apparatus; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the location tracking system; and at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, configured to sense at least one operating condition of the apparatus, and provide an output signal to the at least one processor indicative of the sensed at least one operating condition, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of; an inclinometer configured to sense a degree of inclination of the marking apparatus; a compass configured to sense a heading of the marking apparatus; a proximity sensor configured to sense a distance between the marking apparatus and a target surface for the marking material; a yaw rate sensor configured to sense a yaw rate of the marking apparatus; a first accelerometer disposed at a first position on the marking apparatus and a second accelerometer disposed at a second position on the marking apparatus; a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure applied to the marking apparatus; an audio recorder configured to sense an acoustic signal emitted by the at least one marking dispenser; and an image capture device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for performing a marking operation to mark a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using a marking device, the method comprising:
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A) dispensing, via actuation of an actuation system of the marking device, marking material onto a target surface; B) detecting, via a location tracking system, a location of the marking device; C) detecting, via at least one input device of the marking device, at least one operating condition of the marking device, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of; an inclinometer configured to sense a degree of inclination of the marking apparatus; a compass configured to sense a heading of the marking apparatus; a proximity sensor configured to sense a distance between the marking apparatus and the target surface; a yaw rate sensor configured to sense a yaw rate of the marking apparatus; a first accelerometer disposed at a first position on the marking apparatus and a second accelerometer disposed at a second position on the marking apparatus; a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure applied to the marking apparatus; an audio recorder configured to sense an acoustic signal emitted by the at least one marking dispenser; and an image capture device; and D) logging into local memory of the marking device marking information relating at least in part to A), B), and C). - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. At least one computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for facilitating a marking operation to mark a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using a marking device, the method comprising:
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A) detecting, via a location tracking system, a location of the marking device; B) detecting, via at least one input device of the marking device, at least one operating condition of the marking device, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of; an inclinometer configured to sense a degree of inclination of the marking apparatus; a compass configured to sense a heading of the marking apparatus; a proximity sensor configured to sense a distance between the marking apparatus and a target surface for the marking material; a yaw rate sensor configured to sense a yaw rate of the marking apparatus; a first accelerometer disposed at a first position on the marking apparatus and a second accelerometer disposed at a second position on the marking apparatus; a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure applied to the marking apparatus; an audio recorder configured to sense an acoustic signal emitted by the at least one marking dispenser; and an image capture device; and C) logging into local memory of the marking device marking information relating at least in part to A) and B).
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Specification