Distinguishing false signals in cable locating based on a modulated reference signal

• US 9,335,431 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E., Chau, Albert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US14/231,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 324/67, 324326-329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• 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 3/17 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

A cable locating system includes a transmitter for generating a locating signal frequency for coupling onto a first cable and for transmitting a reference signal, which includes the locating signal frequency modulated on the reference signal. A second cable emits a false locating signal. A receiver distinguishes the locating signal from a false locating signal based on a modulation envelope of the reference signal as compared to the locating signal and the false locating signal.

Claims

1. A cable locating system for use in a region which contains at least first and second in-ground cables, each of which cables includes an electrically conductive component such that, when the first cable is driven at a locating signal frequency to emit a locating signal in an electromagnetic form, the locating signal is coupled to the second cable in a way which causes the second cable to generate a false locating signal in electromagnetic form, said system comprising:

a transmitter for generating said locating signal frequency for coupling onto the first cable and for transmitting a reference signal, which includes said locating signal frequency modulated thereon; and

a receiver configured to distinguish the locating signal from the false locating signal based on a modulation envelope of the reference signal as compared to the locating signal and the false locating signal.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a coupler forming part of the transmitter at least for coupling the locating signal frequency to the first cable such that the locating signal is subject to a coupling phase shift; and

a phase shifter forming part of a selected one of the transmitter and the receiver for phase shifting the locating signal frequency to at least approximately match the phase of the locating signal at least to compensate for the coupling phase shift.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said coupler is configured to transmit the reference signal by coupling the reference signal onto the first cable.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the locating signal is electromagnetically coupled from the first cable to the second cable through the ground to cause the second cable to emit the false locating signal subject to a phase shift between the locating signal and the false locating signal and wherein said receiver (a) recovers the locating signal frequency from the reference signal, and (b) synchronously detects (i) said locating signal frequency, and (ii) a selected frequency band, which includes said locating signal and said false locating signal to substantially reject the false locating signal while providing an output responsive to the locating signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said locating signal frequency, as modulated on the reference signal, is at least approximately in a fixed phase relationship with said locating signal and distinguishing between the locating signal and the false locating signal is based, at least in part, on said fixed phase relationship.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said locating signal is driven onto the first cable using inductive coupling and wherein said fixed phase relationship is at least approximately 90 degrees.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said fixed phase relationship is of a known magnitude and phase angle in relationship to said locating signal frequency.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said transmitter is configured for driving the locating signal onto said first cable in a given way which establishes said fixed phase relationship.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter produces said reference signal including a carrier frequency that is modulated by said locating signal frequency.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein a ratio of the carrier frequency to the locating signal frequency is at least 5.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the locating signal frequency is in a range from approximately 1 Hz to 80 KHz and the carrier frequency is in a range from approximately 10 Hz to 300 KHz.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the carrier frequency is higher than the locating signal frequency.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the carrier frequency is amplitude modulated by the locating signal frequency such that the reference signal is amplitude modulated.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said modulation envelope of the reference signal corresponds to the locating signal frequency.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein a phase shift between the locating signal and the false locating signal is in quadrature.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the locating signal is electromagnetically coupled from the first cable to the second cable to cause the second cable to emit the false locating signal.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the first cable and the second cable each include a distal end and the distal ends are resistively connected to one another such that the locating signal is resistively coupled from the first cable to the second cable to produce the false locating signal in an inverted phase relationship with respect to the locating signal and said receiver indicates a signal strength of one sign for the locating signal when an opposite signal strength is indicated for the false locating signal.

18. The system of claim 1 including a telemetry arrangement forming part of the transmitter and part of the receiver for sending the reference signal from the transmitter to the receiver.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said telemetry arrangement, at the transmitter, modulates an RF carrier with said reference signal and transmits the modulated RF carrier above ground for reception by said receiver and said telemetry arrangement, at the receiver, demodulates the RF carrier to recover the reference signal for use at the receiver.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is configured to couple the reference signal onto the first cable along with the locating signal frequency.