Optical ground tracking apparatus, systems, and methods

• US 9,341,740 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: See SCAN Incorporated
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Chapman, Eric M., Merewhether, Ray, Aldridge, Sequoyah
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHMAN, MD M
• Application Number:
  US13/766,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 356/72
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/467 Colour computing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0202 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/021 using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0262 Constructional arrangements for removing stray light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/786 the desired condition being maintained automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods combining techniques covered by two or more of main groups G01V1/00 - G01V9/00
• 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 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensing buried object locator includes a ground tracking apparatus having input and output light snoot assemblies, light generation and sensing assemblies, and a processing element to receive signals from the light sensor assembly and generate location or tracking information associated with movement of the locator.

Claims

1. A locator device, comprising:

a housing;

a buried object detection module disposed in the housing for determining the relative position and orientation of a buried object based on magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object;

an optical ground tracking apparatus for tracking movement of the locator disposed within or coupled to the housing, comprising;

an output light snoot assembly;

an input light snoot assembly;

an output light generator assembly;

an input light sensor assembly; and

a processing element configured to receive one or more signals from the input light sensor assembly and generate, based at least in part on the received signals, location or tracking information associated with a position or movement of the locator device;

wherein the location or tracking information includes data associated with a movement of the locator device across a tracking surface responsive to operator movement of the locator.

2. The locator device of claim 1, further comprising a distance measurement module configured to measure a distance between a reference position between the optical ground tracking sensor apparatus and the ground and generate distance information;

wherein the location or tracking information is further based on the distance information.

3. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to control a light output of the output light generator assembly.

4. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the output light snoot assembly consists of a single tube or snoot.

5. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the input light snoot assembly comprises six or more tubes or snoots.

6. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the input light snoot assembly includes an aperture ring.

7. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the output light snoot assembly includes an optical coating to enhance light transmission.

8. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the output light snoot assembly has a surface polish to enhance light transmission.

9. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the output light generator assembly includes an LED.

10. The locator device of claim 9, wherein the output light generator assembly further includes a reflector.

11. The locator device of claim 10, wherein the reflector is a three dimensional (3D) parabolic reflector.

12. The locator device of claim 10, wherein the LED is positioned at the focus point of the reflector.

13. The locator device of claim 1, wherein the input light sensor assembly includes a sensor or detector element.

14. The locator device of claim 13, wherein the sensor or detector element is a digital color sensor.

15. The locator device of claim 14, wherein the input light sensor assembly further includes a reflector.

16. The locator device of claim 15, wherein the reflector is a three dimensional (3D) parabolic reflector.

17. The locator device of claim 13, wherein the sensor or detector is positioned at the focus point of the reflector.

18. A buried object locator, comprising:

a housing;

a buried object locator module configured to sense a buried object and generate buried object information corresponding with the position and orientation of the buried object;

a surface tracking module configured to;

detect light reflected from a tracking surface;

sense or compute a motion of the buried object locator relative to the tracking surface, based at least in part on analysis of light patterns associated with the surface; and

generate motion information corresponding with the sensed motion; and

an integration module configured to associate the buried object information with corresponding motion information and store the associated information in a memory;

wherein motion information includes data associated with a movement of the buried object locator across the tracking surface responsive to operator movement of the locator.

19. The buried object locator of claim 18, further configured to:

generate a tracking light pulse or beam; and

transmit the tracking light pulse or beam to the tracking surface.

20. The buried object locator of claim 18, further comprising generating a map of the buried object relative to the surface based at least in part on the buried object information and the motion information.

21. The buried object locator of claim 18, further comprising providing a visual display of the buried object information and corresponding motion information.

22. The buried object locator of claim 18, further comprising a distance measurement module configured to measure a distance between a reference position on the locator and the ground and generate distance information;

wherein the motion information is further based on the distance information.

23. A method of tracking movement of a device over a surface, comprising:

generating an output light through an output light snoot assembly;

providing the output light to the surface;

receiving reflected output light through an input light snoot assembly; and

generating information associated with the device movement across the surface based at least in part on the received reflected light;

wherein the information associated with the device movement across the surface is generated responsive to operator movement of the locator.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the information associated with device movement is location or tracking information, and wherein the tracking information is generated in a processing element configured to receive one or more signals from the input light sensor assembly and generate, based at least in part on the received signals, the location or tracking information.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising controlling, from the processing element, the generated output light.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the generated output light is generated based at least in part on previously received reflected light.