Phase synchronized buried object locator apparatus, systems, and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for use in a buried object locator system, comprising:
- receiving a transmitted signal, including timing information, at a buried object locator system transmitter;
generating a timing reference from the timing information at the buried object locator system transmitter;
generating a phase-synchronized output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference at the buried object locator system transmitter;
sending the output signal from the buried object locator system transmitter to a coupling device to generate a buried object current;
receiving a magnetic field signal associated with the buried object current at a buried object locator;
determining information about the buried object current based at least in part on the phase of the magnetic field signal; and
independently determining a second timing reference at the locator system, wherein the information about the buried object current is based in part on the second timing reference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized such that an associated locator may receive magnetic field signals from the output current signal and determine information about the current flow based on independent phase-synchronization timing information.
26 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for use in a buried object locator system, comprising:
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receiving a transmitted signal, including timing information, at a buried object locator system transmitter; generating a timing reference from the timing information at the buried object locator system transmitter; generating a phase-synchronized output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference at the buried object locator system transmitter; sending the output signal from the buried object locator system transmitter to a coupling device to generate a buried object current; receiving a magnetic field signal associated with the buried object current at a buried object locator; determining information about the buried object current based at least in part on the phase of the magnetic field signal; and independently determining a second timing reference at the locator system, wherein the information about the buried object current is based in part on the second timing reference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
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receiving a magnetic field signal associated with a current in a buried object, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information; receiving a second transmitted signal including second timing information; determining a second timing reference from the second timing information; and determining information related to the current in the buried object based on the received magnetic signal and second timing reference. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A locator for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
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a locator receiver module for receiving a magnetic field signal from a buried object associated with a current in the buried object, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information; a timing synchronization module including a receiver module configured to receive a second transmitted signal that includes second timing information and determine a second timing reference from the second timing information; and a processing module configured to determine information related to the current in the buried object based on the received magnetic signal and the second timing reference. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system including a first non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for causing a computer to:
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receive a first transmitted signal that includes timing information; determine a timing reference from the timing information; generate an output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference; and send the output signal to a coupling apparatus; and a second non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for causing a computer to; receive a magnetic signal associated with a current in a buried object, wherein the magnetic signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information; receive a second transmitted signal including second timing information; determine a second timing reference from the second timing information; and determine an indicated current direction in a buried object based on the received locator signal and the second timing reference.
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Specification