Tone detection apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
- a) a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time;
b) a first arrangement for starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time in timed relation to a particular bit time and for starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration; and
c) a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter at the filter stop time of said first digital filter based on the tone as detected by the first digital filter and, thereafter, for determining the average magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter based on tone as detected by the additional digital filter.
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Abstract
A tone detection arrangement and method decodes an incoming data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration each bit time. Each one of a plurality of digital filters is tuned for detecting the tone over a filter interval. The filters are operable in timed relation to one another.
25 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
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a) a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time; b) a first arrangement for starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time in timed relation to a particular bit time and for starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration; and c) a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter at the filter stop time of said first digital filter based on the tone as detected by the first digital filter and, thereafter, for determining the average magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter based on tone as detected by the additional digital filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said boring tool being configured for transmitting a locating signal therefrom at least during the underground movement of the boring tool and for transmitting a data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, a locator comprising:
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a locating arrangement for receiving the locating signal for use in tracking the boring tool; a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time; a first arrangement for starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time and for starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration; and a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter at the filter stop time of said first digital filter based on the tone as detected by the first digital filter and, thereafter, for determining the average magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter based on the tone as detected by the additional digital filter. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream which contains at least one tone that is selectively present, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
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a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval from a filter start time to a filter stop time; a first arrangement for starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude the filter intervals in the staggered time relationship; and a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter based on the tone as detected by each digital filter.
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18. A tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in a series of bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, said tone detection arrangement comprising:
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a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time; a first arrangement for starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude in the staggered time relationship; and a second arrangement for determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter based on the tone as detected by each digital filter.
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19. In a tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in sequential bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, a method comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time; b) starting a first one of said digital filters at a first start time in relation to a particular bit time; c) starting an additional one of said digital filters at an additional start time which occurs following a predetermined interval after said start time of the first digital filter such that a number of the predetermined intervals at least approximately equals the bit time in duration; d) at the filter stop time of said first digital filter, determining at least an approximate magnitude of said tone over the filter interval of the first digital filter based on the tone as detected by the first digital filter; e) at the filter stop time of the additional digital filter, determining at least an approximate magnitude of the tone over the additional filter interval of the additional digital filter based on the tone as detected by the additional digital filter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. In a tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream which contains at least one tone that is selectively present, a method comprising:
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providing a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval from a filter start time to a filter stop time; starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude the filter intervals in the staggered time relationship; and determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter and based on the tone as detected by each digital filter. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. In a tone detection arrangement for decoding an incoming data stream that is received in a series of bit times and which contains at least one tone that is selectively present for the duration of each bit time, a method comprising:
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providing a plurality of digital filters each of which is tuned for detecting said tone over a filter interval that is at least approximately equal in duration to the bit time from a filter start time to a filter stop time; starting said digital filters in a staggered time relation with respect to one another so as to operate over a plurality of intervals that are in said staggered time relation with respect to one another including a plurality of said filter stop times which conclude in the staggered time relationship; and determining an average magnitude of said tone responsive to the filter stop time of each filter, based on the tone as detected by each digital filter. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification