Utility locator devices, systems, and methods with satellite and magnetic field sonde antenna systems

• US 10,571,594 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Casares, Jesse O., Soukup, Jan, Bench, Stephanie M., Taylor, Justin W., Merewether, Ray, Cox, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zakaria, Akm
• Application Number:
  US14/800,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20170017010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/02 operating with propagation of electric current
• 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 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• 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

Abstract

A transmitter system for providing current to a utility when performing a locate operation is disclosed. The transmitter system may include a tray apparatus, a transmitter module for generating an output current for provision to the utility so as to generate a magnetic field for detection by a utility locator disposed on or in the tray apparatus, and a sonde antenna node, a satellite antenna node, or a combined satellite navigation and sonde antenna node.

Claims

1. A transmitter system for providing current to a hidden or buried electrically conductive utility when performing a utility locate operation, comprising:

a removably dockable tray apparatus;

a transmitter module for generating an output current signal for coupling to the utility so as to generate a magnetic field, in response to flow of the output current signal in the utility, for detection by a utility locator;

where the transmitter module is disposed on or in the tray apparatus and is configured to be removably coupled to the tray apparatus by a user;

a magnetic field sonde including a signal generator and a magnetic field dipole transmit antenna;

a satellite location system antenna node oriented in close proximity to and in a predefined position relative to the magnetic field sonde transmit antenna; and

a satellite location system receiver coupled to a radio frequency (RF) output of the satellite location system antenna node for generating location data corresponding to a location of the transmitter system;

wherein the satellite location system antenna node is oriented in close proximity to the magnetic field dipole transmit antenna so as to allow association between data representing a source location of a magnetic field dipole signal sent from the magnetic field dipole transmit antenna and location information determined by the satellite location system receiver to determine an absolute position of the utility locator based on a combination of the location data corresponding to the transmitter system, the relative position of the utility locator to the magnetic field sonde, and a predefined position relative to the magnetic field sonde magnetic field dipole transmit antenna;

wherein the satellite location system antenna node and the magnetic field sonde transmit antenna are arranged in a combined integral antenna node, the combined antenna node including a GPS antenna and the magnetic field sonde transmit antenna including a magnetic field antenna comprising a coil; and

wherein a GPS antenna phase center and a sonde centroid share a substantially common point in space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite location system antenna node comprises a GPS antenna.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein both of the magnetic field dipole transmit antenna and the satellite location system antenna node includes a mast removably coupled to the tray apparatus.

4. The system of claim 1, further combining a wireless RF transmitter module for providing the location data to the utility locator via a wireless data link.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tray apparatus includes one or more container holders including a paint canister holder.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tray apparatus includes a ground stake receptacle for holding one or more conductive ground stakes for coupling output current signals from the transmitter module to an Earth ground.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the tray apparatus includes one or more drawers.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the output current signal includes components at two or more different frequencies.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the signals at two or more different frequencies are provided in non-overlapping time slots.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the signals at two or more different frequencies are provided in partially overlapping time slots.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the current signal is provided in two or more time slots, with one or more time slots with no current signal provided therebetween.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cellular data communications system module for communicating data associated with the current signal to a cellular device.

5. A satellite positioning and sonde transmit system for providing location data to a utility locator, comprising:

a housing;

a satellite antenna;

a dipole magnetic field sonde transmit antenna positioned at a predefined reference position relative to the satellite antenna;

an electronic circuit for providing a transmit signal to the dipole magnetic field sonde transmit antenna;

a satellite positioning receiver coupled to the satellite antenna for generating location data associated with a location of the system; and

an interface for providing an output signal from the satellite positioning receiver to the utility locator;

wherein the satellite antenna is placed in close proximity to the magnetic field sonde transmitting antenna with a satellite antenna node phase center and a magnetic field sonde centroid sharing a substantially common point in space so as to allow association between a source location of a magnetic field dipole signal sent from the magnetic field sonde transmitting antenna and location information determined by the satellite positioning receiver; and

wherein an absolute position of the utility locator is determined by determining a relative position between the dipole magnetic field sonde transmit antenna and combining this relative position with generated satellite positioning receiver location data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the satellite antenna and the dipole magnetic field sonde transmit antenna are combined and positioned in close proximity to the predefined reference position.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a center or reference position of the satellite antenna and the center or reference point of the dipole magnetic field sonde transmit antenna are at a substantially common point.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising an attachment mechanism for removably coupling the housing to a user.