APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING DETECTION OF STRAY VOLTAGE ANOMALIES

• US 20070179737A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Osmose Utilities Services Incorporated (Osmose Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Power Survey Corporation
• Inventors: Paragano, Vincent, Kalokitis, David, Schultz, Leonard, Polyzois, Christos
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 7/04 involving a vehicle which moves along the profile to be traced

Abstract

A mobile apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling the detection of stray voltage anomalies is provided. The mobile apparatus is comprised of a detection system unit and an imaging system unit that are configured, respectively, to provide streaming data of electric field measurements and corresponding video image frames of a particular scene being patrolled and examined for anomalies. Data from both the detection system unit and the imagining system unit are synchronized and provided to a video based graphical user interface (VGUI) to enable an operator of the VGUI with a “moving chart” graphical display of electric field strength overlaid on video image frames of a particular location in the scene at the time of the measurement. The VGUI is additionally configured with an audio tone having a pitch that is proportional to the measured electric field strength to alert the operator of a potential anomaly. Upon detection of an anomaly, the operator may employ the use of features available on the VGUI to playback captured signal strength measurements and their corresponding video imagery for purposes of isolating the source of the anomaly.

Claims

1. A mobile apparatus for monitoring an electric field in a patrolled area, comprising:

at least one detection device for measuring electric field signals;

at least one camera device for collecting video images of said patrolled area;

a processor for correlating video image data collected from said camera device with electrical field signal data measured by said detection device; and

a video based graphical user interface for analyzing and capturing a monitored event depicting an anomaly in said measured electric field signals.

2. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver component for transmitting and receiving data associated with said captured events to and from at least one remote device.

3. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system receiver for tagging a video image frame from said collected video image data and corresponding electric field measurement with instantaneous position information pertaining to location and time.

4. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wheel speed sensor for determining a distance of travel of a patrol vehicle equipped with said mobile apparatus.

5. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for emitting a variable-pitched tone corresponding to a strength value associated with said measured electric field signals.

6. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for emitting an alert tone in response to a potentially detected stray voltage anomaly.

7. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detection device for measuring electric field signals employs at least one sensor probe adaptable for mobility into said electric fields.

8. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein said video based graphical user interface displays said video image frames of said patrolled area and a graphical display of corresponding electric field measurements.

9. The mobile apparatus of claim 8, wherein said graphical display of corresponding electric field measurements are overlaid on said video image frames.

10. The mobile apparatus of claim 8, wherein said graphical display of corresponding electric field measurements is comprised of a raw electric field measurement plot, an adaptive threshold plot and a processed electric field measurement plot.

11. The mobile apparatus of claim 10, wherein said adaptive threshold plot is set relative to a local ambient or background noise level that is generated from data gathered prior to and proceeding measurement of raw electric field data.

12. The mobile apparatus of claim 11, wherein said anomaly is detected when said processed electric field measurement plot exceeds said adaptive threshold plot.

13. The mobile apparatus of claim 12, wherein a source of said anomaly is identified by isolating an object discovered within close proximity to a peak of a spike in said raw electric field measurement plot.

14. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein said captured event depicting said anomaly is recorded for subsequent analysis and action.

15. A method for presenting video and locally-generated graphics to a user at a computer having a display, comprising:

initializing and providing said user with a video-based graphical user interface on said display;

displaying a video image frame of a patrolled area and electric field signal measurements in said graphical user interface on said display, wherein said electric field signal measurements are overlaid on said video image frame to provide a direct visual depiction of a location of a particular measurement;

providing said user with an event capture option on said graphical user interface to identify a source in said captured event emitting said anomaly; and

providing said user with playback controls on said graphical user interface for reviewing said captured event.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting and receiving data associated with said captured events to and from at least one remote device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising tagging a video image with instantaneous position information pertaining to location and time.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising emitting a variable-pitched tone corresponding to a strength value associated with said measured electric field signals.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising emitting an alert tone in response to a potentially detected stray voltage anomaly.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface displaying electric field signal measurements further comprises displaying a raw electric field measurement plot, an adaptive threshold plot and a processed electric field measurement plot.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising setting said adaptive threshold plot to a local ambient or background noise level that is generated from data gathered prior to and proceeding measurement of raw electric field data.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising indicating a detection of said anomaly when said processed electric field measurement plot exceeds said adaptive threshold plot.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising identifying a source of said anomaly by isolating an object discovered within close proximity to a peak of a spike in said raw electric field measurement plot.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising recording said captured event depicting said anomaly for subsequent analysis and action.

25. A monitoring system comprising a computer having a display, wherein the computer is configured to:

initialize and provide said user with a video-based graphical user interface on said display;

display a video image frame of a patrolled area and electric field signal measurements in said graphical user interface on said display, wherein said electric field signal measurements are overlaid on said video image frame to provide a direct visual depiction of a location of a particular measurement;

provide said user with an event capture option on said graphical user interface to identify a source in said captured event emitting said anomaly; and

provide said user with playback controls on said graphical user interface for reviewing said captured event.

26. The monitoring system of claim 25, further configured to transmit and receive data associated with said captured events to and from at least one remote device.

27. The monitoring system of claim 25, further configured to tag a video image with instantaneous position information pertaining to location and time.

28. The monitoring system of claim 25, further configured to emit a variable-pitched tone corresponding to a strength value associated with said measured electric field signals.

29. The monitoring system of claim 25, further configured to emit an alert tone in response to a potentially detected stray voltage anomaly.

30. The monitoring system of claim 25, wherein said graphical user interface displaying electric field signal measurements is further configured to display a raw electric field measurement plot, an adaptive threshold plot and a processed electric field measurement plot.

31. The monitoring system of claim 30, further configured to set said adaptive threshold plot to a local ambient or background noise level that is generated from data gathered prior to and proceeding measurement of raw electric field data.

32. The monitoring system of claim 31, further configured to indicate a detection of said anomaly when said processed electric field measurement plot exceeds said adaptive threshold plot.

33. The monitoring system of claim 32, further configured to identify a source of said anomaly by isolating an object discovered within close proximity to a peak of a spike in said raw electric field measurement plot.

34. The monitoring system of claim 25, further configured to record said captured event depicting said anomaly for subsequent analysis and action.

35. A computer readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for use in presenting video and locally generated graphics to a user at a computer having a display, the machine-readable instructions comprising:

initializing and providing said user with a video-based graphical user interface on said display;

displaying a video image frame of a patrolled area and electric field signal measurements in said graphical user interface on said display, wherein said electric field signal measurements are overlaid on said video image frame to provide a direct visual depiction of a location of a particular measurement;

providing said user with an event capture option on said graphical user interface to identify a source in said captured event emitting said anomaly; and

providing said user with playback controls on said graphical user interface for reviewing said captured event.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising transmitting and receiving data associated with said captured events to and from at least one remote device.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising tagging a video image with instantaneous position information pertaining to location and time.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising emitting a variable-pitched tone corresponding to a strength value associated with said measured electric field signals.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising emitting an alert tone in response to a potentially detected stray voltage anomaly.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said graphical user interface displaying electric field signal measurements further comprises displaying a raw electric field measurement plot, an adaptive threshold plot and a processed electric field measurement plot.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40, further comprising setting said adaptive threshold plot to a local ambient or background noise level that is generated from data gathered prior to and proceeding measurement of raw electric field data.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, further comprising indicating a detection of said anomaly when said processed electric field measurement plot exceeds said adaptive threshold plot.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, further comprising identifying a source of said anomaly by isolating an object discovered within close proximity to a peak of a spike in said raw electric field measurement plot.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising recording said captured event depicting said anomaly for subsequent analysis and action.