MARKING DEVICE DOCKING STATIONS AND METHODS OF USING SAME

• US 20100085694A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey, Nielsen, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.80
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/11 for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/02 Means for marking measuring points
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/06 Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 : Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Docking stations and docking methods are provided for use with marking devices used for marking the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area. The docking station may serve as a home base for storage of a marking device, for charging the battery of a marking device, for transferring data to and from a marking device, and for securing a marking device against unauthorized use and/or theft. The docking station may be a mobile docking station that is installed in a vehicle or may be a fixed docking station that is installed at a central location in the field, at a central office, at a home base facility, and the like.

Claims

1. A docking station for docking a marking device of the type used to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area, comprising:

a housing;

an electronic interface to transfer information to and from the marking device; and

docking control electronics to control operation of the docking station.

2. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a communication interface to transfer marking device information to and from a computing device.

3. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a local memory to store marking device information transferred from the marking device.

4. A docking station as defined in claim 3, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to store the marking device information in the local memory for later transfer to a computing device.

5. A docking station as defined in claim 1, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to control transfer of data to and between the marking device and a computing device.

6. A docking station as defined in claim 1, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to control data synchronization between the docking station and the marking device.

7. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wired interface for wired communication between the docking station and a computing device.

8. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface for wireless communication between the docking station and a computing device.

9. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wired interface for wired communication between the docking station and the marking device.

10. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface for wireless communication between the docking station and the marking device.

11. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a user interface to interact with a user.

12. A docking station as defined in claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen to receive user inputs and to display information to a user.

13. A docking station as defined in claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a keypad to receive user inputs.

14. A docking station as defined in claim 11, wherein the user interface includes one or more light emitting devices.

15. A docking station as defined in claim 11, wherein the user interface includes a display device to display information associated with docking station operation.

16. A docking station as defined in claim 11, wherein the user interface includes one or more sound emitting devices.

17. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one control input to enable control of the docking station by a user.

18. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one indicator to indicate an operating condition of the docking station and/or the marking device.

19. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a control interface to receive control inputs from an external user interface.

20. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a timing system to generate a current date and time.

21. A docking station as defined in claim 20, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record dates and times of docking and/or undocking of the marking device.

22. A docking station as defined in claim 20, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record dates and times of docking station operations.

23. A docking station as defined in claim 20, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record a date and time of testing, diagnostics and/or calibration of the marking device.

24. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a location tracking system to determine geographical coordinates of the docking station.

25. A docking station as defined in claim 24, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record the geographical coordinates of the docking station upon docking and undocking of the marking device.

26. A docking station as defined in claim 24, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record the geographical coordinates of the docking station during docking station operations.

27. A docking station as defined in claim 24, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to receive geographical coordinates of the marking device and to record the geographical coordinates of the marking device relative to the geographical coordinates of the docking station.

28. A docking station as defined in claim 1, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to execute a diagnostics routine for testing of the marking device.

29. A docking station as defined in claim 1, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to execute a diagnostics routine for testing of the docking station.

30. A docking station as defined in claim 1, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to execute a calibration routine for calibration of the marking device.

31. A docking station as defined in claim 1, further comprising a power interface to charge a battery in the marking device.

32. A docking station as defined in claim 31, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to determine a charge state of the battery in the marking device.

33. A docking station as defined in claim 31, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record a date and time of battery charging.

34. A docking station as defined in claim 31, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to record geographical coordinates of battery charging.

35. A docking station as defined in claim 31, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to determine a battery quality and/or a battery capacity of the battery in the marking device.

36. A docking station as defined in claim 1, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to verify the identity of the marking device.

37. A docking station as defined in claim 36, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to verify an identity of the marking device by receiving an identification from the marking device and comparing the received identification with stored identifications of marking devices.

38. A docking station as defined in claim 37, wherein the docking control electronics is configured to generate an alert if the received identification does not match one of the stored identifications of marking devices.

39. A method for handling a marking device of the type used to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area, comprising:

electronically coupling a marking device to a docking station; and

transferring information to and between the marking device and the docking station.

40. A system for operation of marking devices of the type used to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area, comprising:

at least one docking station configured to communicate electronically with a marking device; and

a computing device configured to communicate electronically with the docking station and configured to receive and record marking device data via the docking station and to transmit information to the docking station.

41. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the docking station is mounted in a vehicle and wherein the computing device comprises an onboard computer in the vehicle.

42. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the docking station is mounted in a vehicle and wherein the computing device comprises a remote computer.

43. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the at least one docking station comprises a plurality of docking stations configured to communicate electronically with the computing device.

44. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the docking station is mounted in a fixed location.

45. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the docking station is configured for mobile use.

46. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the at least one docking station includes a first docking station and a second docking station, the first and second docking stations configured to communicate directly with each other without intervention by the computing device.

47. A system as defined in claim 40, wherein the at least one docking station comprises a first docking station mounted in a first vehicle and a second docking station mounted in a second vehicle and wherein the computing device comprises an on-site computer.

48. A system as defined in claim 47, wherein the first and second docking stations are configured to communicate directly with each other without intervention by the computing device.

49. A system for operation of marking devices of the type used to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area, comprising:

a first docking station configured to communicate electronically with a first marking device; and

a second docking station configured to communicate electronically with a second marking device, the first and second docking stations being configured to communicate directly with each other.

50. A system as defined in claim 49, wherein at least one of the first and second docking stations is mounted in a fixed location.

51. A system as defined in claim 49, wherein at least one of the first and second docking stations is configured for mobile use.

52. A system as defined in claim 49, further comprising a computing device configured to communicate electronically with the first and second docking stations.

53. A system as defined in claim 49, wherein at least one of the first and second docking stations is mounted in a vehicle.

54. A system for operation of a marking device of the type used to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area, comprising:

at least one docking station configured to communicate electronically with a marking device; and

a marking device configured to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area and to communicate electronically with the docking station.

55. A system as defined in claim 54, wherein the docking station is configured to receive and store marking device data from the marking device.

56. A system as defined in claim 54, wherein the docking station and the marking device are configured for wireless communication.

57. A system as defined in claim 54, wherein the docking station is configured for mobile use.

58. A system as defined in claim 54, wherein the docking station is mounted in a vehicle.

59. A system as defined in claim 54, further comprising a computing device configured to communicate electronically with the docking station and configured to receive and record marking device data via the docking station.

60. A system for operation of marking devices of the type used to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area, comprising:

a plurality of docking stations mounted in fixed locations for storage of respective marking devices; and

a computing device configured to communicate electronically with the docking stations and to monitor and control the operational status of marking devices docked in the docking stations.

61. A system as defined in claim 60, wherein the computing device is configured to monitor and control battery charging of marking devices docked in the docking stations.

62. A system as defined in claim 60, further comprising a power source coupled to the docking stations for operation of the docking stations and for charging of batteries in marking devices docked in the docking stations.

63. A system as defined in claim 60, wherein the docking stations are configured for direct communication with each other without intervention by the computing device.