Method of locating underground utility lines and an underground utility line

• US 6,778,128 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoRFID LLC
• Original Assignee: Guardian Angel Protection Incorporated
• Inventors: Lylick, Peter William, Tucker, Layne Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/359,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 342/176-186, 342/21, 342/22, 342/25, 342/27, 342/28, 342/42, 342/43-59, 342/118, 342/125, 342/126-156, 342/175, 342/195, 342/357-1-3, 324/323, 324/326, 324/327-329, 324/330, 324/331, 324/347, 324/600, 324/629, 324/637, 324/638-646, 405/154.1, 405/157, 405/158-173, 367/2-6, 367/118, 367/127, 367/128, 367/129, 367/131, 367/134, 340/572.8, 731/525.8
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

A method of locating an underground utility line. A first step involves securing transponders along a length of an underground utility line at regular spaced intervals. A second step involves interrogating the transponders to receive transponder signals. A third step involves ascertaining the position of the transponder signals and extrapolating positioning of the underground utility line from the transponder signals.

Claims

1. A method of locating an underground utility line, comprising the steps of:

securing transponders along a length of an underground utility line at regular spaced intervals;

interrogating the transponders to receive transponder signals;

ascertaining the position of the transponder signals and extrapolating positioning of the underground utility line from the transponder signals;

determining global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinates for each of the transponder signals; and

displaying the transponder signals from the transponders on a grid of GPS co-ordinates.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transponder signals include vital information regarding the utility line.

3. In combination:

an underground utility line having transponders secured along its length at regular spaced intervals; and

a display displaying on a grid of GPS co-ordinates GPS co-ordinates of transponder signals from each of the transponders, along with positioning of the underground utility line as extrapolated from the transponder signals.