Buried line locator with integral position sensing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A line locator system, comprising:
- at least one detector that measures a magnitude of an electromagnetic field;
an accurate spatial location system that provides a spatial position relative to a reference position located near an area-of-interest; and
a processing system containing information including data that associates the magnitude of the electromagnetic field with the spatial position, wherein the information is stored in the processing system in a manner that allows recall of the data from the processing system by access via either the magnitude of the electromagnetic field or the spatial position, alone;
wherein determining the difference of the position of the line locator with respect to the reference position comprises detecting motion by the line locator and determining the difference of position based upon motion of the line locator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for detecting and compensating field distortion in underground line locators by means of mapping the field-strength of the field generated by electrical currents within the buried line. Signals from the underground structure can be mapped with respect to the position of the device. From the map, distortions from the expected signals can be determined, indicating interference from other structures or errors in detected location of the structure.
118 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A line locator system, comprising:
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at least one detector that measures a magnitude of an electromagnetic field;
an accurate spatial location system that provides a spatial position relative to a reference position located near an area-of-interest; and
a processing system containing information including data that associates the magnitude of the electromagnetic field with the spatial position, wherein the information is stored in the processing system in a manner that allows recall of the data from the processing system by access via either the magnitude of the electromagnetic field or the spatial position, alone;
wherein determining the difference of the position of the line locator with respect to the reference position comprises detecting motion by the line locator and determining the difference of position based upon motion of the line locator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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2. A line locator system comprising:
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at least one detector that measures a magnitude of an electromagnetic field;
an accurate spatial location system that provides a spatial position relative to a reference position located near an area-of-interest; and
a processing system containing information including data that associates the magnitude of the electromagnetic field with the spatial position, wherein the information is stored in the processing system in a manner that allows recall of the data from the Processing system by access via either the magnitude of the electromagnetic field or the spatial position, alone;
wherein the processing system generates a map of the electromagnetic field at a plurality of spatial positions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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3. A line locator system comprising:
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at least one detector that measures a magnitude of an electromagnetic field;
an accurate spatial location system that provides a spatial position relative to a reference position located near an area-of-interest; and
a processing system containing information including data that associates the magnitude of the electromagnetic field with the spatial position, wherein the information is stored in the processing system in a manner that allows recall of the data from the processing system by access via either the magnitude of the electromagnetic field or the spatial position, alone;
wherein the magnitude of the electromagnetic field and the spatial position are downloaded to a computer, the computer comparing the electromagnetic field and the spatial position with expected values of the electromagnetic field and the spatial position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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4. A method for determining the position of underground lines utilizing a line locator, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a magnitude of a signal detected by the line locator at a position;
determining a difference of the position of the line locator with respect to a reference position; and
associating information, within a data processing system, including first data representative of the difference in position and second data representative of the magnitude of the signal at the position, such that the first data is associated with the second data in a manner that allows recall of information from the processing system by entry of either the first data or the second data, alone;
wherein determining the difference of the position of the line locator with respect to the reference position comprises detecting motion by the line locator and determining the difference of position based upon motion of the line locator. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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5. A method for determining the position of underground lines utilizing a line locator, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a magnitude of a signal detected by the line locator at a position;
determining a difference of the position of the line locator with respect to a reference position; and
associating information, within a data processing system, including first data representative of the difference in position and second data representative of the magnitude of the signal at the position, such that the first data is associated with the second data in a manner that allows recall of information from the processing system by entry of either the first data or the second data, alone;
wherein determining the magnitude comprises determining the magnitude of the signal at a plurality of positions, wherein determining the difference of the position comprises determining a difference of each the plurality of positions with respect to the reference position, and the method further comprising generating a map based upon each of the magnitudes and associated differences of position. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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6. A method for determining the position of underground lines utilizing a line locator, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a magnitude of a signal detected by the line locator at a position;
determining a difference of the position of the line locator with respect to a reference position, wherein determining the difference in position comprises determining a difference in x, v and z coordinates between the position and reference position; and
associating information, within a data processing system, including first data representative of the difference in position and second data representative of the magnitude of the signal at the position, such that the first data is associated with the second data in a manner that allows recall of information from the processing system by entry of either the first data or the second data, alone;
wherein the difference in the x, y, and z coordinates between the position and reference position is determined utilizing at least one accelerometer to detect motion of the position in the x, y, and z coordinates.
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7. A method for determining the position of underground lines utilizing a line locator, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a magnitude of a signal detected by the line locator at a position;
determining a difference of the position of the line locator with respect to a reference position; and
associating information, within a data processing system, including first data representative of the difference in position and second data representative of the magnitude of the signal at the position, such that the first data is associated with the second data in a manner that allows recall of information from the processing system by entry of either the first data or the second data, alone;
wherein determining the difference in position comprises tri-laterating the position of the line locator based upon signals received from two or more local transmitters.
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8. A method for determining the position of underground lines utilizing a line locator, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a magnitude of a signal detected by the line locator at a position;
determining a difference of the position of the line locator with respect to a reference position; and
associating information, within a data processing system, including first data representative of the difference in position and second data representative of the magnitude of the signal at the position, such that the first data is associated with the second data in a manner that allows recall of information from the processing system by entry of either the first data or the second data, alone;
wherein determining the difference in position comprises triangulating the position of the line locator based upon signals received from one or more local transmitters.
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9. A line locator for determining the position of underground lines, comprising:
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at least one detector;
detection circuitry comprising an input coupled to the at least one detector and an output; and
means for determining a difference between a position of the line locator and a reference position comprising an output;
wherein the means for determining comprises means for generating a map of magnitudes of the signal at a plurality of positions, each of the plurality of positions determined by determining a difference between each of the plurality of positions and the reference position. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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10. A line locator for determining the position of underground lines, comprising:
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at least one detector;
detection circuitry comprising an input coupled to the at least one detector and an output; and
means for determining a difference between a position of the line locator and a reference position comprising an output;
wherein the means for determining comprises means for triangulating the position of the line locator based upon a signal received from two or more local transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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11. A line locator for determining the position of underground lines, comprising:
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at least one detector;
detection circuitry comprising an input coupled to the at least one detector and an output; and
means for determining a difference between a position of the line locator and a reference position comprising an output;
wherein the means for determining comprises means for tri-laterating the position of the line locator based upon a signal received from two or more local transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification