Gradient antenna coils and arrays for use in locating systems

• US 9,488,747 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seesoon Incorporated
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Merewether, Ray, Martin, Michael J., Levin, Ryan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot
• Application Number:
  US13/850,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 324326-329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/10 using induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and gradient antenna array signals.

Claims

1. A buried object locator, comprising:

a mast;

a housing coupled to the mast;

a processing element disposed in the housing;

a display element disposed on or within the housing; and

an antenna node coupled to the mast, the antenna node comprising;

an antenna array support structure;

an interior omnidirectional antenna array disposed on the antenna array support structure;

a gradient antenna comprising a quad gradient antenna array, including four or more outer antenna coils, disposed about the omnidirectional antenna array;

wherein the centerline of an antenna element of the gradient antenna substantially intersect a center point of the omnidirectional antenna array; and

a central antenna assembly including one or more vertical antenna coils.

2. The locator of claim 1, wherein the gradient antenna comprises two or more antenna elements and the centerlines of one pair of antenna elements of the gradient antenna array substantially intersect a centerpoint of the omnidirectional antenna array.

3. The locator of claim 1, wherein the gradient antenna comprises four or more antenna elements and the centerlines of two pairs of antenna elements of the gradient antenna array substantially intersect a center point of the omnidirectional antenna array.

4. The locator of claim 1, wherein the vertical antenna coils circumscribe a printed circuit board (PCB).

5. The locator of claim 1, wherein the outer antenna coils and the central antenna assembly are nested in a substantially cylindrical housing.

6. The locator of claim 1, wherein the central antenna assembly includes a plurality of vertical antenna coils.

7. The locator of claim 1, wherein a horizontal plane containing a central axis of the gradient antenna coils does not intersect a center point of a central antenna coil array of the central antenna assembly.

8. The locator of claim 1, wherein one or more of the coils of the quad gradient antenna array are tilted above or below a plane of the center point of an omnidirectional antenna array of the locator.