Single and multi-trace omnidirectional sonde and line locators and transmitter used therewith
US7619516B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S13/885
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
At least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point senses an electromagnetic signal emitted by a buried object such as a utility line, pipe or sonde. A circuit at least partially mounted in a housing is connected to the array and determines a location of the buried object by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions without having to align the antenna array relative to the buried object while eliminating nulls and false peaks. A graphical user interface (GUI) has user-friendly icons, symbols, menus, numbers and graphical and auditory representation of signal strength. A plurality of different underground objects can be simultaneously detected and their different locations can be simultaneously indicated to a user via audible sounds and/or visual images on a display.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.