Locator self-test
US9869744B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V13/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A detection apparatus with a self-test is presented. A detection apparatus such as a cable locator has an array of sensors in the form of ferrite antennas to detect an electromagnetic field produced by an object such as a buried cable. The signals are amplified, digitized and fed to a processing unit that outputs a detection signal to a display to indicate the detection of a cable. A programmable signal generator outputs a self-test signal via a voltage-current converter that is used to check the balance between the sensors. The self-test signal is directly coupled into each of the sensors through a wired connection and the processing unit uses the self-test signal to accurately determine the magnitude and phase balance of the sensors. The magnitude and phase data may be used to calibrate the instrument, apply data corrections or flag errors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.