Inground device with advanced transmit power control and associated methods
AssigneeMerlin Technology, Inc.
InventorsAlbert W. Chau, Jason Pothier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inground housing supports a transmitter for receiving electrical power from a battery. The transmitter transmits at least one signal using at least two different transmit power levels for at least one of locating the transmitter and characterizing an orientation of the transmitter. Based on detecting the battery voltage, the transmitter selects one of the transmit power levels. Transmitter output power can be controlled based on one or both of signal gain and duty cycle.
Claims10
An apparatus for use with a system for performing an inground operation with the apparatus supported at least proximate to the inground tool during the inground operation, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing that is configured for receiving a battery having one of at least two different battery voltages;
- and
- a transmitter supported within the housing for receiving electrical power from the battery and configured to transmit at least one signal from the apparatus, for tracking of the transmitter, using at least a standard power mode and a high power mode based on a detecting a suitable battery voltage and for switching between the standard mode and the high power mode based on an operator selection received from an aboveground component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.