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US 8,264,226 B1Granted
System and method for locating buried pipes and cables with a man portable locator and a transmitter in a mesh network
AssigneeSeekTech, Inc.
InventorsMark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Michael J. Martin, Ray Merewether, Amos H. Jessup
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for locating buried cables, pipes and other utilities includes a man portable receiver/locator which is linked by a wireless mesh connection to a transmitter which either directly applies, or induces, a signal onto a buried utility.
Claims18
A system for locating a hidden utility, comprising:
- a man portable receiver/locator;
- and
- wireless communication means for establishing a meshed network with a plurality of nodes including the receiver/locator and at least one transmitter configured to inductively or directly apply a signal to the hidden utility;
- wherein the transmitter is configured to change a characteristic associated with the applied signal in response to a command received from a node of the mesh network.
1 more element
A system for locating a hidden utility, comprising:
- a man portable receiver/locator;
- and
- wireless communication means for establishing a meshed network with a plurality of nodes including the receiver/locator and at least one transmitter configured to inductively or directly apply a signal to the hidden utility;
- wherein the man portable receiver/locator includes means for calculating a predetermined signal quality metric and commanding the one transmitter to increase or decrease transmitted current in order to meet the predetermined signal quality metric.
1 more element
A method of locating a hidden utility, comprising the steps of:
- providing a man portable receiver/locator;
- providing at least one transmitter configured to inductively or directly apply a signal to a hidden utility;
- and
- wirelessly communicating between the man portable receiver/locator and the transmitter to apply a signal to the hidden utility in a predetermined manner that optimizes the locating process, and wherein the communication is performed by treating the portable receiver/locator and the one transmitter as nodes of a meshed network.
1 more element
A method of locating a hidden utility, comprising the steps of:
- providing a man portable receiver/locator;
- providing at least one transmitter configured to inductively or directly apply a signal to a hidden utility;
- and
- wirelessly communicating between the man portable receiver/locator and the transmitter to apply a signal to the hidden utility in a predetermined manner that optimizes the locating process, and wherein the communication is performed by treating the portable receiver/locator and the one transmitter as nodes of a meshed network;
- wherein the man portable receiver/locator calculates a predetermined signal quality metric and commands the one transmitter to increase or decrease transmitted current in order to meet the predetermined signal quality metric.
2 more elements
A method of locating a hidden utility, comprising the steps of:
- providing a man portable receiver/locator;
- providing at least one;
- wirelessly communicating between the man portable receiver/locator and the transmitter;
- causing the transmitter to apply a signal to the hidden utility in a predetermined manner that optimizes the locating process;
- and
- determining a location of the hidden utility based on time-of-flight positioning between the receiver/locator, the one transmitter and at least one ranging beacon.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.