# US 8,769,838 B2 · Surveyor 's rod and magnetic locator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,838 B2 - Document ID: US8769838B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/924,275 - Filed: 2011-01-10 - Published: 2012-07-26 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-10 - Assignees: Warren Dale Ward - Applicants: Warren Dale Ward - Inventors: Warren Dale Ward - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769838B2 ## CPC - G01C 15/06: Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract This invention is a universal and configurable land surveying and mapping tool. This invention combines several functions into one tool and is unique because of its one tool that provides the ability to perform a plurality of surveying task including metal detection and determining location data (i.e. GPS data). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions, said configurable apparatus comprising: a rod portion that is at least partially hollow defining a first end and a an opposing second end wherein said first end defines a pointed magnetic interface and said opposing second end defines a rod-to-accessory interface configure for receiving any one of a plurality of rod accessories including (a) a magnetic sensor controller, (b) a GPS device, and (c) a prism device; a magnetic sensor disposed within said rod portion wherein said magnetic sensor is suitably configure for detecting a metallic object; a magnetic sensor controller defining an electronics housing disposed between a controller first end and a controller second end wherein said controller first end defines a controller-interface and said controller second end defines a controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said controller-interface is configured for being mechanically associated with said rod-to-accessory interface and wherein said magnetic sensor controller is configured for controlling said magnetic sensor; and at least one a rod accessory selected from one of (a) a GPS device defining a first GPS end and an opposing second GPS end wherein said first GPS end defines a GPS-interface and said second GPS end defines a GPS-to-accessory interface wherein said GPS device is configured to generate location data; and (b) prism device defining a prism-interface configured for being mechanically associated with one of (i) said rod-to-accessory interface, (ii) said controller-to-accessory interface, and (iii) said GPS-to-accessory interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions as in claim 1, wherein said rod portion defines a telescopic rod. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions as in claim 1, comprising both a GPS device and a prism device and wherein said GPS-interface is mechanically associated with said controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said prism-interface is mechanically GPS-to-accessory interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A configurable apparatus for providing a plurality of surveying functions as in claim 1, wherein said magnetic sensor controller generates sound indicating a metallic object has been detected and wherein said magnetic sensor controller further comprises a volume control feature. ### Claim 5 A configurable surveying apparatus, said configurable apparatus comprising: a rod portion that is at least partially hollow defining a first end and a an opposing second end wherein said first end defines a pointed magnetic interface and said opposing second end defines a rod-to-accessory interface configure for receiving any one of a plurality of rod accessories including (a) a magnetic sensor controller, (b) a GPS device, and (c) a prism device; a magnetic sensor disposed within said rod portion wherein said magnetic sensor is suitably configure for detecting a metallic object; a magnetic sensor controller defining an electronics housing disposed between a controller first end and a controller second end wherein said controller first end defines a controller-interface and said controller second end defines a controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said controller-interface is configured for being mechanically associated with said rod-to-accessory interface and wherein said magnetic sensor controller is configured for controlling said magnetic sensor; a GPS device defining a first GPS end and an opposing second GPS end wherein said first GPS end defines a GPS-interface and said second GPS end defines a GPS-to-accessory interface wherein said GPS device is configured to generate location data and wherein said GPS-interface is releaseably associated with said controller-to-accessory; a prism device defining a prism-interface configured for being releaseably associated with one of (i) said rod-to-accessory interface, (ii) said controller-to-accessory interface, and (iii) said GPS-to-accessory interface; and wherein said rod portion defines a telescopic rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A configurable surveying apparatus as in claim 5, comprising both a GPS device and a prism device and wherein said GPS-interface is mechanically associated with said controller-to-accessory interface and wherein said prism-interface is mechanically GPS-to-accessory interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A configurable surveying apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said magnetic sensor controller generates sound indicating a metallic object has been detected and wherein said magnetic sensor controller further comprises a volume control feature.