Phase synchronized buried object locator apparatus, systems, and methods
AssigneeSeescan, Inc.
InventorsMark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, David A. Cox, Jan Soukup, Timothy M. Turner
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Abstract
Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized such that an associated locator may receive magnetic field signals from the output current signal and determine information about the current flow based on independent phase-synchronization timing information.
Claims22
A method for use in a buried object locator system, comprising:
- receiving a transmitted signal, including timing information, at a buried object locator system transmitter;
- generating a timing reference from the timing information at the buried object locator system transmitter;
- generating a phase-synchronized output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference at the buried object locator system transmitter;
- sending the output signal from the buried object locator system transmitter to a coupling device to generate a buried object current;
- receiving a magnetic field signal associated with the buried object current at a buried object locator;
- determining information about the buried object current based at least in part on the phase of the magnetic field signal;
- and
- independently determining a second timing reference at the locator system, wherein the information about the buried object current is based in part on the second timing reference.
A method for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
- receiving a magnetic field signal associated with a current in a buried object, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information;
- receiving a second transmitted signal including second timing information;
- determining a second timing reference from the second timing information;
- and
- determining information related to the current in the buried object based on the received magnetic signal and second timing reference.
A locator for use in a buried utility locator system, comprising:
- a locator receiver module for receiving a magnetic field signal from a buried object associated with a current in the buried object, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information;
- a timing synchronization module including a receiver module configured to receive a second transmitted signal that includes second timing information and determine a second timing reference from the second timing information;
- and
- a processing module configured to determine information related to the current in the buried object based on the received magnetic signal and the second timing reference.
A system including a first non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for causing a computer to:
- receive a first transmitted signal that includes timing information;
- determine a timing reference from the timing information;
- generate an output signal having a phase determined at least in part by the timing reference;
- and
- send the output signal to a coupling apparatus;
- and
- a second non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for causing a computer to:
- receive a magnetic signal associated with a current in a buried object, wherein the magnetic signal is generated with a phase based at least in part on a first timing reference determined from a first transmitted signal including first timing information;
- receive a second transmitted signal including second timing information;
- determine a second timing reference from the second timing information;
- and
- determine an indicated current direction in a buried object based on the received locator signal and the second timing reference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.