US6529006B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for resolving the position and identity of buried conductive bodies
Assignee: Utiliscope Corp
•
Filing: 2001-10-31
•
Granted: 2003-03-04
•
Expires: 2021-10-31
Abstract
Abstract Both location and identification of a buried or otherwise hidden conductive body is achieved by impressing a known electromagnetic waveform upon the conductive body, using at least one sensor to detect radiation emitted by the conductive body in response to the impressed waveform, locating the source of the emitted waveform based on comparison of the amplitudes of signals received by the at least two sensors, and evaluating the emitted radiation for deviations from the impressed waveform in order to determine the pattern of distortion caused by the conductive body and thereby identify the conductive body.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Hayes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/08; G01V3/10; G01V3/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies, comprising: a waveform generator; a receiver including at least one sensor arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by a buried conductive body when a waveform generated by said waveform generator is impressed upon said conductive body; a processing unit and a display; wherein said waveform is time-duration limited and said processing unit is arranged to enable identification of said conductive body based on deviation of a waveform of said electromagnetic radiation from said original waveform, and wherein said processing unit is arranged to locate said conductive bodies based on relative amplitudes of said waveform of said electromagnetic radiation detected by said at least one sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies, comprising: a waveform generator; a receiver including at least one sensor arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by a buried conductive body when a waveform generated by said waveform generator is impressed upon said conductive body; a processing unit and a display; wherein said waveform is time-duration limited and said processing unit is arranged to enable identification of said conductive body based on deviation of a waveform of said electromagnetic radiation from said original waveform, and wherein said processing unit is arranged to locate said conductive bodies based on relative amplitudes of said waveform of said electromagnetic radiation detected by said at least one sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , wherein said time-duration limited waveform exhibits abrupt discontinuities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 2 , wherein said waveform is a square wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 2 , wherein said waveform is a square wave ending in an inductive kick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a coupler arranged to directly inject said waveform into said conductive body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 5 , wherein said coupler is a clamp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an inductive coupling arranged to inject said waveform into said conductive body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 7 , wherein said inductive coupling is a coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is a magnetic field sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is a broadband antenna.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , wherein said display includes a display of said waveform of said electromagnetic radiation emitted by the buried conductive body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is arranged to perform a spectral analysis of said electromagnetic radiation emitted by the buried conductive body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system for locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is arranged to determine parameters of a time domain representation of said electromagnetic radiation emitted by said buried conductive body.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies, comprising the steps of: generating a time-duration limited waveform; detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by a buried conductive body when a waveform generated by said waveform generator is impressed upon said conductive body; identifying said conductive body based on deviation of a waveform of said electromagnetic radiation from said original waveform, and locating said conductive bodies based on relative amplitudes of said waveform of said electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies, comprising the steps of: generating a time-duration limited waveform; detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by a buried conductive body when a waveform generated by said waveform generator is impressed upon said conductive body; identifying said conductive body based on deviation of a waveform of said electromagnetic radiation from said original waveform, and locating said conductive bodies based on relative amplitudes of said waveform of said electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , wherein said time-duration limited waveform exhibits abrupt discontinuities.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , wherein said waveform is a square wave.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , wherein said waveform is a square wave ending in an inductive kick.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of directly injecting said waveform into said conductive body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of inductively injecting said waveform into said conductive body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of performing a spectral analysis of said electromagnetic radiation emitted by the buried conductive body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of locating and identifying buried conductive bodies as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of determining parameters of a time domain representation of said electromagnetic radiation emitted by said buried conductive body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3418572A
Cited
US3991393A
Cited
US4295095A
Cited
US4438389A
Cited
US4427942A
Cited
US4387340A
Cited
US4520317A
Cited
US4506210A
Cited
US4639674A
Cited
US4542344A
Cited
US4843324A
Cited
US4818944A
Cited
US5093622A
Cited
US5361029A
Cited
US5640092A
Cited
US5418447A
Cited
US5365163A
Cited
US5471143A
Cited
US5754049A
Cited
US6051977A
Cited
US6268731B1
Cited
US6140819A
Cited
US6215888B1
Cited
US6211807B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-03 | 2006-09-02 | 2007-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-03 | 2010-09-02 | 2011-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-03 | 2014-09-02 | 2015-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |