US 11,867,057 B2
Advanced inground device power control and associated methods
Albert W. Chau, Woodinville, WA (US); Scott Phillips, Normandy Park, WA (US); and Benjamin J. Medeiros, Orting, WA (US)
Assigned to Merlin Technology, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Merlin Technology, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/838,841.
Application 17/838,841 is a continuation of application No. 16/119,855, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/119,855 is a continuation of application No. 15/231,782, filed on Aug. 9, 2016, granted, now 10,072,489, issued on Sep. 11, 2018.
Application 15/231,782 is a continuation of application No. 14/214,074, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, granted, now 9,425,619, issued on Aug. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/794,466, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0311284 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 7/00 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); H02J 50/80 (2016.01); E21B 44/00 (2006.01); E21B 47/09 (2012.01); E21B 47/13 (2012.01); E21B 47/125 (2012.01); H02J 1/00 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); E21B 47/024 (2006.01); E21B 47/01 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 7/046 (2013.01) [E21B 41/00 (2013.01); E21B 44/005 (2013.01); E21B 47/024 (2013.01); E21B 47/09 (2013.01); E21B 47/125 (2020.05); E21B 47/13 (2020.05); H02J 1/00 (2013.01); H02J 50/80 (2016.02); E21B 47/01 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transmitter that is powered by a battery and the transmitter is receivable in a housing to form part of an inground tool for performing a drilling operation in a drilling environment using a drill string that extends from a drill rig to the inground tool, said transmitter comprising:
a regulator for generating a regulated voltage from a battery;
an antenna driver powered from the regulated voltage for electrically driving an antenna to emanate an electromagnetic signal for remote reception based on power consumption from the regulator;
an accelerometer for generating accelerometer readings that at least characterize a pitch orientation of the inground tool; and
a controller that monitors the power consumption and selectively limits the power consumption based on at least one power consumption threshold while continuing to drive the antenna to emanate the electromagnetic signal and for changing the power consumption threshold responsive to the drilling environment.