US 11,719,846 B1
Buried utility locating systems with wireless data communication including determination of cross coupling to adjacent utilities
Mark S. Olsson, La Jolla, CA (US); David A. Cox, San Diego, CA (US); Michael J. Martin, San Diego, CA (US); Ray Merewether, La Jolla, CA (US); and Amos H. Jessup, Hillsborough, NC (US)
Assigned to SEESCAN, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by SeeScan, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/522,857.
Application 17/522,857 is a continuation of application No. 15/681,409, filed on Aug. 20, 2017, granted, now 11,175,427.
Application 15/681,409 is a continuation of application No. 13/602,303, filed on Sep. 3, 2012, granted, now 9,746,573, issued on Aug. 29, 2017.
Application 13/602,303 is a continuation of application No. 11/774,462, filed on Jul. 6, 2007, granted, now 8,264,226, issued on Sep. 11, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/806,708, filed on Jul. 6, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/806,837, filed on Jul. 10, 2006.
Int. Cl. G01V 3/10 (2006.01); G01V 3/15 (2006.01); G01B 7/26 (2006.01); G01V 3/165 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 3/10 (2013.01) [G01V 3/15 (2013.01); G01B 7/26 (2013.01); G01V 3/165 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for locating a buried utility, comprising:
a portable receiver for tracing the buried utility, the portable receiver including a magnetic field measurement module for receiving magnetic fields emitted from the buried utility;
a portable transmitter for providing a current signal to the buried utility; and
a wireless communication means for establishing a wireless connection between the portable receiver and the portable transmitter;
wherein the portable receiver sends, via the wireless communication means, a command signal to the portable transmitter to provide a current signal to the buried utility at two or more different frequencies, and the portable transmitter sends, via the wireless communication means, information associated with the provided current signal to the portable receiver; and
wherein the portable receiver measures a relative change in magnetic field angles for at least two of the two or more different frequencies, and determines an amount of cross coupling to one or more other utilities or conductors in proximity to the buried utility based at least in part on the measured magnetic field angles.