US 12,228,030 B2
Advanced passive interference management in directional drilling system, apparatus and methods
Rudolf Zeller, Seattle, WA (US); Gary Garrabrant, Seattle, WA (US); Timothy Bayliss, Maple Valley, WA (US); and Scott Phillips, Kent, WA (US)
Assigned to Merlin Technology, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Merlin Technology, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/380,971.
Application 16/782,948 is a division of application No. 16/538,038, filed on Aug. 12, 2019, granted, now 10,598,007, issued on Mar. 24, 2020.
Application 16/538,038 is a division of application No. 15/635,884, filed on Jun. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,378,338, issued on Aug. 13, 2019.
Application 18/380,971 is a continuation of application No. 18/126,001, filed on Mar. 24, 2023, granted, now 11,852,012.
Application 18/126,001 is a continuation of application No. 17/752,144, filed on May 24, 2022, granted, now 11,613,990, issued on Mar. 28, 2023.
Application 17/752,144 is a continuation of application No. 17/322,530, filed on May 17, 2021, granted, now 11,352,876, issued on Jun. 7, 2022.
Application 17/322,530 is a continuation of application No. 16/782,948, filed on Feb. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,008,856, issued on May 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0060416 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 47/13 (2012.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 47/0228 (2012.01); E21B 47/024 (2006.01); E21B 47/107 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 47/13 (2020.05) [E21B 7/046 (2013.01); E21B 47/024 (2013.01); E21B 47/0228 (2020.05); E21B 47/107 (2020.05)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transmitter for use in conjunction with a horizontal directional drilling system that includes a drill string that extends from a drill rig to an inground tool which supports the transmitter such that extension and retraction of the drill string moves the inground tool through the ground during an inground operation, said transmitter comprising:
an antenna;
one or more sensors for generating sensor data;
an antenna driver for electrically driving said antenna to emit a depth signal responsive to a depth drive signal at a depth signal frequency for aboveground reception to determine a depth of the inground tool and for electrically driving the antenna responsive to a data drive signal to emit at least one data signal characterizing the sensor data using at least one data signal frequency, that is higher in frequency than the depth signal, for aboveground recovery of the sensor data; and
a processor configured for generating the depth drive signal at the depth signal frequency and to generate the data drive signal at the data signal frequency and for adjusting a depth signal reception range of the depth signal in conjunction with adjusting a data signal reception range of the data signal.