US 12,306,366 B1
Utility locator transmitter devices, systems, and methods
Mark S. Olsson, La Jolla, CA (US); Jesse O. Casares, El Cajon, CA (US); Jan Soukup, San Diego, CA (US); Stephanie M. Bench, Carlsbad, CA (US); Justin W. Taylor, Bend, OR (US); Ray Merewether, La Jolla, CA (US); and David A. Cox, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to SEESCAN, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by SeeScan, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/995,801.
Application 16/995,801 is a continuation of application No. 15/889,067, filed on Feb. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,754,053.
Application 15/889,067 is a continuation of application No. 14/332,268, filed on Jul. 15, 2014, granted, now 9,891,337, issued on Feb. 13, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/859,738, filed on Jul. 29, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/846,565, filed on Jul. 15, 2013.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01V 3/02 (2006.01); G01V 3/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 3/02 (2013.01) [G01V 3/081 (2013.01); G01V 3/088 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A buried utility locator system, comprising:
a utility locator;
a utility locator transmitter configured to generate an AC current signal output, the transmitter including a satellite positioning system antenna and positioning system receiver operatively coupled to the satellite positioning system antenna to determine positioning information associated with a position of the transmitter;
an omni-directional induction antenna operatively coupled to the utility locator transmitter AC current signal output to generate a three-dimensional magnetic field signal for inducing a current into a buried utility;
a removably dockable tray apparatus, wherein the utility locator transmitter is disposed on or within the removably dockable tray apparatus; and
three or more direct connection clamps operatively coupled to an output of the transmitter so as to provide an electrical contact connection between the transmitter and the buried utility, wherein the frequency provided over a time interval to each of the clamps is different than a frequency provided to the other of the clamps in the same time interval.