Conductor locator adapter for electronic markers

Abstract

An adapter for a conventional conductor locator allows the locator to additionally detect the presence of passive, electronic markers. The adapter includes an electronic marker locator and a wireless interface housed in a common body which may be releasably attached to the conductor locator. The electronic marker locator, which may comprise conventional circuitry, outputs a marker detection signal to the wireless interface, which conditions the signal so that it is compatible with the input sensor of the conductor locator. The wireless interface includes an output antenna which is positioned adjacent the input sensor of the conductor locator when the adapter is attached thereto. If the conductor locator is of the type which may receive test signals at different operating frequencies, then the wireless interface also includes a modulator to selectively convert the marker detection signal to one of these operating frequencies. The electronic marker locator portion of the adapter may also be selectively adjusted to detect different discrete marker frequencies. The adapter may operate in a sleep mode, wherein the output signal of the wireless interface is disabled, but the wireless interface may still alert the user to the presence of an electronic marker by an audible alarm.