The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2000
John E. Mercer, Kent, WA (US);
Digital Control Incorporated, Renton, WA (US);
Abstract
An arrangement is described in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch while transmitting a locating signal. A portable locator measures signal strength at an above ground location. The portable locator further determines pitch of the boring tool. The determined pitch and signal strength are used to establish the depth of the boring tool. In one aspect, the portable locator measures the locating signal from a negative locate point. In another aspect, the portable locator measures from an above ground location having a particular flux orientation. In yet another aspect, the portable locator determines a positional relationship between the portable locator and the boring tool using the determined pitch and measured locating signal.