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:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 07, 2000
George Roberts, Georgetown, TX (US);
Edward Fraser, Cupertino, CA (US);
Fred Earnest, Pflugerville, TX (US);
Reuter-Stokes, Inc. (General Electric Company), Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A data communication system is provided for communicating with an underground instrument package positioned on a drilling apparatus. The drilling apparatus has an insulated section between first and second conductive sections. The system includes a power supply connected to the first conductive section of the drilling apparatus and to the ground. A receiver measures current flowing through the power supply. An electrical path is provided between the first and second conductive sections of the drilling apparatus. A switch provided in the electrical path opens and closes the electrical path in response to the data generated by the instrument package.