SEESCAN, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160141766 | GRADIENT ANTENNA COILS AND ARRAYS FOR USE IN LOCATING SYSTEMS - Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and gradient antenna array signals. | 05-19-2016 |
20150350506 | PIPE MAPPING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In one embodiment, a method for mapping pipes under inspection includes receiving, at a locator, magnetic field signals from a sonde deployed in a pipe or cavity, generating, in the locator, positional information associated with the pipe or cavity from the received sonde signals, and storing the positional information in a non-transitory memory of the locator. Depth information may be further determined for the pipe or cavity and the positional and/or depth information may be provided on a display device of the locator as an overlaid map display. | 12-03-2015 |
20150338539 | ECONOMICAL MAGNETIC LOCATOR APPARATUS AND METHODS - Magnetic locators for detection of buried objects, such as ferromagnetic objects, are disclosed. Outputs provided from two or more magnetic sensors, such as three three-axis magnetic sensors, as well as optionally from other sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopic sensors, may be used to determine magnetic field distortion indicative of ferromagnetic objects and/or provide output information corresponding to the detected objects based on the sensor outputs. | 11-26-2015 |
20150263434 | DUAL ANTENNA SYSTEMS WITH VARIABLE POLARIZATION - Antenna systems for receiving transmitted signals comprising at least a first tuned antenna disposed in a known relationship spatially with a second antenna, with the first tuned antenna electrically connected to the second antenna, are disclosed. The antenna system may be configured to allow the antennas to reliably discriminate between left-hand and right-hand polarized circular signals. | 09-17-2015 |
20150204652 | OPTICAL GROUND TRACKING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for tracking movement of a buried utility locator over a surface includes generating an output light, providing the output light to the surface, receiving a portion of the output light that is reflected from the surface, and generating information associated with a user-applied movement of the locator over the surface based at least in part on the received reflected portion of the output light. | 07-23-2015 |
20150123664 | ELECTRONIC MARKER DEVICES AND SYSTEMS - Integrated buried utility locator systems, including a locator including a marker device excitation transmitter a buried utility locator along with one or more marker devices, are disclosed. In operation a marker device excitation signal is sent from the locator at least partially simultaneously to receiving and processing a buried utility signal. | 05-07-2015 |
20150101896 | ASYMMETRIC DRAG FORCE BEARINGS - An asymmetric bearing device automatically decreases, without the need for manual adjustment, an amount of friction exerted against rotation of a drum or other mechanism upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the drum. | 04-16-2015 |
20150077120 | UTILITY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS WITH DOCKABLE APPARATUS - Buried utility transmitters and associated locator devices, systems, and methods used for locating utility lines, pipes, and/or other conductors that are obscured from view are disclosed. In one embodiment a buried utility transmitter includes a module generating an output current for provision to the utility so as to generate a magnetic field for detection by a utility locator, with the output current signal having modulated signaling. The transmitter system may include a tray apparatus configured to be removably dockable to the transmitter module or element or a body or frame of the transmitter system. | 03-19-2015 |
20150055005 | CABLE STORAGE DRUM WITH MOVEABLE CCU DOCKING APPARATUS - Embodiments of video inspection systems with moveably dockable CCUs are disclosed. In one embodiment a video inspection system includes a frame element, a camera control unit (CCU), and a docking apparatus mechanically coupled to the frame element and/or the CCU so as to allow the CCU to rotate relative to the frame, about a rotational axis, responsive to a user action. | 02-26-2015 |
20150009127 | DEFORMABLE USER INTERFACE DEVICES, APPARATUS, AND METHODS - User interface devices using magnetic sensing to provide output signals associated with motion and/or deformation of an actuator element of the interface devices are described. The output signals may be provided to an electronic computing system to provide commands, controls, and/or other data or information. In one embodiment, a user interface device may include a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of multi-axis magnetic sensors to generate motion and/or deformation signals to be provided to a processing element to generate the output signals. | 01-08-2015 |
20140340505 | SELF-GROUNDING TRANSMITTING PORTABLE CAMERA CONTROLLER FOR USE WITH PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEM - A portable camera controller for use with a pipe inspection system is disclosed. The controller may include an onboard display, USB ports, wireless capability, and a built-in transmitter for energizing a pipe-inspection cable for tracing purposes. The camera controller may be configured to support auto-logging and automatic report generation of pipe inspection operations and associated locating operations. The camera controller may be self-grounding using conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits and an associated transmitter may be used without a separate grounding stake through use of the conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits. | 11-20-2014 |
20140340372 | USER INTERFACE DEVICES - User interface devices (UIDs) for sensing position or motion of an actuator assembly in multiple degrees of freedom are disclosed. In one embodiment a UID includes a frame having a top and bottom assembly, an actuator assembly disposed within a volume between the top and bottom of the frame having magnets disposed therein, a sensor array for sensing magnetic fields from the magnets in multiple axes, and a processing element for receiving the sensed magnet fields and generating a UID output signal corresponding to a position, translation, rotation, deformation, or other action of the actuator assembly. | 11-20-2014 |
20140340086 | USER INTERFACES FOR UTILITY LOCATORS - The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for enhanced utility locators. Such enhanced utility locators may include a myriad of sensors and other such technologies for determining information regarding the buried or otherwise inaccessible utility line. Such information may be displayed in a myriad of ways to convey relative characteristics among multiple utilities, or to convey relative characteristics of one or more utilities with respect to a locator. | 11-20-2014 |
20140333753 | SPRING ASSEMBLIES WITH VARIABLE FLEXILIBILITY FOR USE WITH PUSH-CABLES AND PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - Push-cables and associated apparatus and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a push-cable assembly for use with a pipe inspection system may include a push-cable element having a proximal end and a distal end, with a spring assembly having varying flexibility coupled to or near the distal end. The spring assembly may include an outer coiled spring having a proximal and a distal end, and an inner coiled spring nested at least partially within the outer coiled spring. A camera head and/or other elements such as a cutting or jetting apparatus may be coupled at or near the distal end. | 11-13-2014 |
20140320631 | MULTI-CAMERA PIPE INSPECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems for inspecting pipes or cavities including a camera head having an array of two or more imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) are disclosed. The camera head may include one or more light source elements, such as LEDs, for providing illumination in dimly lit inspection sites, such as the interior of underground pipes. The imaging elements and LEDs may be used in conjunction with a remote display device, such as an LCD panel of a camera control unit (CCU) or monitor in proximity to an operator, to display the interior of a pipe or other cavity. | 10-30-2014 |
20140320133 | SONDE DEVICES INCLUDING A SECTIONAL FERRITE CORE - Sonde devices for providing magnetic field signals for use with utility locators or other devices are disclosed. In one embodiment a sonde device includes a housing, a core comprising a plurality of core sections, and one or more support structures, which may include windings. Circuit and/or power supply elements may be disposed fully or partially within the core to control generation of predefined magnetic field frequencies and waveforms. | 10-30-2014 |
20140313321 | OPTICAL GROUND TRACKING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a ground tracking apparatus integral with or coupled to a buried object locator includes a housing, a plurality of camera modules, a distance measurement module, and a processing element to generate tracking information based on images or video streams from the camera modules in combination with distance data generated from the distance measurement module. | 10-23-2014 |
20140313316 | ADJUSTABLE VARIABLE RESOLUTION INSPECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING MULTIPLE IMAGE SENSORS - Camera heads having multiple image sensors, configured to provide digitally articulated images or video, at adjustable resolutions and/or offsets and orientations, to a camera control unit (CCU) or other electronic computing system for display, storage, and/or transmission to other systems are disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20140312903 | MULTI-FREQUENCY LOCATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array. | 10-23-2014 |
20140311795 | HIGH BANDWIDTH PUSH CABLES FOR VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - High-bandwidth push cables configured for high speed data communication, such as that used in video signal transmission between a camera head and a cable reel or other device, are disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20140285203 | GROUND-TRACKING SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS - A ground tracking system including a ground follower assembly for use with a locator or other device for determining position, motion, and/or orientation information is disclosed. The ground follower assembly may include a wheel assembly coupled to a locator and configured to swivel and/or pivot relative to an antenna node of the locator to generate signals for use in determining position information during a locate operation, such as from a sonde array. | 09-25-2014 |
20140266213 | OMNI-INDUCER TRANSMITTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Omnidirectional electromagnetic signal inducer (omni-inducer) devices are disclosed. The omni-inducer device may include a housing, which may include a conductive base for coupling signals to ground, and an omnidirectional antenna node including a plurality of antenna coil assemblies, where the node may be disposed on or within the housing. The omni-inducer device may further include one or more transmitter modules for generating ones of a plurality of output signals, which may be generated at ones of a plurality of different frequencies, and one or more control circuits configured to control the transmitters and/or other circuits to selectively switch the ones of the plurality of output signals between ones of the plurality of antenna coil assemblies. | 09-18-2014 |
20140176696 | ROTATING CONTACT ASSEMBLIES FOR SELF-LEVELING CAMERA HEADS - Camera heads and associated rotating contact assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment a slip-ring assembly includes a rotating contact assembly including slip rings having a cylindrical ring assembly and a flexible or bendable brush assembly. Brush elements may flexed to remain in contact with corresponding ring assembly electrical contacts. Bush contacts may be coated or have attached contact assemblies to increase hardness and oxide resistance with materials such as palladium nickel, rhodium, or hard gold, though a variety of other materials may be used as a suitable coating. | 06-26-2014 |
20140152802 | MULTI-CAMERA PIPE INSPECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A camera head for inspecting pipes or cavities including an array of two or more imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) is disclosed. The camera head may include one or more light source elements, such as LEDs, for providing illumination in dimly lit inspection sites, such as the interior of underground pipes. The imaging elements and LEDs may be used in conjunction with a remote display device, such as an LCD panel of a camera control unit (CCU) or monitor in proximity to an operator, to display the interior of a pipe or other cavity. | 06-05-2014 |