Abstract: Systems and methods for locating buried utilities in conjunction with associated electro-magnetic marker devices are disclosed. A marker device may include a marker device antenna and an electronic circuit operatively coupled to the marker device antenna. The electronic circuit may include at least two resonant circuits, including a first resonant circuit formed in combination with the marker device antenna for receiving an excitation signal at a first frequency from a marker excitation device. The received excitation signal may be converted into a power supply by a power circuit for powering the electronic circuit. Responsive to the received excitation signal, a processing element provided in the electronic circuit may generate an output signal at a second frequency, which is substantially different from the first frequency. The generated output signal may be tuned by a second resonant circuit and provided to the marker device antenna.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to buried utility locating devices, system, and methods having a plurality of spatially separated GNSS antennas. Baselines or other spatial relationships may be formed between pairs of position estimates associated with the GNSS antennas to determine information about the position, heading, and tilt/pose of the utility locating device.

Abstract: Location systems and methods for locating paint and other markings on a surface are described. More specifically, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to smart paint stick devices and methods of use in locating and marking buried utility lines or other buried objects. One system for locating a buried object may include a buried object locator and a paint stick. The locator may include a tracking component configured to detect a location of a buried object. The paint stick may be configured to cause a paint container to dispense paint at a first position associated with the location of the buried object. The paint stick may include a position determination component configured to transmit one or more range vector signals that are detected by the tracking component. Sensors may be used to determine when paint is dispensed from a paint container, and to determine a color of the paint or a type of a marking.

Abstract: Coaxial video push-cables are disclosed. One embodiment includes a central conductor and a multi-dielectric stack of multiple concentric tubular layers disposed around the central conductor having one or more structural layers and one or more impedance tuning layers where the thickness of materials of each layer are selected to provide a pre-defined elastic modulus and electromagnetic impedance, an electromagnetic shielding layer, and a jacket enclosing the shielding layer, multi-dielectric stack layers, and central conductor.

Abstract: A method for locating buried utilities in a utility locator is disclosed. The method may include receiving, at an antenna array for receiving magnetic field signals, a plurality of magnetic field signals at predefined signal frequencies in a predefined frequency suite, generating, in a receiver coupled to an output of the antenna array, a first receiver output signal, generating, in a processing element coupled to the receiver, a first set of data associated with the two or more signal components, and storing, in a non-transitory memory of the locator, the first set of data.

Abstract: Camera head apparatus, systems, and methods for providing wide angle/panoramic images and/or video of the interior of pipes or other cavities using multiple imaging and illumination modules are disclosed.

Abstract: System for generating maps from magnetic field utility line estimates include one or more vehicle-mounted magnetic field sensing locators, one or more antenna nodes to sense magnetic fields emitted from buried utilities, a receiver circuit to process the antenna signals, a position and orientation element to determine the position and orientation of the magnetic field sensing locating device in a world coordinate system, a processing unit to generate at one or more discrete points an estimation of one or more utility positions and orientations, and a map generation element to generate an associated map.

Abstract: Lighting apparatus for high pressure underwater use are disclosed. In one embodiment the lighting apparatus comprises a housing for withstanding ambient exterior pressure at a depth of approximately 500 feet or more, a transparent pressure bearing window positioned at a forward end of the housing, and a multilayered stack for bearing substantially all of the loading applied to the transparent pressure bearing window at a depth of approximately 500 feet or more disposed in the housing behind the transparent pressure bearing window is disclosed.

Abstract: Antenna systems for receiving right and left hand circularly polarized signals are disclosed. An antenna system embodiment includes a top printed circuit board (PCB), a ground plane, and an antenna array including four conductive antenna elements positioned at relative zero, 90, 180, and 270 degree increments radially about a shared center point on the PCB, with each antenna element sloping upward in a left-handed direction from the ground plane towards the top PCB and connected to the ground plane and top PCB.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to antennas for use in satellite positioning systems and other wireless bands. An antenna may include a UV resistance treated Polymethylpentene housing having enhanced dielectric properties.

Abstract: A slip ring for transferring electrical signals between rotating and static elements of a device includes a rotating element, a static element, an electrical contact assembly, including a plurality of subassemblies, contacting the rotating element and static element, one subassembly including a deformable PCB, and a spring element positioned to supply an axially aligned force to a face of the PCB to facilitate electrical contact between the PCB and other electrical contacts elements on another subassembly.

Abstract: Location systems and methods for locating paint and other markings on a surface are disclosed. A paint marking stick may include a magnetic field sonde that is actuated in conjunction with dispensing of paint or other markers, where the sonde generates a magnetic field signal in conjunction with dispensing of paint or placement of a marker. A corresponding utility locator may receive the sonde magnetic field dipole signal and determine and store positional information and type information associated with the paint or other marker.

Abstract: Front end circuits and associated apparatus, systems, and methods for use in electronic devices such as buried utility locators are disclosed. The circuits include receivers and filters on input signals that are coupled to ground rather than differentially. A multiplexing circuit allows shared use of amplifiers, and analog-to-digital converters via a switching mechanism for selectively making or breaking electrical connection to the receiver channels for efficient sharing of electronics resources while minimizing crosstalk interference and advantageously reducing costs.

Abstract: Battery pack for use with a portable device, including colored LEDs for presenting a high granularity battery charge state, are disclosed. One embodiment includes a red and a green LED, wherein solid and blinking patterns are presented by the LEDs to correspond to a relative battery charge state. Other battery state indications, such as failure states, may also be presented on the colored LEDs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for uniquely identifying buried utilities in a multi-utility region by sensing magnetic fields emitted from the buried utilities.

Abstract: Camera heads including multiple imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) for inspecting pipes or cavities are disclosed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to combined antenna apparatus for receiving GNSS signals and other radio signals to mitigate cross-coupling.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Cable handling devices, methods and systems are provided for securing and deploying, or retracting, one or more cables or hoses into or out of a pipe or cavity allowing inspection of the pipe or cavity. The cables and/or hoses may be coupled and moved together, or decoupled enabling them to be moved independently. A hand-held device with a housing for at least partially enclosing one or more cables or hoses, at least one coupling mechanism integrally attached to the housing, and a coupling control for coupling and decoupling the one or more cables or hoses may be provided. One or more of the cables may be connected to a camera disposed at the distal end of a cable thereby facilitating inspection of the pipe or cavity. Tools such as cutting devices or a jetter may be provided at the end of the one or more cables and/or hoses.