Patents by Inventor Johan Overby
Johan Overby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10310130Abstract: An apparatus that uses harmonics of the power line frequency at which electrical power is distributed is presented. The apparatus includes a sensor antenna to detect an electromagnetic field produced by a cable. The output of the sensor is fed to a mixer together with a signal from a sine wave generator at less than the fundamental power frequency to frequency shift the signals from the sensor. The mixed output is then amplified to provide an audible output. A single comb filter receives signals from the mixer and outputs a filtered signal removing non-harmonic frequencies but preferably passing both odd and even harmonics. The output of the comb filter is then integrated at and displayed to indicate the detection of a cable based on the filtered signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Metrotech CorporationInventors: Johan Overby, John Mark Royle
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Patent number: 9158024Abstract: A system for determining the position of an underground sonde transmitter is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system measures a set of complex electromagnetic field magnitude and phase strengths at one or more positions while traversing a target sonde path at any angle using one or more electromagnetic coil sensors, models a set of expected complex electromagnetic strengths of a hypothetical sonde at the positions for one or more of the electromagnetic coil sensors, the set of expected electromagnetic field values corresponding to a model for the target sonde, and estimates parameters related to the target sonde based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values and the modeled set of expected complex electromagnetic field strengths. A final estimated parameter set is determined after the residual error has converged to a minimum tolerance to indicate the sonde transmitter position.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Metrotech Corporation Inc.Inventors: Johan Överby, James W. Waite, Dimitar Gargov, Kun Li
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Publication number: 20150234076Abstract: An apparatus that uses harmonics of the power line frequency at which electrical power is distributed is presented. The apparatus includes a sensor antenna to detect an electromagnetic field produced by a cable. The output of the sensor is fed to a mixer together with a signal from a sine wave generator at less than the fundamental power frequency to frequency shift the signals from the sensor. The mixed output is then amplified to provide an audible output. A single comb filter receives signals from the mixer and outputs a filtered signal removing non-harmonic frequencies but preferably passing both odd and even harmonics. The output of the comb filter is then integrated at and displayed to indicate the detection of a cable based on the filtered signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Johan OVERBY, John Mark ROYLE
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Patent number: 8515689Abstract: A method for determining the location of underground cables and pipes is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring a set of electromagnetic field magnitudes and phases at a plurality of positions while traversing a target line parallelly using 3D electromagnetic coil sensors, the 3D electromagnetic coil sensors being orthogonally oriented to the target line, modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic field magnitudes of a single underground conductor at each of the positions to form a set of values corresponding to a set of individual models for the target line, determining which of the set of individuals models is a best model, determining confidence information at each of the positions based on a comparison between the measured set of complex electromagnetic magnitudes and phases and the best model, and determining parameters at each of positions related to the target line from the best model.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Metrotech Corporation Inc.Inventors: Kun Li, Jim Waite, Ruwan Welaratna, Johan Overby, Paolo Salvagione
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Publication number: 20120232800Abstract: A method for determining the location of an underground sonde transmitter is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring a set of complex electromagnetic field magnitude and phase strengths at one or more of positions while traversing a target sonde path at any angle using one or more electromagnetic coil sensors, modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic strengths of a hypothetical sonde at the one or more of positions for one or more of the electromagnetic coil sensors, the set of expected electromagnetic field values corresponding to a model for the target sonde, and estimating parameters related to the target sonde based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values and the modeled set of expected complex electromagnetic field strengths, wherein a final estimated parameter set is determined after the residual error has converged to a minimum tolerance.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: Metrotech Corporation Inc.Inventors: JOHAN OVERBY, James W. Waite, Dimitar Gargov, Kun Li
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Patent number: 8188745Abstract: A method for determining the location of an underground sonde transmitter is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring a set of complex electromagnetic field magnitude and phase strengths at one or more of positions while traversing a target sonde path at any angle using one or more electromagnetic coil sensors, modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic strengths of a hypothetical sonde at the one or more of positions for one or more of the electromagnetic coil sensors, the set of expected electromagnetic field values corresponding to a model for the target sonde, and estimating parameters related to the target sonde based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values and the modeled set of expected complex electromagnetic field strengths, wherein a final estimated parameter set is determined after the residual error has converged to a minimum tolerance.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Metrotech Corporation Inc.Inventors: Johan Överby, James W. Waite, Dimitar Gargov, Kun Li
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Publication number: 20100141261Abstract: A method for determining the location of an underground sonde transmitter is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring a set of complex electromagnetic field magnitude and phase strengths at one or more of positions while traversing a target sonde path at any angle using one or more electromagnetic coil sensors, modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic strengths of a hypothetical sonde at the one or more of positions for one or more of the electromagnetic coil sensors, the set of expected electromagnetic field values corresponding to a model for the target sonde, and estimating parameters related to the target sonde based on the residual error between the measured set of complex electromagnetic field values and the modeled set of expected complex electromagnetic field strengths, wherein a final estimated parameter set is determined after the residual error has converged to a minimum tolerance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: Johan Overby, James W. Waite, Dimitar Gargov, Kun Li
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Publication number: 20090128156Abstract: A method for determining the location of underground cables and pipes is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring a set of electromagnetic field magnitudes and phases at a plurality of positions while traversing a target line parallelly using 3D electromagnetic coil sensors, the 3D electromagnetic coil sensors being orthogonally oriented to the target line, modeling a set of expected complex electromagnetic field magnitudes of a single underground conductor at each of the positions to form a set of values corresponding to a set of individual models for the target line, determining which of the set of individuals models is a best model, determining confidence information at each of the positions based on a comparison between the measured set of complex electromagnetic magnitudes and phases and the best model, and determining parameters at each of positions related to the target line from the best model.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Kun Li, Jim Waite, Ruwan Welaratna, Johan Overby, Paolo Salvagione
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Method and system for providing window shaping for multiline transmission in a communications system
Patent number: 7522515Abstract: A method and system for providing window shaping for multiline transmission in a communications system are described. A last portion of a prefix symbol is extracted. A prefix with a prefix window is shaped to create a shaped prefix. A DMT symbol is shaped with a DMT window to create a shaped DMT symbol. The shaped DMT symbol is combined with the shaped prefix.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2003Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Michail Tsatsanis, Ioannis Kanellakopoulos, Mark A. Erickson, Johan Overby -
Patent number: 7356421Abstract: A new approach for locating an underground line described herein remains accurate in the face of bleedover by including both amplitude and phase from at least two magnetic field strength sensors in the measurement set. A numerical optimization step is introduced to deduce the positions and currents of each of several cables, of which one is the targeted cable and the others are termed bleedover cables. Furthermore, some embodiments of the method accounts for practical problems that exist in the field that relate to reliable estimation of cable positions, like the phase transfer function between transmitter and receiver, the estimation of confidence bounds for each estimate, and the rejection of false positive locates due to the presence of noise and interference.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2005Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Metrotech Corporation, Inc.Inventors: Thorkell Gudmundsson, Jim Waite, Johan Överby, Stevan Polak, Niklas Lindstrom
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Publication number: 20070040558Abstract: An electronic marker locator with a digital architecture for providing accurate and consistent estimation of the signal strength is presented. The marker locator includes a Digital Phase-Locked Loop (DPLL) structure. The electronic marker locator transmits known and adjustable frequency bursts corresponding to the markers to be located while synchronously capturing the signals returned from the markers. Because of the convergence properties of the DPLL, very consistent measurements of the reflected marker signal field strength are possible, resulting in both an improvement of maximum detection depth and depth accuracy. Further, the analog front-end hardware can be reduced, offering wider resistance to component tolerances, lower calibration and test times, and flexible frequency selectivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Inventors: Johan Overby, James Waite
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Method and system for providing window shaping for multiline transmission in a communications system
Publication number: 20060133519Abstract: A method and system for providing window shaping for multiline transmission in a communications system are described. A last portion of a prefix symbol is extracted. A prefix with a prefix window is shaped to create a shaped prefix. A DMT symbol is shaped with a DMT window to create a shaped DMT symbol. The shaped DMT symbol is combined with the shaped prefix.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2003Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: Michail Tsatsanis, Ioannis Kanellakopoulos, Mark Erickson, Johan Overby -
Publication number: 20060036376Abstract: A new approach for locating an underground line described herein remains accurate in the face of bleedover by including both amplitude and phase from at least two magnetic field strength sensors in the measurement set. A numerical optimization step is introduced to deduce the positions and currents of each of several cables, of which one is the targeted cable and the others are termed bleedover cables. Furthermore, some embodiments of the method accounts for practical problems that exist in the field that relate to reliable estimation of cable positions, like the phase transfer function between transmitter and receiver, the estimation of confidence bounds for each estimate, and the rejection of false positive locates due to the presence of noise and interference.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Inventors: Thorkell Gudmundsson, Jim Waite, Johan Overby, Stevan Polak, Niklas Lindstrom
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Publication number: 20050248333Abstract: When cables run side by side over a longer distance, an alternating-current signal used for cable location can couple or ‘bleedover’ to neighboring cables. The coupled current flowing in the neighboring cable creates field distortion and makes position determination of the targeted cable difficult. The resulting magnetic field of both (or more) cables has a non-circular shape and is commonly known as a distorted field. Established methods for finding the position of the cable under investigation lead to inaccuracies or even wrong locates. The method described herein eliminates the field distortion that is due to the coupled cables by demodulating a phase reference signal placed on the cable by a transmitter into two signal strength constituents. The inphase signal represents the field strength of the targeted conductor and is substantially free of field distortion. The other quadrature signal contains the component of the field associated with distortion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2004Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventors: Hubert Schlapp, Johan Overby
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Publication number: 20050159929Abstract: An electronic marker locator with a digital architecture for providing accurate and consistent estimation of the signal strength is presented. The marker locator includes a Digital Phase-Locked Loop (DPLL) structure. The electronic marker locator transmits known and adjustable frequency bursts corresponding to the markers to be located while synchronously capturing the signals returned from the markers. Because of the convergence properties of the DPLL, very consistent measurements of the reflected marker signal field strength are possible, resulting in both an improvement of maximum detection depth and depth accuracy. Further, the analog front-end hardware can be reduced, offering wider resistance to component tolerances, lower calibration and test times, and flexible frequency selectivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2004Publication date: July 21, 2005Inventors: Johan Overby, James Waite
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Publication number: 20050096879Abstract: A new digital architecture for metallic pipe and cable locators, providing accurate estimation of the fundamental locate parameters, electromagnetic signal strength and signal direction, and utilizing a nested Digital Phase-Locked Loop (DPLL) structure is disclosed. The obstacles to signal direction measurement in low SINR environments using the signal select method are overcome and a more precise phase comparison between the carrier and the FM modulation signals is obtained. The architecture further significantly reduces analog front-end hardware requirements, offers wider resistance to component tolerances, lower calibration and test time, and provides flexible frequency selectivity. Locators according to the present invention provide accurate estimation of the fundamental physical parameters of line location (electromagnetic signal strength and signal direction) in extremely noisy environments, using Digital Signal Processing (DSP) methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2003Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventors: James Waite, Johan Overby