Patents by Inventor Ray Merewether

Ray Merewether 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).

  • Utility locator apparatus, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 9945976
    Abstract: Man-portable locator systems for locating buried or otherwise inaccessible pipes, conduits, cables, wires and inserted transmitters using detector arrays and stochastic signal processing and similar techniques to analyze and display multiple target objects at differing frequencies in a layered user interface (UI) are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, Paul G. Stuart
  • Self-leveling inspection systems and methods
    Patent number: 9927368
    Abstract: Self-leveling inspection systems for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. A camera head may include an image sensor, an orientation sensing module, and an image processing module configured to adjust an image or video provided from the image sensor, based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor, in the camera head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Roger B. Shaffer, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, Michael Martin, David A. Cox
  • Phase-synchronized buried object transmitter and locator methods and apparatus
    Patent number: 9927546
    Abstract: Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized with a corresponding locator for improved utility locating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Inho Shin, Jan Soukup, Stephanie M. Bench, David A. Cox
  • Multi-frequency locating system and methods
    Patent number: 9927545
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Stephanie M. Bench, Jan Soukup, Timothy M. Turner, Ryan B. Levin, Ray Merewether
  • Utility locator transmitter devices, systems, and methods with dockable apparatus
    Patent number: 9891337
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Jesse O. Casares, Jan Soukup, Stephanie M. Bench, Justin W. Taylor, Ray Merewether, David A. Cox
  • Magnetic manual user interface devices
    Patent number: 9870021
    Abstract: Various finger tip controlled manual interface devices that can be used as inputs to personal computers, electromechanical systems and video game consoles utilize concentrically arranged magnets. The polarities of the magnets are oriented to provide restoration forces on a one of the magnets to bias it toward a neutral position. A magnetic sensor including a plurality of sensing elements such as Hall effect devices generates output signals representative of direction and amount of movement of the magnet that is biased to the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Loni M. Canepa, Alexander L. Warren, Amos H. Jessup, Michael J. Martin, George L. Jemmott
  • Optical ground tracking apparatus, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 9841503
    Abstract: Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a buried object locator includes a locator module disposed in our coupled to the housing to sense a buried object based on emitted magnetic fields, and a surface tracking module for determining motion information of the buried object locator based on light reflected from a tracking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Eric M. Chapman, Ray Merewether, Sequoyah Aldridge
  • Pipe inspection system camera heads
    Patent number: 9824433
    Abstract: Camera heads for use in pipe inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a camera head includes a body; an image sensor disposed in the body for generating images of an interior of a pipe or cavity in which the camera head is inserted, and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the image sensor to automatically capture images or video frames by the camera head within the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J Martin, Ray Merewether, Stephanie M Bench, Tran Nguyen
  • Sonde devices including a sectional ferrite core
    Patent number: 9798033
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Jan Soukup, Ray Merewether, Justin W. Taylor
  • Optical ground tracking apparatus, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 9784837
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed for tracking movement over the ground or other surfaces of tools or instruments or equipment, such as buried object locators or other devices, and generating motion, position, location, mapping and/or related information for tracked locations, as well as measuring and storing associated signals and other information detected or generated during tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin, Sequoyah Aldridge, Ray Merewether
  • Portable buried utility locating systems with current signal data communication
    Patent number: 9746573
    Abstract: Systems for locating hidden utilities using a portable transmitter for generating and coupling current signals to the hidden utility and a portable locator including a display for providing a representation of a current signal ratio are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Michael J. Martin, Ray Merewether, Amos Jessup
  • Electronic marker devices and systems
    Patent number: 9746572
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, Jan Soukup
  • OMNI-INDUCER TRANSMITTING DEVICES AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20170235010
    Abstract: Omnidirectional electromagnetic signal inducer (“omni-inducer”) devices are disclosed for generating utility locating current signals, at one or more frequencies in on or more time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Jan Soukup, Michael J. Martin
  • GRADIENT ANTENNA COILS AND ARRAYS FOR USE IN LOCATING SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20170192120
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, Ryan B. Levin
  • SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20170191651
    Abstract: Lighting devices using selectively permeable barrier elements, graphite sheet materials, and/or browning agent destroyers/sequestering agents are disclosed. In one embodiment a lighting device may include a body or housing with a selectively permeable barrier element, such as a silicone membrane or o-ring to allow diffusion of contaminants from one or more interior volumes to the exterior environment. Contaminants may be mitigated through use of a sequestering agent/browning agent destroyer. Heat conduction between elements of the housing, such as to aid removal of heat generated from a lighting element such as an LED, may be improved through use of graphite materials, such as PGS sheets between housing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: DeepSea Power & Light, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Merewether, Mark S. Olsson, Jon E. Simmons, John R. Sanderson, Aaron J. Steiner
  • Buried object locating methods and apparatus using multiple electromagnetic signals
    Patent number: 9696447
    Abstract: A method of locating buried objects using a locator having at least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point includes simultaneously determining a plurality of magnetic fields associated with a plurality of different electromagnetic signals and providing a visual indication of the determined magnetic fields on a display of the locator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Dawn E. Schaffer, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, David A. Cox
  • Ground tracking devices and methods for use with a utility locator
    Patent number: 9696448
    Abstract: A ground tracking apparatus for connection to a locator or other measurement device and configured to determine position, motion, and/or orientation information is disclosed. The ground tracking apparatus may include a ground follower assembly including one or more wheels, which may be detachably coupled to a buried object locator system to capture three-dimensional positional and orientation information during a locate process, as well as provide output data or information to be integrated with maps, photographs, drawings, or other data or information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Ryan B. Levin, Ray Merewether, Sequoyah Aldridge
  • ADJUSTABLE VARIABLE RESOLUTION INSPECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20170176344
    Abstract: Camera heads 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Scott A. Powell, Stephanie M. Bench, Ray Merewether, David A. Cox, Eric M. Chapman
  • Nulled-signal utility locating devices, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 9684090
    Abstract: Nulling utility locators including a transmitter element, a sensing element, and an electronic circuit for processing signals from the transmitting element to at least partially cancel each other and determine information associated with a buried utility are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Jan Soukup
  • Magnetic sensing user interface device methods and apparatus using electromagnets and associated magnetic sensors
    Patent number: 9678577
    Abstract: User interface devices with electromagnetic dipole array and associated magnetic sensors, control circuits, and processing elements for determining user actuation of the device are disclosed. In one embodiment a user interface device include an electromagnetic dipole array coupled to an actuator, along with a three-axis magnetic sensor and control and processing elements for controlling driving currents to the dipole array and sensing and processing received magnetic field signals to determine movement or displacement of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Austin S. Rutledge, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, Mark S. Olsson