Abstract: Interchangeable battery interface apparatus and modular battery systems employing interchangeable battery adapter apparatus are disclosed. Embodiments may be used for adapting tools, instruments, and/or other devices to use different rechargeable battery types on hosts with different battery interface geometries.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to buried utility locating devices, systems, 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: A marker device embodiment may include separate concentrically-oriented receive and transmit antenna elements coupled to an ASIC which includes electronics to receive an input signal at a first frequency from a transmitter, convert the input signal to a power supply to power the electronic circuit, generate, in response to the input signal, an output signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency, and provide the output signal, via the transmit antenna element, to an above-ground receiver for assistance in determining the location of a buried utility.

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: Cable handling devices, methods, and systems 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 are disclosed.

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: Tracked distance measuring device, systems, and methods for determining and mapping point of interest for use in utility locating operations and other mapping applications are disclosed. A tracked distance measuring device embodiment includes simultaneously triggered rangefinder and positioning elements to measure a distance and determine location and pose, optionally in conjunction with a utility locator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating buried utilities in conjunction with associated electromagnetic marker devices are 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 present disclosure relates to utility locator and user interfaces for use with such locators. Such utility locators may include multiple antennas and sensors for determining and displaying information associated with a buried or otherwise inaccessible utility.

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 for locating and marking buried utility lines or other buried objects. One system for locating a buried object may include a buried object locator and paint stick. The locator may include a tracking component for detecting 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 for transmitting 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: Methods and systems for updating digital maps by refining map feature positions and improving map position accuracy are disclosed. One embodiment includes identifying a point of interest's position data and updating the map data within a map region surrounding the point of interest.

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.

Abstract: Cable storage drum-reels, methods and systems are provided for deploying and retracting at least one push-cable with a distally mounted camera into and out of a pipe or cavity for applications such as plumbing and underground utility location. In an exemplary embodiment, a cable storage drum may include a centrally mounted axially projecting hub, and a housing to removably receive and rotatably support the cable storage drum. The housing may include an inside portion, and an outside portion with a front face and a rear face. The front face has an opening and is sloped inward toward the inside portion of the drum allowing a push-cable to be directed as desired into the cable storage drum and around the drum-reel. One or more cable guide points may be included for providing additional directional guidance of the push-cable into the drum and onto the hub.

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: Enclosures for deep ocean or other high exterior pressure environment including a dome window with an angular measurement of between 164 and 178 degrees, a structure housing, a dome support ring, and a compliance material positioned between the dome support ring and housing are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for mapping utility lines in utility potholing operations are disclosed. Pothole mapping apparatuses, systems, and methods may be employed in utility locator devices and utility locating systems to map potholed utility lines. Data generated via pothole mapping may be used to calibrate utility depth measurements in utility locator devices and systems. Further, information revealed about utility lines during potholing procedures may be used to train neural networks and utilize artificial intelligence in generating predictions regarding the positions and characteristics of utility lines.

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: Locator systems are disclosed for locating buried utilities such as conduits, cables, pipes. or wires. The locator system may include image-capturing and position and orientation measuring devices such as magnetic compass, accelerometers, gyros, GPS, and DGPS. The system may associate images captured during the locate process with buried utility position data and the other sensor data. These data and images may be further associated with terrain images from satellites or aerial photography to provide a highly precision map and database of buried utility locations and visual images of the burial site. Information so obtained may be transferred to a hand-held personal communication device, such as a smart phone to show the location of buried utilities in combination with photo-images and/or terrain maps.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for tracking a camera head deployed into a pipe or other cavity. The systems and methods may include inertial navigation sensors for generating inertial navigation data to direct a user towards a location where the signal emitted by a pipe Sonde may be found at startup or, when in use, the pipe Sonde signal has been temporarily lost by the utility locator device. Various other sensors and elements may generate camera head position data.