Patents Assigned to Seescan, Inc.
  • Dockable tripodal camera control unit
    Patent number: 10371305
    Abstract: Pipe inspection systems including cameras and camera control units (CCU) are disclosed. A CCU may include a switching circuit for automatically controlling power to elements of the CCU in response to movement of a display cover. A display of the CCU may display captured images and/or video, which may be integrated with data provided by a buried object locator or other device. The CCU may include a retractable kickstand assembly and a stowable handle, which may be removably attached to a cable storage reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Dawn E Shaffer, Eric M. Chapman, Jesse O. Casares
  • Dual antenna systems with variable polarization
    Patent number: 10374326
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie M. Bench, Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Ryan B. Levin
  • Pipe inspection system with jetter push-cable
    Patent number: 10359368
    Abstract: Pipe inspection systems including a push-cable, jetter, and camera assembly are disclosed. A jetter nozzle may be configured to spin and/or propel the camera head within a pipe or other cavity. A cutter line may be attached to the camera head to clean obstructions. A sonde may be coupled to a camera head to generate magnetic field signals for use with a buried utility locator to locate a pipe or other cavity into which the camera head is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Eric M. Chapman, Justin W. Taylor, Matthew J. Thompson
  • High bandwidth video push-cables for pipe inspection systems
    Patent number: 10356360
    Abstract: High bandwidth push-cables for high speed image or video data transmission between a camera head and a cable reel or camera control unit (CCU) are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Eric M. Chapman, Mark S. Olsson
  • Optical ground tracking apparatus, systems, and methods for use with buried utility locators
    Patent number: 10324188
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for tracking movement over the ground or other surfaces of a buried utility locator during a utility locate operation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin, Ray Merewether, Sequoyah Aldridge
  • Ground tracking devices and methods for use with a utility locator
    Patent number: 10317559
    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: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Ryan B. Levin, Ray Merewether, Sequoyah Aldridge
  • Slim profile magnetic user interface devices
    Patent number: 10296095
    Abstract: Slim profile magnetic user interface devices (slim UIDs) are disclosed. A slim UID may include a slim profile housing, a movable actuator assembly having user contact surfaces on opposite sides, along with a magnet, magnetic sensor, restoration element, and processing element. User mechanical interaction with the actuator element may be sensed by the magnetic sensor and processed to generate output signals usable by a coupled electronic computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventor: Mark S. Olsson
  • Rotating contact assemblies for self-leveling camera heads
    Patent number: 10288997
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Eric M. Chapman, Mark S. Olsson, Nicholas A. Smith, Alexander L. Warren
  • Utility locating system with mobile base station
    Patent number: 10274632
    Abstract: Mobile base stations for use with one or more portable utility locators to aid in determining the location of a particular locator during operation and receive information associated with the utility for storage and/or retransmission to other devices or systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Paul Wisecaver, Austin Rutledge
  • Utility locator transmitter apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 10247845
    Abstract: A high-Q human-portable, battery-powered self-correcting tunable transmitter apparatus for inducing alternating currents in buried conductors to facilitate their location is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Ray Merewether, Mark S. Olsson, Jan Soukup, Ryan B. Levin, David A. Cox
  • PORTABLE PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS & METHODS
    Publication number: 20190089933
    Abstract: An intelligent cable storage drum system for use in a pipe inspection system is disclosed. The system may include a cable storage drum, a video push-cable removably disposed on the cable storage drum, the video push-cable having a proximal end and a distal end, a video camera head having a camera output for providing analog or digital images or video output signals, and a transceiver module operatively coupled to the camera output for receiving the analog or digital images or video output signals and sending the received signals to a remote receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: SeeScan Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, James F. Kleyn, Michael E. Turgeon
  • Magnetic thumbstick user interface devices
    Patent number: 10203717
    Abstract: A magnetic thumbstick device including a manual actuator assembly, a restorative element, a base assembly, one or more magnets, and one or more magnetic sensors is disclosed. The magnetic sensor is positioned to measure magnetic fields generated by movement of the magnet, which may be disposed in the manual actuator assembly, and sensed by the magnetic sensor, which may be disposed in the base assembly. These magnetic field signals may then be provided to a processing element where they may be used to determine position and/or motion of the magnet in relation to the magnetic sensor. The processing element may further generate output signals or commands usable by an electronic computing system such as personal computer, cellular phone, video game console, or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventor: Mark S. Olsson
  • TRACKED DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20190011592
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: SeeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin
  • Flotation devices for high pressure environments
    Patent number: 10173753
    Abstract: A high pressure resistant flotation sphere includes a brittle fracture material macro-sphere of high elastic modulus and a shell of a low shear strength elastomeric material surrounding the macro-sphere. A high pressure resistant flotation material may be made of a plurality of macro-spheres embedded in syntactic foam or other matrix material, with each macro-sphere being encased in a shell of a low shear strength material that isolates each macro-sphere hydrostatically from the surrounding matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether
  • Adjustable variable resolution inspection systems and methods
    Patent number: 10175177
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Scott A Powell, Stephanie M Bench, Ray Merewether, David A Cox, Eric M Chapman
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY MARKING, LOCATING AND VIRTUALLY DISPLAYING BURIED UTILITIES
    Publication number: 20190004203
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electronically marking, locating, and virtually displaying buried utilities are disclosed. According to one embodiment, one or more electronic marker devices may be placed below a ground surface in proximity to a buried utility, and marker device data indicative of position and/or identity of such electronic marker devices may be obtained. The obtained marker device data may be associated to the utility data and stored in a database. The stored data may thereafter be retrieved based in part on the marker device data for use in subsequent locate operations and/or for other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: SeeScan Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin, Ray Merewether, Stephanie M. Bench
  • Thermal extraction architectures for camera and lighting devices
    Patent number: 10171712
    Abstract: Thermal extraction architectures for heat-generating electronic devices such as digital cameras or lights are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Eric M. Chapman, Nicholas A. Smith, James F. Kleyn, Alexander L. Warren
  • Utility locators with retractable support structures and applications thereof
    Patent number: 10162074
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to utility locators and associated antenna node support structure devices for allowing a utility locator to self-stand in an upright position without being held or otherwise supported by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, James F. Kleyn
  • Magnetic sensing user interface device methods and apparatus
    Patent number: 10121617
    Abstract: Methods for processing signals from a magnetic user interface device having a manual actuator are disclosed. Movements of the actuator may cause relative movement between one or more magnets and one or more corresponding sensors that may each generate signals representing independent magnetic field components detected within each sensor. A field model may be used in the magnetic user interface device to translate magnetic sensor readings during operation to position information, which may then be converted to output signals for transmission to an electronic computing system representing displacement and/or deformation of the actuator. The output signals may be generated in a predetermined format, such as USB format or other computer-interface formats, that can be interpreted by the electronic computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Austin Rutledge, Ray Merewether, Michael J. Martin, Mark S. Olsson
  • Trackable dipole devices, methods, and systems for use with marking paint sticks
    Patent number: 10105723
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, James F. Kleyn, Jan Soukup