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: Systems and methods for annotating, also known as tagging, visually identifiable objects using natural language (i.e. spoken voice) are provided. More specifically, but not exclusively, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for tagging identified objects related to underground utilities and assets, and communication systems. Once tagged, data representing identified objects can be stored, transmitted, and/or mapped. In an exemplary embodiment, a utility service worker or other personnel may walk or drive around an area of interest using utility locating equipment or systems to collect data. As data is being collected, the user may visually identify utility related or other items using a laser pointer, and then use their voice to tag items of interest. A headset including a microphone may be provided for capturing the user's voice. Hardware and/or software may be provided for processing tagged items, and relating them to a specific location, and/or utility asset.

Abstract: The present application relates to PPP-RTK, RTK, SSR, or like correction data based devices and methods to produce geolocation solutions with improved accuracy. Further, such devices and methods may be further employed in various related utility locator devices, utility locating transmitters, and other utility locating and mapping devices.

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

Abstract: A video pipe inspection system may include a push-cable, camera head, and/or pipe guide.

Abstract: Video inspection systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a video camera for use in a pipe inspection system includes a camera head including an outer housing, a camera module assembly including video and non-video sensors, a processing circuit, and a data link receiver.

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: 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: 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 is directed to vehicle-based systems for locating and mapping buried utility lines using principal components. Vehicle-based utility locating devices receive magnetic field signals emitted by utility lines and, with determined position data, implement principal component analysis to locate and map the utility lines.

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: Self-leveling inspection system methods and devices for use in inspecting buried pipes or other cavities are disclosed. The system includes a camera head with an image sensor, an orientation sensor, and a signal processing module including a processing programmed to receive an image from the image sensor, and an orientation signal from the orientation sensor, generate a second image based at least in part on information provided from the orientation sensor, and store the second image in a non-transitory memory.

Abstract: Portable pipe inspection video systems are disclosed. The system may include a camera head, a push-cable, a cable reel, and a camera controller having a built-in transmitter for energizing a pipe-inspection cable for magnetic field tracing applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electromagnetic marker devices for locating hidden or buried objects. One embodiment includes an antenna having a plurality of conductive windings enclosed in a housing made of a low dielectric constant material and an electronic circuit including a circuit board having circuit elements disposed thereon and electrically coupled to the conductive windings through a connector. The circuit elements receive an input signal having a first frequency from an above-ground transmitter, convert the input signal to a power supply to power up the electronic circuit, generate, in response to the input signal, an output signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency, and provide the output signal, via the antenna element, to an above-ground receiver.

Abstract: Methods for mapping utility lines and identifying and tagging assets relating to utility lines as well as a smartphone mounting apparatus are disclosed. The smartphone mounting apparatus may couple to a utility locator device in a known position and orientation for use in tagging assets in a utility locating operation. Such assets along the ground surface may be captured by the camera(s) of the smartphone and/or cameras of the utility locator device and the resulting still images and/or video may be correlated with geolocation data of the tagged asset. Further, methods using Deep Learning/artificial intelligence are included to recognize patterns and make predictions related to underground utilities including utility line type classification.

Abstract: Various devices and methods are disclosed to efficiently determine and map the geolocations of utility lines. The devices and methods may, from measurements of electromagnetic signals of an area and the known geolocation of the utility locator device, map the geolocations of electromagnetic signals. Such maps may be generated from electromagnetic signal measurements at two or more measurement points and, in comparing the maps generated at two or more measurement points in space, determine the presence and geolocations of utility lines.

Abstract: A pipe inspection system includes a cable storage drum and a housing configured to removably receive and rotatably support the cable storage drum. A push-cable with a plurality of conductors is stored in the drum. An inspection camera may be attached to a distal end of the push-cable. The drum includes a hollow core outer cone configured to accept an inner core removable module. The removable module may include electrical, mechanical, wireless, satellite, and power/battery interfaces. The module mates with a contact plate sealed inside the inner cone. The inner core components, including the battery module, are stationary relative to the inner core. The inner core is free to rotate bidirectionally inside the outer cone as the camera is being fed into, and out of a pipe or conduit for inspection. Slip-rings are not required to maintain connectivity because the electronics and battery module are stationary relative to each other.

Abstract: Camera heads and associated systems, methods, and devices for inspecting and/or mapping pipes or cavities are disclosed. A camera head may be coupled to a push-cable and may include one or more image sensors to capture images and/or videos from interior of the pipe or cavity. One or more multi-axis sensors may be disposed in the camera head to sense data corresponding to movement of the camera head within the pipe or cavity. The images and/or videos captured by the image sensors may be used in conjunction with the data sensed by the multi-axis sensors to generate information pertaining to the pipe or cavity may be generated.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for drain cleaning using high voltage, high frequency AC electrical power supplied through a video push-cable are disclosed. In one embodiment, a drain cleaning system may include a cable for carrying electrical control and/or data signals as well as alternating current (AC) power at a high voltage and high frequency relative to AC mains frequencies.

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.