Patents by Inventor Thomas K. Kolb

Thomas K. Kolb 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).

  • Patent number: 8035390
    Abstract: At least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point senses an electromagnetic signal emitted by a buried object such as a utility line, pipe or sonde. A circuit at least partially mounted in a housing is connected to the array and determines a location of the buried object by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions without having to align the antenna array relative to the buried object while eliminating nulls and false peaks. A graphical user interface (GUI) has user-friendly icons, symbols, menus, numbers and graphical and auditory representation of signal strength. A SEARCH view indicates signal strength by showing a rotating strength indicator, a trace mode MAP view in which line location is shown by a line that moves side-to-side, and a sonde mode MAP view in which sonde location is shown by a moving line, pole and equator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: SeekTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, David A. Cox, Michael J. Martin, Bradley D. Barnicoat, Thomas K. Kolb, Randall P. Hilton