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.

The present invention relates to a portable metal detector adapted for detection of dangerous metallic items carried by individuals, for example during access to a departure lounge in an airport, comprising a casing which houses a transmitter/receiver winding, the casing being extended by a gripping and handling handle, and a processor which feeds a loop of the winding to generate a magnetic field and which detects perturbations of the magnetic field caused by the environment, characterised in that the detector comprises a sensor for detecting orientation of the detector in a vertical position of the handle and which, when the detector is in a vertical position, activates a single dynamic detection mode of the winding whereas, when the detector is in another position, it activates a static operating mode of the winding.

Locating a moving magnetic object includes determining its position or orientation from measurements from an array N tri-axial magnetometers (N>5) mechanically linked to one another with 0-DOF by repeatedly estimating its position relative to the array from measurements made either in a preceding iteration or from a sensor distinct from the array's magnetometers before making a new measurement using the array's magnetometers; computing the distance between each magnetometer and the object's estimated position; eliminating Ni magnetometers closest to this estimated position, where Ni<N; using the remaining magnetometers, making a new measurement of the field generated or modified by the object; and determining its new position or orientation from the new measurements so as to obtain the object's new location.

A foreign matter detection device is mounted on a non-contact power supply system that supplies power in a non-contact manner from a power supply unit to a power reception unit. The foreign matter detection device includes a magnetic field sensor and a magnetic field generation unit. The magnetic field sensor detects an amount of magnetic flux that changes due to foreign matter existing between the power supply unit and the power reception unit. The magnetic field generation unit is provided separately from the power supply unit and the power reception unit, includes a magnetic field generation coil unit, and generates a magnetic field for driving the magnetic field sensor.

A vehicle presence detecting sensor (10) associated with a defined area, wherein, the sensor (10) comprises a microprocessor (100), and a first detecting module (11), a second detecting module (12), as well as a third module (13), respectively connected to and controlled by the microprocessor (100), wherein, the microprocessor (100) is configured for activating the second detecting module (12) when a change of magnetic field is detected by the first detecting module (11) or activating the third module (13) when the distance measured falls out of the predetermined distance range, and for confirming the presence of a vehicle by comparing the distance measured by the second detecting module (12) with a predetermined distance range, or by matching the value of the detailed change of magnetic field detected by the third module (13), with prestored values. Also, a method of the sensor (10) and a self enforcing pay-by-phone parking system using the sensor (10) are disclosed.

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.

Methods and apparatus for tracking movement over the ground or other surfaces of a buried utility locator during a utility locate operation are disclosed.

A three-mode geomagnetic detector is provided. The detector includes an upper cover, a lower casing, and an inner container. A bottom of the inner container is detachably connected to a bottom of the upper cover, the inner container is sleeved within the upper cover, and the upper cover is snap-fitted to the lower casing. Through the design of the inner container, the use of an O-shaped sealing ring is avoided, such that poor sealing caused by the O-shaped sealing ring deformation due to vehicle rolling is avoided, and opening for replacement of components is convenient.

A method includes acquiring a first set of data before a proppant is pumped into a wellbore. The method also includes acquiring a second set of data after the proppant is pumped into the wellbore. The method also includes determining a weighted average median of the first set of data and of the second set of data. The method also includes determining a location of the proppant in a subterranean formation based at least partially upon the weighted average medians.

A method for signal communication between a well drilling instrument and the Earth's surface includes generating an electromagnetic field in an instrument disposed in drill string used to drill a wellbore. The electromagnetic field comprises encoded measurements from at least one sensor associated with the instrument. A signal is measured corresponding to an amplitude, phase or frequency of the electromagnetic field. The measurements are decoded from the measured signal. The measured signal comprises at least one of a voltage imparted across a capacitive electrode proximate ground surface and a galvanic electrode in contact with the ground surface, and a voltage imparted across two capacitive electrodes each proximate a ground surface and separated from each other by a known distance.