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.

A device (10) for detecting electrically conducting objects to be measured in a ground is provided, including a housing (21), a solenoid unit (34) situated in the housing (21), which includes a transmitter coil unit (38) and a receiver coil unit (39), a control unit (36), and an evaluation unit (37). A metal sheet (35) is provided in the housing (21), the solenoid unit (34) being situated on a lower side (53) of the metal sheet (35) facing the ground during the measuring operation, and the control unit (36) being situated on an upper side (54) of the metal sheet (35) facing away from the ground during the measuring operation.

A system for metal detection comprises a single aperture comprising two or more sets of detection coils that surround the perimeter of the aperture. A flow path of materials passes through the aperture. Each set of detection coils comprises a transmitter and two receiver coils, with the transmitter coil located between the two receiver coils. Each set of detection coils is at a different angle relative to the flow path.

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.

A method includes using an electromagnetic (EM) tracking system to track a tangible object, detecting a presence of interference with a magnetic field generated by the EM tracking system, and compensating for the interference. A system includes an EM tracking transmitter, an EM tracking receiver, and a processor based apparatus in communication with the EM tracking transmitter and the EM tracking receiver. The processor based apparatus is configured to execute steps including using the EM tracking transmitter and the EM tracking receiver to implement an EM tracking system. A storage medium storing one or more computer programs is also provided.

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.

The invention relates to a device having, as a sensor for detecting an object arranged behind an article that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, a coil assembly having a first transmitting coil (1.1) and a first receiving coil (2.1) arranged orthogonally with respect to the first transmitting. An evaluation unit evaluates the output signals from the coil assembly. The fact that the coil assembly comprises the first transmitting coil (1.1) and at least one further transmitting coil (1.2, 1.3, 1.4), and the first receiving coil (2.1) and at least one further receiving coil (2.2, 2.3, 2.4), wherein axes (1.5, 1.6) of the first and of the at least one further transmitting coil are orthogonal to each other, and the axes (1.5, 1.6) of the first and second transmitting coil intersect the axis (2.5) of the first receiving coil (2.1) that is orthogonal to the first and second transmitting coils (1.1, 1.2), means that a device is provided that reduces or even eliminates the grating effect. According to the method, for this purpose, the electromagnetic fields emitted by the transmitting coils as a result of a periodic AC signal during a first half period are each directed in the direction of the first receiving coil (2.1) and, during the second half period, are directed away from the first receiving call (2.1), wherein the first receiving coil (2.1) is wired and operated in series with at least one further receiving coil (2.2, 2.3, 2.4). An electromagnetic field which penetrates the coil assembly, generates mutually opposed voltages in the receiving coils (2.1, 2.3; 2.2, 2.4).

A device (10) for detecting electrically conducting objects to be measured in a ground is provided, including a housing (21), a solenoid unit (34) situated in the housing (21), which includes a transmitter coil unit (38) and a receiver coil unit (39), a control unit (36), and an evaluation unit (37). A metal sheet (35) is provided in the housing (21), the solenoid unit (34) being situated on a lower side (53) of the metal sheet (35) facing the ground during the measuring operation, and the control unit (36) being situated on an upper side (54) of the metal sheet (35) facing away from the ground during the measuring operation.

The invention relates to a method and device for measuring the burial depth of lines that are being laid increasingly under a soil surface on land and in water. In order to increase a measurement precision, more than one excitation or transmission coil is used, which extends in an xy plane, the transmission coils are positioned next to one another in a span extending essentially perpendicular to a center axis of the line and are moved over the line along this center axis; the transmission coils transmit electromagnetic pulses in a time-lagged fashion as a primary signal, and receiver coils are used, which are distributed across the array of transmission coils in the xy plane and measure in at least two axes extending orthogonally to one another; and all of the receiver coils measure secondary signals in reaction to the transmission of a primary pulse by the transmission coils.

An electromagnetic (EM) receiver system for measuring EM signals. The EM receiver system includes a platform; a coil for measuring EM signals; and first to third suspension mechanisms located between the platform and the coil so that the coil oscillates relative to the platform, and the first to third suspension mechanisms attenuate motion induced noise introduced by towing the receiver system above ground.