Paul T Stuart

US Patent:

7332901, Feb 19, 2008

Filed:

Apr 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/106894

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Michael J. Martin - La Mesa CA, US
Christoph H. Maier - San Diego CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01V 3/08
G01V 3/12

US Classification:

324 67, 324326, 324260

Abstract:

A human-portable utility locator system for locating and tracing a buried utility line characterized by an electromagnetic field emission. The locator may include a horizontal spaced sensor pair for detecting the horizontal field asymmetry of the emitted field in one or more independent frequency bands, which is employed to assist in determining an accurate “virtual depth” measurement for producing detection events. An event detector may be disposed to detect events corresponding to extremum in the B-field gradient with respect to time and a user interface (UI) coupled to the event detector signals the detected event to a user. In a preferred embodiment, one pair of spaced-apart 3D magnetic sensor arrays is disposed substantially orthogonal to another intermediate spaced-apart pair of sensors.

US Patent:

7498797, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/962870

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Michael J. Martin - San Diego CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - La Mesa CA, US

International Classification:

G01R 19/00
G01V 3/12

US Classification:

324 67, 324228, 324232

Abstract:

A human-portable utility locator system for locating and tracing a buried utility line characterized by an electromagnetic field emission. The locator may include a horizontal spaced sensor pair for detecting the horizontal field asymmetry of the emitted field in one or more independent frequency bands, which is employed to assist in determining an accurate “virtual depth” measurement for producing detection events. An event detector may be disposed to detect events corresponding to extremum in the B-field gradient with respect to time and a user interface (UI) coupled to the event detector signals the detected event to a user. In a preferred embodiment, one pair of spaced-apart 3D magnetic sensor arrays is disposed substantially orthogonal to another intermediate spaced-apart pair of sensors.

US Patent:

7518374, Apr 14, 2009

Filed:

Jan 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/016870

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - San Diego CA, US
David A. Cox - San Diego CA, US
Ray Merewether - La Jolla CA, US
Dawn E. Shaffer - San Diego CA, US
Ryan B. Levin - San Diego CA, US
Michael J. Martin - La Mesa CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01V 3/11
G01V 3/08

US Classification:

324326, 324 67, 324260

Abstract:

A portable locator for detecting a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission employing three-dimensional (3D) sensor arrays each having three substantially-identical EM field sensors disposed on a flexible annular wall having a radial centroid defining a sensing axis. The flexible annular sensors are retained in substantial concentricity with the corresponding sensing axes disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality. A pair of 3D sensor arrays disposed on a first axis substantially orthogonal to a second axis defined by another pair of EM field sensors each having a sensing axis disposed along the second axis. The locator introduces a user-reconfigurable user interface (UI) employing a “sticky” ratcheting audio UI and a hollow hinge assembly for redisposing the sensor assembly from an operating to a storage disposition.

US Patent:

7741848, Jun 22, 2010

Filed:

Sep 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/854694

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Michael J. Martin - San Diego CA, US
Ray Merewether - La Jolla CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - La Mesa CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01V 3/08
G01R 23/165
G01R 23/16

US Classification:

324326, 702 76

Abstract:

A man-portable locator system for locating buried or otherwise inaccessible pipes, conduits, cables, wires and inserted transmitters using detector arrays and stochastic signal processing and similar techniques to analyze and display multiple target objects at differing frequencies in a layered user interface (UI). For example, the locator UI may be adapted to present a target plurality sorted by proximity of target conductor to the locator operator together with other useful information specifying the multiple objects, frequencies and changes in the subterranean landscape by means of a useful combination of graphical, numeric and acoustic representations.

US Patent:

7948236, May 24, 2011

Filed:

May 24, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/785826

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Michael J. Martin - San Diego CA, US
Ray Merewether - La Jolla CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - La Mesa CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01V 3/08
G01R 23/165
G01R 23/16

US Classification:

324326, 702 76

Abstract:

A man-portable locator system for locating buried or otherwise inaccessible pipes, conduits, cables, wires and inserted transmitters using detector arrays and stochastic signal processing and similar techniques to analyze and display multiple target objects at differing frequencies in a layered user interface (UI). For example, the locator UI may be adapted to present a target plurality sorted by proximity of target conductor to the locator operator together with other useful information specifying the multiple objects, frequencies and changes in the subterranean landscape by means of a useful combination of graphical, numeric and acoustic representations.

US Patent:

7990151, Aug 2, 2011

Filed:

Jun 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/815315

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Ray Merewether - La Jolla CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - La Mesa CA, US
Michael J. Martin - San Diego CA, US
Christoph H. Maier - San Diego CA, US
Amos H. Jessup - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01R 19/00
G01V 3/08
G01V 3/10

US Classification:

324326, 324 67, 324329

Abstract:

A portable self-standing electromagnetic (EM) field sensing locator system with attachments for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities and with intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) displays. Accessories include a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system with a rotating Tx/Rx antenna assembly, a leak detection system, a multi-probe voltage mapping system, a man-portable laser-range finder system with embedded dipole beacon and other detachable accessory sensor systems are accepted for attachment to the locator system for simultaneous operation in cooperation with the basic locator system. The integration of the locator system with one or more additional devices, such as fault-finding, geophones and conductance sensors, facilitates the rapid detection and localization of many different types of buried objects.

US Patent:

8203343, Jun 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/248539

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - San Diego CA, US
David A. Cox - San Diego CA, US
Ray Merewether - La Jolla CA, US
Dawn E. Shaffer - San Diego CA, US
Ryan B. Levin - San Diego CA, US
Michael J. Martin - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01V 3/11
G01V 3/08

US Classification:

324326, 324 67, 324260

Abstract:

A portable locator for detecting a buried object characterized by an electromagnetic (EM) field emission employing three-dimensional (3D) sensor arrays each having three substantially-identical EM field sensors disposed on a flexible annular wall having a radial centroid defining a sensing axis. The flexible annular sensors are retained in substantial concentricity with the corresponding sensing axes disposed in substantial mutual orthogonality. A pair of 3D sensor arrays disposed on a first axis substantially orthogonal to a second axis defied by another pair of EM field sensors each having a sensing axis disposed along the second axis. The locator introduces a user-reconfigurable user interface (UI) employing a “sticky” ratcheting audio UI and a hollow hinge assembly for redisposing the sensor assembly from an operating to a storage disposition.

US Patent:

8248056, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

Oct 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/263289

Inventors:

Mark S. Olsson - La Jolla CA, US
Michael J. Martin - San Diego CA, US
Paul G. Stuart - La Mesa CA, US

Assignee:

SeekTech, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01R 19/00
G01V 3/12

US Classification:

324 67, 324228, 324232

Abstract:

A human-portable utility locator system for locating and tracing a buried utility line characterized by an electromagnetic field emission. The locator may include a horizontal spaced sensor pair for detecting the horizontal field asymmetry of the emitted field in one or more independent frequency bands, which is employed to assist in determining an accurate “virtual depth” measurement for producing detection events. An event detector may be disposed to detect events corresponding to extremum in the B-field gradient with respect to time and a user interface (UI) coupled to the event detector signals the detected event to a user. In a preferred embodiment, one pair of spaced-apart 3D magnetic sensor arrays is disposed substantially orthogonal to another intermediate spaced-apart pair of sensors.