LOCATE TRANSMITTER HAVING ENHANCED FEATURES FOR UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE OPERATIONS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS
A locate transmitter and method for a locate operation to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility. An applied signal is generated, to be applied along the underground facility, and one or more environmental conditions of an environment are detected. Output signals representing the detected signals may be logged into local memory and/or provided to one or more processors for analysis and/or transmission.
1 . A locate transmitter for use in a locate operation to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, the locate transmitter comprising:
transmitter circuitry configured to generate an applied signal to be applied along the underground facility;
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter circuitry; and
at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense at least one environmental condition of an environment in which the locate transmitter is located and provide an output signal to the at least one processor indicative of the sensed at least one environmental condition.
2 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store information relating to the output signal of the at least one input device.
3 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises a humidity sensor and wherein the at least one environmental condition is humidity of the environment.
4 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises a temperature sensor and wherein the at least one environmental condition is an ambient temperature of the environment.
5 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises a moisture measurement device configured to measure a moisture content of a material to which an electrical ground connection is made by the locate transmitter, and wherein the at least one environmental condition is the moisture content of the material.
6 . The locate transmitter of claim 5 , wherein the moisture measurement device forms at least part of an electrical ground probe configured to electrically ground the locate transmitter.
7 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises an altitude sensor and wherein the at least one environmental condition is an altitude of the locate transmitter.
8 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises a light sensor and wherein the at least one environmental condition is an amount of ambient light in the environment.
9 . The locate transmitter of claim 8 , further comprising a light source.
10 . The locate transmitter of claim 9 , wherein the light source is configured to be automatically activated in response to the output signal of the at least one input device indicating the amount of ambient light is below a threshold value.
11 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising an image capture device configured to provide an output signal to the at least one processor.
12 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises an audio recorder configured to acquire acoustic signals from the environment, and wherein the output signal represents at least part of an acquired acoustic signal.
13 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed with processor-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to compare the output signal of the at least one input device to at least one target value.
14 . The locate transmitter of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to disable the transmitter circuitry in response to the comparison of the output signal of the at least one input device to the at least one target value.
15 . The locate transmitter of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to log into an electronic record an indication of a result of the comparison.
16 . The locate transmitter of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control generation of an alert in response to the comparison of the output signal of the at least one input device to the at least one target value.
17 . The locate receiver of claim 16 , wherein the alert is an audible alert.
18 . The locate transmitter of claim 16 , wherein the alert is a visible alert.
19 . The locate transmitter of claim 18 , wherein the visible alert is a text and/or graphics-based alert.
20 . The locate transmitter of claim 18 , wherein the visible alert is a lighted alert.
21 . The locate receiver of claim 16 , wherein the alert is a tactile alert.
22 . The locate transmitter of claim 13 , further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store the at least one target value.
23 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a location tracking system communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to determine a location of the locate transmitter.
24 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a ground probe configured to establish an electrical ground connection for the locate transmitter, wherein the locate transmitter further comprises a location tracking system communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to determine a location of the ground probe.
25 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp configured to establish an electrical connection for the locate transmitter to the underground facility, wherein the locate transmitter further comprises a location tracking system communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to determine a location of the clamp.
26 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a ground probe configured to establish an electrical ground connection for the locate transmitter and a clamp configured to establish an electrical connection for the locate transmitter to the underground facility, and wherein the locate transmitter further includes a first location tracking system configured to determine a location of the ground probe and a second location tracking system configured to determine a location of the clamp.
27 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device comprises a first input device configured to sense a first environmental condition of the environment in which the locate transmitter is located and a second input device configured to sense a second environmental condition of the environment in which the locate transmitter is located, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to process an output signal of the first input device in combination with an output signal of the second input device to assess a state of the environment in which the locate transmitter is located.
28 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter and provide an output signal to the at least one processor indicative of the sensed operating condition.
29 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is an accelerometer, and wherein the operating condition is an acceleration of the locate transmitter.
30 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is a temperature sensor and wherein the operating condition is a temperature of the at least one processor.
31 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is a frequency measurement device configured to measure a frequency of the applied signal and wherein the operating condition is the frequency of the applied signal.
32 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is a power meter and wherein the operating condition is a wattage of the applied signal.
33 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is an electrical ground detector and wherein the operating condition is a quality of an electrical ground connection made by the locate transmitter.
34 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is a device health sensor configured to monitor a battery level of a battery of the locate transmitter, and wherein the operating condition is the battery level.
35 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the apparatus is an accelerometer configured to sense an inclination of the locate transmitter.
36 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the apparatus is an inclinometer and wherein the operating condition is an inclination of the locate transmitter.
37 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one input device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense an operating condition of the locate transmitter is a proximity sensor and wherein the operating condition is a distance.
38 . The locate transmitter of claim 37 , wherein the operating condition is a distance of the locate transmitter to a target surface.
39 . The locate transmitter of claim 28 , further comprising a location tracking system communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to determine a location of the locate transmitter.
40 . The locate transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a tactile indicator configured to generate a tactile indication in response to the output signal being provided to the at least one processor by the at least one input device.
41 . A method of using a locate transmitter in a locate operation to detect a presence or absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:
A) generating an applied signal to be applied along the underground facility;
B) detecting, via at least one input device of the locate transmitter, at least one environmental condition of an environment in which the locate transmitter is located; and
C) logging into local memory of the locate transmitter locate information relating at least in part to A) and B).
42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein C) is performed in response to initiation of A).
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein B) comprises detecting an ambient temperature of the environment in which the locate transmitter is located.
44 . The method of claim 41 , wherein B) comprises detecting a moisture content of a material to which an electrical ground connection is made by the locate transmitter.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein detecting the moisture content comprises using a probe configured to establish an electrical ground connection for the locate transmitter.
46 . The method of claim 41 , wherein B) comprises detecting a humidity of the environment in which the locate transmitter is located.
47 . The method of claim 41 , wherein B) comprises detecting an amount of ambient light in the environment in which the locate transmitter is located.
48 . The method of claim 41 , wherein B) comprises detecting an altitude of a location at which the locate transmitter is located.
49 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising: D) acquiring data from an image capture device of the locate transmitter.
50 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising: D) acquiring audio input.
51 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the at least one environmental condition is a first environmental condition, and wherein the method further comprises: D) detecting a second environmental condition of the environment; and E) processing in combination information about the first environmental condition and the second environmental condition to assess a state of the environment in which the locate transmitter is located.
52 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising: D) detecting, via at least one input device of the locate transmitter, at least one operating condition of the locate transmitter, and E) logging into local memory of the locate transmitter locate information relating at least in part to D).
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is an acceleration of the locate transmitter.
54 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is a temperature of the locate transmitter.
55 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is a frequency of the applied signal.
56 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is a wattage of the applied signal.
57 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is a quality of an electrical ground connection made by the locate transmitter.
58 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is a level of a battery of the locate transmitter.
59 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is an inclination of the locate transmitter.
60 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the at least one operating condition is a distance between the locate transmitter and a target surface.
61 . The method of claim 52 , further comprising detecting a location of the locate transmitter and logging information about the location into local memory of the locate transmitter.
62 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising: D) comparing, using the at least one processor, a value determined in B) to at least one target value.
63 . The method of claim 62 , further comprising: E) disabling the transmitter circuitry in response to the comparison in D).
64 . The method of claim 62 , wherein C) is performed in response to the comparison in D).
65 . The method of claim 62 , further comprising: E) generating an alert in response to the comparison in D).
66 . The method of claim 65 , wherein E) comprises generating an audible alert.
67 . The method of claim 65 , wherein E) comprises generating a visible alert.
68 . The method of claim 67 , wherein E) comprises generating a text and/or graphics-based alert.
69 . The method of claim 67 , wherein E) comprises generating a lighted alert.
70 . The method of claim 65 , wherein E) comprises generating a tactile alert.
71 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising: D) detecting a location of the locate transmitter using a location tracking system; and E) logging into local memory of the locate transmitter information about the location.
72 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the locate transmitter includes a ground probe configured to establish an electrical ground connection for the locate transmitter, and wherein the method further comprises: D) detecting a location of the ground probe using a location tracking system.
73 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the locate transmitter includes a clamp configured to establish an electrical connection for the locate transmitter to the underground facility, and wherein the method further comprises: D) detecting a location of the clamp using a location tracking system.
74 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the locate transmitter includes a ground probe configured to establish an electrical ground connection for the locate transmitter and a clamp configured to establish an electrical connection for the locate transmitter to the underground facility, and wherein the method further comprises: D) detecting a location of the ground probe using a location tracking system; and E) detecting a location of the clamp using a location tracking system.