公开(公告)号：US09046413B2

公开(公告)日：2015-06-02

申请号：US13210291

申请日：2011-08-15

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

IPC分类号： G01K11/30 ,  H04N7/18 ,  E01C19/12 ,  G01J3/02 ,  G01J3/46 ,  G01C15/02 ,  G06K9/00

CPC分类号： G01J3/0264 ,  G01C15/02 ,  G01J3/463 ,  G06K9/0063

摘要： Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be employed to collect information regarding a ground surface on which marking material is to be dispensed which is then analyzed to provide an estimate of a type of the surface. For example, a still-image or video camera may be used as a sensor that detects visible light reflecting from a surface. One or more images captured by the camera may be analyzed using analysis software to identify one or more characteristics indicative of a surface type. As another example, one or more radiation sensors may be employed to measure an amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the sensed surface one or more selected wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to identify a spectral signature that may also be indicative of a surface type.

摘要翻译： 与定位和标记操作有关的执行表面类型检测的系统，方法和装置。 在一些实施例中，可以使用一个或多个传感器来收集关于要在其上分配标记材料的地面的信息，然后对该表面进行分析，以提供表面类型的估计。 例如，静止图像或摄像机可以用作检测从表面反射的可见光的传感器。 可以使用分析软件来分析由相机拍摄的一个或多个图像，以识别指示表面类型的一个或多个特征。 作为另一示例，可以使用一个或多个辐射传感器来测量由感测表面反射的一个或多个选定波长或波长范围反射的电磁辐射的量，以识别也可以指示表面类型的光谱特征。

公开(公告)号：US20120113244A1

公开(公告)日：2012-05-10

申请号：US13210237

申请日：2011-08-15

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice ,  Tim Montague

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice ,  Tim Montague

IPC分类号： H04N7/18

CPC分类号： G06T7/90 ,  G06T2207/10016

摘要： Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. In some embodiments, one or more camera systems (e.g., digital video cameras) are mounted on a marking device to capture information (e.g., one or more of image information, color information, motion information and light level information) relating to the surface being marked. The camera system(s) may be mounted near a nozzle of a marking material dispenser, so as to capture information relating to freshly dispensed marking material on the surface being marked. The captured information may be analyzed to determine a color of the freshly dispensed marking material, which may then be correlated with a type of facilities being marked.

摘要翻译： 用于确定由标记装置分配到表面上的标记材料的颜色的系统，方法和装置，以标记在挖掘活动期间计划被挖掘或扰乱的挖掘区域中的至少一个地下设施的存在或不存在。 在一些实施例中，将一个或多个相机系统（例如，数字摄像机）安装在标记装置上以捕获与表面相关的信息（例如，图像信息，颜色信息，运动信息和光级信息中的一个或多个） 标记 相机系统可以安装在标记材料分配器的喷嘴附近，以便捕获与被标记的表面上新鲜分配的标记材料有关的信息。 可以分析捕获的信息以确定新分配的标记材料的颜色，其然后可以与标记的设备的类型相关联。

公开(公告)号：US20120069178A1

公开(公告)日：2012-03-22

申请号：US13236162

申请日：2011-09-19

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

IPC分类号： H04N7/18

CPC分类号： H04N7/183 ,  B05B12/084 ,  B65D83/203 ,  G06Q10/0833

摘要： Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface using a marking device, and one or more images are captured by one or more camera systems attached to the marking device. The image(s) is/are analyzed to determine tracking information indicative of the a motion or an orientation of the marking device. The tracking information is analyzed to determine marking information relating to the dispensed marking material. In one example, the image(s) is/are analyzed to obtain an optical flow plot indicative of a path on the target surface traversed by the marking device. One or more reference plots respectively representing a plurality of reference marking patterns are compared to one or more portions of the optical flow plot to identify at least one reference marking pattern that substantially matches the portion(s) of the optical flow plot.

摘要翻译： 使用标记装置将标记材料分配到目标表面上，并且一个或多个图像由附接到标记装置的一个或多个相机系统捕获。 分析图像以确定指示标记装置的运动或取向的跟踪信息。 分析跟踪信息以确定与分配的标记材料相关的标记信息。 在一个示例中，分析图像以获得指示由标记装置穿过的目标表面上的路径的光学流程图。 将分别表示多个参考标记图案的一个或多个参考图与光学流程图的一个或多个部分进行比较，以识别基本上与光学流程图的部分匹配的至少一个参考标记图案。

公开(公告)号：US20120065924A1

公开(公告)日：2012-03-15

申请号：US13210291

申请日：2011-08-15

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

IPC分类号： G06F15/00 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G01J5/00

CPC分类号： G01J3/0264 ,  G01C15/02 ,  G01J3/463 ,  G06K9/0063

摘要： Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations. In some embodiments, one or more sensors (e.g., radiation sensors, acoustic sensors, color sensors, light sensors, etc.) may be employed to collect information regarding a surface, such as a ground surface on which marking material is to be dispensed to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility. The collected sensor data may be analyzed to provide an estimate of a type of the surface that is being sensed. For example, a still-image or video camera may be used as a sensor that detects visible light reflecting from a surface. One or more images of the surface captured by the camera may be analyzed using some suitable image analysis software to identify one or more characteristics (e.g., color, intensity, randomness, presence/absence of lines, etc.) that may be indicative of a surface type. As another example, one or more radiation sensors may be employed to measure an amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the sensed surface one or more selected wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to identify a spectral signature that may also be indicative of a surface type.

摘要翻译： 与定位和标记操作有关的执行表面类型检测的系统，方法和装置。 在一些实施例中，可以使用一个或多个传感器（例如，辐射传感器，声学传感器，颜色传感器，光传感器等）来收集关于表面的信息，例如将要分配标记材料的地面 标记地下设施的存在或不存在。 可以分析所收集的传感器数据以提供正被感测的表面的类型的估计。 例如，静止图像或摄像机可以用作检测从表面反射的可见光的传感器。 可以使用一些合适的图像分析软件来分析摄像机捕获的表面的一个或多个图像，以识别一个或多个特征（例如，颜色，强度，随机性，存在/不存在线等），其可以指示 表面类型。 作为另一示例，可以使用一个或多个辐射传感器来测量由感测表面反射的一个或多个选定波长或波长范围反射的电磁辐射的量，以识别也可以指示表面类型的光谱特征。

公开(公告)号：US09124780B2

公开(公告)日：2015-09-01

申请号：US13236162

申请日：2011-09-19

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

IPC分类号： H04N7/18 ,  H04N5/232 ,  B65D83/20 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  B05B12/08

CPC分类号： H04N7/183 ,  B05B12/084 ,  B65D83/203 ,  G06Q10/0833

摘要： Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface using a marking device, and one or more images are captured by one or more camera systems attached to the marking device. The image(s) is/are analyzed to determine tracking information indicative of the a motion or an orientation of the marking device. The tracking information is analyzed to determine marking information relating to the dispensed marking material. In one example, the image(s) is/are analyzed to obtain an optical flow plot indicative of a path on the target surface traversed by the marking device. One or more reference plots respectively representing a plurality of reference marking patterns are compared to one or more portions of the optical flow plot to identify at least one reference marking pattern that substantially matches the portion(s) of the optical flow plot.

摘要翻译： 使用标记装置将标记材料分配到目标表面上，并且一个或多个图像由附接到标记装置的一个或多个相机系统捕获。 分析图像以确定指示标记装置的运动或取向的跟踪信息。 分析跟踪信息以确定与分配的标记材料相关的标记信息。 在一个示例中，分析图像以获得指示由标记装置穿过的目标表面上的路径的光学流程图。 将分别表示多个参考标记图案的一个或多个参考图与光学流程图的一个或多个部分进行比较，以识别基本上与光学流程图的部分匹配的至少一个参考标记图案。

公开(公告)号：US20130002854A1

公开(公告)日：2013-01-03

申请号：US13462794

申请日：2012-05-02

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Jack M. Vice

IPC分类号： H04N7/18

CPC分类号： H04N7/183 ,  A63C2019/067 ,  B05B12/082 ,  B05B12/084 ,  B65D83/203

摘要： A position of a marking device is monitored by receiving start position information indicative of an initial position of the marking device, capturing one or more images using one or more camera systems attached to the marking device, and analyzing the image(s) to determine tracking information indicative of a motion of the marking device. The tracking information and the start position information are then analyzed to determine current position information. In one example, images of a target surface over which the marking device is carried are analyzed pursuant to an optical flow algorithm to provide estimates of relative position for a dead-reckoning process, and the current position information is determined based on the estimates of relative position and the start position information.

摘要翻译： 通过接收表示标记装置的初始位置的开始位置信息来监视标记装置的位置，使用附加到标记装置的一个或多个相机系统捕获一个或多个图像，并且分析图像以确定跟踪 指示标记装置的运动的信息。 然后分析跟踪信息和开始位置信息以确定当前位置信息。 在一个示例中，根据光学流程分析目标表面上承载标记装置的图像，以提供推算过程的相对位置的估计，并且基于相对估计的当前位置信息来确定当前位置信息 位置和起始位置信息。

公开(公告)号：US09646353B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-09

申请号：US12703322

申请日：2010-02-10

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr

IPC分类号： G06Q10/00 ,  G06Q50/08 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  H04L29/08 ,  G01C15/00

CPC分类号： G06Q50/08 ,  G01C15/00 ,  G06Q10/063 ,  H04L67/18

摘要： Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing information regarding a locate and/or marking operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one notification indicating a status of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to inform at least one party associated with requesting the operation (a “requesting party,” e.g., an excavator, a property owner, a facility owner, a regulatory authority, a damage investigator, etc.) of the status of the operation. In one aspect, a requesting party may designate a preferred format, content, and/or method of receiving notifications regarding the locate and/or marking operation. In another aspect, a computer-generated GUI is provided to facilitate submission of requests, generation of “virtual white line” images to indicate one or more dig areas on a digital image of a work site, and/or selection of notifications and preferences for same. In yet another aspect, a requesting party may provide an acknowledgement of receipt (e.g., a “return receipt”) for one or more received notifications.

公开(公告)号：US09046621B2

公开(公告)日：2015-06-02

申请号：US12818189

申请日：2010-06-18

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr

IPC分类号： G01V3/10 ,  G01V3/08 ,  G01V3/15

CPC分类号： G01V3/08 ,  G01V3/15

摘要： In connection with a locate operation to detect a presence or absence of an underground facility, a magnetic field from an underground facility is detected, and one or more signals also are obtained that are indicative of one or more environmental conditions in an environment in which the underground facility is detected. The signal(s) indicative of the environmental condition(s) are compared to a target value or range of values to determine if an out-of-tolerance condition exists.

摘要翻译： 关于检测地下设施的存在或不存在的定位操作，检测到来自地下设施的磁场，并且还获得指示在环境中的一个或多个环境条件的一个或多个信号，其中 检测到地下设施。 将指示环境条件的信号与目标值或值的范围进行比较，以确定是否存在超出容限的条件。

公开(公告)号：US08902251B2

公开(公告)日：2014-12-02

申请号：US13193337

申请日：2011-07-28

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr

IPC分类号： G09G5/00 ,  G06Q50/08 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G06Q50/26 ,  G06Q30/00

CPC分类号： G06Q50/08 ,  G06Q10/06 ,  G06Q10/10 ,  G06Q30/01 ,  G06Q50/26

摘要： Managing information relating to a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility. At least one electronic manifest corresponding to the locate and/or marking operation is generated based on first information relating to the locate and/or marking operation. The at least one electronic manifest includes image information documenting performance of the locate and/or the marking operation. At least one limited access file comprising second information relating to the at least one electronic manifest or the image information is generated, and the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file is electronically transmitted and/or stored to facilitate selective/limited access to or viewing of the electronic manifest(s).

摘要翻译： 管理与定位和/或标记操作相关的信息以检测和/或标记至少一个地下设施的存在或不存在。 基于与定位和/或标记操作相关的第一信息生成与定位和/或标记操作相对应的至少一个电子清单。 所述至少一个电子清单包括记录定位和/或标记操作的性能的图像信息。 生成包括与至少一个电子清单或图像信息有关的第二信息的至少一个受限访问文件，并且至少一个受限访问文件和/或与至少一个受限访问文件有关的信息被电子传送和/ 或存储以便于选择/限制地访问或查看电子清单。

公开(公告)号：US08805640B2

公开(公告)日：2014-08-12

申请号：US13017880

申请日：2011-01-31

申请人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Tony Davani

发明人： Steven Nielsen ,  Curtis Chambers ,  Jeffrey Farr ,  Tony Davani

IPC分类号： G01K1/00

CPC分类号： G06F1/1632 ,  G06F1/1635 ,  G06F3/048

摘要： A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.

摘要翻译： 用于对接定位设备（例如，标记设备，定位设备，组合定位和标记设备）的对接站可以通信地耦合到和/或配备有移动/便携式设备（例如，移动电话，个人数字助理或其他便携式设备 计算设备），其为对接站提供处理，电子存储，电子显示，用户界面，通信设施和/或其他功能（例如，启用GPS的功能）。 移动/便携式设备可以机械地和/或电耦合到对接站。 移动/便携式设备可以为对接站提供冗余，共享和/或备份功能以增强鲁棒性。 在一个示例中，移动/便携式设备本身用作定位设备的坞站。