Patent ID: 8952677
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A locator for locating a concealed current carrying conductor, the conductor carrying an alternating current having at least a first frequency and a second frequency different from the first frequency, wherein the alternating current is produced by at least one dedicated signal generator coupled to the conductor, the locator comprising: at least one magnetic field sensor that converts electromagnetic radiation from the conductor into a field strength signal; an analog to digital converter that generates a digitized signal dependent upon the field strength signals from the magnetic field sensor, the field strength signals being generated in response to the first frequency and the second frequency; a digital signal processor programmed to: isolate components of the digitized signal resulting from the first frequency and isolate components of the digitized signal resulting from the second frequency from each at least one magnetic field sensor; and process the isolated components to generate one or more signals indicative of the proximity of the conductor to the detector; and an output that generates an audio and/or visual indication of the proximity of the conductor, wherein the isolated signal components resulting from the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal are contemporaneously processed.