Patent ID: 7786732

Claim:
In a system which includes a boring tool and an above-ground portable locator for locating the boring tool and in which said boring tool is moved from a drill rig through the ground by a drill string in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line, an apparatus for monitoring a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and said line, said apparatus comprising: a transmitter for generating a magnetic locating field from one of either said boring tool or at least an underground length of said line; a receiver carried by said boring tool if said field is generated from said line, or connected to said line if said field is generated from said boring tool, for detecting an intensity of said magnetic locating field to produce a magnetic field intensity indicative signal that is indicative of the positional relationship between the boring tool and said line; and a remote display located at one of said portable locator and said drill rig and responsive to said intensity indicative signal for indicating the detected intensity of said magnetic locating field generated from either one of said line or said boring tool.