Patent ID: 7956614

Claim:
In an overall system in which a transmitter is moved through the ground within a given region along a path while transmitting a locating field such that the locating field exhibits a pair of locate points at the surface of the ground, one forward of the transmitter and the other to the rear of the transmitter, a method for guiding an operator to each of the locate points using a portable locator, said portable locator including a display and said method comprising: a) measuring the intensity of the locating field with the portable locator at an initial above ground point and with the portable locator in a particular orientation; b) using the measured intensity of the locating field to determine a predicted location of a nearest one of the locate points in proximity to the portable locator at the initial above ground point; and c) with the portable locator in said particular orientation, displaying on the portable locator a positional relationship including the predicted location of the nearest locate point relative to the portable locator having a directional indication to serve in guiding an operator to the nearest locate point.