Buried Utility Marker With Separate Receive And Transmit Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional underground marker devices suffer from interference and detection difficulties due to resonance issues and lack of control over received electromagnetic energy, making them prone to errors in locating buried utilities.
Innovation Solution
The marker device features separate concentric receive and transmit antenna elements within a dielectric housing, with an electronic circuit that generates an output signal at a frequency outside the resonant range of the input signal, allowing for improved signal decoupling and reduced interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional marker devices use a single antenna element that resonates at the input signal frequency, then the device can be energized by the input signal, but resonance interference occurs and detection becomes difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into two separate elements: a receive antenna element and a transmit antenna element. The receive antenna element is tuned to the input signal frequency to efficiently capture energy, while the transmit antenna element operates at a different frequency to minimize resonance interference. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function without the harmful resonance effects that plague single-antenna conventional markers.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmit antenna element and its associated circuitry are extracted as a separate functional component from the receive antenna element. This extraction allows the transmit element to be positioned and tuned independently, specifically designed to operate outside the resonant range of the receive antenna, thereby eliminating the backscattering and resonance interference that occur in conventional integrated designs.
2Loss of information
If conventional marker devices operate at the same frequency as the input signal, then the device can communicate data through modulation, but substantial interference occurs making detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The operating frequency parameter of the transmit antenna element is changed to be outside the resonant range of the receive antenna element. Instead of operating at the same frequency as the input signal, the transmit element operates at a different frequency, which fundamentally changes the signal characteristics and eliminates the backscattering interference that makes detection difficult in conventional devices.
3Measurement precision
If conventional marker devices have little control over received electromagnetic energy, then the device construction is simple, but detection accuracy is poor due to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into separate receive and transmit elements with independent tuning capabilities. The receive antenna element can be precisely tuned to the input signal frequency for optimal energy capture, while the transmit element is independently controlled to operate at a different frequency. This segmentation enables precise control over electromagnetic energy interaction without requiring complex integrated circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate antenna elements provide multi-functionality: the receive antenna element efficiently captures input signal energy for powering the marker device, while the transmit antenna element provides controlled signal transmission for accurate detection. This universal design handles both energy reception and signal transmission functions with dedicated components, improving detection accuracy without excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances the accuracy and reliability of locating buried objects by minimizing resonance interference and allowing for better control over electromagnetic signals, thereby improving detection precision.
Implementation Method 1
The receive antenna element may comprise one or more loop or disc shaped conductive windings tuned to the frequency of an input signal broadcast from an above-ground transmitter device
Implementation Method 2
The transmit antenna element may include one or more loop or disc shaped conductive windings configured to transmit a second frequency of an output signal
Implementation Method 3
The receive antenna element and transmit antenna element may be physically separated from one another and disposed concentrically within a housing made of dielectric material. Spacing between the receive antenna element and transmit antenna element may be sufficient to decouple resonance of the separate antenna elements
Data Source
AI summary
A marker device embodiment may include separate concentrically-oriented receive and transmit antenna elements coupled to an ASIC which includes electronics to receive an input signal at a first frequency from a transmitter, convert the input signal to a power supply to power the electronic circuit, generate, in response to the input signal, an output signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency, and provide the output signal, via the transmit antenna element, to an above-ground receiver for assistance in determining the location of a buried utility.