公开(公告)号：US11814950B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-14

申请号：US17501438

申请日：2021-10-14

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Timothy Shaw ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Craig Caswell

IPC: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04 ,  G01S19/49 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01B3/12

CPC classification number: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/046 ,  G01B3/12 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01S19/49

Abstract: A planning tool plans movement of a boring tool for an underground drilling operation. The planning tool includes one or more wheels for rolling on a surface of the ground along a path responsive to movement by an operator to characterize the surface contour and to generate guidance for the boring tool to reach a target position. Planning can additionally be based on waypoints. The planning tool can be rolled unidirectionally or bidirectionally to characterize the surface contour. Bidirectional movement cancels accelerometer fixed bias. Path stitching is used to plan around obstacles. The planning tool can facilitate tracker placement. The planning tool can collect noise information for frequency selection purposes. A described technique maximizes linear drilling in an underground plan. Compensation and/or warnings are provided for unsteady, fast and slow movement of the planning tool while measuring the surface contour.

公开(公告)号：US20220106872A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17552226

申请日：2021-12-15

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  John E. Mercer

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  G01S11/06 ,  E21B7/04

Abstract: A system includes a transmitter for use in conjunction with a horizontal directional drilling system that transmits a multi-bit symbol stream that characterizes sensor symbols for receipt by an aboveground portable device. The portable device receives the symbol stream for aboveground recovery of the sensor signals. The transmitter can precisely place the symbol frequencies at least to avoid a noise environment, as well as to avoid powerline harmonics, and can utilize wave shaping for transmitted symbols at least to provide for transmission power control, spectral content control and wideband antenna matching. The receiver can measure the noise environment to identify the symbol frequencies used by the transmitter. The noise can be scanned at an incremental resolution across a wide frequency bandwidth for display or automatic symbol frequency selection.

公开(公告)号：US20210025273A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-28

申请号：US16520182

申请日：2019-07-23

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Timothy Shaw ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Craig Caswell

IPC: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04 ,  G01B3/12 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01S19/49

Abstract: A planning tool plans movement of a boring tool for an underground drilling operation. The planning tool includes one or more wheels for rolling on a surface of the ground along a path responsive to movement by an operator to characterize the surface contour and to generate guidance for the boring tool to reach a target position. Planning can additionally be based on waypoints. The planning tool can be rolled unidirectionally or bidirectionally to characterize the surface contour. Bidirectional movement cancels accelerometer fixed bias. Path stitching is used to plan around obstacles. The planning tool can facilitate tracker placement. The planning tool can collect noise information for frequency selection purposes. A described technique maximizes linear drilling in an underground plan. Compensation and/or warnings are provided for unsteady, fast and slow movement of the planning tool while measuring the surface contour.

公开(公告)号：US20190003299A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-03

申请号：US15635884

申请日：2017-06-28

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/12 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04

CPC classification number: E21B47/122 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B47/02216 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/101

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

公开(公告)号：US20230272708A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-31

申请号：US18126001

申请日：2023-03-24

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04

CPC classification number: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/107

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

公开(公告)号：US11613990B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-28

申请号：US17752144

申请日：2022-05-24

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/0228 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B47/107

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

公开(公告)号：US20220282617A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-08

申请号：US17752144

申请日：2022-05-24

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.

公开(公告)号：US11230921B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

申请号：US15676057

申请日：2017-08-14

Applicant: Merlin Technology, inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  John E. Mercer

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/04 ,  G01S11/06

Abstract: A system includes a transmitter for use in conjunction with a horizontal directional drilling system that transmits a multi-bit symbol stream that characterizes sensor symbols for receipt by an aboveground portable device. The portable device receives the symbol stream for aboveground recovery of the sensor signals. The transmitter can precisely place the symbol frequencies at least to avoid a noise environment, as well as to avoid powerline harmonics, and can utilize wave shaping for transmitted symbols at least to provide for transmission power control, spectral content control and wideband antenna matching. The receiver can measure the noise environment to identify the symbol frequencies used by the transmitter. The noise can be scanned at an incremental resolution across a wide frequency bandwidth for display or automatic symbol frequency selection.

公开(公告)号：US11149539B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US16520182

申请日：2019-07-23

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Timothy Shaw ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Craig Caswell

IPC: E21B47/024 ,  E21B7/04 ,  G01S19/49 ,  G01S19/13 ,  G01B3/12

Abstract: A planning tool plans movement of a boring tool for an underground drilling operation. The planning tool includes one or more wheels for rolling on a surface of the ground along a path responsive to movement by an operator to characterize the surface contour and to generate guidance for the boring tool to reach a target position. Planning can additionally be based on waypoints. The planning tool can be rolled unidirectionally or bidirectionally to characterize the surface contour. Bidirectional movement cancels accelerometer fixed bias. Path stitching is used to plan around obstacles. The planning tool can facilitate tracker placement. The planning tool can collect noise information for frequency selection purposes. A described technique maximizes linear drilling in an underground plan. Compensation and/or warnings are provided for unsteady, fast and slow movement of the planning tool while measuring the surface contour.

公开(公告)号：US20240060416A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-22

申请号：US18380971

申请日：2023-10-17

Applicant: Merlin Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Rudolf Zeller ,  Gary Garrabrant ,  Timothy Bayliss ,  Scott Phillips

IPC: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B47/024

CPC classification number: E21B47/13 ,  E21B7/046 ,  E21B47/024 ,  E21B47/107

Abstract: A transmitter for inground use controls a depth signal transmit power in relation to a data signal transmit power such that one reception range of the depth signal at least approximately matches another, different reception range of the data signal. A portable device can form a system with the transmitter in which the portable device scans a plurality of frequencies within at least one low frequency depth signal range to measure the electromagnetic noise at each one of the plurality of frequencies and identify at least one of the frequencies as a potential depth frequency for the transmitter. The portable device can include a dual mode filter having a rebar mode and a normal mode filter. The depth signal frequency is dynamically positionable in relation to low frequency noise.