Portable locator device providing a virtual drop-line

Abstract

A portable locator device includes a display for providing instructions to an operator, an interface for receiving inputs from the operator, a positioning system receiver for receiving locating signals, and a controller operatively coupled with the display and communicatively coupled with the interface and the positioning system receiver. The controller is configured to determine a first position of the portable locator device, receive a first input from the interface indicative of an ending position proximate to the first position, determine a second position of the portable locator device, receive a second input from the interface indicative of a starting position proximate to the second position, determine a virtual drop-line between the starting position and the ending position, and provide instructions via the display for moving from the starting position to the ending position along the virtual drop-line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable locator device for a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) system, the portable locator device comprising:
 a display for providing instructions to an operator of the portable locator device;   an interface for receiving inputs from the operator of the portable locator device;   a positioning system receiver for receiving locating signals and geographically locating the portable locator device;   an antenna for detecting a transmitter at or near a drill head of the HDD system; and   a controller operatively coupled with the display and communicatively coupled with the interface and the positioning system receiver, the controller configured to
 use a first location from the positioning system receiver to determine a first position of the portable locator device, 
 receive a first input from the interface indicative of an ending position for the portable locator device proximate to the first position, 
 use a second location from the positioning system receiver to determine a second position of the portable locator device, 
 receive a second input from the interface indicative of a starting position for the portable locator device proximate to the second position, 
 determine a virtual drop-line between the starting position and the ending position for the portable locator device, and 
 provide an instruction via the display for moving from the starting position to the ending position along the virtual drop-line, the instruction for directing adjustment of at least one drilling operation by the HDD system in real-time to keep the drilling operation moving along the virtual drop-line. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ending position is the first position and the starting position is the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises an electronic display and the interface comprises a touchscreen interface disposed on the electronic display. 
     
     
         4 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the positioning system receiver comprises at least one of a satellite navigation device receiver, a regional positioning device receiver, or a local positioning device receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises a directional indicator icon displaying a direction of the virtual drop-line with respect to the portable locator device at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         6 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises a distance of the portable locator device from the virtual drop-line at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         7 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an Earth magnetic sensor for detecting the geomagnetic field of the Earth, wherein the controller is configured to use the locating signals from the positioning system receiver to determine a direction for magnetic north with respect to a cardinal direction and, via the display, provide directional guidance to the operator for pointing the operator towards the ending position at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         8 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the Earth magnetic sensor comprises at least one of a hall sensor, a magnetoresistive sensor, or a magneto-impedance sensor. 
     
     
         9 . A portable locator device for a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) system, the portable locator device comprising:
 a display for providing instructions to an operator of the portable locator device;   an interface for receiving inputs from the operator of the portable locator device;   a positioning system receiver for receiving locating signals and geographically locating the portable locator device; and   a controller operatively coupled with the display and communicatively coupled with the interface and the positioning system receiver, the controller configured to
 use a first location from the positioning system receiver to determine a first position of the portable locator device, 
 receive a first input from the interface indicative of an ending position for the portable locator device proximate to the first position, 
 use a second location from the positioning system receiver to determine a second position of the portable locator device, 
 receive a second input from the interface indicative of a starting position for the portable locator device proximate to the second position, 
 determine a virtual drop-line between the starting position and the ending position for the portable locator device, and 
 provide an instruction via the display for moving from the starting position to the ending position along the virtual drop-line. 
   
     
     
         10 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the ending position is the first position and the starting position is the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the display comprises an electronic display and the interface comprises a touchscreen interface disposed on the electronic display. 
     
     
         12 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the positioning system receiver comprises at least one of a satellite navigation device receiver, a regional positioning device receiver, or a local positioning device receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the instruction comprises a directional indicator icon displaying a direction of the virtual drop-line with respect to the portable locator device at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         14 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the instruction comprises a distance of the portable locator device from the virtual drop-line at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         15 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising an Earth magnetic sensor for detecting the geomagnetic field of the Earth, wherein the controller is configured to use the locating signals from the positioning system receiver to determine a direction for magnetic north with respect to a cardinal direction and, via the display, provide directional guidance to the operator for pointing the operator towards the ending position at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         16 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the Earth magnetic sensor comprises at least one of a hall sensor, a magnetoresistive sensor, or a magneto-impedance sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A portable locator device for a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) system, the portable locator device comprising:
 a display for providing instructions to an operator of the portable locator device;   an interface for receiving inputs from the operator of the portable locator device;   a positioning system receiver for receiving locating signals and geographically locating the portable locator device;   an Earth magnetic sensor for detecting the geomagnetic field of the Earth; and   a controller operatively coupled with the display and communicatively coupled with the interface and the positioning system receiver, the controller configured to
 use a first location from the positioning system receiver to determine a first position of the portable locator device, 
 receive a first input from the interface indicative of an ending position for the portable locator device proximate to the first position, 
 use a second location from the positioning system receiver to determine a second position of the portable locator device, 
 receive a second input from the interface indicative of a starting position for the portable locator device proximate to the second position, 
 determine a virtual drop-line between the starting position and the ending position for the portable locator device, 
 provide an instruction via the display for moving from the starting position to the ending position along the virtual drop-line, 
 use the locating signals from the positioning system receiver to determine a direction for magnetic north with respect to a cardinal direction, and 
 provide directional guidance via the display towards the ending position at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the instruction comprises a directional indicator icon displaying a direction of the virtual drop-line with respect to the portable locator device at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         19 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the instruction comprises a distance of the portable locator device from the virtual drop-line at an intermediate position between the starting position and the ending position. 
     
     
         20 . The portable locator device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the Earth magnetic sensor comprises at least one of a hall sensor, a magnetoresistive sensor, or a magneto-impedance sensor.