John W Mercer

US Patent:

6344904, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Oct 3, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/165668

Inventors:

John E. Mercer - Kent WA 98035

International Classification:

H04N 121

US Classification:

358296, 382318

Abstract:

An assembly for transferring information to and/or from flexible sheet media in a highly advantageous curved configuration is disclosed. The sheet material includes a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces. The assembly includes support means for supporting the sheet the curved configuration across its width, having the first surface inwardly oriented with respect to the curved configuration. Thereafter, moving means moves the flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a read/write path generally parallel to the sheet material length and transverse to the direction of curvature. A read/write arrangement is provided which is configured for reading and/or writing information across the width of the first surface of the sheet as the sheet is moved along the path in the curved configuration. In one feature, means is provided for rotationally moving the read/write arrangement in a predetermined way in the housing such that the read/write arrangement is in a confronting relationship with the first, inwardly oriented surface and cooperates with the movement provided by the sheet material moving means so as to cause the read/write arrangement to sequentially read information from and/or write information to the inwardly oriented, first surface of the sheet as the read/write arrangement traverses the width of the flexible sheet material while the latter is on the read/write path in the curved configuration. In another feature, a read and/or write operation may be performed on the second, outwardly oriented surface of the sheet material.

US Patent:

6351892, Mar 5, 2002

Filed:

Dec 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/461936

Inventors:

John E. Mercer - Kent WA
Rudolf Zeller - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Digital Control Incorporated - Renton WA

International Classification:

G01C 906

US Classification:

3336615, 3336611

Abstract:

An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material. Thus, intra-pattern measurements yield the measured property without the need for conductive members distributed along the length of the chamber.

US Patent:

6364035, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

Apr 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/845238

Inventors:

Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA
Peter H. Hambling - Bellevue WA
John E. Mercer - Kent WA
Lloyd A. Moore - Renton WA
Shiu S. Ng - Kirkland WA
Rudolf Zeller - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Digital Control Incorporated - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 47024

US Classification:

175 45, 175 62, 175202, 342459, 342463, 250264

Abstract:

Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region. Provisions are also described for extending drilling range by using additional detectors by moving a limited number of detectors. In another aspect, a system is provided including at least two above ground detectors for sensing the locating signal.

US Patent:

6396275, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Sep 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/659908

Inventors:

John E. Mercer - Kent WA

Assignee:

Digital Control Incorporated - Renton WA

International Classification:

G01V 311

US Classification:

324326, 175 45

Abstract:

An arrangement is described in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch while transmitting a locating signal. A portable locator measures signal strength at an above ground location. The portable locator further determines pitch of the boring tool. The determined pitch and signal strength are used to establish the depth of the boring tool. In one aspect, the portable locator measures the locating signal from a negative locate point. In another aspect, the portable locator measures from an above ground location having a particular flux orientation. In yet another aspect, the portable locator determines a positional relationship between the portable locator and the boring tool using the determined pitch and measured locating signal.

US Patent:

6400159, Jun 4, 2002

Filed:

Apr 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/547120

Inventors:

Rudolf Zeller - Renton WA
John E. Mercer - Kent WA

Assignee:

Digital Control Incorporated - Renton WA

International Classification:

G01N 2702

US Classification:

324439, 324446, 324447, 324448, 324449, 324450, 324601, 324722, 324 711, 3336611, 3336615, 3336621, 3336622, 3336626

Abstract:

An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor. In one embodiment disclosed herein, the electrically conductive members include an array of wires, as contrasted with plates or cylinders and in all of the embodiments disclosed herein in which the sensor functions as a pitch sensor, the conductive members are adjustably configured so that the sensor can be calibrated.

US Patent:

6417666, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Mar 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/533516

Inventors:

John E. Mercer - Kent WA

Assignee:

Digital Control, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

G01V 308

US Classification:

324326, 3408535, 175 45

Abstract:

A system is described in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region using a drill rig and associated drill string to move the boring tool in a forward direction or in a reverse direction, respectively, through the ground. The boring tool is configured for transmitting a locating signal through the ground. A locating configuration within the system includes a first arrangement for sending a data signal from the boring tool to the drill rig through the drill string. A locator, as part of the system, is configured for tracking an underground position of the boring tool using the locating signal while a second arrangement, at least partly at the drill rig and forming at least a portion of tile locator, transmits the data signal from the drill string to the locator for use by the locator.

US Patent:

6446728, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Feb 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/793056

Inventors:

Albert W. Chau - Woodinville WA
John E. Mercer - Kent WA

Assignee:

Digital Control, Inc. - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 1916

US Classification:

166380, 166 651, 175320, 439578

Abstract:

Arrangements and associated methods are described for providing an isolated electrically conductive path in a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region. The system includes a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between a boring tool, or other in-ground device, and the drill. The drill string is made up of a plurality of electrically conductive drill pipe sections, each of which includes a section length and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time. The arrangement associated with each drill pipe section provides part of at least one electrically conductive path along the section length of each drill pipe section, which electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from its associated drill pipe section and extends from the boring tool to the drill rig such that the electrically conductive path is extended by the section length when the drill string is extended by attachment of an additional drill pipe section to the drill string at the drill rig and the electrically conductive path is shortened by the section length when the drill string is shortened by detaching the additional drill pipe section from the drill string at the drill rig.

US Patent:

6454023, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/596316

Inventors:

John E. Mercer - Kent WA
Peter H. Hambling - Bellevue WA
Rudolf Zeller - Seattle WA
Shiu S. Ng - Kirkland WA
Guenter W. Brune - Bellevue WA
Lloyd A. Moore - Renton WA

Assignee:

Digital Control Incorporated - Renton WA

International Classification:

E21B 4700

US Classification:

175 40, 33313, 342459, 324329, 324346, 324356, 324369

Abstract:

Systems and associated methods for tracking and/or guiding an underground boring tool use one or more detectors to measure the intensity of an electromagnetic field which is transmitted from an underground boring tool. The measured intensities may then be used to determine the location of the boring tool. In a dead reckoning embodiment of the invention, one detector may be employed while, in a position determination embodiment, two or more detectors may be employed. In any embodiment, physically measurable parameters may be used in addition to measured magnetic intensities. A highly advantageous mapping tool instrument for use in the position determination embodiment and a cubic antenna for use in any magnetic field detector are employed herein. A highly advantageous apparatus and associated method for determining the movement of the boring tool underground by monitoring the motion of a drill string, which is attached to the boring tool and extends to a drill rig, are used to perform measurements relating to movement of the drill string at the drill rig.