DE102005057054B4 - Portable Handheld Geophysical Locator - Google Patents

Abstract

Portable, hand-held geophysical locating device based on the evaluation of magnetic field changes comprising flux-gate sensors and an evaluation and a display unit for displaying image data of the location, wherein the flux-gate sensors located in a remote probe of a sensor module (3) and in that there is a wireless or wired connection between the evaluation unit and the display unit, characterized in that the display unit is a video glasses (6), the video glasses (6), when worn, have a free viewing angle down to the ground on an area to be examined without settling this allows as well as the video glasses is provided for stereoscopic image display.

Description

The invention relates to a portable, hand-held geophysical locating device based on the evaluation of magnetic field changes comprising flux gate sensors and an evaluation and display unit, wherein the flux gate sensors are located in a remote probe, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Going back to the company OKM locating Krauss & Muller GmbH, Windischleuba, various arrangements for operating geophysical locators on the basis of the evaluation of magnetic field changes in the ground are already known, these arrangements signalauswertseitig rely on flux-gate sensors. The output of the flux-gate sensors gets to special amplifier circuits and an evaluation and display unit.

Known arrangements have a display unit as a TFT or LCD display, which is, for example, hingedly connected to the evaluation unit.

The evaluation and display unit can be worn by the user in front of the body via a belt or belt system. The probe receiving the sensors is normally carried in the hand and guided over the surface of the soil to be examined or other comparable objects.

After evaluation and image processing, the user of the device on the display unit magnetic field changes in the ground, z. B. perceived by buried metallic objects and specifically locate these objects or objects.

For a larger area, it is necessary to walk through a certain search area, whereby incoming signals are stored here and processed line by line or column by column, in order to then achieve microprocessor-assisted the above-mentioned pictorial representation of the underground.

However, it has been found that the details on the display unit are not or only with great difficulty recognizable in a conventional use of such tracking devices in daylight. In addition, conventional TFT or LCD displays require significant electrical energy, which limits the duration of use between recharge operations when operating the rechargeable battery.

Also, with a common size of LCD displays and the viewing distance between the head and the display, important details may be overlooked in the location.

From the DE 196 52 977 C1 For example, a locating device for objects located in the earth region with detectors for generating a measuring signal is previously known. The detectors are connected to an evaluation unit and a display device. The display device comprises a miniature screen with a lens arranged in front of it. The miniature screen is fastened by means of a head mount in front of the eye of an operator bar.

The state of the art is still on the DE 101 53 511 A1 , the DE 100 56 438 A1 , the DE 44 36 078 A1 , the EP 0 125 741 A2 as well as the WO 01/80212 A1 made aware.

From the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a further developed portable hand-held geophysical locating device based on the evaluation of magnetic field changes, with a better picture reproduction care must be taken, so that increases the effectiveness of the use of such locating devices and at the same time a longer operating time without interruption by z. B. reloading or change of primary or secondary elements is given.

The solution of the object of the invention is achieved by the feature combination according to claim 1, wherein the dependent claims represent expedient refinements and developments.

Surprisingly, it has been shown that for the effective presentation of the detected signals of the respective search area a video eyeglasses with corresponding micro-display elements is advantageous. On the one hand, with a quasi-virtual projection surface, which corresponds to a size of a screen of about 2 m × 2 m, even smaller details can be perceived. On the other hand, unwanted reflections due to daylight or sunlight are almost impossible.

When using the video glasses, care must be taken to ensure that they provide a free view downwards at a certain angle, so that when the user normally moves over an area to be examined, it is possible to see the floor without removing the glasses.

In one embodiment of the invention, an acoustic signaling of functionally essential parameters is preferably effected via the ear hook.

It is also possible to operate the locating device voice-controlled via the arrangement of a microphone and / or to acoustically signal specific locating results via a voice output.

Compared with conventional devices of the prior art with display display units in conventional form, the locating device according to the invention is much lighter and also requires a smaller amount of electrical energy for operating the video-glasses display unit according to the invention.

According to the invention, the video glasses are suitable for stereoscopic image display. In this case, preferably via a software module in the evaluation unit, a three-dimensional image processing is performed and displayed. This type of representation also increases the significance of finding objects to be located and / or objects with greater tracking success.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to use the video glasses as a display unit z. B. to show a topographic map to give the user the possibility of easier marking of sites. It is also within the meaning of the invention that the locating device has a GPS receiver.

Likewise, in one embodiment of the invention, preferably in the region of the probe or on the evaluation unit carried in front of the body, a miniaturized camera is arranged. This camera is preferably directed to the soil to be examined.

The output signal of the camera is guided via the evaluation unit on the video glasses, for which preferably a switching device is present. The switching device makes it possible to alternately guide image data of the location or camera recordings of the ground-level environment to the video glasses.

Overall, it is possible with the above-described solution according to the invention to expand the field of application of locating devices and to significantly improve the comfort in the application and handling of known locating devices. Further advantages are the lower total mass of the arrangement with simultaneously longer service life due to a reduced power consumption of the video glasses, which is used as a display unit.

The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and with the aid of figures.

Hereby show:

1 an overall view of the components of the locating device according to the invention and

2 a representation of the use of the locating device according to the invention when walking a terrain to be examined.

According to 1 is on a boom 1 a forearm support 2 , preferably in U-shape with upholstery attached.

On the forearm support 2 opposite end of the boom 1 is the sensor module 3 located inside which a plurality of flux gate sensors are arranged.

The boom 1 can be telescopically shortened or lengthened in one embodiment.

In the upper third of the boom is a support part 4 which is a housing 5 receives the electronic modules for signal evaluation and signal evaluation.

The video glasses 6 is according to embodiment via a cable on the housing 5 or the valuation unit located there. Furthermore, an operating unit 7 available, which also has a cable connection to the housing 5 features.

In use (see 2 ) holds the user the arrangement on the support unit, the z. B. tubular, fixed, the forearm support 2 almost represents an abutment for comfortable guiding the arrangement.

The video glasses 6 is designed so that a free view down to the bottom of the terrain to be examined is possible, but on the other hand, by lifting the gaze up the display in the video glasses monitor can be followed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

boom

2

forearm support

3

sensor module

4

support part

5

casing

6

video glasses

7

operating unit

Claims (7)

Portable, hand-held geophysical locating device based on the evaluation of magnetic field changes, comprising flux-gate sensors and an evaluation and a display unit for displaying image data of the location, wherein the flux-gate sensors in a remote probe of a sensor module ( 3 ) and between the evaluation unit and the display unit a wireless or wired connection, characterized in that the display unit has a video glasses ( 6 ), whereby the video glasses ( 6 ) in the wearing state a free viewing angle down to the ground on an area to be examined without discontinuation of this allows and the video glasses is provided for stereoscopic image display. Locating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the video glasses ( 6 ) Comprises acoustic voice or signal output means for providing significant magnetic field changes and / or functionally relevant or functional confirmation information. Locating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for acoustic voice or signal output are formed as located in or on the ear hook acoustic transducer. Locating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the video glasses ( 6 ) is a microphone to pass voice commands to the evaluation unit. Locating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the probe or the evaluation unit is a camera for detecting in particular the ground-level environment is located, wherein the surrounding image signal for display on the video glasses ( 6 ) to be led. Locating device according to claim 5, characterized in that the evaluation unit comprises a Bildaufbereitungs- and switching means for alternately or selectively displaying the camera image or image data of the location. Locating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a GPS receiver device.

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