Shieldings for metal detector heads and manufacturing methods thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A metal detector head apparatus comprising:
- a transmit-receive coil assembly;
shielding positioned between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment;
wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil;
wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; and
wherein the shielding is bonded to a surface of the metal detector head using a solvent, wherein the solvent is configured to at least partially dissolve an outer layer of the surface, and wherein the solvent is configured to solidify so as to bond the shielding and the surface into a unitary structure; and
a plurality of planar elements arranged in a layer, wherein the plurality of planar elements are configured to be applied over areas of the shielding while the solvent is active, wherein each planar element of the plurality of planar elements comprise material reactive to the solvent such that at least an outer layer of each of the plurality of planar elements dissolves, and wherein undissolved portions of the plurality of planar elements are configured to bond with the solidified solvent and the shielding in the unitary structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for shielding a metal detector head include placement of conductive shielding around the coils of the head to reduce the effects of capacitance variation between the coils and their surroundings.
51 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A metal detector head apparatus comprising:
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a transmit-receive coil assembly; shielding positioned between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; and wherein the shielding is bonded to a surface of the metal detector head using a solvent, wherein the solvent is configured to at least partially dissolve an outer layer of the surface, and wherein the solvent is configured to solidify so as to bond the shielding and the surface into a unitary structure; and a plurality of planar elements arranged in a layer, wherein the plurality of planar elements are configured to be applied over areas of the shielding while the solvent is active, wherein each planar element of the plurality of planar elements comprise material reactive to the solvent such that at least an outer layer of each of the plurality of planar elements dissolves, and wherein undissolved portions of the plurality of planar elements are configured to bond with the solidified solvent and the shielding in the unitary structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A metal detector head comprising:
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a transmit-receive coil assembly; and shielding positioned between the transmit receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding comprises a woven metal mesh; wherein the metallic mesh is configured with at least one gap to eliminate closed loops in the mesh; wherein the shielding is positioned around an outer periphery of the metal detector head and along a central portion of the metal detector head; and wherein the at least one gap is located in the central portion and in the outer periphery.
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18. A metal detector head apparatus comprising:
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a transmit-receive coil assembly; shielding positioned between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; and a plurality of planar elements, the plurality of planar elements arranged in a layer and configured to be applied over areas of the shielding; wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding is perforated such that resin used to bond the shielding to the metal detector head can flow through and around the shielding to facilitate adhesion between the resin, the metal detector head, and the shielding; and wherein the planar elements are formed of a material reactive to the resin such that at least one planar element of the plurality of planar elements bonds with the shielding and a bottom cover. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A metal detector head comprising:
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a transmit-receive coil assembly; and shielding positioned between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding comprises a metal film deposited on a substrate; wherein the substrate comprises at least one of the set of;
a flexible material, a polyester, and a polyimide; andwherein the shielding is perforated such that resin used to bond the shielding to the metal detector head can flow through and around the shielding to facilitate adhesion between the resin, the metal detector head, and the shielding.
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24. A metal detector head comprising:
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a transmit-receive coil assembly; and shielding positioned between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding is configured with a plurality of gaps to eliminate closed loops in the shielding; and wherein each gap of the plurality of gaps is configured to exhibit a width greater than a first distance at which conduction occurs across the gap, and less than a second distance above which stabilization of capacitance associated with the transmit coil and the receive coil is not achieved. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A metal detector head comprising:
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a transmit-receive coil assembly; and shielding positioned between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the transmit-receive coil assembly comprises at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding is configured with a plurality of gaps to eliminate closed loops in the shielding; and wherein the plurality of gaps are configured such that all areas of the shielding are connected electrically to all other areas, without introducing any closed loops. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method for manufacturing a shielded metal detector head, the method comprising:
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assembling a metal detector head including a housing having a transmit-receive coil assembly, the transmit-receive coil assembly comprising at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein assembling comprises placing shielding between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; the method further comprising; bonding the shielding to at least one metal detector head component using a resin that, upon curing, is configured to secure the shielding together with the component; placing a plurality of planar elements over areas of the shielding while the resin is uncured; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; and wherein the plurality of planar elements are arranged in a layer; and wherein the planar elements are formed of a material reactive to the resin such that at least one planar element of the plurality of planar elements bonds with the shielding and a bottom cover. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for manufacturing a shielded metal detector head, the method comprising:
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assembling a metal detector head including a housing having a transmit-receive coil assembly, the transmit-receive coil assembly comprising at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein assembling comprises placing shielding between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding is configured with a plurality of gaps to eliminate closed loops in the shielding; wherein the shielding is positioned around an outer periphery of the metal detector head and along a central portion of the metal detector head; and wherein the at least one gap is located in the central portion and in the outer periphery.
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51. A method for manufacturing a shielded metal detector head, the method comprising:
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assembling a metal detector head including a housing having a transmit-receive coil assembly, the transmit-receive coil assembly comprising at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein assembling comprises placing shielding between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding is configured with a plurality of gaps to eliminate closed loops in the shielding; and wherein each gap of the plurality of gaps is configured to exhibit a width greater than a first distance at which conduction occurs across the gap, and less than a second distance above which stabilization of capacitance associated with the transmit coil and the receive coil is not achieved. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. A method for manufacturing a shielded metal detector head, the method comprising:
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assembling a metal detector head including a housing having a transmit-receive coil assembly, the transmit-receive coil assembly comprising at least one receive coil and at least one transmit coil, the transmit coil positioned in spaced relation with the receive coil; wherein assembling comprises placing shielding between the transmit-receive coil assembly and an external environment; wherein the shielding is configured to be flexible, conductive, and non-magnetic; wherein the shielding is configured with a plurality of gaps to eliminate closed loops in the shielding; and wherein the plurality of gaps are configured such that all areas of the shielding are connected electrically to all other areas, without introducing any closed loops. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification