Detector

• US 10,078,147 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2014
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Heinz, Daniel Charles, Melber, Adam William, Brennan, Michael Leonard, Steer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US14/333,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 324329
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/10 using induction coils

Abstract

Various embodiments are described that relate to a detector. The detector can include a loop functioning at a high frequency that emits a magnetic field. The magnetic field can be retrieved and a comparison can be made between the emitted magnetic field and the retrieved magnetic field. If there is substantially little difference between the emitted and retrieved field, then a determination can be that no object is present. Conversely, if there is a substantial difference between the emitted and retrieved field, then the determination can be that an object is present and thus the object is detected. If the object is present, the returned magnetic field can be further analyzed to determine the type of object that is detected.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a loop configured to emit a magnetic field along a longitudinal axis of the loop, where the loop operates at a frequency of 100 kilohertz or greater; and

a detection component configured to detect a presence of an object through an analysis of the magnetic field,

where the loop receives a returned magnetic field that is a returned version of the magnetic field that is emitted and

where the detection component is configured to detect the presence of the object, at least in part, through a recognition of an impedance plot change between the emitted magnetic field and the returned magnetic field.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a real portion recognition component configured to recognize a real part of the impedance plot change; and

an imaginary portion recognition component configured to recognize an imaginary part of the impedance plot change,

where the recognition of the impedance plot change by the detection component occurs through use of the real part and the imaginary part.

3. The system of claim 2,

where the real portion recognition component is configured to recognize the real part of the impedance plot change by way of a first tone and

where the imaginary portion recognition component configured to recognize the imaginary part of the impedance plot change by way of a second tone that is different from the first tone.

4. The system of claim 1, where the recognition of the impedance plot change is performed through use of a reflection coefficient chart.

5. The system of claim 1,

where the detection component is configured to detect the presence of the object, at least in part, through recognition of a frequency change between the emitted magnetic field and the returned magnetic field.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising:

a classification component configured to make a classification for the object based, at least in part, on a location of a frequency notch shift of a frequency notch that illustrates the frequency change.

7. The system of claim 6,

where the classification is as a metal when the frequency notch shift is at a first value,

where the classification is as a non-metal when the frequency notch shift is at a second value, and

where the first value and second value are different values.

8. The system of claim of claim 6,

where, absent the presence of the object, the frequency notch is at a base value,

where the classification is of a metal when the base value of the frequency notch increases, and

where the classification is of a non-metal when the base value of the frequency notch decreases.

9. The system of claim 6, where the frequency notch shift is produced from the object changing an impedance of the loop.

10. The system of claim 1,

where the detection component is configured to detect the presence of the object, at least in part, through recognition of an amplitude change between the emitted magnetic field and the returned magnetic field.

11. A system, comprising:

a loop configured to emit a magnetic field along a longitudinal axis of the loop, where the loop operates at a frequency of 100 kilohertz or greater;

a detection component configured to detect a presence of an object through an analysis of the magnetic field; and

a set of tuning and matching circuits configured to match an impedance of the loop with impedance of a power supply that supplies power to the loop.

12. The system of claim 11,

where the loop receives a returned magnetic field that is a returned version of the magnetic field that is emitted and

where the detection component is configured to detect the presence of the object through identification of a phase change between the emitted magnetic field and the returned magnetic field.

13. A system, comprising:

a transmission loop configured to emit a magnetic field along a longitudinal axis of the transmission loop, where the transmission loop operates at a frequency of greater than 100 kilohertz;

a reception loop configured to receive the magnetic field from the transmission loop; and

a detection component, operatively coupled to the reception loop, configured to detect a presence of an object through analysis of the magnetic field that is received from the transmission loop.

14. The system of claim 13,

where the detection component is configured to detect the presence of the object, at least in part, through a recognition of an impedance plot change between the emitted magnetic field and the magnetic field that is received from the transmission loop.

15. A system, comprising:

a singular loop that operates at a frequency of 1 megahertz or greater, where the singular loop is configured to emit a magnetic field along a longitudinal axis of the singular loop and where the singular loop functions concurrently as a transmission loop and as a reception loop;

an identification component configured to identify a new location for a frequency notch associated with the frequency based on reception of the magnetic field, where the frequency notch moves from a base location to the new location and where a change of the location from the base location to the new location indicates a presence of an object;

a classification component configured to determine a classification for the object based, at least in part, on the new location; and

an output component configured to cause an output associated with the classification.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising:

a set of tuning and matching circuits configured to match an impedance of the singular loop with a power supply that supplies power to the singular loop, where the classification is of a metal when the new location increases from the base location and where the classification is of a non-metal when the new location decreases from the base location.

17. The system of claim 16, where absent the presence of the object the frequency notch is at the base location and where the frequency notch shift is produced from the object changing an impedance of the singular loop.

18. A system, comprising

a loop, that operates at a frequency of 100 kilohertz or greater to 1 gigahertz or lower, configured to receive a magnetic field;

an identification component configured to identify a new location for a frequency notch associated with the frequency based, at least in part, on reception of the magnetic field, where the frequency notch moves from a base location to the new location and where the change of from the base location to the new location indicates an anomaly associated with the magnetic field; and

an output component configured to cause an output associated with the anomaly.

19. The system of claim 18, comprising:

a classification component configured to determine that the anomaly is a presence of an object and determine a classification for the object based, at least in part, on the new location; and

a tuning and matching circuits configured to match an impedance of the loop with a power supply that supplies power to the loop, where the classification is of a metal when the new location increases from the base location and where the classification is of a ferrite material when the new location decreases from the base location.

20. The system of claim 19, where the loop has more than one winding.