Systems and methods useful for detecting presence and / or location of various materials
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods which can be employed to locate or detect presence of various materials, including nonferrous metals. These systems include new and useful sensors, circuits, systems and devices which power and/or interoperate with the sensors, and methods of making, operating and using such systems. Any or all of the systems, devices or processes can be combined with other systems, devices or processes disclosed.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1-2. -2. (canceled)
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3. Apparatus for determining presence of an object, comprising:
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a. an emitter adapted to produce and propagate a time varying primary electromagnetic field;
b. at least one sensor, the sensor adapted to receive a secondary electromagnetic field, the secondary electromagnetic field produced by the object as a function of the primary electromagnetic field;
c. the sensor coupled to a receiver, the receiver adapted to determine differences in phase between the primary electromagnetic field and the secondary electromagnetic field and to provide information corresponding to identification of the material forming the object as a function of said phase differences; and
d. in which the primary electromagnetic field contains at least one code and the at least one sensor uses the code of said primary electromagnetic field to determine said phase differences. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 10)
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7. Apparatus for determining presence of an object, comprising:
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a. an emitter adapted to produce and propagate a time varying primary electromagnetic field;
b. at least one sensor, the sensor adapted to receive a secondary electromagnetic field, the secondary electromagnetic field produced by the object as a function of the primary electromagnetic field;
c. the sensor coupled to a receiver, the receiver adapted to determine differences in phase between the primary electromagnetic field and the secondary electromagnetic field and to provide information corresponding to identification of the material forming the object as a function of said phase differences; and
d. in which the at least one sensor determines said phase differences using a clock that is also used by the emitter.
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8. Apparatus for determining presence of an object, comprising:
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a. an emitter adapted to produce and propagate a time varying primary electromagnetic field;
b. at least one sensor, the sensor adapted to receive a secondary electromagnetic field, the secondary electromagnetic field produced by the object as a function of the primary electromagnetic field;
c. the sensor coupled to a receiver, the receiver adapted to determine differences in phase between the primary electromagnetic field and the secondary electromagnetic field and to provide information corresponding to identification of the material forming the object as a function of said phase differences; and
d. in which the emitter is adapted to pulse width modulate the primary electromagnetic field.
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9. Apparatus for determining presence of an object, comprising:
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a. an emitter adapted to produce and propagate a time varying primary electromagnetic field;
b. at least one sensor, the sensor adapted to receive a secondary electromagnetic field, the secondary electromagnetic field produced by the object as a function of the primary electromagnetic field;
c. the sensor coupled to a receiver, the receiver adapted to determine differences in phase between the primary electromagnetic field and the secondary electromagnetic field and to provide information corresponding to identification of the material forming the object as a function of said phase differences; and
d. in which the emitter includes a resonant power circuit in order to produce the primary electromagnetic field.
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Specification