Compact self-tuned electrical resonator for buried object locator applications

• US 20070018649A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seek Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seek Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Merewether, Ray, Prsha, Jeffrey, Olsson, Mark, Maier, Christoph, Denaci, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/088 operating with electric fields G01V3/082 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-tuning resonator for use in a transmitter apparatus for inducing alternating currents in a buried conductor. The resonator is dynamically tuned at frequencies below 500 kHz by exploiting the inherent voltage-variability of net capacitance in multilayer ceramic capacitors. The transmitter apparatus provides improved efficiency and induced output power suitable for use in a man-portable locator system, providing a very high magnetic field output from a physically small battery-powered resonator at frequencies under 500 kHz. The resonator exhibits a very low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and is adaptively retuned to a predetermined resonant frequency responsive to any changes in resonance arising from phenomena such as component heating, thereby supporting very high tank circuit currents from battery-powered source to produce very high magnetic flux output.

Claims

1. An electrical resonator having a primary resonant frequency value f_R, the resonator comprising:

a conductor having an inductance value L;

a plurality of capacitors coupled to the conductor having a net capacitance value C disposed to provide a primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, wherein the capacitance value of at least one of the capacitors varies as a function of the voltage drop across it; and

a controller coupled to the at least one of the capacitors, including

first circuit means for generating a control voltage V_C corresponding to the difference between a first predetermined resonant frequency value f_R1 and the primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, and

second circuit means for applying the control voltage V_C to the at least one of the capacitors, thereby obtaining the capacitance value C necessary to produce a primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R1.

2. The electrical resonator of claim 1 wherein the conductor consists essentially of a single conductor disposed to form no more than a single loop.

3. The electrical resonator of claim 2 wherein the conductor consists essentially of a hollow elongate member having a wall with a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire length thereof;

and one or more of the plurality of capacitors are conductively coupled across the longitudinal slot in the conductor wall.

4. The electrical resonator of claim 3 further comprising a ferromagnetic core moveably disposed within the hollow elongate member.

5. The electrical resonator of claim 4 further comprising means for moving the ferromagnetic core responsive to the difference between a second predetermined resonant frequency value f_R2 and the primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, thereby obtaining the inductance value L necessary to produce a primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R2.

6. The electrical resonator of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of capacitors includes a plurality of ceramic layers coupled conductively in parallel.

7. The electrical resonator of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of capacitors includes a piezoelectric ceramic dielectric material.

8. The electrical resonator of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of capacitors are coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) of the capacitors and increasing the Quality Factor value Q.

9. The electrical resonator of claim 1 further comprising, in the conductor, a plurality of insulated conductors conductively coupled in parallel and bundled together, thereby reducing the ESR of the conductor and increasing the Quality Factor value Q.

10. The electrical resonator of claim 1 further comprising:

a coupling circuit disposed to accept alternating current from an electrical power source, including a second plurality of capacitors coupled to the conductor having a net capacitance value C₂ disposed to introduce a coupling coefficient k with the electrical power source, wherein the capacitance value of at least one of the second plurality of capacitors varies as a function of the voltage drop across it; and

a second controller coupled to the at least one of the second plurality of capacitors, including

third circuit means for generating a second control voltage V_C2 corresponding to the difference between a first predetermined coupling coefficient k₁ and the a coupling coefficient k, and

fourth circuit means for applying the control voltage V_C2 to the at least one of the second plurality of capacitors, thereby obtaining the capacitance value C₂ necessary to introduce a coupling coefficient k=k₁.

11. The electrical resonator of claim 1 further comprising, in the controller, third circuit means for modulating the first predetermined resonant frequency value f_R1 according to a signal modulation scheme, whereby the primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R1 is varied according to the signal modulation scheme.

12. A transmitter apparatus for inducing alternating current in a buried conductor, comprising:

an electrical power source for generating an alternating current; and

an electrical resonator coupled to the electrical power source and having a primary resonant frequency value f_R, the electrical resonator including

a conductor having an inductance value L;

a plurality of capacitors coupled to the conductor having a net capacitance value C disposed to provide a primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, wherein the capacitance value of at least one of the capacitors varies as a function of the voltage drop across it; and

a controller coupled to the at least one of the capacitors, including

first circuit means for generating a control voltage V_C corresponding to the difference between a first predetermined resonant frequency value f_R1 and the primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, and

second circuit means for applying the control voltage V_C to the at least one of the capacitors, thereby obtaining the capacitance value C necessary to produce a primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R1.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the conductor consists essentially of a single conductor disposed to form no more than a single loop.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the conductor consists essentially of a hollow elongate member having a wall with a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire length thereof; and

one or more of the plurality of capacitors are conductively coupled across the longitudinal slot in the conductor wall.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a ferromagnetic core moveably disposed within the hollow elongate member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for moving the ferromagnetic core responsive to the difference between a second predetermined resonant frequency value f_R2 and the primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, thereby obtaining the inductance value L necessary to produce a primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R2.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the plurality of capacitors includes a plurality of ceramic layers coupled conductively in parallel.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the plurality of capacitors includes a piezoelectric ceramic dielectric material.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least some of the plurality of capacitors are coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) of the capacitors and increasing the Quality Factor value Q.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising, in the conductor, a plurality of insulated conductors conductively coupled in parallel and bundled together, thereby reducing the ESR of the conductor and increasing the Quality Factor value Q.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an electrical conductor conductively disposed between the electrical resonator and the electrical power source.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a coupling circuit disposed between the electrical resonator and the electrical power source including a second plurality of capacitors coupled to the conductor having a net capacitance value C₂ disposed to introduce a coupling coefficient k, wherein the capacitance value of at least one of the second plurality of capacitors varies as a function of the voltage drop across it; and

a second controller coupled to the at least one of the second plurality of capacitors, including

third circuit means for generating a second control voltage V_C2 corresponding to the difference between a first predetermined coupling coefficient k₁ and the a coupling coefficient k, and

fourth circuit means for applying the control voltage V_C2 to the at least one of the second plurality of capacitors, thereby obtaining the capacitance value C₂ necessary to introduce a coupling coefficient k=k₁.

23. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising, in the controller, third circuit means for modulating the first predetermined resonant frequency value f_R1 according to a signal modulation scheme, whereby the primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R1 is varied according to the signal modulation scheme.

24. A human-portable locator system for locating a buried conductor, comprising:

a transmitter apparatus for inducing alternating current in the buried conductor, including

an electrical power source for generating an alternating current; and

an electrical resonator coupled conductively to the electrical power source and having a resonant frequency value f_R, including

a conductor having an inductance value L;

a plurality of capacitors coupled to the conductor having a net capacitance value C disposed to provide a primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, wherein the capacitance value of at least one of the capacitors varies as a function of the voltage drop across it; and

a controller coupled to the at least one of the capacitors, including

first circuit means for generating a control voltage V_C corresponding to the difference between a first predetermined resonant frequency value f_R1 and the primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, and

second circuit means for applying the control voltage V_C to the at least one of the capacitors, thereby obtaining the capacitance value C necessary to produce a primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R1;

a sensor array for producing a plurality of sensor signals representing an electromagnetic field emission arising from the alternating current in the buried conductor;

a processor coupled to the sensor array for producing location data signals representing a location of the electromagnetic field emission corresponding to the sensor signals; and

a user interface coupled to the processor for reporting to a user a location for the buried conductor.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the conductor consists essentially of a single conductor disposed to form no more than a single loop.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein:

the conductor consists essentially of a hollow elongate member having a wall with a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire length thereof; and

one or more of the plurality of capacitors are conductively coupled across the longitudinal slot in the conductor wall.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

a ferromagnetic core moveably disposed within the hollow elongate member; and

means for moving the ferromagnetic core responsive to the difference between a second predetermined resonant frequency value f_R2 and the primary resonant frequency value f_R<

500 kHz, thereby obtaining the inductance value L necessary to produce a primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R2.

28. The system of claim 24 further comprising an electrical conductor conductively disposed between the electrical resonator and the electrical power source.

29. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

a coupling circuit disposed between the electrical resonator and the electrical power source including a second plurality of capacitors coupled to the conductor having a net capacitance value C₂ disposed to introduce a coupling coefficient k, wherein the capacitance value of at least one of the second plurality of capacitors varies as a function of the voltage drop across it; and

a second controller coupled to the at least one of the second plurality of capacitors, including

third circuit means for generating a second control voltage V_C2 corresponding to the difference between a first predetermined coupling coefficient k₁ and the a coupling coefficient k, and

fourth circuit means for applying the control voltage V_C2 to the at least one of the second plurality of capacitors, thereby obtaining the capacitance value C₂ necessary to introduce a coupling coefficient k=k₁.

30. The system of claim 24 further comprising, in the controller, third circuit means for modulating the first predetermined resonant frequency value f_R1 according to a signal modulation scheme, whereby the primary resonant frequency value f_R=f_R1 is varied according to the signal modulation scheme.

31. The system of claim 24 wherein the conductor consists of a ferrite core wound multifilar.