Magnetic Detecting Device and Material Identifying Device

• US 20080074109A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Okayama University
• Original Assignee: Okayama University
• Inventors: Tsukada, Keiji, Kiwa, Toshihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/234
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/72 by investigating magnetic variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention discloses a magnetic detecting device comprising an apply coil 1 for generating an alternate magnetic field of variable frequency and a power source 2 for the apply coil; a magnetic sensor 5 for detecting a change in the magnetic field induced by a test object 9 placed at a distance from a surface of said apply coil and toward said test object, said magnetic sensor being provided with a cancel coil 6 for canceling a magnetic field generated at the position of the magnetic sensor by a direct magnetic field and/or said apply coil; a measurement circuit 7 for the magnetic sensor for measuring a detection signal of said magnetic sensor; a lock-in amplifier circuit 8 for detecting an output of said measurement circuit for the magnetic sensor into two signals having the same frequency as that of said apply coil and phases different from each other by 90 degrees; and an analysis means 10 for analyzing a phase change of the output of said magnetic sensor 5 using an output signal from said lock-in amplifier circuit 8.

Claims

1. A magnetic detecting device comprising:

an apply coil for generating an alternate magnetic field of variable frequency and a power source for the apply coil,

a magnetic sensor for detecting a change in a magnetic field induced by a test object placed at a distance from a surface of said apply coil and toward said test object, said magnetic sensor being provided with a cancel coil for canceling a magnetic field generated at the position of the magnetic sensor by a direct magnetic field and/or said apply coil,

a measurement circuit for the magnetic sensor for measuring a detection signal of said magnetic sensor,

a lock-in amplifier circuit for detecting an output of said measurement circuit for the magnetic sensor into two signals having the same frequency as that of said apply coil and phases different from each other by 90 degrees and

an analysis means for analyzing a phase change of the output of said magnetic sensor using an output signal from said lock-in amplifier circuit.

2. The magnetic detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising a distance measurement means for measuring a distance between said test object and any one of said apply coil or said magnetic sensor.

3. The magnetic detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the area of said cancel coil is made small so as not to influence magnetic detection by said magnetic sensor.

4. The magnetic detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a composite magnetic field of a plurality of frequencies is generated at said apply coil by said power source for the apply coil, and said lock-in amplifier circuit is provided for each of the plurality of frequencies.

5. The magnetic detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of facing apply coils are provided as said apply coil, and said test object is placed between said facing apply coils.

6. The magnetic detecting device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of said magnetic sensors for measuring a magnetic component in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of said facing apply coils are provided.

7. The magnetic detecting device according to claim 1, wherein any one of a hall element, a magnetoresistive element, a magnetic impedance effect sensor, a flux gate or a superconductive quantum interference device is used as said magnetic sensor.

8. A material identification device for identifying a structure material contained in said test object using the magnetic detecting device according to claim 1.