Magnetometer-based locator and identifier for ferrous objects having unknown shapes
First Claim
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1. A ferrous object locator, comprising:
- magnetic sensing means for measuring a magnetic field from a ferrous object, said magnetic sensing means comprising a magnetometer;
position sensing means for measuring the displacement from an initial position of said magnetic sensing means in one or more orthogonal directions in a plane of measurement behind or beneath which said ferrous object is located; and
microprocessor means for receiving data from said magnetic sensing means and said position sensing means and deriving from said data, information about the location and identification of said ferrous object, wherein said microprocessor means compares said data from said magnetic sensing means and from said position sensing means with magnetic data or magnetic and positional data stored in a data storage means.
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Abstract
A ferrous object detector and locator includes a magnetometer sensor and a position sensor controlled by a microprocessor. The device accurately locates and identifies an unknown ferrous object and determines the depth and orientation of a buried ferrous rod. Simultaneous magnetic field measurements from the magnetometer and position information in one or more orthogonal directions from the position sensor are combined and analyzed by the microprocessor using predetermined algorithms to determine the location and identity of the object. The detecetor is capable of detecting location and identity of objects of general shape and size.
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7 Claims
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1. A ferrous object locator, comprising:
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magnetic sensing means for measuring a magnetic field from a ferrous object, said magnetic sensing means comprising a magnetometer; position sensing means for measuring the displacement from an initial position of said magnetic sensing means in one or more orthogonal directions in a plane of measurement behind or beneath which said ferrous object is located; and microprocessor means for receiving data from said magnetic sensing means and said position sensing means and deriving from said data, information about the location and identification of said ferrous object, wherein said microprocessor means compares said data from said magnetic sensing means and from said position sensing means with magnetic data or magnetic and positional data stored in a data storage means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification