Multiple sensor magnetometer with temporal noise rejection and controllable spatial response on a moving platform
First Claim
1. A mobile magnetometry processing system which scans an area in order to measure the magnetic field strength over the area, comprising:
- a plurality of N means for sensing the magnetic field of the area being scanned, each sensing means generating an output signal, for example, a voltage, which is a function of the magnetic field it scans, the sensing means being aligned in the general direction of the motion of the system;
a plurality of N sets of means for weighting, wherein each of the N sets comprises M weighting means, said weighting means receiving the output signals from the N sensing means and adjusting said output signal amplitudes by preselected weighting manner, for example, adjusting said output signal amplitudes by preselected weighting factors Wik according to the equation Ck =Σ
Pi Wik where Pi represents said output signals, and Ck represents the weighted signals that are output from the weighting means;
a plurality of M means for summing, each having N inputs, one from each of the N sets of means for weighting, for summing its N input weighted signals;
a plurality of M means for filtering, each having an input which is connected to the output of a means for summing, for delaying the exit of an input signal by an amount of time equal to the time required for the mobile system to move a distance equal to that distance existing between two adjacent sensing means, wherein the filtering means performs convolution processes;
means, associated with the M means for filtering, for measuring the velocity of the magnetometry processing system and thereby determining the intersensor delay of the M means for filtering; and
an output means for summing, whose M inputs are connected to the outputs of the M means for filtering, the signal output from said output means for summing being a measure of the strength of the magnetic field of the area being transversed by the means for sensing.
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Abstract
A mobile magnetometry processing system which scans an area in order to mure the magnetic field strength over the area, comprising:
a plurality of N sensors for sensing the magnetic field of the area being scanned, each sensor generating an output signal, for example, a voltage, which is a function of the magnetic field it scans, the sensor being aligned in the general direction of the motion of the system;
a plurality of N sets of means for weighting, for receiving and weighting the N signals from the means for sensing, each of the N sets comprising M weighting means;
a plurality of M summers, each have N inputs, one from each of the N sets of means for weighting, for summing its N input weighted signals;
a plurality of M filters each having an input which is connected to the output of a summer, for delaying the exit of an input signal by an amount of time equal to the time required for a sensor to advance the distance to the nearest adjacent sensor, the filtering process comprising a convolution;
means, associated with the M filters, for measuring the velocity of the magnetometry processing system and thereby determining the delay of the M filters; and
an output summer, whose M inputs are connected to the outputs of the M filters, the output signal being a measure of the strength of the magnetic field of the area being traversed by the sensors.
20 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A mobile magnetometry processing system which scans an area in order to measure the magnetic field strength over the area, comprising:
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a plurality of N means for sensing the magnetic field of the area being scanned, each sensing means generating an output signal, for example, a voltage, which is a function of the magnetic field it scans, the sensing means being aligned in the general direction of the motion of the system; a plurality of N sets of means for weighting, wherein each of the N sets comprises M weighting means, said weighting means receiving the output signals from the N sensing means and adjusting said output signal amplitudes by preselected weighting manner, for example, adjusting said output signal amplitudes by preselected weighting factors Wik according to the equation Ck =Σ
Pi Wik where Pi represents said output signals, and Ck represents the weighted signals that are output from the weighting means;a plurality of M means for summing, each having N inputs, one from each of the N sets of means for weighting, for summing its N input weighted signals; a plurality of M means for filtering, each having an input which is connected to the output of a means for summing, for delaying the exit of an input signal by an amount of time equal to the time required for the mobile system to move a distance equal to that distance existing between two adjacent sensing means, wherein the filtering means performs convolution processes; means, associated with the M means for filtering, for measuring the velocity of the magnetometry processing system and thereby determining the intersensor delay of the M means for filtering; and an output means for summing, whose M inputs are connected to the outputs of the M means for filtering, the signal output from said output means for summing being a measure of the strength of the magnetic field of the area being transversed by the means for sensing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current Assigneethe united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
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Original Assigneethe united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
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InventorsByram, George W.
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Primary Examiner(s)Strecker, Gerard R.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Edmonds, Warren S.
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Application NumberUS06/390,421Time in Patent Office3,305 DaysField of Search324/244, 324/245, 324/331, 324/345, 324/346, 364/421, 364/724, 367/16, 367/19, 367/22US Class Current324/244CPC Class CodesG01R 33/10 Plotting field distribution...G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use d...
