Amorphous metal tagging system for underground structures including elongated particles of amorphous metal embedded in nonmagnetic and nonconductive material
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic tagging system for remotely detecting and locating a structure formed from a non-electrically conductive, non-magnetic material that is situated behind a barrier having a control surface by a means for generating a fluctuating magnetic field, comprising:
- at least one tag means integrated into said structure and including an amorphous metal target for generating a signal containing a response characteristic of amorphous metal when exposed to said fluctuating magnetic field, said target being formed from a plurality of elongated particles of a single alloy of amorphous magnetic metal embedded in the same electrically non-conductive and non-magnetic material forming the structure and having length to diameter aspect ratios of at least three to one, and being aligned substantially parallel and along their longitudinal axes with respect to one another and being sufficiently close end-to-end to be magnetically linked to one another to enhance the strength of said signal, andportable circuit means movable relative to said control surface for remotely detecting said characteristic response in said generated signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetic tagging system is provided for remotely detecting and locating polymeric and other non-conductive structures situated behind barriers, such as underground plastic pipes or containers. The system comprises a fluctuating magnetic field source, a pattern of tags embedded in discrete regions of the wall of the polymeric structure, each tag including an amorphous magnetic metal target for generating a Barkhausen response when exposed to the fluctuating magnetic field source, and a portable detection circuit movable along the ground or other control surface for remotely detecting the Barkhausen response. The amorphous magnetic material in each tag is preferably in the form of a plurality of elongated particles having aspect ratios of at least 3 to 1 and arranged end-to-end. The pattern that the tags are arranged in provide information concerning the identity, orientation, or extent of the structure, and the portable detection circuit is capable of detecting at least two of the tags simultaneously as it is moved over the surface of the ground so that the patterns of the tags may be easily determined.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic tagging system for remotely detecting and locating a structure formed from a non-electrically conductive, non-magnetic material that is situated behind a barrier having a control surface by a means for generating a fluctuating magnetic field, comprising:
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at least one tag means integrated into said structure and including an amorphous metal target for generating a signal containing a response characteristic of amorphous metal when exposed to said fluctuating magnetic field, said target being formed from a plurality of elongated particles of a single alloy of amorphous magnetic metal embedded in the same electrically non-conductive and non-magnetic material forming the structure and having length to diameter aspect ratios of at least three to one, and being aligned substantially parallel and along their longitudinal axes with respect to one another and being sufficiently close end-to-end to be magnetically linked to one another to enhance the strength of said signal, and portable circuit means movable relative to said control surface for remotely detecting said characteristic response in said generated signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electromagnetic tagging system for remotely detecting and locating a buried structure formed from a non-electrically conducting, non-magnetic polymeric material with respect to the surface of the ground by a means for generating a fluctuating magnetic field characterized by:
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least one tag means, integrated into said structure, and including a magnetic amorphous metal target for generating a signal containing a Barkhansen response when exposed to said fluctuating magnetic field, said tag means being arranged so as to express information concerning said structure, said target being formed from a plurality of elongated particles of a single alloy of amorphous magnetic metal embedded in the non-electrically conducting, non-magnetic polymeric material forming the structure and having length to diameter aspect ratios of at least three to one, said particles being aligned parallel to one another along their longitudinal axes and sufficiently close end-to-end to be magnetically linked to one another, and portable circuit means movable with respect to said surface of the ground for remotely detecting said Barkhausen response in said generated signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An electromagnetic tagging system for remotely detecting and locating a structure formed from a non-electrically conductive, non-magnetic material situated behind a barrier having a control surface by a means for generating a fluctuating magnetic field comprising:
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a plurality of tag means affixed to said structure, and arranged in a pattern for expressing the identity, orientation or extent of said structure, each tag means including an amorphous magnetic metal target formed from a plurality of elongated particles of a single alloy of amorphous magnetic metal embedded in the same non-electrically conducting, non-magnetic material forming the structure and having an aspect ratio of at least 3 to 1 and being aligned substantially parallel with respect to their longitudinal axes and being sufficiently close to be magnetically linked to one another for generating a signal containing a Barkhausen response that provides a signature code expressing information concerning the structure when exposed to said fluctuating magnetic field, and portable circuit means movable relative to said control surface for remotely detecting said Barkhausen response in said generated signal, and circuit means including a means for decoding said signature code.
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Specification