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Dipole moment detector and localizer

  • US 5,731,996 A
  • Filed: 03/05/1996
  • Issued: 03/24/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting and localizing a magnetic dipole using an array of spatially distributed magnetic sensors, said method comprising the steps of:

  • a) collecting a set of actual magnetic field measurements of a magnetic dipole using a plurality of magnetic sensors;

    b) storing position matrices corresponding to hypothesized locations of the magnetic dipole relative to the array of sensors;

    c) estimating the orientation and magnitude of the dipole from the magnetic field measurements using an electromagnetic moment equation that generates a minimum least-squares estimate that minimizes the sum of squared errors between the actual magnetic field measurements and magnetic field measurements that would be generated by a dipole having an optimal orientation and magnitude;

    d) computing expected magnetic field measurements that would be generated at the sensors by the dipole having the optimal orientation and magnitude;

    e) comparing the actual magnetic field measurements with the expected magnetic field measurements;

    f) repeating steps b) through e) for all hypothesized locations within the detection range of the array of magnetic sensors to detect and localize the magnetic dipole.

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