Apparatus and method of measuring the multi-dimensional magnetic field distribution of a magnetic sample in real-time
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the magnetic field distribution of a magnetic sample, the apparatus comprising:
- magnetic field sensing means for sensing the magnetic field produced by the sample at a given location, said magnetic field sensing means comprising a sensing head having a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged to sense magnetic field strength in plural orthogonal directions;
scanning means arranged to effect area scanning of said magnetic sample by movement of said sensing head relative to the sample along a predetermined scan pattern, said scanning means making sub-millimeter positional movements of said sensing head and thus achieving a correspondingly high resolution of the magnetic field distribution determined by the apparatus;
data acquisition means coupled to said magnetic field sensing means and to said scanning means, said data acquisition means-being dedicated to the processing of signals outputted by said sensors and to the control of said scanning means and comprising analog-to-digital signal conversion means coupled to said sensors for converting the analog outputs thereof into corresponding digital signals;
storage means for storing said digital signals;
a microprocessor controlling the operation of said analog-to-digital signal conversion means and the storage of said digital signals in said storage means, said microprocessor additionally controlling the operation of said scanning means in coordination with said analog-to-digital signal conversion means and said storage means; and
computer means including display means, said computer means being arranged to receive digital data from the storage means of said data acquisition means under control of said microprocessor, to process said digital data into user understandable magnetic field maps, and to display said magnetic field maps upon said display means, wherein the scanning means comprises a robot assembly to which said sensing means is coupled, said robot assembly including first means for moving said sensing means in one coordinate dimension, and second means for effecting relative rotation between the sample and the sensing means.
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Abstract
An apparatus for measuring the magnetic field distribution of a magnetic sample includes a magnetic field sensor arrangement having three, orthogonally-disposed, Hall sensors for sensing the magnetic field produced by a magnetic sample at a given location, The sensor arrangement is scanned along a predetermined scan pattern. The apparatus then acquires sampling data from the sensor arrangement, the sampled data providing a representation of the magnetic field distribution of the magnetic sample. The data is preferably acquired by an interface card for a PC, which stores sampled data in the main memory of the PC for data analysis and display.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the magnetic field distribution of a magnetic sample, the apparatus comprising:
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magnetic field sensing means for sensing the magnetic field produced by the sample at a given location, said magnetic field sensing means comprising a sensing head having a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged to sense magnetic field strength in plural orthogonal directions;
scanning means arranged to effect area scanning of said magnetic sample by movement of said sensing head relative to the sample along a predetermined scan pattern, said scanning means making sub-millimeter positional movements of said sensing head and thus achieving a correspondingly high resolution of the magnetic field distribution determined by the apparatus;
data acquisition means coupled to said magnetic field sensing means and to said scanning means, said data acquisition means-being dedicated to the processing of signals outputted by said sensors and to the control of said scanning means and comprising analog-to-digital signal conversion means coupled to said sensors for converting the analog outputs thereof into corresponding digital signals;
storage means for storing said digital signals;
a microprocessor controlling the operation of said analog-to-digital signal conversion means and the storage of said digital signals in said storage means, said microprocessor additionally controlling the operation of said scanning means in coordination with said analog-to-digital signal conversion means and said storage means; and
computer means including display means, said computer means being arranged to receive digital data from the storage means of said data acquisition means under control of said microprocessor, to process said digital data into user understandable magnetic field maps, and to display said magnetic field maps upon said display means, wherein the scanning means comprises a robot assembly to which said sensing means is coupled, said robot assembly including first means for moving said sensing means in one coordinate dimension, and second means for effecting relative rotation between the sample and the sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A magnetic field scanner for measuring the magnetic field distribution of a magnetic sample in a curved plane about the sample, the scanner comprising:
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magnetic field sensing means for sensing the magnetic field produced by the magnetic sample in a plurality of directions at a given location along the curved plane; and
scanning means comprising rotation means and linear movement means, said rotation and linear movement means being operable on at least one of said sample or sensing means to provide both linear and rotational relative movement between the sample and the magnetic field sensing means in use, wherein the magnetic field sensing means comprises an elongate probe for insertion into an inner region of a hollow cylindrically shaped magnetic sample, the probe having at least one sensor provided at a free insertion end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification