Electromagnetic induction detection system

• US 6,870,370 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AGRI Dynamics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AGRI Dynamics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bryan, Melissa Whitten
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US10/616,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 324/323, 324/326, 324327-329, 324330-331, 324/334
• US Class Current: 324/331
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

A airborne electromagnetic induction (EMI) detection apparatus and system. In accordance with one embodiment, the EMI detection apparatus includes a transmitter element in the form of a transmitter coil that emits a primary, multi-frequency component magnetic field which induces a secondary magnetic field in an external body. A receiver element in the form of a receiver coil is mounted in a horizontal loop-loop orientation with respect to the transmitter coil and receives the secondary magnetic field. The detection apparatus further includes a magnetic shield disposed around the receiver coil to limit the lateral footprint diameter observed by the receiving element and to shield the receiver coil from the primary magnetic field and other external electromagnetic radiation to improve the gain and resolution of the detection apparatus.

Claims

1. A electromagnetic induction detection apparatus comprising:

a transmitter element that emits a primary magnetic field which induces a secondary magnetic field in an external body;

a receiver element that receives the secondary magnetic field; and

a magnetic shield disposed around said receiver element that limits the lateral footprint diameter of the secondary magnetic field observed by said receiver element.

2. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic shield is constructed of magnetic field absorbant or magnetic field reflective material.

3. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic shield is cone-shaped, said receiver element concentrically disposed at the narrow end of said cone-shaped magnetic shield.

4. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic shield comprises an outwardly angled shield wall.

5. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 3, wherein said outwardly angled shield wall is sloped to form an angle between the shield wall and the footprint surface within an open end of the magnetic shield from 28°

to 90°

.

6. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter element is an inductive coil.

7. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiver element is an inductive coil.

8. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter element, said receiver element are disposed in a horizontal loop-loop configuration on a substantially rigid, non-conductive support platform.

9. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 8, wherein said receiver element is mounted in a coplanar, displaced manner with respect to said transmitter element on said support platform such that said receiver element is substantially shielded from the primary magnetic field emitted from said transmitter element.

10. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 8, wherein said transmitter element, said receiver element and said non-conductive support platform form a discrete electromagnetic induction detection apparatus that may be flown in a suspended manner below an aircraft.

11. The electromagnetic induction detection apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an aircraft that transportably positions said electromagnetic induction detection apparatus.