System and method using magnetic anomaly field magnitudes for detection, localization, classification and tracking of magnetic objects
First Claim
1. A magnetic anomaly sensing system, comprising:
- at least four triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of said TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes, said TM sensors arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another in said three-dimensional array;
said three-dimensional array defining a geometry that forms at least one single-axis gradiometer along each of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes; and
processing means coupled to each of said TM sensors for generatingscalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of said TM sensors,comparisons of said scalar magnitudes to at least one threshold value,distance to a source of said magnetic anomaly field using said scalar magnitudes when said at least one threshold value is exceeded, anda magnetic dipole moment of said source using said distance.
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Abstract
A magnetic anomaly sensing system and method uses at least four triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of the TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes. The TM sensors are arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another. The three-dimensional array defines a geometry that forms at least one single-axis gradiometer along each of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes. Information sensed by the TM sensors is to generate scalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of the TM sensors, comparisons of the scalar magnitudes to at least one threshold value, distance to a source of the magnetic anomaly field using the scalar magnitudes when the threshold value(s) is exceeded, and a magnetic dipole moment of the source using the distance.
70 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A magnetic anomaly sensing system, comprising:
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at least four triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of said TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes, said TM sensors arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another in said three-dimensional array; said three-dimensional array defining a geometry that forms at least one single-axis gradiometer along each of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes; and processing means coupled to each of said TM sensors for generating scalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of said TM sensors, comparisons of said scalar magnitudes to at least one threshold value, distance to a source of said magnetic anomaly field using said scalar magnitudes when said at least one threshold value is exceeded, and a magnetic dipole moment of said source using said distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of detecting, localizing and classifying magnetic objects, comprising the steps of
providing at least four triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of said TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes, said TM sensors arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another in said three-dimensional array, said three-dimensional array defining a geometry that forms at least one single-axis gradiometer along each of said X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes; -
generating scalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of said TM sensors; comparing said scalar magnitudes to at least one threshold value; determining distance to a source of said magnetic anomaly field using said scalar magnitudes when said at least one threshold value is exceeded; and determining a magnetic dipole moment of said source using said distance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification