High-sensitivity subsurface sensing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna;
(b) producing an electromagnetic field using the transmitter antenna to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target;
(c) rotating the antenna array;
(d) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target at multiple rotational orientations of the antenna array, using the receiver antenna; and
(e) sensing the target from the change detected at the multiple rotational orientations.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A target is sensed by an antenna array having a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna, both of which are caused to be electromagnetically coupled to the target. The antenna array is rotated, and as the array rotates, a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target is detected at multiple rotational orientations of the antenna array.
-
Citations
62 Claims
-
1. A method for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna; (b) producing an electromagnetic field using the transmitter antenna to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target; (c) rotating the antenna array; (d) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target at multiple rotational orientations of the antenna array, using the receiver antenna; and (e) sensing the target from the change detected at the multiple rotational orientations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the system comprising:
-
an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna; a motor for causing the antenna array to rotate; and a controller, in electrical communication with the antenna array and the motor, for; (i) controlling the transmitter antenna to produce an electromagnetic field to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target; (ii) controlling the motor to rotate the antenna array; (iii) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target at multiple rotational orientations of the antenna array, using the receiver antenna; and (iv) sensing the target from the change detected at the multiple rotational orientations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna; (b) producing an electromagnetic field using the transmitter antenna to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target; (c) rotating the antenna array; (d) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target at a first rotational orientation of the antenna array and a second rotational orientation of the antenna array, using the receiver antenna; and (e) sensing the target from the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation; wherein the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation are symmetric relative to a plane through which the target is sensed; and wherein the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation comprises calculating a difference between a coupling at the first rotational orientation and a coupling at the second rotational orientation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A system for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the system comprising:
-
an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna; a motor for causing the antenna array to rotate; and a controller, in electrical communication with the antenna array and the motor, for; (i) controlling the transmitter antenna to produce an electromagnetic field to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target; (ii) controlling the motor to rotate the antenna array; (iii) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target at a first rotational orientation of the antenna array and a second rotational orientation of the antenna array, using the receiver antenna; and (iv) sensing the target from the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation; wherein the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation are symmetric relative to a plane through which the target is sensed; and wherein the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation comprises calculating a difference between a coupling at the first rotational orientation and a coupling at the second rotational orientation. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna; (b) producing an electromagnetic field using the transmitter antenna to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target; (c) rotating the antenna array; (d) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target, at a first rotational orientation of the antenna array and a second rotational orientation of the antenna array, using the receiver antenna; and (e) sensing the target from the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation; wherein the second rotational orientation is 180 degrees from the first rotational orientation; and wherein the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation comprises calculating a difference between a coupling at the first rotational orientation and a coupling at the second rotational orientation. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
-
-
54. A system for performing electromagnetic sensing of a target, the system comprising:
-
an antenna array comprising a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna; a motor for causing the antenna array to rotate; and a controller, in electrical communication with the antenna array and the motor, for; (i) controlling the transmitter antenna to produce an electromagnetic field to produce a coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and between the receiver antenna and the target; (ii) controlling the motor to rotate the antenna array; (ii) as the antenna array rotates, detecting a change in at least one of the coupling between the transmitter antenna and the target and the coupling between the receiver antenna and the target, at a first rotational orientation and a second rotational orientation, using the receiver antenna; and (iv) sensing the target from the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation; wherein the second rotational orientation is 180 degrees from the first rotational orientation; and wherein the change detected at the first rotational orientation and the second rotational orientation comprises calculating a difference between a coupling at the first rotational orientation and a coupling at the second rotational orientation. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
-
Specification