Patent ID: 7707004
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A method of locating a ferromagnetic object in an area of detection represented by a dimensional space comprising x, y, and z axes, said method comprising: moving an array of magnetic sensors along a straight line path with a velocity v in said area of detection; using said magnetic sensors to measure a total magnetic field in said area of detection; using said magnetic sensors to measure three vector components of magnetic field as said array of magnetic sensors travels along said path and passes said ferromagnetic object; computing theoretical vector components of said total magnetic field in said area of detection; matching the measured vector components of said total magnetic field with the computed theoretical vector components of said total magnetic field; calculating an error measurement, E, between matched measured vector components and computed theoretical vector components of said magnetic field; determining optimized values of parameters that minimize an error between the measured vector components and computed theoretical vector components of said magnetic field; and determining a position of said ferromagnetic object based on said measured components of said magnetic field as a function of the optimized values of said parameters and, wherein said magnetic components of said magnetic field comprise three calculated magnetic vector components are represented by:  as said magnetic sensors are moved in said straight line path past said ferromagnetic object, wherein M