System and method for detecting objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9772422-B2
Application number	US-201514955223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2015
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for locating an object within a structure includes a magnetically-responsive member coupled to the object. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field in the presence of the structure. The generated magnetic field causes the magnetically-responsive member to output a signal when the magnetically-responsive member is in the presence of the magnetic field. A detector may include a sensor coupled to a control unit. The sensor detects the signal output by the magnetically-responsive member. The control unit locates the object based on detection of a third harmonic of the signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for locating an object within a structure, the system comprising:
a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in the presence of the structure, wherein the magnetic field causes a magnetically-responsive member coupled to the object to output a signal when the magnetically-responsive member is in the presence of the magnetic field; and
a detector comprising a sensor coupled to a control unit, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the signal output by the magnetically-responsive member, and wherein the control unit is configured to locate the object based on detection of a third harmonic of the signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a label affixed to the object, wherein the label identifies the object, and wherein the magnetically-responsive member is secured to the label.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically-responsive member is directly secured to the object.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is remote from the detector.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator and the detector are contained in a common housing.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically-responsive member is formed of a mu-metal.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically-responsive member comprises a ferromagnetic coil.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically-responsive member is formed of a ferromagnetic material that is not found in the structure.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field has a magnitude of 10 Oersteds.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to compare the third harmonic to a threshold value associated with the magnetically-responsive member to determine the presence of the magnetically-responsive member, and wherein the control unit is configured to disregard other signals that are below the threshold value.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine a distance of the magnetically-responsive member to one or both of the detector or the magnetic field generator based on a strength of the third harmonic.

12. A method of locating an object within a structure, the method comprising:
coupling a magnetically-responsive member to the object;
generating a magnetic field in the presence of the structure;
causing the magnetically-responsive member to output a signal when the magnetically-responsive member is in the presence of the magnetic field;
detecting the signal output by the magnetically-responsive member; and
locating the object based on a third harmonic of the signal that is detected.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the coupling comprises:
securing the magnetically-responsive member to a label that identifies the object; and
affixing the label to the object.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the coupling comprises directly securing the magnetically-responsive member to the object.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming the magnetically-responsive member from a mu-metal.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming the magnetically-responsive member from a ferromagnetic material that is not found in the structure.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the generating comprises generating a magnetic field of 10 Oersteds.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the locating comprises:
comparing the third harmonic to a threshold value associated with the magnetically-responsive member to determine the presence of the magnetically-responsive member; and
disregarding other signals that are below the threshold value.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the locating comprises determining a distance of the magnetically-responsive member to one or both of the detector or the magnetic field generator based on a strength of the third harmonic.

20. A system for locating an object within a structure, the system comprising:
a label affixed to the object, wherein the label identifies the object;
a magnetically-responsive member secured to the label, wherein the magnetically-responsive member includes a coil of mu-metal secured to the label;
a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field in the presence of the structure, wherein the magnetic field causes the magnetically-responsive member to output a signal when the magnetically-responsive member is in the presence of the magnetic field; and
a detector comprising a sensor coupled to a control unit, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the signal output by the magnetically-responsive member, wherein the control unit is configured to locate the object based on detection of a third harmonic of the signal, wherein the control unit is configured to compare the third harmonic to a threshold value associated with the magnetically-responsive member to determine the presence of the magnetically-responsive member, wherein the control unit is configured to disregard other signals that are below the threshold value, and wherein the control unit is configured to determine a distance of the magnetically-responsive member to one or both of the detector or the magnetic field generator based on a strength of the third harmonic.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hull John R
• Ferguson Kathy L
• Black Christopher Allin
• Byrum Daniel L

Classifications

• G01R33/028

  Electrodynamic magnetometers · CPC title

• G01V3/15

  specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat · CPC title

• G01V3/08 Primary

  operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12) · CPC title