Characteristic discriminating landmine hand prodder
US5754494A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/001
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hand-held prodder capable of distinguishing inert rock from potentially hazardous landmines or other unknown objects. The prodder comprises a rod which is placed into contact with an object. A high frequency acoustic or incident wave is introduced into rod and travels along the rod to the object where it is reflected back towards the piezoelectric crystal. The piezoelectric crystal converts the reflected wave to an electric signal and a signal processor determines values representative of the frequency-time-amplitude characteristics of the object. Different materials exhibit different mechanical impedances and frequency damping characteristics. By comparing reflected wave characteristics to pre-determined characteristics for known materials, inert rocks and potentially hazardous plastic or metallic objects are distinguishable. Visual or audible signals inform the user whether rock (safe) or unidentified or known hazardous object were contacted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.