Compact self-tuned electrical resonator for buried object locator applications
US7276910B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/088
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A self-tuning resonator for use in a transmitter apparatus for inducing alternating currents in a buried conductor. The resonator is dynamically tuned at frequencies below 500 kHz by exploiting the inherent voltage-variability of net capacitance in multilayer ceramic capacitors. The transmitter apparatus provides improved efficiency and induced output power suitable for use in a man-portable locator system, providing a very high magnetic field output from a physically small battery-powered resonator at frequencies under 500 kHz. The resonator exhibits a very low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and is adaptively returned to a predetermined resonant frequency responsive to any changes in resonance arising from phenomena such as component heating, thereby supporting very high tank circuit currents from battery-powered source to produce very high magnetic flux output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.