2) United States Patent Geyer (64) DUAL FIELD SEARCH COIL FOR PULSE, INDUCTION METAL DETECTORS, (75) Inveator: Duntel J. Geyer, Sweet Home, OR (US) (73) Assignoo: White's Eletronles, Ine., Sweet Home, ORS) (4) Notice: Sujet to any ditelaimer, the term of this pateat is extended or adjusted under 35 US. 154(b) by 306 day's. (21) Appl. Nos 12078123 (22) Filed: Feb. 11, 2000) Related US. Application Data (60) Provisional application No, 61/065,228, fled on Feb. 11, 2008. (1) Ince Goin 2772 (2006.01) Gat 308 (2005.01) (2) USs.cI 324/326; 324/228 G8) Field of Classification Search 324228, 324/326 ‘ce application ile for complete search history. (56) References Cited US, PATENT DOCUMENTS 3721859 4+ 31973 Blanyer 300236 71990 Candy US 7,994,789 B1 Aug. 9, 2011 USt 00799478981 (10) Patent No. 4s) Date of Patent: 5576824 81/1996 Candy éiokin A "82600 Bell Gio.teo Be 22004 Candy So2ns77 B2 $2008 Nelson Sio78304 82 72005 Nelson FA4S.001 BE 123006 Nelson eta 7us7913 Be 7176601 BD * cited by examiner Neon Nalon Reena Aurora James Creighton Weay Primary Examiner (74) Attornes, Agent oF Firm on ABSTRACT A new dal field search coil for pulse induction metal det tors has multiple coplanar wire coils of dllerent diamet connected in series with the output of a pulse source, over coming the loss of target size resolution assoviated With a Single col search loop, Small objects are sensed by an inter ‘al small coil and larger objects are sensed by the larger ‘outside coil, and the overall depth of target sensing remains ‘mila to tht of a single coil eonstruction The smaller coils isolated fom the pulse source by the inductance ofthe larger coil and willring ata frequency determined by its own param- eters. lo prevent the smaller coil from ringing, 2 second damping resistor is connected across the terminals of the smallereol at the junetion ofthe large an smal coils making vp the modified search loop. 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets rT oe 18. Stray rr 21 - Stray Ct + 43 AT a7 x Damping Resistor #4 +25 Damping Switch On 4 Off Voltage from point A to point B Resistor #2 -—— Off ~~ _— No Ringing with two #1 and #2 V\.. Damping Resistors 31US 7,994,789 BL U.S. Patent Aug. 9, 2011 Sheet 1 of 3 FIG. 1 PRIOR ART Switch ~ A 5 Coil's Inductance XL_ 3 B Coil's Resistance R 77 Coil's Stray \ Capacitance X¢ 1 on O°" og Ringing of Coil Inductance Voltage from 47 and Stray Capacitance point A to point B——— s— (without Damping) 9 FIG. 2 PRIOR ART 12 _———. 13 Damping = Resistor #1 Switch On — —_ i-——— Off | | Voltage from — _sA__—No Ringing with paint to points | Damping Resistor #1 (with Damping)U.S. Patent Aug. 9, 2011 Sheet 2 of 3 US 7,994,789 B1 13 Damping Resistor #1 Switch On Off Voltage from point A to point B ——— with Resistor #1 13 Damping Resistor #1 Switch On Off Voltage from a —~—— No Ringing with two point A to point B. Damping Resistors [ \ a #1 and #2U.S. Patent Aug. 9, 2011 Sheet 3 of 3 US 7,994,789 B1 FIG. 5 Dual Field Search Coil for Pluse Inducation Metal Detectors 35 Outside Large Coil Ly 33 Inside Small Coil Lo FIG. 6 Wiring Diagram 2 Coil Assembly Pulse Source 39 43 Search Coil AssemblyUS 7,994,789 BI 1 DUAL FIELD SEARCH COIL FOR PULSE. INDUCTION METAL DETECTORS. This application claims the bencit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/065,228, filed Feb. 11, 2008, which is hereby incorported by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention applies © metal detectors and search evils or metal detectors SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION Briefly the invention isan improved search coil ere for 4 hand-held pulse induction metal detector, Target object resolution sensitivity ofa search ev is determined by the physical size of the coil. A small diameter coil is best for detecting small objects at short distances. Langer diameter ‘coils are better for detecting large object at longer distances "To overcome the loss of target size sensitivity associated swith a single sarch coil, multiple co-planar wire coils of slifferent diameters can be connected in series withthe output ‘of the polse souree. Small objects are sensed by an internal ‘smal coil and larger abjoct are sonsed by a larger uter col The overall range of target sensing remains similar to that of single coll system, ‘A problem arises with the signal excitation of the loop. The ‘oil making up the search loop has a composite of electrical parameters related to the resistance of the wire, the iadne- tance, and self-eapacitance, An extemal damping resistor is ‘sed to provide critical damping, With multiple coils con- nected inseries withthe pulse source thesmallercol tends be isolated fom the pulse source by the inductance of the larger coil. A second resistor connected aeross the tenminals ‘at the junetion point of the large and smal coils prevents the small coil from ringing at a frequency determined by its individual parameters. The improved search coil using multiple wire els with properly adjusted damping resistors provides much grester Alexbility in the detection of widely’ diferent target sizes ‘without a significant oss in target detection range. Pulse induction meal detectors use a search coil connected to a pulse generator. The pulse generator transmits short bursts of eleetical eurent through the seareh foup. The stan- ‘dard search coil consists ofa simple wire cil with multiple The current bursts flowing through the coil rom the pulse generator produces a pulsing electo-magnetic field. This Pulsing field induces circulating currents in any conductive ‘metal object within the fed. The circulating currents in dhe metallic target objec in tum create varying magnetic fields ‘around the target object "As the transmitted electro-magnetic field is tumed on and ‘off, the induced magnetic field in a taget object extends the time the transmitted electro-magnetic fell requires to decay to zero. This inewase changes te slope of the decay tine of the fie. The change in the slope of the decay time i propor tional to the sizeand distance ofthe metalic target othe coil Joop. The change in slope is detected and converted toa DC. voltage that controls an audio indicating circuit, "The target object resolution of «search coil i determined by the physical sizeof the coil. The depth that a target object ‘ai he scased is directly proportional t the physical size of the wirecoil. However, the physical size ofthe detected target 0 o 2 is inversely proportional to the physical size ofthe wire col As the dimensions ofthe wire coil increases, the resolution Tor smal targets decreases, ‘A small diameter search loop can detoct small target objects at short distances. lange diameter searcs loop ea Setoct lange target objects at large distances "Needs exist forimprovedscarch oils thatcan detocta wide variety of target sizes independent of operating distance “This invention is an improved search coil apparatus for ‘metal detectors using the pulse induetion principle to sense buried metal objects, The new dual field search el for pulse indvetion metal detectors has multiple coplanar wire coils of erent diameters connected in series wih the ousput of @ pulse souree, overcoming the loss of target size resolution associated with a single eoil search loop. Small objects are ‘sensed by an interal smal eol and lager objects are sensed by the larger ontside col, and the overall depth of target sensing remains similar that of a single coil construction. The smaller evil is isolate from the pulse source by the inductance of the larger coil and will ring at @ frequency determined by its owa parameters. To prevent ringing, (wo ‘damping resistors are connected to the search loops, fist ‘damping resistor connected across both loops, based on the parameters of the total coil assembly, and a second damping resistor eonnceted across the terminals ofthe smaller col at the junction point of the large and small coils making wp the podified search loop. The value of the sevond resistor is adjusted based on te parameters of the smaller col oem ‘ate any singing inthe smaller col. The second resistor is connected directly seross the second col BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. IG. 1is.adiggram illustrating schematic representation of lectrcal parameters ofa prior art search loop and associated voltage response. FIG. 2 isa diagram illustrating a prior art search loop with ‘an external damping resistor providing critical damping and ‘an associated voltage response. FIG. 3 isa diagram illsirating multiple coils connected in seties with the pulbe source and an associated voltage response, FIG. 4 isa diagram illustrating a multiple el search loop with a second damping resistor and an associated voltage response, FIG. 8 shows the placement of the physieal evils in a ‘0-col assembly. FIG. 6is a wiring diagram of a two-coil ass nbly DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To overcome the loss of target size resolution with single coil search loop, multiple co-planar wire coils of different ‘iameters can be connected in series with the output of the pulse source. Small objects are sensed by an internal small coil and larger objects are sensed by the larger outside coi, ‘and the overall depth of target sensing remains similar to that ‘ofa single coil constriction a the several figures, ike reference numerals refer to ike part having like functions. One major difficulty to overcome Js the result ofthe signal excitation ofthe loop. A schematic representation of composite of electrical parameters in a search coil in.an example ofa search lop illustrated inthe iagram of FIG. 1, The eil of wire I making up the search loop has a composite of electrical parameters consisting of the resistance of the wire 3, the inductance 5, and the sel capacitance 7US 7,994,789 BI 3 ‘When a search coil using a single coil of wire 1 is drives from a switching current source & it will tend toring 9 a & frequency determined by the composite electrical parameters 3.§, 7 aller major driving signal amplitude changes 11. FIG. 2's diagram illustrating how an external damping resistor {is normally connected across the terminals 12 of the cil provide efitial damping. The damping resistor 13 eliminates the ringing frequency 9 and allows the sigual current in the Joop to correctly follow the driving signal 18, The value the resistor for ertcal damping 13 can be calculated with the formu ‘a = Czal Danpiag Resistor vale (hs) However, with multiple eoils connected in series with the pulse source as illustrated in FIG. 3, the smaller evil is iso- Jated from the pulse source by the inductance 17 of the larger ‘oil, which ha sel-capacitance 18, The sel resonance of the smaller coil wil be established by ts own inductance 19 and its selfeapacitance 21. The smaller coil will ring 28 at 2 frequency determined by its wn parameters, The sceond damping resistor is calculated with the given ‘equation using the measured electrical parameters of he see- ‘ond coil Theealeulated eesstor value Will ensure tha theres no ringing, To prevent the smaller col from ringing and be critically “damped second resistor 25 i connected across the terminals ‘of the smaller coil at the junction point 27 of the lage and ‘mall cols making up the modified search loop 29 as shown in FIG. 4, The smaller eoil is isolated from the electrical driving source by the inductance 17 ofthe lager coil. The value of damping resistor25 is thus calculated with theabove Jormula based only onthe electrical parameters ofthe smaller ‘oil The valle ofthe resistor 25 connected across the termi nals ofthe smaller col 19 is adjusted tothe calelated value o eliminate the ringing signal 28, resulting in a 20-ringing response 31, The total inductance ofthe double coil s equal to the summation of inductances ofthe two coils 17,19. With multiple coils, the electrical parameters for the total coil assembly re used for ealculating the vale of ertcal damp- Ing resistor 13. FIG. S illustrates the placement ofthe physical cols, with ‘small coil 33 inside the circumference of large coil 38 and ‘solute from th electrical driving source by the ‘ofthe largecoil 38. FIG, 6isthe associated wiring diagram for the two-coil assembly with pulse source 37 and lane coil indvetanee 39 and resistor 41 and small coil inductance 43 ‘and resistor 4. The coils are connected in series, The valucof ‘rtieal damping resistor 41 is determined by the electrical parameters for the total col assembly, whereas the valve of ‘damping resistor 48 i calculated from the electrical param- ‘eters of isolated smaller coil 33, “The double coil assembly isan improved variation ofthe single el concept, The toa inductance ofthe double evil is ‘equal tothe summation of inductanees ofthe two cols. and L2shown in FIG. 6. The electrical parameters forthe otal coil sssembly are used for calculating the value of eitical damp- ing resistor 41 in FIG. 6 o 4 The secondcoil 2, in Figur is solated from the eleeteical riving source by the indoctance of L1 in FIG. 6, Therefore, the damping resistor 45 in FIG. 6 is calculated from the clectrical parameters ofthe secon oil 2, shown in FIG. 6 ‘This improved search coil design using multiple wire coils with associated damping resistors of the proper value pro- vides much gresterflexiiltyin detection of widely cilferent target sizes without a significant loss in detection depth ‘When more than two coils are connected in series one critical damping resistor is connected in parallel o the fis, second and thied series connected coils, one extieal damping resistor is connected in parallel o the second and tied coils, and one eritical damping resistor is connected in parallel to the tied coi ‘While the invention has boen described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, whiel is defined in the following claims. lain: 1.4 meta detetor apparatus comprising a curent source, 1 switch connected t the current source, frst and second search cols including a relatively lager diameter search coil And a relatively smaller diameter ssrch eoil connected in series to the current source and the switch, exch of the search coils having elfective composite electrical parameters of indvetance, resistance and selFeapacitanee, a fist ertical «damping resistor connected i series othe current source and switch and in parallel othe frst and second search oils, and ‘secon critical damping esstor connected from a junction ‘between the ist and second search coils tothe current source orswiteh, 2. The apparatus of elaim 1, wherein the frst and second search coils are coplanar. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein resistance of first critical damping resistor is determined by the formula [Eee Vix il indice ere) sais (C= Copeinac Fate and wherein L=col inductance ofthe frst and second search cls axl C-capacitance ofthe first and socond search evils 44. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein resistance of the sovond critical damping resistor is determined by se formula [Ene cai Idan Hee) = Castanea and wherein [~coil inductance ofthe second search coil and (C-eapacitanee the second search eal 5. metal detector epparatus, comprising a eurrent pulse source, multiple series connected search coils having varied ‘iamicters connocted in series with the current pulse source, a ‘ritcal damping resistor consectd in parallel with the seriesUS 7,994,789 BI 5 ‘connected search coils, and at least one additional eritial ‘damping resistor connected in parallel to at least one search ‘oil in the series connected search coil. ‘6. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the frst and second search coils are coplanar. 7A metal detector apparatys, comprising current pulse source, multiple series connected search coils having varied ‘diameters connected in series with the current pulse source, 2 ‘critical damping resistor connected in parallel with the series ‘connected search cols, snd at least one additional critical ‘damping resistor connected in parallel to atleast one search ‘olin the series connected search coils, whereineesistance of the firstcritical damping resistors determine by the forma a dune ee) sais ‘and wherein L-eoil inductance ofthe fist and socond search ‘oils and C-eapacitance ofthe fst and second search cols '8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein resistance of the ‘additional eritical damping resistor is determined by the for- nla sis paciaace Faas) ‘and wherein L-col inductance ofthe second search coils and ‘C-capacitance of second search coils 9, Metal detecior apparatus comprising a current pulse source, multiple series connected search coils connected in Series fo each other and connected in series to the current 6 pulse source, multiple critical damping resistors, atleast one Of the critical damping resistors connected in parallel o the series connected search coils at eastone other ofthe multiple Critical damping resistors connected i parallel to one ofthe search coil, 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second search coils are coplanar, 1, Metal detector apparatus comprising a current pulse source, multiple series connected seach evils connected in Series t each other and connected in series to the current pulse source, multiple critical damping resistors, at least one ff the eriicel damping resistors connected in parallel to the series connected search evils at eastone other ofthe multiple critical damping resistors connected in parallel to one ofthe search coils, wherein resistance of frst ritieal damping es ‘or s determined by the formuls V il indice ere) sais paces Fans) ‘and wherein col induetance of the frst andl second search coils axl C-capacitance of the first and second search evils 12, The apparatus of claim 11, wherein resistance of the sovond critical damping resistor is determined by the formula fe Ren f Ewe: Ve oi Indice and wherein Leo indoctance othe second search cols and (C-capacitance ofthe second search coils