USOO8749240B1

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,749,240 B1

Foster et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 10, 2014

(54) TIME DOMAIN METHOD AND APPARATUS (52) U.S. Cl.

FOR METAL DETECTORS USPC ........................................... 324/329; 324/326
(58) Field of Classification Search
(75) Inventors: Eric Foster, Bridport (GB); John L. USPC .................................................. 324/329, 326
Earle, Sweet Home, OK (US); Carl W. See application file for complete search history.
Moreland, Corvallis, OR (US)
(56) References Cited
(73) Assignee: White's Electronics, INc., Sweet Home, U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
OR (US)
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 2010/0148781 A1* 6/2010 Candy ........................... 324,329
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 * cited by examiner
U.S.C. 154(b) by 304 days.
Primary Examiner — Reena Aurora
(21) Appl. No.: 13/235.950 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — James Creighton Wray
(22) Filed: Sep.19, 2011 (57) ABSTRACT
This invention provides a pulse induction metal detector
Related U.S. Application Data where a coil transmits a pulsed magnetic field to energize
metal objects that are often buried or hidden in a matrix
(60) Provisional application No. 61/403,598, filed on Sep. (ground) containing ferromagnetic minerals. A difficult chal
17, 2010, provisional application No. 61/403,704, lenge is to detect and identify the metal object while ignoring
filed on Sep. 20, 2010. the ferromagnetic matrix. Techniques are presented for
achieving this.
(51) Int. Cl.
GOI/3/10 (2006.01) 24 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

Receiver
3O7

301
U.S. Patent Jun. 10, 2014 Sheet 1 of 4 US 8,749.240 B1

Fig. 1
Prior Art

Prior Art
U.S. Patent Jun. 10, 2014 Sheet 2 of 4 US 8,749.240 B1

Fig. 4c

v. 412
Fig. 4d
p 413
Fig. 4e

Fig. 4f
414
U.S. Patent Jun. 10, 2014 Sheet 3 of 4 US 8,749.240 B1

Fig. 5a

Fig. 5b
501 502

Fig. 5c
AA
503. 504

Fig. 5d

Fig. 5e

Fig. 5f

Fig. 6a 60 6O2

Fig. 6b

Fig. 6c s

603 604
U.S. Patent Jun. 10, 2014 Sheet 4 of 4 US 8,749.240 B1

701 - 702

Fig. 7a
703 . . . . 704
Fig. 7b N- N

Fig. 8a

801802 801802 801 802 801 802

Fig. 8c
 US 8,749,240 B1
1. 2
TIME DOMAIN METHOD AND APPARATUS These and further and other objects and features of the
FOR METAL DETECTORS invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the
above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional the drawings.
Application No. 61/403,598, filed Sep. 17, 2010 and U.S. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Provisional Application No. 61/403,704 filed Sep. 20, 2010,
which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as FIG. 1 shows a traditional pulse induction coil drive.
if fully set forth herein. FIGS. 2af show the responses of the traditional pulse
10 induction coil drive.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 3 shows a constant current coil drive.
This invention provides a metal detector with means to FIGS. 4af show the responses of the constant current coil
drive.
generate time domain transmit signals and for signal process FIGS. 5a-fshow proportional timing for a single variable
ing and analysis methods. pulse width.
15
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 6a-c show proportional timing for dual sequential
pulse widths.
FIGS. 7a and 7b show the constant current coil drive
Induction metal detectors are generally designed to use response for ferromagnetic particles.
either continuous wave signals (so-called frequency domain FIG. 8a-c show bipolar operation with multiple propor
detectors) or to use pulse or rectangular signals (so-called tional sampling.
time domain detectors). In a pulse induction (PI) metal detec
tor, a coil is typically energized using a DC current, then DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
abruptly turned off to rapidly collapse the developed mag
netic field. The rapid collapse of the field at the end of each This invention is a combination of three technologies:
Successive pulse results in eddy currents being generated in 25
1. Constant Current Transmitter Pulse
nearby conductive metallic objects. The eddy currents in turn 2. Proportional Pulse Generation
produce their own counter-magnetic field which is detected 3. Dual sampling and Subtractive Ground Compensation
by the metal detector's receiver. These technologies are combined in the ways described in
In cases where the metal detector is being used to search for this invention.
metal objects buried in the ground, the ground will often 30
Most prior art PI detectors utilize a simple scheme of
contain ferromagnetic minerals whose particles produce a energizing the search coil with a solid-state switch such as a
decaying viscous remnant magnetic field. As the eddy cur MOSFET FIG. 1 illustrates an example of using a PMOS
rents in the metallic targets create a similarly decaying mag transistor 103 to drive transmit coil 101 with a parallel resis
netic field, the two fields add together such that the coil used tance 102 with power from power supply 105. Timing circuit
as a receiver for the detector has an induced emf that is the 35
derivative of the two simultaneously decaying magnetic 106 provides the necessary control signal. In some forms
fields. transmit coil 101 also serves as the receive coil and is directly
Needs exist for improved metal detectors. connected to the receiver circuitry 107. In other forms, a
separate receive coil may be coupled to the receiver, either
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 40 inductively balanced or not with the transmit coil.
FIG.2a shows the control signal applied to PMOS transis
This invention provides a pulse induction metal detector tor 103 from timing circuit 106. When the signal goes “low”
where a coil transmits a pulsed magnetic field to energize (201) the PMOS switch turns “on” and provides a low imped
metal objects that are often buried or hidden in a matrix ance path for power supply 105 to energize the coil 101.
(ground) containing ferromagnetic minerals. A difficult chal 45 Normally a battery serves as power supply 105. The series
lenge is to detect and identify the metal object while ignoring resistance of the PMOS switch plus other series resistances
the ferromagnetic matrix. Techniques are presented for (e.g., the coil and the battery) create an exponential response
achieving this. 202 in the coil current waveform in FIG. 2b. The time con
This invention describes a method of separating these two stant of this response is
signals so that the adjustment of any detector function related 50
to the metal target is independent of any adjustment to com
pensate, or minimize, the ferromagnetic matrix signal.
The primary applications of the invention are for gold
nugget hunting in iron mineralized areas, or searching for
relics, coins, jewelry etc. on inland sites, many of which have 55 L is the inductance of the coil, and R is the total series
a degree of mineralization. Other applications include search parasitic resistance. The peak current level 203 is dictated by
ing for coins, relics and jewelry on ocean beaches where the the parasitic resistances in the circuit.
sand is derived from rock containing iron minerals, or on FIG.2c shows the voltage response of the coil. When the
underwatershipwreck sites where the ballast stones are basalt coil is energized, the Voltage jumps up to a peak value 204
or other iron mineralized rock. An example of an industrial 60 which is at or close to the power Supply Voltage. As the coil
application is where mineralized rock is processed and being current increases exponentially 202, the coil Voltage
fed on a conveyor into a crusher. A detector that can ignore the decreases with the same exponential response 205 toward a
iron mineralization and detect metal objects Such as drill bits, level also dictated by the parasitic resistances in the circuit.
pry bars etc. will prevent damage to the machinery caused by When the PMOS Switch is turned off 206 the current
ingesting these objects. The applications of the invention are 65 through the coil abruptly ceases 207 and creates a large tran
not limited to the above and would also include mine and sient flyback voltage 208 due to the voltage-current relation
UXO detection. ship of the inductor:
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4
high flyback voltage 404 which quickly settles to a low volt
age level 405. The high flyback voltage means that the current
source 304 must be driven by a high voltage source 305. At the
coil turn-off point 406, the resulting current and voltage
L is the inductance of the coil; di(t) is the coil current at 5 responses (407,408,409, 410,411) are similar to the turn-off
turn-off, and dt is the speed at which the current is turned off. responses
circuit.
(207, 208, 209, 210, 211) of the traditional PI
Ideally, the current transitions from its maximum value to
Zero. Because parasitic capacitances can cause undesired 4eThe and
comparative result of this method is illustrated in FIG.
FIG. 4f. When the transmit charge time 412 is consid
ringing the flyback response, the coil is normally damped 10 erably shortened (FIG. 4d), the coil current will still reach the
with damping resistor 102. For critical damping the maxi same steady-state value 413 as for longer charge times, as
mum peak voltage of the transient 209 is determined by the opposed to 213 where the charging tau limits the peak current
equation for the shorter charge time. The voltage flyback response 414
will also be substantially the same as 410. Provisional patent
15 application 61/403.598 describes a constant-current pulse
y(t) = c ... e-tiv LC induction (CCPI) technique whereby a high voltage applied
at initial coil turn-on forces the coil current to quickly reach
its steady-state level, at which point a low Voltage is quickly
I is the peak current at turn-off and C is the total parasitic switched in to hold the current to the steady-state level. This
capacitance. Although it is possible for the peak of the flyback technique effectively implements the responses illustrated in
to reach many hundreds of volts, it is often limited by the FIG. 4.
breakdown voltage of the MOSFET to 200-400 volts. Many metal detectors are designed to search for conductive
The voltage 210 then decays at a rate determined by the coil targets in a ground matrix. The ground matrix often consists
inductance, parasitic capacitance, and damping resistor 102. of ferric and ferromagnetic particles which also affect the
Conductive targets in close proximity to the coil affect the 25 decay of the flyback response. Ferric particles are purely
decay of the flyback due to induced eddy currents. The effect reactive; their response dies out almost instantaneously and
depends on the both the coil charging characteristics and the do not normally cause a problem for PI detectors. However,
characteristics of the target. As the coil is charging, eddy ferromagnetic responses have a much longer response that
currents are induced in the target until the coil reaches a can Superimpose with target eddy responses.
steady-state current 203, at which point the induced target 30 The signal that is generated by ferromagnetic minerals is
eddy currents exponentially die out. Eddy currents tend to be caused by superparamagnetic (SPM) particles that are forced
circular in nature and the eddy current path has an associated into alignment by the charge-time PI transmitfield. When the
inherent inductance L and resistance R so that the response is transmit field is turned off, the forced alignment of these
dominated by the target time constant L/R. Skin depth can particles decays back to their relaxed states with approxi
play a strong role, and thin targets tend to have a lower time 35 mately a 1?t response. While the charge-time alignment
constant than thicker targets of identical metal composition. occurs relatively instantaneously, this “remnant decay is
The time constant of a metal target affects not only the normally in the 10's and 100's of microseconds (s) depending
induced eddy currents during the coil charge-time period but on the concentration of SPM particles and the strength of the
also the decaying eddy currents at coil turn-off. It is generally steady-state magnetic field.
desirable for targeteddy currents to substantially die out prior 40 In prior art the ferromagnetic response has been dealt with
to coil turn-off because, owing to an opposite polarity, any by sampling the decay signal at two instances of time, 501 and
residual charge-time eddy currents will subtract from the 502. Additional gain is applied to the latter (secondary)
induced discharge (flyback) eddy currents and reduce target sampled point 504 until its response to the 1?t decay of ferro
detection depth. That is, in a target with a fast time constant magnetic response is identical to the early (primary) sampled
the induced eddy currents will quickly die out once the coil 45 point 503. The latter point 504 is subtracted from the early
current has reached a steady-state level, whereas a target with point 503 which cancels the ferromagnetic response. Eddy
a slow time constant will be slower to decay back to Zero. This responses follow a different decay path and do not tend to
can be used to great effect in identifying target composition. cancel.
It is generally desirable for the charge-time coil current to There are drawbacks to the method. First, while eddy
reach a steady-state level as quickly as possible, but in the 50 responses do not follow a 1?t decay and should not cancel, by
traditional PI transmit circuit (FIG. 1) this is limited by the tau taking only two sample points it is possible for a particular
(L/R) of the coil charging circuit. As the charge time pulse eddy responses to coincide with the chosen sample points.
width 212 is reduced (FIG. 2d), the resulting charge current That is, it is possible for some eddy targets to be unintention
213 is still rising at the point of turn-off. This results in a lower ally rejected. This can be resolved by taking more than two
peak charge current which alters the flyback response 214 55 sample points to ensure that only 1?t decay responses are
compared to a fully settled coil current 203 and also alters rejected. A second drawback is that the additional gain
targets responses. applied to the second sample point produces additional noise
A preferable method is to charge the coil as quickly as to that point and makes the Subtractive response including
possible using a constant current charging circuit, conceptu ferromagnetic rejection somewhat noisier than the raw
ally shown in FIG. 3 with response waveforms shown in FIG. 60 responses.
4a and FIG. 4b. When coil switch 303 is closed by the active Another drawback is that the first sample point is often the
low timing signal 401 from timing circuit 306, current source same sample point used for the target response. The delay of
304 will be applied to coil 301. This results in a coil current this sample point is usually variable and the second sample
response 402 which reaches a near-instantaneous steady-state point is taken at a fixed delay from the first sample point. The
level 403. 65 samples are usually applied to integration circuits and there
Because of the intrinsic current-voltage relationship on an fore the additional secondary gain needed to achieve ferro
inductor, the near-instantaneous change in current results in a magnetic cancellation is sensitive to not only the spacing
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5 6
between the samples, but also the absolute position of the given charge time pulse width is transmitted twice but with
samples and the width of the samples. For example, variations opposite polarities. Subtracting the two responses will cancel
in the delay of the initial sample point will usually defeat the induced magnetic offsets but because target responses are of
Subtractive cancellation unless the secondary gain is adjusted opposite polarities they are additive.
to restore the balance point. Traditional PI detectors have largely been designed with
This last shortcoming can be addressed by using propor analog receive signal processing which has limited the num
tional timing whereby variations in the pulse rate frequency ber of sample points for analysis due to circuit complexity.
are matched by proportional changes in the primary sample Digital signal processing (DSP) expands the capability of
delay, Sample width, transmit charge time, and spacings processing multiple sample points by moving the complexity
between primary and secondary sample points. This ensures 10 of the analog circuitry into Software. An analog-to-digital
that the integration and Subtraction stay consistent throughout converter may be used to sample the received signal at any
the range of clock frequencies. FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate a desired location. If a separate receive coil is used, particularly
particular transmit pulse width and sample timing, respec when induction-balanced with the transmit coil, the received
tively. A resulting example of a transmit waveform is shown signal can be sampled even during the transmit charge time
in FIG. 5c with the sampled regions highlighted (the flyback 15 where reactive targets are easier to distinguish. FIG. 8a shows
peak is attenuated). FIGS. 5d and 5e illustrate proportionally the transmit timing for a bipolar transmit waveform of two
increased timings (all doubled in this example), with a result different charge times. FIG. 8b shows the sample points for
ing transmit waveform shown in FIG. 5f. two turn-on time samples 801 and four turn-off time samples
Proportionally adjusted timing not only has the ability to 802, proportionally spaced. FIG.8c shows the resulting trans
hold the ferromagnetic cancellation versus variations in the mit waveform with the corresponding sample points high
sample delay, but it also can produce different responses for lighted.
conductive targets as the timing is varied, thereby offering the In the context of this patent, it is understood that the term
simultaneous ability to eliminate the unintentional rejection “circuit, especially as it applies to signal processing, may
of conductive targets that coincide with a particular ferromag refer to either an analog circuit which processes signals as
netic cancellation timing, and also the ability to better identify 25 Voltages and/or currents, or a digital circuit, in particular a
target composition. FIG. 6a illustrates the sequential trans microprocessor or microcontroller, which may be preceded
mission of two different charge times 601 and 602, FIG. 6b by an analog-to-digital converter to digitize the analog sig
shows the proportionally spaced sample points, and FIG. 6c nals, and achieves signal processing in Software, or a combi
shows the resulting transmit waveform with the sample points nation of analog and digital signal processing. The invention
highlighted. Each charge time is shown with a proportionally 30 may be realized any number of ways that are apparent to one
spaced overall period 603 and 604, though it is possible to skilled in the arts, and the use of particular methods in the
attenuate the longer turn-off times. This concept can be description of this invention is not intended to be limiting.
extended to three or more charge times and any number of While the invention has been described with reference to
sampled points. specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the
With a CCPI transmit circuitry the remnant ferromagnetic 35 invention may be constructed without departing from the
decay will be substantially the same regardless of the length scope of the invention, which is defined in the following
of the transmit charge time, providing the same steady-state claims.
current level is attained. FIG. 7 illustrates a ferromagnetic We claim:
response 703 after a short duration CCPI transmit charge time 1. A metal detector comprising
701 and a ferromagnetic response 704 after a short duration 40 (a) a transmit coil for producing a periodic transmitted
CCPI transmit charge time 702. Subtracting the short dura magnetic field in response to an applied periodic trans
tion response from the long duration response will effectively mit current, in which each period is comprised of one or
nullify the ferromagnetic response. more transmit current turn-on charge times, each of
Targeteddy responses are typically sensitive to the transmit which is followed by a turn-off time in which no current
charge time even if the same steady-state current level is 45 is applied;
always achieved. A target with a fast tau of 1 or 2S (such as a (b) a transmit circuit for creating the transmit current com
very Small gold nugget, or a bit of aluminum foil) may have prising a high Voltage source and a low Voltage source,
similar responses to a 5 S and a 100S charge time, but a target whereby the high Voltage source is Switched in during
with a tau of20s will have substantially different responses to the turn-on charge time of the transmit coil to effect a
the same charge times. Therefore, pulse width-based subtrac 50 Substantially instantaneous transition to a desired cur
tive nulling is effective for removing ferromagnetic responses rent, then the low Voltage source is Switched in to main
while maintaining target responses. This concept can be tain the desired current at a substantially steady-state
extended to additional long charge times whereby a single value;
short-pulse ferromagnetic response is subtracted from a plu (c) a receive circuit capable of sampling the received signal
rality of different long-pulse responses. It may be necessary 55 created from the transmitted magnetic field and its effect
to scale the short-pulse response for proper nulling, and this on a Surrounding matrix and conductive targets, and
Scaling can be done either manually by a user control or processing the one or more samples.
automatically using a ground tracking circuit. 2. The metal detector of claim 1 in which the transmit
Relatively static magnetic fields, including the Earth's circuit produces a repeating plurality of charge time pulse
magnetic field and permanently magnetized soils, can caused 60 widths, all of which achieve substantially identical steady
induced receive responses in PI metal detectors. In traditional state currents, each followed by a turn-off time.
PI detectors, this is usually dealt with by taking a very late 3. The metal detector of claim2 in which one or more of the
sample and directly subtracting its response from the early charge time pulse widths is substantially short, less than 5us,
sample response. Induced magnetic offsets will tend to can Such that ferromagnetic particles are effectively charged but
cel, but the very late sample will have almost no target signal 65 most conductive targets are not.
component and therefore has minimal effect on overall target 4. The metal detector of claim 3 in which the one or more
response. A better method is to use bipolar pulsing where a received signal samples from a short pulse are subtracted
 US 8,749,240 B1
7 8
from the one or more received signal samples from one or sampling received signals created from the transmitted
more longer pulses to substantially nullify the remanence magnetic field and an effect of the transmitted magnetic
response of ferromagnetic particles. field on a surrounding matrix and conductive targets, and
5. The metal detector of claim 4 in which the one or more processing the sampled received signals.
short pulse response samples are scaled prior to the subtrac 14. The metal detector method of claim 13 further com
tion to improve the quality of the ferromagnetic null. prising the transmit circuit producing a repeating plurality of
charge time pulse widths, all of which achieve substantially
6. The metal detector of claim 5 in which the scaling of the identical steady-state currents, each followed by a turn-off
one or more short pulse response samples are determined t1me.
automatically by a ground tracking circuit. 10
15. The metal detector method of claim 14 further com
7. The metal detector of claim 2 in which the receive circuit prising providing substantially short chargetime pulse widths
processes a plurality of sample points during the plurality of less than 5us, such that ferromagnetic particles are effectively
coil turn-off times, where the sample points for each turn-off charged but most conductive targets are not.
time are proportionally spaced according to the immediately 16. The metal detector method of claim 15 further com
preceding charge time pulse width. 15
prising subtracting the one or more received signal samples
8. The metal detector of claim 7 in which the plurality of from a short pulse from the one or more received signal
sample points from one turn-off time are compared to the samples from one or more longer pulses and substantially
sample points in a second turn-off time to determine likely nullifying the remanence response of ferromagnetic particles.
target composition. 17. The metal detector method of claim 16 further com
9. The metal detector of claim 2 in which the receive circuit prising scaling one or more short pulse response samples
processes a plurality of sample points during the plurality of prior to subtracting and improving quality of a ferromagnetic
null.
coil charge times, where the sample points in each charge 18. The metal detector method of claim 17 further com
time are proportionally spaced according to the charge time prising providing a ground tracking circuit and response
pulse width. samples are automatically determining with the groundtrack
10. The metal detector of claim 9 in which the plurality of 25
ing circuit.
sample points from one charge time are compared to the 19. The metal detector method of claim 14 further com
sample points in a second charge time to determine likely prising processing a plurality of sample points during the
target composition.
11. The metal detector of claim 2 in which each chargetime plurality of coil turn-off times in the receive circuit, and
pulse width is comprised of two charge times, a first charge 30
proportionally spacing the sample points for each turn-off
time and a second charge time, whereby the second charge time according to an immediately preceding charge time
time current has substantially the same magnitude but oppo pulse width.
site polarity of the first charge time current. 20. The metal detector method of claim 19 further com
12. The metal detector of claim 11 in which the received prising comparing the plurality of sample points from one
responses for the opposite polarities of each give charge time turn-off time to the sample points in a second turn-off time
pulse width are combined to cancel undesirable induced sig
35 and determining likely target composition.
21. The metal detector method of claim 14 further com
nals from static magnetic fields and noise sources while main prising processing a plurality of sample points in the receive
taining desired induced target signals. circuit during the plurality of coil charge times, and propor
13. A metal detector method comprising tionally spacing the sample points in each chargetime accord
providing a transmit circuit; 40
ing to charge time of each pulse width.
creating a transmit current having a high voltage source 22. The metal detector method of claim 21 further com
and a low Voltage source: prising comparing a plurality of sample points from one
a transmit coil; charge time to sample points in a second charge time and
producing a periodic transmitted magnetic field in determining likely target composition.
response to an applied periodic transmit current, in 45 23. The metal detector method of claim 14 in which each
which each period is comprised of one or more transmit charge time pulse width is comprised of two charge times, a
current turn-on charge times, each of which is followed first charge time and a second charge time, whereby the
by a turn-off time in which no current is applied: Second charge time current has substantially the same mag
Switching in the high voltage source to the transmit coil nitude but opposite polarity of the first charge time current.
during a turn-on charge time of the transmit coil; 50 24. The metal detector method of claim 23 further com
effecting a substantially instantaneous transition to a prising combining received responses for opposite polarities
desired current in the transmit coil; of each given charge time pulse width and cancelling unde
Switching in the low voltage source to the transmit coil to sirable induced signals from static magnetic fields and noise
maintain the desired current at a substantially steady Sources while maintaining desired induced target signals.
state value;
providing a receive circuit;