US 11,054,394 B2 · Scanning magnetometry motion compensation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is described for detecting, identifying and locating an object feature in a ferromagnetic object. At least one hardware processor executes program instructions to: define a planned scan trajectory for scanning the ferromagnetic object with a sensor array comprising a plurality of magnetometer sensors, measure magnetic fields of the ferromagnetic object with the sensor array along an actual scan trajectory at locations adjacent to the ferromagnetic material to produce object scanning data representing magnetic characteristics of the ferromagnetic object along the actual scan trajectory. The actual scan trajectory includes deviation motion of the scanning array from the planned scan trajectory. The deviation motion is then compensated for to identify and locate the object feature in the ferromagnetic object. The compensation includes adjusting the object scanning data for the deviation motion and/or using a feature model that reflects the deviation motion.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method employing at least one hardware implemented computer processor for detecting, identifying and locating an object feature in a ferromagnetic object, the method comprising:

operating the at least one hardware processor to execute program instructions to:
define a planned scan trajectory for scanning the ferromagnetic object with a sensor array comprising a plurality of magnetometer sensors;
measure magnetic fields of the ferromagnetic object with the sensor array at a plurality of locations along an actual scan trajectory adjacent to the ferromagnetic object to produce object scanning data representing magnetic characteristics of the ferromagnetic object along the actual scan trajectory, wherein the actual scan trajectory includes deviation motion of the scanning array from the planned scan trajectory;
and
compensate for the deviation motion to identify and locate the object feature in the ferromagnetic object, wherein the instructions to compensate for the deviation motion include at least one of:
(a) instructions to adjust the object scanning data to compensate for the deviation motion and (b) instructions to use a feature model that reflects the deviation motion.

3 more elements

A computer-implemented system for identifying and locating an object feature in a ferromagnetic object, the system comprising:

a sensor array with a plurality of magnetometer sensors configured for scanning the ferromagnetic object to produce object scanning data representing magnetic characteristics of the ferromagnetic object;
data storage memory configured for storing the object scanning data and scanning software;
a scanning processor including at least one hardware processor coupled to the data storage memory and configured to execute the scanning software, wherein the scanning software includes processor readable instructions to:
define a planned scan trajectory for scanning the ferromagnetic object with the sensor array;
measure magnetic fields of the ferromagnetic object with the sensor array at a plurality of locations along an actual scan trajectory adjacent to the ferromagnetic object to produce the object scanning data, wherein the actual scan trajectory includes deviation motion of the scanning array from the planned scan trajectory;
and
compensate for the deviation motion to identify and locate the object feature in the ferromagnetic object, wherein the instructions to compensate for the deviation motion include at least one of:
(a) instructions to adjust the object scanning data to compensate for the deviation motion and (b) instructions to use a feature model that reflects the deviation motion.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Scanning magnetometry motion compensation

Life of this patent

Scanning magnetometry motion compensation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30