Automatic compensator for an airborne magnetic anomaly detector
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorJoseph A. Rice, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for compensating maneuver induced components in the magnetic field sensed by an airborne magnetic detector. The magnetic fields sensed during a series of selected aircraft maneuvers are processed to yield signals representative of the magnetic properties of the aircraft. Subsequently, these signals are combined with signals representative of the aircraft attitude to provide a compensation signal. This compensation signal may be applied directly to the output of the magnetic detector or may be used to drive a set of compensation coils.
Claims18
A system for reducing, in an aircraft borne magnetic detector, the effects of time variations in the total magnetic field caused by maneuvers of the aircraft, said system comprising:
- a) means for determining the magnetic properties of said aircraft and storing digital quantities in the form of bi-level electrical signals representative of such properties, and
- b) means responsive to the stored digital quantities representative of magnetic properties for producing signals to substantially cancel maneuver related signals in the output of said magnetic detector.
In a system for compensating in an airborne magnetic detector the effects of magnetic field variations caused by maneuvers of the aircraft, the combination which comprises:
- a) means for producing a first set of electrical signals in the form of digital quantities representative of the earth's magnetic field,
- b) means for producing a second set of electrical signals in the form of digital quantities representative of the instantaneous attitude of said aircraft, and
- c) means responsive to said first and second sets of electrical signals for producing and storing a third set of electrical signals in the form of digital quantities representative of the magnetic properties of said aircraft.
A magnetic compensator for use in connection with an airborne magnetic detector, said compensator comprising:
- a) means for producing first electrical signals representative of the earth's magnetic field,
- b) means for producing second electrical signals representative of the instantaneous attitude of the aircraft,
- c) processor means, responsive to said first and second electrical signals and to output signals from said magnetic detector for producing and storing a plurality of constant coefficients representative of the magnetic properties of said aircraft, said processor means being further responsive to said constant coefficients to operate on the output signal of said magnetic detector and substantially remove therefrom components resulting from aircraft maneuvers.
A method for substantially reducing the effects of maneuver induced signals in the output of an airborne magnetic detector, said method comprising:
- a) recording the output of said magnetic detector while the aircraft performs preselected maneuvers,
- b) generating, as a function of the recorded output signals, a second set of electrical signals representative of the magnetic properties of the aircraft, and
- c) generating, as a function of said second set of electrical signals, a third electrical signal to reduce, in the output of said magnetic detector, signal components resulting from aircraft maneuvers.
A method for suppressing maneuver signals in the output of an airborne magnetic detector comprising the steps of:
- a) performing a plurality of maneuvers with the aircraft, each along a preselected aircraft heading,
- b) recording the output of said magnetic detector during each of said maneuvers,
- processing the recorded output signals to provide electrical signals representative of the magnetic properties of said aircraft,
- d) measuring the attitude of said aircraft during subsequent maneuvers,
- e) combining the attitude measurements with said electrical signals to provide a compensation signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.