Non-Contact Angular Encoder for EMI-Resistant Orientation Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromagnetic sensors used in mineral exploration are sensitive to interference from other electronics, making it difficult to determine the orientation of the sensor chassis relative to the vehicle, which is crucial for accurate data correlation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple transmitter coils with different dipole moment directions is used to transmit reference signals, which are read by sensors on a chassis moving independently, allowing for synchronous stacking and processing to determine the relative orientation based on complex coupling coefficients, with additional steps for calibration and error correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a second sensor is positioned nearby to determine orientation, then orientation measurement is improved, but electromagnetic interference from other electronics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic field reference signals as an intermediary to transfer orientation information from the vehicle to the sensor without requiring physical proximity between sensors. The reference signals act as a mediator that carries spatial relationship information through the electromagnetic field, allowing orientation determination while maintaining electromagnetic isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of positioning a second sensor nearby with an electromagnetic field-based approach. Instead of using physical sensor proximity to determine orientation, the system uses transmitted magnetic field reference signals that encode spatial and orientation information, substituting a mechanical sensor array with an electromagnetic field measurement system.
2Measurement precision
If multiple transmitter coils are used to improve orientation determination, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transmitter system into multiple separate transmitter coils, each generating a reference signal with a specific dipole moment direction. By segmenting the measurement function across multiple coils with different orientations, the system can determine complete spatial orientation through combination of individual coil measurements, rather than requiring a single complex transmitter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimension of temporal modulation to the transmitter coil system. Each transmitter coil generates reference signals that are harmonics of a base frequency with a period being an epoch, allowing the system to encode multiple pieces of information (amplitude, phase, frequency harmonics) from each coil and combine them to determine orientation in three-dimensional space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately determines the orientation of the sensor chassis relative to the vehicle, reducing interference effects and enhancing data correlation accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a first reference signal from a first transmitter coil, a second reference signal from a second transmitter coil, and a third reference signal from a third transmitter coil
Data Source
AI summary
A method within an electromagnetic sensing system including transmitting first, second and third reference signals from first, second and third transmitter coils, the coils having different dipole moment directions and forming a first transmitter coil set; reading the reference signals at each of a plurality of spaced sensors within a sensor chassis, where the sensor chassis moves independently from the first transmitter coil set, the reference signals having sinusoidal time variation and being harmonics of a base frequency with a period being an epoch, an origin of which is a time at which the reference signals are all at zero phase; synchronously stacking signals read by each sensor, creating a stacked signal for each of the sensors; processing the stacked signal for each sensor to create a matrix of complex coupling coefficients; and using the matrix to determine a relative orientation of the sensor chassis to the transmitter coil set.