Three axis magnetometer sensor field alignment and registration.

摘要

An alignment process is applied to each sensor (12a-12n) of an array (12) of three axis magnetic sensors (12a-12n) to electronically align the three axes of each sensor (12a-12n) after the array (12) has been deployed. The alignment process compensates for each sensor (12a-12n) not being aligned perfectly with the earth's N-S, E-W and vertical magnetic field components. A field registration process is applied to each sensor (12a-12n) of the array (12) that uses a dipole moment detection and localization process and the alignment process combined with a known calibrated dipole source (20) to define the shape of the array (12). The present invention improves the performance of the array of sensors (12a-12n) in detecting magnetic anomalies by digitally compensating for sensor-to-sensor nonalignment and magnetic interferers within interfering range. The alignment process electronically aligns the three axes of each of the sensors (12a-12n) to gain maximum performance from the sensor array (12). Using digital signal processing techniques reduces the physical deployment requirements on the sensors (12a-12n) and their relative positions. The alignment process allows the use of three axis vector magnetometers in a distributed field without having to lay each sensor (12a-12n) in perfect alignment with the earth's three magnetic axes. This simplifies the deployment requirements and allows for maximizing the system performance. <IMAGE>