The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 2004

Filed:

Jul. 29, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:

John J. Holmes, Columbia, MD (US);

John F. Scarzello, Columbia, MD (US);

Bruce R. Hood, Arnold, MD (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 3/300 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 3/300 ;
Abstract

Gradiometers are encompassingly disposed, relative to an object of interest, in a configuration generally describing a closed prolate spheroidal shape, and the measurements taken by the gradiometers are mathematically processed. The gradiometric measurements are defined as directional derivatives which exist in equations involving directional derivatives and prolate spheroidal multipole moments of said entity. The prolate spheroidal multipole moments are thereby calculated, and these prolate spheroidal multipole moment values are extrapolated to ascertain the magnetic fields (equivalently expressed, the magnetic signatures) associated with the object and inwardly delimited by the prolate spheroid. The practitioner can optimize such distribution numerically, orientationally and/or positionally by using the equations involving directional derivatives and prolate spheroidal multipole moments. Extraneous magnetic field effects (e.g., applied fields, earth fields) are inherently excluded, thus obviating the object's removal from an electromagnetic test facility.


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