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Metal detector — Parallax Forums

Metal detector

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-12-01 22:18 in General Discussion
Greetings all,

I'm interested in designs for a metal detector that can be read
by a BS2. A recent issue of Circuit Cellar (May I think) had an article
by two Russians that appears to have lost something in the translation.
The web sites listed aren't much help unless you can read Russian.

This design uses a 555 timer as an oscillator and measures the
change in average pulse width as opposed to changes in frequency. The
example formulas used are confusing as different variables appear to be
used in the text when showing examples. It looks like an interesting
idea. I'd like to read more about this approach, can anyone give us some
comments or point us to some additional references.

Thanks, Theron Wierenga

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-16 14:43
    What's the site address? I have a friend who speaks russian.


    Leroy

    Theron Wierenga wrote:
    >
    > Greetings all,
    >
    > I'm interested in designs for a metal detector that can be read
    > by a BS2. A recent issue of Circuit Cellar (May I think) had an article
    > by two Russians that appears to have lost something in the translation.
    > The web sites listed aren't much help unless you can read Russian.
    >
    > This design uses a 555 timer as an oscillator and measures the
    > change in average pulse width as opposed to changes in frequency. The
    > example formulas used are confusing as different variables appear to be
    > used in the text when showing examples. It looks like an interesting
    > idea. I'd like to read more about this approach, can anyone give us some
    > comments or point us to some additional references.
    >
    > Thanks, Theron Wierenga
    >
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

    --

    *******************************************************
    * Leroy Hall *
    * 317 Cherokee Drive *
    * Loveland, Ohio - USA 45140-2404 *
    *******************************************************
    * Phone: (513) 697-7539 *
    * Cell : (513) 300-8632 *
    * Email: leroy@f... *
    * Home page URL: http://home.fuse.net/leroy/ *
    * Resume URL: http://home.fuse.net/leroy/resume.htm *
    *******************************************************
    * Leroy Hall *
    * 317 Cherokee Drive *
    * Loveland, Ohio - USA 45140-2404 *
    *******************************************************
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-16 17:07
    Leroy,

    Web address is skif.net/~ykol

    This is for one of the Russian authors.

    Regards, Theron
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-17 20:26
    Theron,

    I read the CCI article with great interest as well. I'm especially
    interested in the matched filter algorithm, which I don't understand (yet).

    The author's assertion that beat-frequency metal detectors inherently
    suffer from poor sensitivity is false. Adequate stability and isolation
    between oscillators is not achieved without effort, but many commercially
    successful single-loop metal detectors have been designed this way and
    continue to give excellent service.

    Two multiple-loop design approaches are also popular:

    [noparse][[/noparse]1] Induction Balance, where two co-axial transmit loops are fed out of
    phase, causing total signal cancellation in a third receive loop located
    between the transmit loops. Nearby metallic objects upset the balance,
    yielding a sharp increase in signal output from the receive loop.

    [noparse][[/noparse]2] Transmit/Receive, where a single transmit loop is oriented at right
    angles to the receive loop, causing total signal cancellation unless nearby
    objects warp the magnetic field. The two loops may be widely separated,
    giving increased ground penetration capability.

    It is generally possible to distinguish iron from other metals by measuring
    relative frequency or phase of detector output. This information came from
    an old library book whose identification I've unfortunately lost (all I can
    tell for sure is that chapter five contains the relevant details). There
    are many simple metal detector designs in electronic circuit cookbooks...

    > I'm interested in designs for a metal detector that can be read
    >by a BS2. A recent issue of Circuit Cellar (May I think) had an article
    >by two Russians that appears to have lost something in the translation.
    >The web sites listed aren't much help unless you can read Russian.
    >
    > This design uses a 555 timer as an oscillator and measures the
    >change in average pulse width as opposed to changes in frequency. The
    >example formulas used are confusing as different variables appear to be
    >used in the text when showing examples. It looks like an interesting
    >idea. I'd like to read more about this approach, can anyone give us some
    >comments or point us to some additional references.

    Mike Hardwick, for Decade Engineering -- <http://www.decadenet.com>
    Manufacturer of the famous BOB-II Serial Video Text Display Module!
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-12-01 22:18
    Has anyone built a Pulse Induction type metal detector using a Stamp
    as a controller? Looks like it would be plenty fast enough.

    Jon
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