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FGM-3 are: RED: POWER (+5 VDC); and produces better operation.
BLK: GROUND (0V); and WHT: flux-gate sensors to work
SIGNAL. and build a practical Digital Heterodyning.
The output signal is a train of TTL- A different interface method is shown
compatible pulses with a period that
magnetometer and in Fig, 3. It results in a more sensitive
ranges from 8 to 25 mS, or a frequency gradiometer. measurement over a small range of the
range of 40 to 125 kHz. The magnetic sensors total capability. In other words,
field strength is indicated by the fre- JOSEPH J. CARR that circuit makes it possible to mea-
quency produced, and can be read on a sure small fluctuations in a relatively
variety of display devices including dig- large magnetic field.
Analog Interface to FGM-3.
ital frequency counters, digital period In that circuit, a D-type flip-flop is
Figure 2 shows a method for providing used to mix the frequency from the
counters, analog meters, and even com-
an analog interface to the FGM-3 and FGM-3 with a reference frequency
puters. It is relatively easy to interface
its relatives. The output of the sensor is (FREF). The FGM-3 literature calls that
the FGM-3 device to microcontrollers
a 40- to 125-kHz frequency that is pro- process digital heterodyning,
such as the Parallax BASIC Stamp
portional to the applied magnetic field. although it is quick to point out that it is
or Micromint PicStic devices using a
As a result, we can use a frequency-to- really more like the production of alias
line of interface chips offered by
voltage (F/V) converter such as the frequencies by undersampling than true
Speake and Fat Quarters.
LM2917 to render the signal into a pro- heterodyning.
The sensitivity pattern of the FGM-3
portional DC voltage. That voltage, in Two types of frequency sources can
device is shown in Fig. 1B. It is a fig-
turn, can be used to drive an analog or be used for FREF. For relatively crude
ure-8 pattern with its maxima along the
digital voltmeter or milliammeter. The measurements, such as a passing-vehi-
major axis of the FGM-3, and minima
LM2917 is used here because it is cle detector, the CMOS oscillator of
orthogonal to the major axis. At other
widely available at low cost from mail- Fig. 4A is suitable. This circuit is based
angles, the sensitivity drops off as the
order parts distributors. on the 4049 hex inverter connected in
cosine of the angle from the major axis.
The output circuit consists of a bridge an astable multivibrator configuration.
Geotech Page 1
The exact frequency can be adjusted a point about 500 Hz below the mean
using R2, a 10,000-ohm, 10-turn sensor frequency. That frequency is
potentiometer. measured when the sensor is in the east-
Where a higher degree of stability is west direction. That arrangement will
needed, for example when making produce a frequency of 0 to 1,000 Hz
Earth-field variation measurements or over a magnetic field range of 500
testing magnetic materials, a more sta- gamma.
ble frequency source is needed. In that
case, use a circuit such as the one in A Magnetometer Project.
Fig. 4B. That circuit uses a crystal-con- Figure 5 shows the circuit for a sim-
trolled oscillator feeding a binary ple magnetometer based on the FGM-3 The heart of the circuit, other than the
divider network. Crystal oscillators can flux-gate sensor. A PC board, the sen- FGM-3 device, is the special interface
be built, or if you check the catalogs sor, the ICs, and most other parts (but chip, Speakes SCL006 device. It pro-
Gernsback Publishing, reproduce for personal use only
you will find that a large number of fre- no power supply, enclosure, or switch vides the circuitry needed to perform
quencies are available in TTL- and S1) can be obtained from Fat Quarters magnetometry, including Earth-field
CMOS- compatible formats at low Software (contact them directly or see magnetometry. It integrates field fluctu-
enough costs to make you wonder why their Web page for more information). ations in one-second intervals,
you would want to build your own. Ive That circuit takes the output frequency producing very sensitive output varia-
seen them sold for about the price of a of the FGM-3, passes it through a spe- tions in response to small field
crystal alone in many mail-order cata- cial interface chip (IC1), and then to a variations. It is of keen interest to peo-
logs (Digi-Key, etc.). digital-to-analog converter to produce a ple doing radio-propagation studies, and
The reference frequency is adjusted to voltage output. those who need to monitor for solar
flares. It also works as a laboratory
magnetometer for various purposes. The
SCL006A is housed in an 18-pin DIP
IC package.
The D/A converter (IC2) is an Ana-
log Devices type AD557. It replaces an
older Ferranti device seen in the Speake
literature because that older device is no
longer available. Indeed, being a Euro-
pean device, it was a bit hard to find in
unit quantities required by hobbyists on
Electronics Now, July 1998 Copyright
Geotech Page 2
Gradiometers. fluctuations that you are seeking. sures the gradient of the magnetic field
One of the problems with magnetom- A gradiometer is a magnetic instru- over a small distance (typically 1 to 5
eters is that small fluctuations occur in ment that uses two identical sensors that feet).
otherwise very large magnetic fields, are aligned with each other so as to pro- These instruments can be used for
and those fluctuations can sometimes be duce a zero output in the presence of a finding very small magnetic anomalies.
important. A further problem with sin- uniform magnetic field. If one of the For example, the metallic firing pin of
gle-sensor systems is that they are very sensors comes into contact with some plastic land mines buried a few inches
sensitive to orientation. Even a small sort of small magnetic anomaly, then it below the surface, or a shipwreck bur-
amount of rotation can cause unaccept- will upset the balance between sensors, ied deep in the ocean silt. Archeologists
ably large, but spurious, output changes. producing an output. The gradiometer use gradiometers to find artifacts and
The changes are real, but are not the gets its name from the fact that it mea- identify sites. Also, people who explore
Civil War battlefields, western mining
camps, and other sites often use gradi-
Gernsback Publishing, reproduce for personal use only
Geotech Page 3
The position of the sensor is adjusted
experimentally. The idea is to position
the sensor such that the gradiometer can
be rotated freely in space without caus-
ing an output variation.
The gradiometer sensor is usually
held vertically such that the end with
the wires coming out of the FGM-3
devices is pointed downwards. That
alignment allows you to find buried
magnetic objects even if they are quite
small.
A practical gradiometer can be built
Gernsback Publishing, reproduce for personal use only
Conclusion.
As weve seen, magnetic sensor
projects are relatively easy to build
when the FGM-3 sensor is used. The
device is well behaved, and will serve
nicely for both hobbyist and profes-
sional instruments, as well as for
classroom demonstrations.
Geotech Page 4