Integrated sensor system for measuring electric and/or magnetic field vector components

Abstract

A compact sensor system integrates electric and/or magnetic field sensors to accurately measure, with a high level of sensitivity, one or more electric and magnetic vector components of fields. The electric and magnetic field data can be utilized separately or combined. The sensor system is self-contained so as to include a built-in power source, as well as data storage and/or transmission capability. The integrated sensor system also preferably includes a global positioning system (GPS) to provide timing and position information, a sensor unit which can determine the orientation and tilt of the sensor system, and self-calibrating structure which produces local electric and/or magnetic fields used to calibrate the sensor system following deployment.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . An integrated sensor system for measuring at least magnetic fields comprising: 
 a plurality of induction-type magnetic field sensors, each of the plurality of induction-type magnetic field sensors including a core and having a sensitivity of at least 5 pT/Hz 1/2  at 10 Hz and 0.4 pT/Hz 1/2  at 100 Hz;    a housing supporting the plurality of magnetic field sensors; and    a controller for determining at least one vector field component based on signals received from the magnetic field sensors and for reducing interference between the magnetic field sensors.    
     
     
         20 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor system is compact in nature and highly sensitive.  
     
     
         21 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , further comprising: a DC power source provided in housing, wherein the sensor system is self-contained and portable.  
     
     
         22 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of magnetic field sensors extend along three orthogonally arranged axes.  
     
     
         23 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of magnetic field sensors have associated axes, with the axes intersecting at a center.  
     
     
         24 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of magnetic field sensors are arranged to intersect at a lateral offset of less than 1 cm.  
     
     
         25 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor system has a maximum lateral dimension less than 50 cm.  
     
     
         26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor system has a maximum dimension of less than 20 cm and each of the plurality of magnetic field sensors has a sensitivity of at least 3 pT/Hz 1/2  at 10 Hz and 0.3 pT/Hz 1/2  at 100 Hz.  
     
     
         28 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor system has a maximum dimension of less than 50 cm and each of the plurality of magnetic field sensors has a sensitivity of at least 0.2 pT/Hz 1/2  at 10 Hz and 0.03 pT/Hz 1/2  at 100 Hz.  
     
     
         29 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein said core includes a high permeability material in order to concentrate magnetic flux.  
     
     
         35 . The sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one vector field component includes both a magnitude and a direction.  
     
     
         36 . An integrated sensor system for measuring magnetic fields comprising: 
 a plurality of induction-type magnetic field sensors, each of the plurality of induction-type magnetic sensors including a core and having a sensitivity of at least 5 pT/Hz 1/2  at 10 Hz and 0.4 pT/Hz 1/2  at 100 Hz;    a housing supporting the plurality of magnetic field sensors; and    means for determining at least one vector field component based on signals received from the magnetic field sensors and for reducing interference between the magnetic field sensors.