Journal Published Online: 12 September 2018
Volume 48, Issue 2

Handheld Metal Detector Characterization Using Spherical Test Objects

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

The detection performance of handheld and hand-worn metal detectors is based on observing an alarm indication from the metal detector when a test object is brought near the metal detector. These test objects maybe actual threat items or simulated threat items. The detectability of the test object is dependent on the electromagnetic properties of the test object, its shape and size, and its orientation relative to the magnetic field generated by the metal detector. Small misorientations of a test object, relative to a reference orientation, may cause the operator to incorrectly attribute a higher performance to the metal detector than it can provide. Consequently, to support accurate and reproducible characterization of the performance of a metal detector, orientation effects should be minimized or eliminated. Spherical test objects are presented to eliminate these effects for handheld and hand-worn metal detector performance assessments.

Author Information

Paulter, Nicholas G.
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Larson, Donald R.
Entegra Corporation, Aurora, CO, USA
Ely, John A.
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Pages: 15
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: JTE20170339
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20170339