Metal detector

A metal detector is an instrument that detects the presence of metal

nearby. Metal detectors are useful for finding metal inclusions hidden
within objects, or metal objects buried underground. They often consist of
a handheld unit with a sensor probe which can be swept over the ground
or other objects. If the sensor comes near a piece of metal this is indicated
by a changing tone in earphones, or a needle moving on an indicator.
Usually the device gives some indication of distance; the closer the metal
is, the higher the tone in the earphone or the higher the needle goes.
Another common type are stationary "walk through" metal detectors (see
§ Security screening below) used at access points in prisons, courthouses,
and airports to detect concealed metal weapons on a person's body.

The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an

alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating
magnetic field. If a piece of electrically conductive metal is close to the
U.S. Army soldiers use a
coil, eddy currents will be induced (inductive sensor) in the metal, and this
military standard metal
produces a magnetic field of its own. If another coil is used to measure the
detector
magnetic field (acting as a magnetometer), the change in the magnetic field
due to the metallic object can be detected.

The first industrial metal detectors were developed in the 1960s and were used extensively for mineral
prospecting and other industrial applications. Uses include detecting land mines, the detection of weapons
such as knives and guns (especially in airport security), geophysical prospecting, archaeology and treasure
hunting. Metal detectors are also used to detect foreign bodies in food, and in the construction industry to
detect steel reinforcing bars in concrete and pipes and wires buried in walls and floors.

Contents
History and development
Modern developments
Beat Frequency Induction
Refinements
Discriminators
New coil designs
Pulse induction
Uses
Archaeology
England and Wales
France
Scotland
United States
As a hobby
Politics and conflicts in the metal detecting hobby in the United States
 Security screening
Industrial metal detectors
Civil engineering
Military
Uses and benefits
War mine detection
American metal finders
First idea
Technology development
Gerhard Fischer
Charles Garrett
To present day
Discriminators and circuits
Manufacturers and companies
Fisher Labs
History
Technologies developed
Search coils developed
Bounty Hunter
See also
Notes
References

History and development

Towards the end of the 19th century, many scientists
and engineers used their growing knowledge of
electrical theory in an attempt to devise a machine
which would pinpoint metal. The use of such a device
to find ore-bearing rocks would give a huge advantage
to any miner who employed it. Early machines were
crude, used a lot of battery power, and worked only to a
very limited degree. In 1874, Parisian inventor Gustave
Trouvé developed a hand-held device for locating and An early metal detector, in 1919, used to find
extracting metal objects such as bullets from human unexploded bombs in France after World War I
patients. Inspired by Trouvé, Alexander Graham Bell
developed a similar device to attempt to locate a bullet
lodged in the chest of American President James Garfield in 1881; the metal detector worked correctly, but
the attempt was unsuccessful because the metal coil spring bed Garfield was lying on confused the
detector.[1]

Modern developments

The modern development of the metal detector began in the 1920s. Gerhard Fischer had developed a
system of radio direction-finding, which was to be used for accurate navigation. The system worked
extremely well, but Fischer noticed there were anomalies in areas where the terrain contained ore-bearing
rocks. He reasoned that if a radio beam could be distorted by metal, then it should be possible to design a
machine which would detect metal using a search coil resonating at a radio frequency. In 1925 he applied
for, and was granted, the first patent for a metal detector. Although Gerhard Fischer was the first person
granted a patent for a metal detector, the first to apply was Shirl Herr, a businessman from Crawfordsville,
Indiana. His application for a hand-held Hidden-Metal Detector was filed in February 1924, but not
patented until July 1928. Herr assisted Italian leader Benito Mussolini in recovering items remaining from
the Emperor Caligula's galleys at the bottom of Lake Nemi, Italy in August 1929. Herr's invention was
used by Admiral Richard Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition in 1933, when it was used to locate objects
left behind by earlier explorers. It was effective up to a depth of eight feet.[2] However, it was one
Lieutenant Józef Stanisław Kosacki, a Polish officer attached to a unit stationed in St Andrews, Fife,
Scotland, during the early years of World War II, who refined the design into a practical Polish mine
detector.[3] These units were still quite heavy, as they ran on vacuum tubes, and needed separate battery
packs.

The design invented by Kosacki was used extensively during the Second Battle of El Alamein when 500
units were shipped to Field Marshal Montgomery to clear the minefields of the retreating Germans, and
later used during the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Allied invasion of Italy and the Invasion of Normandy.[4]

As the creation and refinement of the device was a wartime military research operation, the knowledge that
Kosacki created the first practical metal detector was kept secret for over 50 years.

Beat Frequency Induction

Many manufacturers of these new devices brought their own ideas to the market. White's Electronics of
Oregon began in the 1950s by building a machine called the Oremaster Geiger Counter. Another leader in
detector technology was Charles Garrett, who pioneered the BFO (Beat Frequency Oscillator) machine.
With the invention and development of the transistor in the 1950s and 1960s, metal detector manufacturers
and designers made smaller, lighter machines with improved circuitry, running on small battery packs.
Companies sprang up all over the United States and Britain to supply the growing demand. Beat Frequency
Induction requires movement of the detector coil; akin to how swinging a conductor near a magnet induces
an electric current; except the pulse is electric EMF and not magnetic EMF.

Refinements

Modern top models are fully computerized, using integrated circuit technology to allow the user to set
sensitivity, discrimination, track speed, threshold volume, notch filters, etc., and hold these parameters in
memory for future use. Compared to just a decade ago, detectors are lighter, deeper-seeking, use less
battery power, and discriminate better.

State of the art metal detectors have further incorporated extensive wireless technologies for the earphones,
connect to Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices. Some also utilize built in GPS locator technology to
keep track of searching location and the location of items found. Some connect to smartphone applications
to further extend functionality.

Discriminators

The biggest technical change in detectors was the development of a tunable induction system. This system
involved two coils that are electro-magnetically tuned. One coil act as an RF transmitter the other as a
receiver; in some cases these can be tuned to between 3 and 100 kHz. When metal is in their vicinity, a
signal is detected owing to eddy currents induced in the metal. What allowed detectors to discriminate
between metals was the fact that every metal has a different phase response when exposed to alternating
current; longer waves (low frequency) penetrate ground deeper, and select for high conductivity targets like
silver, and copper; than shorter waves (higher frequency) which, while less ground penetrating, select for
low conductivity targets like iron. Unfortunately, high frequency is also sensitive to ground mineralisation
interference. This selectivity or discrimination allowed detectors to be developed that could selectively
detect desirable metals, while ignoring undesirable ones.

Even with discriminators, it was still a challenge to avoid undesirable metals, because some of them have
similar phase responses (e.g. tinfoil and gold), particularly in alloy form. Thus, improperly tuning out
certain metals increased the risk of passing over a valuable find. Another disadvantage of discriminators
was that they reduced the sensitivity of the machines.

New coil designs

Coil designers also tried out innovative designs. The original induction balance coil system consisted of two
identical coils placed on top of one another. Compass Electronics produced a new design: two coils in a D
shape, mounted back-to-back to form a circle. This system was widely used in the 1970s, and both
concentric and D type (or widescan as they became known) had their fans. Another development was the
invention of detectors which could cancel out the effect of mineralization in the ground. This gave greater
depth, but was a non-discriminate mode. It worked best at lower frequencies than those used before, and
frequencies of 3 to 20 kHz were found to produce the best results. Many detectors in the 1970s had a
switch which enabled the user to switch between the discriminate mode and the non-discriminate mode.
Later developments switched electronically between both modes. The development of the induction
balance detector would ultimately result in the motion detector, which constantly checked and balanced the
background mineralization.

Pulse induction

At the same time, developers were looking at using a different technique in metal detection called pulse
induction.[5] Unlike the beat frequency oscillator or the induction balance machines which both used a
uniform alternating current at a low frequency, the pulse induction (PI) machine simply magnetized the
ground with a relatively powerful, momentary current through a search coil. In the absence of metal, the
field decayed at a uniform rate, and the time it took to fall to zero volts could be accurately measured.
However, if metal was present when the machine fired, a small eddy current would be induced in the metal,
and the time for sensed current decay would be increased. These time differences were minute, but the
improvement in electronics made it possible to measure them accurately and identify the presence of metal
at a reasonable distance. These new machines had one major advantage: they were mostly impervious to
the effects of mineralization, and rings and other jewelry could now be located even under highly
mineralized black sand. The addition of computer control and digital signal processing have further
improved pulse induction sensors.

One particular advantage of using a pulse induction detector includes the ability to ignore the minerals
contained within heavily mineralized soil; in some cases the heavy mineral content may even help the PI
detector function better. Where a VLF detector is affected negatively by soil mineralization, a PI unit is not.

Uses
Larger portable metal detectors are used by archaeologists and treasure hunters to locate metallic items,
such as jewelry, coins, clothes buttons and other accessories, bullets, and other various artifacts buried
beneath the surface.
Archaeology

Metal detectors are widely used in archaeology with the first recorded use by military historian Don Rickey
in 1958 who used one to detect the firing lines at Little Big Horn. However archaeologists oppose the use
of metal detectors by "artifact seekers" or "site looters" whose activities disrupt archaeological sites.[6] The
problem with use of metal detectors in archaeological sites or hobbyist who find objects of archeological
interest is that the context that the object was found in is lost and no detailed survey of its surroundings is
made. Outside of known sites the significance of objects may not be apparent to a metal detector
hobbyist.[7]

England and Wales

In England and Wales metal detecting is legal provided that the landowner has granted permission and that
the area is not a Scheduled Ancient Monument, a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), or covered by
elements of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

The Treasure Act 1996 governs whether or not items that have been discovered are defined as treasure.[8]
Finders of items that the Act defines as treasure must report their finds to the local coroner.[9] If they
discover items that are not defined as treasure but that are of cultural or historical interest, finders can
voluntarily report them to the Portable Antiquities Scheme[10] and the UK Detector Finds Database.

France

The sale of metal detectors is allowed in France. The first use of metal detectors in France which led to
archaeological discoveries occurred in 1958: people living in the city of Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt who
were seeking copper from World War I bombshell with military mine detector found a Roman silver
treasure.[11] The French law on metal detecting is ambiguous because it refers only to the objective pursued
by the user of a metal detector. The first law to regulate the use of metal detectors was Law No. 89-900 of
18 December 1989. This last is resumed without any change in Article L. 542-1 of the code of the heritage,
which states that "no person may use the equipment for the detection of metal objects, for the purpose of
research monuments and items of interest prehistory, history, art and archeology without having previously
obtained an administrative authorization issued based on the applicant's qualification and the nature and
method of research. " Outside the research of archaeological objects, using a metal detector does not require
specific authorization, except that of the owner of the land. We often read, from some archaeologists, that
the use of a metal detector is itself prohibited without official authorization. This is false. To realize this, one
must look to the legislative intent in enacting the Law No. 89-900 of 18 December 1989. Asked about Law
No. 89-900 of 18 December 1989 by the member of parliament mister Calloud, Jack Lang, Minister of
Culture at the time, replied by letter the following: "The new law does not prohibit the use of metal
detectors but only regulates the use. If the purpose of such use is the search for archaeological remains,
prior authorization is required from my services. Apart from this case, the law ask to be reported to the
appropriate authorities an accidental discovery of archaeological remains." The entire letter of Jack Lang
was published in 1990 in a French metal detection magazine,[12] and then, to be visible on internet,
scanned with permission of the author of the magazine on a French metal detection website.[13]

Scotland

Under the Scots law principle of bona vacantia, the Crown has claim over any object of any material value
where the original owner cannot be traced.[14] There is also no 300 year limit to Scottish finds. Any artifact
found, whether by metal detector survey or from an archaeological excavation, must be reported to the
Crown through the Treasure Trove Advisory Panel at the National Museums of Scotland. The panel then
determines what will happen to the artifacts. Reporting is not voluntary, and failure to report the discovery
of historic artifacts is a criminal offence in Scotland.

United States

The sale of metal detectors is allowed in the United States. People can use metal detectors in public places
(parks, beaches, etc.) and on private property with the permission of the owner of the site. In the United
States, cooperation between archeologists hunting for the location of colonial-era Native American villages
and hobbyists has been productive.[7]

As a hobby

There are various types of hobby activities involving metal

detectors:

Coin shooting is specifically targeting coins.[15] Some

coin shooters conduct historical research to locate sites
with potential to give up historical and collectible coins.
Prospecting is looking for valuable metals like gold,
silver, and copper in their natural forms, such as
nuggets or flakes.[16]
Metal detectors are also used to search for discarded or This 156-troy-ounce (4.9 kg) gold
lost,[17] valuable man-made objects such as jewelry, nugget, known as the Mojave
mobile phones, cameras and other devices. Some metal Nugget, was found by an individual
detectors are waterproof, to allow the user to search for prospector in the Southern California
submerged objects in areas of shallow water. Desert using a metal detector.
General metal detecting is very similar to coin shooting
except the user is after any type of historical artifact.
Detectorists may be dedicated to preserving historical artifacts, and often have considerable
expertise. Coins, bullets, buttons, axe heads, and buckles are just a few of the items that are
commonly found by relic hunters; in general the potential is far greater in Europe and Asia
than in many other parts of the world. More valuable finds in Britain alone include the
Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold, sold for £3,285,000, the gold Celtic Newark Torc,
the Ringlemere Cup, West Bagborough Hoard, Milton Keynes Hoard, Roman Crosby Garrett
Helmet, Stirling Hoard, Collette Hoard and thousands of smaller finds.
Beach combing is hunting for lost coins or jewelry on a beach. Beach hunting can be as
simple or as complicated as one wishes to make it. Many dedicated beach hunters also
familiarize themselves with tide movements and beach erosion.
Metal detecting clubs across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada exist for
hobbyists to learn from others, show off finds from their hunts and to learn more about the
hobby.

Hobbyists often use their own metal detecting lingo [18] when discussing the hobby with others.

Politics and conflicts in the metal detecting hobby in the United States

The metal detecting community and professional archaeologists have different ideas related to the recovery
and preservation of historic finds and locations. Archaeologists claim that detector hobbyists take an
artifact-centric approach, removing these from their context resulting in a permanent loss of historical
information. Archaeological looting of places like Slack Farm in 1987 and Petersburg National Battlefield
serve as evidence against allowing unsupervised metal detecting in historic locations.[19]

Security screening

A series of aircraft hijackings led the United States in 1972 to

adopt metal detector technology to screen airline passengers,
initially using magnetometers that were originally designed for
logging operations to detect spikes in trees.[20] The Finnish
company Outokumpu adapted mining metal detectors in the 1970s,
still housed in a large cylindrical pipe, to make a commercial walk-
through security detector.[21] The development of these systems
continued in a spin-off company and systems branded as Metor
Metal Detectors evolved in the form of the rectangular gantry now
Metal detectors at Berlin Schönefeld
standard in airports. In common with the developments in other Airport
uses of metal detectors both alternating current and pulse systems
are used, and the design of the coils and the electronics has moved
forward to improve the discrimination of these systems. In 1995 systems such as the Metor 200 appeared
with the ability to indicate the approximate height of the metal object above the ground, enabling security
personnel to more rapidly locate the source of the signal. Smaller hand held metal detectors are also used to
locate a metal object on a person more precisely.

Industrial metal detectors

Industrial metal detectors are used in the pharmaceutical, food, beverage, textile, garment, plastics,
chemicals, lumber, mining, and packaging industries.

Contamination of food by metal shards from broken processing machinery during the manufacturing
process is a major safety issue in the food industry. Metal detectors for this purpose are widely used and
integrated into the production line.

Current practice at garment or apparel industry plants is to apply metal detecting after the garments are
completely sewn and before garments are packed to check whether there is any metal contamination
(needle, broken needle, etc.) in the garments. This needs to be done for safety reasons.

The industrial metal detector was developed by Bruce Kerr and David Hiscock in 1947. The founding
company Goring Kerr[22] pioneered the use and development of the first industrial metal detector. Mars
Incorporated was one of the first customers of Goring Kerr using their Metlokate metal detector to inspect
Mars bars.

The basic principle of operation for the common industrial metal detector is based on a 3 coil design. This
design utilizes an AM (amplitude modulated) transmitting coil and two receiving coils one on either side of
the transmitter. The design and physical configuration of the receiving coils are instrumental in the ability to
detect very small metal contaminates of 1 mm or smaller. Today modern metal detectors continue to utilize
this configuration for the detection of tramp metal.

The coil configuration is such that it creates an opening whereby the product (food, plastics,
pharmaceuticals, etc.) passes through the coils. This opening or aperture allows the product to enter and exit
through the three coil system producing an equal but mirrored signal on the two receiving coils. The
resulting signals are summed together effectively nullifying each other. Fortress Technology innovated a
new feature, that allows the coil structure of their BSH Model to ignore the effects of vibration,[23] even
when inspecting conductive products.[24]

When a metal contaminant is introduced into the product an unequal disturbance is created. This then
creates a very small electronic signal. After suitable amplification a mechanical device mounted to the
conveyor system is signaled to remove the contaminated product from the production line. This process is
completely automated and allows manufacturing to operate uninterrupted.

Civil engineering

In civil engineering, special metal detectors (cover meters) are used to locate reinforcement bars inside
walls. American metal finders are a term that refer to the devices and equipment or instruments made by
American companies or manufacturers , that can be used to find or detect metal objects nearby or buried
underground such as silver or golden coins or small jewelry like rings, collars and so on. Metal finders'
more accurate term is: Metal Detectors, as the metal detector's main function is to detect the presence of
metal objects including for example underground buried metal targets such as gold treasures, bronze
statues, archaeological artifacts made of different metal types.

The most common type of metal detector is a hand-held metal detector or coil-based detectors that use a
oval-shaped plastic disks with built-in coils made of copper usually, the search coil works as sensor probe
and must be swept or moved over the ground to detect the potential metal targets buried underground,
when the search coil detect a metal object the device give a feedback as an acoustic feedback as changed
audio tone via speaker or earphone, and in most metal detectors the feedback is an analog or digital
indicator as a unique number called Target ID based on target metal type.

These metal detectors first invented and manufactured commercially in United States of America in
twentieth century by Fisher Labs in 1930s then other companies like Garrett established and developed the
metal detectors in terms of technology and features in following decades to reach the current form of metal
detector that is common in use by hobbyists and treasure hunters or gold prospectors.

Skilled prospectors have put their confidence in American metal detectors due to the high quality of their
industry and low cost of production, they are known all over the world.

Military

The first metal detector, designed by Alexander Graham Bell, proved to be a practical metal detector, and it
served as the prototype for all subsequent metal detectors.

Initially, these machines were huge and complex, and they used vacuum tubes to operate.

Nonetheless, it proved to be useful, and it grew in popularity among users and prospectors for specific
applications.

One of the early common uses of the first metal detectors, for example, was the detection of landmines and
unexploded bombs in a number of European countries following the First and Second World Wars.

Uses and benefits

Metal detectors can be used if for several military uses, which can be summarized as follows:
 Exposing the mines planted in the fields during the war or after the end of the war
Detect dangerous explosives and cluster bombs dangerous to people's lives
Hand-held metal detectors can be used to search people for weapons and explosives

War mine detection

Demining, also known as mine removal, is the method of clearing a field of landmines.

The aim of military operations is to clear a path through a minefield as quickly as possible, which is mostly
accomplished using equipment like mine plows and blast waves.

Humanitarian demining, on the other hand, aims to clear all landmines to a certain depth and make the land
secure for human use.

The process of finding or detection of mines done by a special designed metal detector exclusively
developed to detect mines and bombs.

Landmine detection techniques have been studied in a wide range of ways.

Electromagnetic technologies are most popular, and one of them (ground penetrating radar) has been used
in conjunction with metal detectors.

Mine casings produce a cavity that can be detected using acoustic methods or sensors to detect vapor
leakage from landmines. Rats and mongooses, for example, can walk safely over a minefield and detect
explosives, and animals can even be used to screen air samples over possible minefields. Bees, plants, and
bacteria may all be useful. Nuclear quadrupole resonance and neutron probes can also be used to detect
explosives in landmines.

Specially trained dogs are often used to focus the search and confirm that an area has been cleared, mines
are often cleared using mechanical equipment such as flails and excavators.

American metal finders

The history and development of metal detectors in the United States roots back to the end of the 19th
century after a huge development and acquired knowledge during this century in the field of electrical
engineering by a lot of scientists and inventors.

Many inventors and engineers tried to invent or manufacture a working device to detect or pinpoint the
presence of metal objects depending on electrical and related magnetic theories and researches.

First idea

Many scientists, academics, and gold miners started experimenting with the idea or concept of creating a
device that could locate metal hidden underground [25] after the widespread adoption of electrically-
powered appliances in the mid 1800s. A device like this would be very useful to the many prospectors still
searching for gold after the "Gold Rush," period , making the first person to perfect a metal detector
extremely wealthy.

Gustave Trouvé, a French electrical engineer, invented the first metal detector in 1874. He created a hand-
held device in order to locate and separate bullets and other metal objects from human patients.
Following the assassination of American president James Garfield in 1881, Alexander Graham Bell - the
inventor of telephone - attempted to create a metal detector similar to Gustave Trouvé's device. Graham
Bell used his unit to try to locate the fatal bullet inside President Garfield's body. Bell's metal detector
worked, but the metal coil springs of James Garfield's bed threw the detector off, and the search for the
bullet failed.

Despite the fact that the first metal detector failed to save the 20th President of the United States, Alexander
Graham Bell's system was a viable metal detector, and it served as the blueprint for all subsequent metal
detectors.[26]

These machines were initially very large, complex, and operated on vacuum tubes , however, they were
useful, and as a result, their popularity grew. Most notably, after world war these early metal detectors were
used to locate and clear landmines and unexploded bombs throughout Europe.

Technology development

Gerhard Fischer

Gerhard Fischer developed a portable metal detector in 1925. Fischer's model was first marketed
commercially in 1931, and he was responsible for the first large-scale hand-held metal detector
development.

Gerhard Fisher studied electronics at the University of Dresden before immigrating to the United States.
When working as a Research Engineer in Los Angeles, California, he came up with the concept of a
portable metal detector while working with aircraft radio detection finders. Fisher shared the concept with
Albert Einstein, who foresaw the widespread use of hand-held metal detectors.

Dr. Gerhard Fisher, the founder of Fisher Research Laboratory, was contracted by the Federal Telegraph
Company and Western Air Express to establish airborne direction finding equipment in the late 1920s. He
received some of the first patents in the area of radio-based airborne direction finding. He came across some
unusual errors in the course of his work, and once he figured out what was wrong, he had the foresight to
apply the solution to a totally unrelated area, metal and mineral detection."

Fisher received the patent for the first portable metal detector in 1925, and in 1931, he marketed his first
Fisher device to the general public, and he established a famous Fisher Labs company that started to
manufacture and develop hand-held metal detectors and sell it commercially.[27]

Charles Garrett

Despite the fact that Fisher was the first to receive a patent for a metal detector, he was only one of many
who improved and mastered the device that is now found in your detector’s shops. Charles Garrett, the
founder of Garrett Metal Detectors, was another key figure in the creation of today's metal detectors.

Garrett, an electrical engineer by profession, began metal detecting as a pastime in the early 1960s. He tried
a number of machines on the market but couldn't find one that could do what he needed. As a result, he
started developing his own metal detector. He was able to develop a system that removed oscillator drift, as
well as many special search coils that he patented, both of which effectively revolutionized metal detector
design at the time.

To present day
In the 1960s, the first industrial metal detectors were produced, and they were widely used for mineral
prospecting and other industrial purposes. De-mining (the detection of landmines), the detection of
weapons such as knives and guns (particularly in airport security), geophysical prospecting, archaeology,
and treasure hunting are just some of the applications.

Metal detectors are also used to detect foreign bodies in food, as well as steel reinforcement bars in concrete
and pipes, as well as wires buried in walls or floors in the building industry.

The future of metal detectors is anyone's guess, given the large number of professional and amateur players
involved, as well as the rapid speed of technical progress in general. Metal detectors, on the other hand, will
almost certainly continue to grow and adapt in order to uncover even more treasure.

Treasure hunters never give up, and as the history of the metal detector shows, it's these dedicated, creative
individuals who have shaped metal detectors into the devices they are today, and who will continue to
shape the future of metal detecting[28]

Discriminators and circuits

Transistors, discriminators, modern search coil designs, and wireless technology, all of which were
developed in 1947 by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley, have had a significant impact
on the advancement of metal detectors as we know them today. Both of these factors, as well as others,
have contributed to the metal detector's current status as a lightweight, compact, easy-to-use, deep-seeking
system.

The invention of a tunable induction device was the most significant technological advancement in
detectors. Two electro-magnetically tuned coils were used in this method. One coil serves as an RF
transmitter, while the other serves as a receiver; in some situations, these coils may be tuned to frequencies
ranging from 3 to 100 kHz.

Due to eddy currents induced in the metal, a signal is detected when metal is present. The fact that every
metal has a different phase response when exposed to alternating current allowed detectors to differentiate
between metals. Longer waves (low frequency) penetrate the ground deeper and select for high
conductivity targets like silver and copper, while shorter waves (higher frequency) select for low
conductivity targets like iron. Unfortunately, ground mineralization interference affects high frequency as
well. This selectivity or discrimination allowed the development of detectors that could only detect
desirable metals.

Unfortunately, ground mineralization interference affects high frequency as well. This selectivity, or
discrimination, allowed the development of detectors that could detect desirable metals while ignoring
undesirable metals.

Even with discriminators, avoiding undesirable metals was difficult because some of them have similar
phase responses (for example, tinfoil and gold), particularly in alloy form. As a result, tuning out those
metals incorrectly increased the chance of missing a valuable discovery. Discriminators also had the
downside of lowering the sensitivity of the devices.

Manufacturers and companies

Since the beginning of the invention of the metal detector and its commercial sale, many manufacturers of
metal detectors were established during the twentieth century in the United States of America.
These companies provided dozens of new products and various multi-purpose metal detectors suitable for
all prospectors categories from beginners to professionals, and these companies contributed to the
development of device technology and its features. By providing improvements and additions to the general
design of metal detectors.

Fisher Labs

History

Dr. Gerhard R. Fisher, the world-famous engineer and inventor who was the first to obtain a patent for the
metal detector, founded Fisher Research Labs in 1931. Fisher Research Labs is a made-in-America success
story that began in Fisher's garage and has grown from there.

Fisher Labs, the world's oldest metal detector company, uses cutting-edge technologies to create some of
the industry's most reliable devices.

Dr. Fisher was a Research Engineer in Los Angeles in the late 1920s when he received the first patent for
aircraft radio direction finders. He was a German refugee who studied electronics at the University of
Dresden. Dr. Albert Einstein was impressed with his groundbreaking work in aviation. Dr. Einstein
expected the widespread use of radio direction finders in the air, on land, and at sea after seeing a
demonstration of Fisher's equipment.

Fisher Research Labs was built in Fisher's garage in Palo Alto, California, in 1931. He and four coworkers
created the "Metallascope," a tough, user-friendly metal detector. It was an ungainly unit, with two wide,
flat wooden boxes containing basic copper coils, five vacuum tubes, and a few assorted parts, by today's
standards of lightweight handheld detectors. The Metallascope quickly captured the nation's and, within a
brief period, the world's imagination.

To meet the increasing demand for the Metallascope, also known as the M-Scope, Fisher Labs relocated to
a small building at 745 Emerson St. in Palo Alto in 1936. Dr. Fisher received a patent for his invention not
long ago. For all forms of electronic metal detection, the M-Scope became the agreed standard.

It was used by geologists to find ore, fortune seekers to find treasure, service companies to identify
underground tubing, timber mills to detect metal inclusions in sawn logs, and law enforcement to discover
lost and concealed weapons.

Fisher relocated to a larger apartment in Palo Alto in 1939, shortly before World War II, at 1961 University
Ave. Fisher Research Labs was called upon to devote its scientific expertise to the war effort during World
War II and the Korean Conflict, but the M-Scope industry was never ignored.

Fisher Labs relocated to a new manufacturing plant in Belmont, California, in 1961. Dr. Fisher's reputation
and career had left an indelible imprint on the world of electronics by the time he retired in 1967. Fisher
Research Labs expanded and relocated to Los Banos, Calif., in 1974, where it remained until 2006, when it
was purchased by First Texas Holdings Corporation.

First Texas relocated the firm to El Paso, Texas, where it continues the Fisher tradition of scientific
breakthroughs redefining the state of the art of metal detection. Fisher's vast range of brands, which have
the finest ergonomics, most streamlined user interfaces, and innovative ground balance and objective
separation capabilities, are the result.

Technologies developed
Fisher was the pioneer in metal detection technology and it is the first to introduce new innovations and
technologies in metal detection , treasure detection and security products.

The company invented or enhanced existed technologies in electromagnetic engineering to get a best
devices in term of performance and If you're looking for hidden utilities, security walk through metal
detectors, or long-buried treasures, Fisher technology can get the job done quickly. Fisher efficiency and
creativity are your trustworthy source for underground finding devices, from analog to digital, in single or
multiple frequencies.

Search Systems

Search systems in Fisher’s metal detectors include multiple search technologies that rely on electromagnetic
technology including VLF , Pulse Induction and other derived technologies for detection of metal using a
special features for metal discrimination through signal based Target ID or acoustic output based on metal
type .

Some devices incorporate a mechanism to select predefined settings known as search modes or detection
modes that offer a different system for multiple purposes and conditions based on ground terrain , soil type
and other factors.

Search coils developed

F75 & F70

5" DD Round White Coil - Item 5COIL-F75

6-1/2" White Elliptical Concentric Closed Coil - Item 6COIL-E
10" Concentric Elliptical Coil - Item 10COIL-F70
10" DD White Elliptical Closed Coil - Item 10COILDD-F75
11"DD Elliptical Open Coil - Item 11COIL-F75
15" DD Round Open Coil - Item 15COIL-F75

F5

5" DD Round White Coil - Item 5COIL-F5F

8" Concentric Open Coil - Item 8COIL-7TEK
10" Concentric Elliptical Coil - Item 10COIL-F5F
10" DD White Elliptical Closed Coil - Item 10COILDD-FRL
11"DD Elliptical Open Coil - Item 11COIL-F5F

F4 & F2

4” Round Black Concentric Coil-Item 4COILF

8” Concentric Coil-Item 8COIL-7BLKF
10” Concentric Coil-Item 10COILF
11" Elliptical Open Coil - Item 11COIL-F2F
11” DD Bi-Axial Black Coil-Item 11COIL-F4F

F19

5” DD Round White Coil-Item 5COIL-GBUG

10" DD White Elliptical Closed Coil - Item 10COILDD-FRL
 11"DD Elliptical Open Coil - Item 11COIL-F5F

Gold Bug / Pro / DP

5” DD Round White Coil-Item 5COIL-GBUG

10” Solid DD White Elliptical Coil-Item 10COILDD-GB
11” DD Bi-Axial Black Coil-Item 11COIL-GB

Gold Bug 2

6-1/2” White Concentric Elliptical Coil-Item 6 COILE-7-GB2

10” White Concentric Elliptical Coil-Item 10 COIL-GB2
14” White Concentric Elliptical Coil-Item 14 COIL-7-GB

F44

4" Round Search Coil - Item 4COIL-FS

7" Round Coil - Item 7COIL-RE-F
9" Concentric Teardrop Coil - Item 9COIL-EE
11" Concentric Teardrop Coil - Item 11COIL-EE
11" DD Elliptical Coil - Item 11COIL-FRL
4" Coil Cover - Item 4COVER
7" Round Coil Cover - Item 7COVER-RE
9" Teardrop Coil Cover - 9COVER-EE
11" Coil Cover - Item COVER-11DD

Bounty Hunter

History and Establishing

Metal detectors from the Bounty Hunter business are plain, fast, and inexpensive devices for the hobby of
searching for gold and lost metal items such as rings, coins, and so on.

The Bounty Hunter corporation is headquartered in El Paso, Texas, and its parent company, First Texas,
comprises several metal detector manufacturers, such as Fisher Labs and Teknetics, as well as firms that
specialize in other areas, such as night vision systems.

Technologies They Developed

The company produces a wide range of metal detector models with various features, including metal
detectors for kids, coin shooting detectors for amateurs, and even gold prospectors metal detectors.

All of the company's metal detectors use electromagnetic equipment, such as very low technology VLF
with a search coil system, and they have a search area and a very shallow depth of less than 2 meters
underground.

Throughout its existence, the company has manufactured approximately 55 products, including various
devices and related accessories in various models, as well as search coils for various purposes.

Search Systems
Multiple search technologies based on electromagnetic technology are available in Bounty Hunter's metal
detectors, including VLF, Pulse Induction, and other derived technologies for metal detection using special
features.

Some systems provide a mechanism for selecting predefined settings called search modes or detection
modes, which have a different method for different purposes and conditions depending on ground terrain,
soil type, and other variables.

See also
List of metal detecting finds
DEMIRA
Detectorists (BBC Television series)
Inductive sensor
Induction loop
Magnet fishing
Portable Antiquities Scheme

Notes
1. Grosvenor and Wesson 1997, p. 107.
2. Poulter, Thomas C. Outline of the Scientific Accomplishments of the Byrd Antarctic
Expedition II, 1933-1935.
3. Modelski, Tadeusz (1986). The Polish Contribution to The Ultimate Allied Victory in The
Second World War. Worthing, England. p. 221.
4. Croll, Mike; Cooper, Leo (1998). The History of Landmines. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-
0-85052-628-8.
5. "How Metal Detectors Work" (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/m
etal-detector4.htm). 23 May 2001.
6. Connor, Melissa; Scott, Douglas D. (1 January 1998). "Metal Detector Use in Archaeology:
An Introduction". Historical Archaeology. 32 (4): 76–85. doi:10.1007/BF03374273 (https://do
i.org/10.1007%2FBF03374273). JSTOR 25616646 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/25616646).
S2CID 163861923 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:163861923).
7. Tyler J. Kelley (January 16, 2017). "Archaeologists and Metal Detectorists Find Common
Ground" (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/science/archaeology-metal-detectorists-pequ
ot.html) (The New York Times). Retrieved January 21, 2017. "The difference between
archaeology and looting, explained Brian Jones, Connecticut’s state archaeologist, is the
recording of context."
8. "Treasure Act 1996 – Meaning of "treasure" " (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/24/
crossheading/meaning-of-treasure). HMSO. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
9. "Treasure Act 1996 – Coroners jurisdiction" (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/24/cr
ossheading/coroners-jurisdiction). HMSO. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
10. "Report Treasure" (https://www.gov.uk/treasure). HM Government. Retrieved 18 February
2018.
11. "Plat aux poissons du Trésor de Graincourt - Musée du Louvre - Paris" (http://www.louvre.fr/o
euvre-notices/plat-aux-poissons-du-tresor-de-graincourt).
12. Le Prospecteur (5). ISSN 1169-3835 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1169-3835). Missing or
empty |title= (help)
13. "Detecteur-de-metaux.com - Or natif et trésor - Conseils et guide d'achat" (https://www.detect
eur-de-metaux.com).
14. "Treasure Trove Scotland" (http://www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk).
15. "Coin Shooting Tips :: metaldetectingworld.com" (http://www.metaldetectingworld.com/coin_
shooting.shtml).
16. Dave McCracken (2011-11-23). "The Fundamentals of Electronic Prospecting ::
goldgold.com" (http://www.goldgold.com/the-fundamentals-of-electronic-prospecting.html).
17. Scott Clark (2012-09-30). "Finding Jewelry with Metal Detector - lost ring :: detecting.us" (htt
ps://www.detecting.us/2012/09/30/gold-ring-recovery-from-farm-field/).
18. "Metal Detecting Jargon Glossary" (https://www.detecting.us/metal-detecting-jargon-for-coin
shooters). detecting.us.
19. "Civil War relic thief engaged in 'heartbreaking' destruction" (http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_n
ews/2012/03/23/10827391-civil-war-relic-thief-engaged-in-heartbreaking-destruction?lite).
NBC News.
20. "The History of Airport Security" (http://savvytraveler.publicradio.org/show/features/2000/200
00915/security.shtml).
21. Jarvi, A, Leinonen, E, Thompson, M, and Valkonen K, Designing Modern Walk-through
Metal Detectors, Access Security Screening: Challenges and Solutions, ASTM STP 1127
TP Tsacoumis Ed, American Society for Testing of Materials, Philadelphia 1992, pp21-25
22. "History of Goring Kerr - IMN" (http://industrial-machinery-news.com/history-of-goring-kerr/).
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20161023140957/http://industrial-machinery-news.co
m/history-of-goring-kerr/) from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
23. Editor, Mike Pehanich, Plant Operations. "Detecting Foreign Matter" (http://www.foodprocess
ing.com/articles/2007/169/).
24. "History - Fortress Technology" (http://www.fortresstechnology.com/company/history/).
25. Detectors, Orient (2020-07-09). "Metal Detector Principle | How Metal Detectors Works" (http
s://orientdetectors.com/metal-detector-principle/). Latest Gold and Metal Detectors. Retrieved
2021-05-10.
26. inventions, Mary Bellis Inventions Expert Mary Bellis covered; films, inventors for ThoughtCo
for 18 years She is known for her independent; documentaries; Alex, including one about;
Bellis, er Graham Bell our editorial process Mary. "The Evolution of the Metal Detector" (http
s://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-metal-detector-1992303). ThoughtCo. Retrieved
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27. "The History of the Metal Detector | MetalDetector.com" (https://www.metaldetector.com/lear
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28. "Metal Detector - History of Metal Detector" (https://www.softschools.com/inventions/history/
metal_detector_history/376/). www.softschools.com. Retrieved 2021-05-10.

References
Grosvenor, Edwin S. and Wesson, Morgan. Alexander Graham Bell: The Life and Times of
the Man Who Invented the Telephone. New York: Harry N. Abrahms, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0-
8109-4005-1.
Colin King (Editor), Jane's Mines and Mine Clearance, ISBN 0-7106-2555-3
Graves M, Smith A, and Batchelor B 1998: Approaches to foreign body detection in foods,
Trends in Food Science & Technology 9 21-27

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