| US 7,571,547 B2 | ||
| Gravity gradiometer | ||
| Frank Joachim Van Kann, Nedlands (Australia); and John Winterflood, Nedlands (Australia) | ||
| Assigned to Technological Resources Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 27, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/845,287. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2006906564 (AU), filed on Nov. 23, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0120858 A1, May 29, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01V 7/16 (2006.01); G01C 9/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 33—366.25 [73/382 R] | 12 Claims |
| 1. A gravity gradiometer for measuring components of the gravity gradient tensor, comprising:
at least one sensor mass for movement in response to the gravity gradient;
at least one transducer located adjacent the sensor mass for measuring the movement of the sensor mass, the transducer comprising
a thin film structure having:
a first layer having a first large inductance fine pitch coil having a large number of turns for carrying a relatively low
current;
a second layer having a second lower inductance coarse pitch sensing coil having relatively fewer turns for carrying a relatively
higher current, the second coil forming a transformer for stepping up the current flowing through the first coil;
an insulating layer between the first and second coils; and
wherein the second coil supplies current to a SQUID device for providing a measure of the component of the gravity gradient
tensor.
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