Magnetic environment stabilization for effective operation of magnetically sensitive instruments

摘要

A system and method for neutralizing magnetic instabilities in an environment of a magnetically sensitive instrument without opposing the operation of the instrument is disclosed. A magnetometer is employed to detect the magnetic instabilities in the environment and provide signals indicative thereof to a feedback circuit. The feedback circuit drives a helmholtz coil that surrounds the instrument to produce a primary magnetic field that compensates for the detected magnetic instabilities. A microprocessor provides an offset value that is used to drive a solenoid located at the magnetometer probe to produce an offsetting field that cancels the effects of secondary magnetic fields produced by the instrument.