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The X-Terra detectors are Minelab's fi rst products
to incorporate VFLEX Technology.
VFLEX uses state of the art digital and mixed-signal
components to enhance standard single frequency
technology by replacing most of the analogue
circuitry with digital signal processing. The small
amount of analogue circuitry still employed has
been very carefully designed and calibrated to
obtain the outstanding sensitivity, stability and
repeatability required to match the performance
of the processing in the digital domain.
This radical departure from traditional approaches
to metal detector design has been made possible
by advances in electronics that power personal
digital assistants, cell (mobile) phones and
high-fi delity portable audio.
Power
Audio
Transmit
Supply
Analog Signal
PRIMARY MICRO
(IN CONTROL BOX)
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
(DSP)
CODEC SIGNAL CONVERSION
Keypad
LCD
Receive
Control Box
Transmit
SECONDARY MICRO
(IN COIL)
SENSING + TRANSMITTING
COIL TYPE, SIZE, FREQUENCY
Analog Signal
Receive
Coil
Standard VLF Signal
Precision VFLEX Signal
(Without VFLEX)
For the X-Terra user, this precision means
dependable performance and improved immunity
to environmental conditions such as ground
mineralization, electromagnetic interference
and temperature variations.
VFLEX requires coils that are accurately constructed
and calibrated. Every time the detector starts up,
the micro-controllers in the control box and the
coil establish communication through a digital
data link.
Information about the coil is sent to the control box,
so the detector 'knows' what type of coil is attached
and can set the correct operating parameters.
This optimizes the performance, and also makes
the detector 'future proof', in that it will be capable
of operating at diff erent frequencies* depending
on the electronic properties of the coil.
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