Use of metal detectors by police, law enforcement, and security personnel has dated back for a surprisingly long time. Many occurrenceshave beendocumented in which metal recognition apparatuses have been used by different security organizations and far back as 2000+yrs ago. They are a vital tool used in all types of modern law enforcement situations, down to and including, protectingancient Chinese Emperors. Metal detectors include two basic types, including the walk-through and the hand-held type. Both types are currently used to an increasing number everyday. With the modern war on terrorism, metal detectors are used in many more situations and are crucial to Police in their pursuit of protection and law enforcement.
Current technologies in metal detectors, as well as improved usage practices and knowledge, have made the devices affordable and efficient. With metal detectors becoming a staple of everyday life, due to portability and heightened fears across the globe, it can be hard to believe this ultra modern technology began from ancient roots. The earliest metal detecting technology was recorded in China 200yrs+ B. C. in service of the reigning emperor, concerned with his safety at home.
In the ancient Chinese world, the Emperor lived under constant threat of his life. He desired to maximize the magnetic powers of a locally resourced mineral named magnetite. He built a doorway, shaped to curve like the iconic horse-shoe type magnet known today. Typical to the tempering of metals, the craftsmen approved the repetitive actions of applying intense heat, followed by hammering the mineral. The intense heat and hammering triggered the molecular reaction, causing molecules to arrange in a line toward the course of the natural magnetic field. An attempted assassination, usually with concealed iron objects were potentially thwarted as the weapons/armor were revealed as the highly magnetized doorway attracted the objects.
Other smaller advances in metal detection technology were developed but remarkable advances were not developed until interest in metal detectors increased in the early twentieth century. Extremely consistent and incredibly precise metal detectors featuring “Good/Bad” recognition and “ground mineral rejection” were developed over the more than two decade period of the 1960’s and 70’s and helped begin a second phase of the modern metal detector revolution.
Target analyzer designs have been developed and become more accurate. The use of computerized, microprocessor-controlled circuitry represented a quantum leap in the analysis of data.These designs have helped in developing of perhaps the greatest leap in detecting, the super sensitive, hand-held detecting devices.
