Systems and methods for a portable walk-through metal detector

1. A modular walk-through metal detector comprising:

a plurality of separate and interchangeable transmitter sensor panels electrically coupled to each other and arranged one above the other to form a first side wall;

a plurality of separate and interchangeable receiver sensor panels electrically coupled to each other and arranged one above the other to form a second side wall opposite the first side wall;

at least one cross-member that engages each side wall; and

a microcontroller operatively coupled to the transmitter and receiver sensor panels;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine a position of each transmitter and receiver sensor panel.

2. The metal detector of claim 1 , wherein the sensor panels may be stored in the cross member when the metal detector is disassembled.

3. The metal detector of claim 1 , wherein the metal detector comprises three transmitter sensor panels and three receiver sensor panels.

4. The metal detector of claim 1 , wherein each sensor panel comprises windowed areas.

5. The metal detector of claim 4 , wherein each sensor panel comprises a weather-proof construction.

6. The metal detector of claim 1 , wherein the metal detector further comprises at least one base member coupled to the side walls.

7. The metal detector of claim 6 , wherein the metal detector comprises at least two base members, wherein a first base member is adjacent to the first side wall and a second base member is adjacent to the second side wall.

8. The metal detector of claim 6 , wherein the cross-member is a top cross-member that extends between the side walls.

9. A modular walk-through metal detector comprising:

a base comprising at least two base members;

at least two separate and interchangeable transmitter sensor panels electrically coupled to each other and arranged one above the other to form a first side wall, a bottom transmitter sensor panel being adjacent a first base member;

at least two separate and interchangeable receiver sensor panels electrically coupled to each other and arranged one above the other to form a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a bottom receiver sensor panel being adjacent a second base member;

at least one top cross-member that engages each side wall; and

a microcontroller operatively coupled to the transmitter and receiver sensor panels;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to determine a position of each transmitter and receiver sensor panel.

10. The metal detector of claim 9 , wherein the sensor panels may be stored in the top cross member when the metal detector is disassembled.

11. The metal detector of claim 9 , wherein the metal detector comprises three transmitter sensor panels and three receiver sensor panels.

12. The metal detector of claim 9 , wherein each sensor panel comprises windowed areas.

13. The metal detector of claim 11 , wherein each sensor panel comprises a weather-proof construction.

14. The metal detector of claim 12 , wherein the sensor panels may be stored in the top cross member when the metal detector is disassembled.

15. A method of detecting metal, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of interchangeable transmitter sensor panels;

providing a plurality of interchangeable receiver sensor panels;

providing a base comprising at least one base member;

providing a top cross member;

assembling two side walls, a first side wall comprising at least two transmitter sensor panels such that the transmitter sensor panels are in electrical communication, and a second side wall comprising at least two receiver sensor panels such that the receiver sensor panels are in electrical communication;

coupling the side walls to the base;

coupling the side walls to the top cross member to provide an assembled modular metal detector;

providing a microcontroller operatively coupled to the side walls;

providing power to the metal detector;

determining, by the microcontroller, a position of each transmitter and receiver sensor panel; and

passing an object to be scanned through the metal detector.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the power is provided via at least one battery.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor panels are provided stored in the top cross member.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the power is provided with a solar power system.

19. A modular walk-through metal detector comprising:

a plurality of separate interchangeable sensor panels electrically coupled to each other and arranged one above the other along two separate sides to form two side walls; and

at least one top cross-member that engages each side wall;

wherein the sensor panels are storable in the top cross member when the metal detector is disassembled.

20. A modular walk-through metal detector comprising:

a base comprising at least two base members;

at least four separate and interchangeable sensor panels electrically coupled to each other and arranged above the at least two base members to form two side walls, a bottom sensor panel of each side wall being adjacent a corresponding one of the at least two base members; and

a top cross-member that engages each side wall;

wherein the sensor panels are storable in the top cross-member.

21. A method of detecting metal, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of sensor panels;

providing a base comprising at least one base member;

providing a top cross member;

providing the plurality of sensor panels stored in the top cross member;

assembling two side walls each comprising at least two sensor panels such that the sensor panels are in electrical communication;

coupling the side walls to the base;

coupling the side walls to the top cross member to provide an assembled modular metal detector;

providing power to the metal detector; and

passing an object to be scanned through the metal detector.