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US 11,686,875 B2Granted
Stud finder employing photochromism
AssigneesRobert Bosch Tool Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
InventorsJeremy Rubens, Christopher Crowell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved detector device for locating studs and other objects behind a substrate (such as a wall) uses one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) in combination with a photochromic compound to mark the locations on the substrate behind which objects are located.
Claims11
A handheld stud finder system, comprising:
- a housing having a surface configured to be placed proximate a substrate;
- a stud-finding circuit disposed within the housing, the stud-finding circuit configured to locate an object behind the substrate;
- an ultraviolet light source at least partially disposed within the housing, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit an ultraviolet light outward from the housing and towards the substrate;
- a photochromic compound, configured to be applied to the substrate, wherein ultraviolet light causes the photochromic compound to change color;
- and
- a control circuit in communication with the stud-finding circuit and ultraviolet light source, configured to activate the ultraviolet light source when the surface of the housing is slid over a location on the substrate behind which an object is located thereby illuminating a portion of the photochromic compound with the ultraviolet light causing the portion of the photochromic compound to change color,
- wherein the changed color of the photochromic compound allows for the identification of a location on the substrate behind which an object is located based on the location of the portion of photochromatic compound that has changed color after the surface of the housing of the handheld stud finder is no longer proximate the substrate to where the object behind the substrate is located.
4 more elements
A method of identifying a location on a substrate behind which an object is located, comprising the steps of:
- applying a photochromic compound to a substrate portion, wherein the photochromic compound is configured to change color when illuminated by a predetermined wavelength of light;
- providing a detector device having a control circuit and a light source, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the light source when the detector device is slid over a location on the substrate behind which an object is located and the light source is configured to, when activated, emit the predetermined wavelength of light;
- sliding the detector device over the substrate portion, thereby illuminating a portion of the photochromic compound with the predetermined wavelength of light causing the portion of compound to change color;
- and
- identifying the location on the substrate behind which an object is located based on the location of the portion of compound that has changed color.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.