Back to results
US 2004/0000918 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for locating objects behind a wall lining
AssigneeSolar Wide Industrial Ltd.
InventorsHughes Sanoner, Desmond Wai Nang Tse, Ronald Tak Yin Yim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining includes a housing having a front portion adapted to fit substantially in the palm of a users hand. Operating switches are located in juxtaposition the grip portion so as to be operable by the user without substantially altering a grip on the housing. The device also includes a sensor comprising a first capacitor plate and a pair of second capacitor plates. The capacitor plates are arranged vertically, and calibrated by a Pulse Width Modulator and integrator. Operating electronics are incorporated into an Application Specific Integrated Circuit.
Claims30
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a housing having a front portion and a grip portion to fit the palm of a user's hand,
- a sensor for sensing an object behind a wall lining and providing an output signal representative of the proximity of the object to the device,
- a display on the front portion for indicating the location of the object,
- a controller positioned in the housing for receiving the output signal and providing an indication of the object location on the display, and
- one or more switches positioned adjacent the grip portion for allowing operation of said switches by the user without substantially altering a grip on the housing.
2 more elements
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a sensor comprising a first capacitor having a first capacitance, and a pair of second capacitors having a second capacitance and positioned on opposite sides of the first capacitor,
- a detection circuit coupled to the sensor for providing a signal proportional to an imbalance between the first and second capacitances,
- a display for indicating the location of an object behind a wall lining,
- a controller for receiving the signal and providing an indication of the object location on the display, and
- a pulse train and an integrator for providing a calibration voltage to the sensor.
2 more elements
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a sensor comprising a first capacitor having a first capacitance, and a pair of second capacitors having a second capacitance and positioned on opposite sides of the first capacitor,
- a detection circuit having an amplifier and coupled to the sensor for providing a signal proportional to an imbalance between the first and second capacitances,
- a display for indicating the location of an object behind a wall lining, and
- a controller for receiving the signal and providing an indication of the object location on the display, and
- a switch for selecting a gain for the amplifier.
2 more elements
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a sensor comprising a first capacitor having a first capacitance, and a pair of second capacitors having a second capacitance and positioned on opposite sides of the first capacitor,
- a detection circuit coupled to the sensor for providing a signal proportional to an imbalance between the first and second capacitances,
- a comparator for comparing the signal to a reference signal and providing an output,
- a display for indicating the location of an object behind a wall lining,
- a controller for receiving the output and providing an indication of the object location on the display,
- a user selection means for selecting the reference signal for the comparator.
3 more elements
A method of detecting objects behind a wall lining including:
- providing a sensor including at least two resistors, a first capacitor and a pair of second capacitors in electrical communication to provide two resistor-capacitor networks, the two resistor-capacitor networks having resistor-capacitor time constants,
- providing a pulse train having a duty cycle and an integrator for applying a voltage to the two resistor-capacitor networks,
- providing a detection circuit and controller for detecting an imbalance in the resistor-capacitor time constants, and
- sensing an imbalance in the resistor-capacitor time constants and manipulating the duty cycle to ameliorate the imbalance.
1 more element
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a sensor including a first capacitor and a pair of second capacitors to provide a first and a second capacitance, the sensor operable to change the first and second capacitances when proximate an object:
- behind a wall lining,
- a detector circuit for detecting an imbalance between the first and second capacitance and providing an output,
- a display for indicating a location of the object,
- a controller for receiving the output and providing an indication of the object location on the display, and wherein
- the pair of second capacitors are in electrical communication and positioned so that in use the pair of second capacitors are above and below the sides of the first capacitor.
3 more elements
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a sensor comprising a first capacitor having a first capacitance and a pair of second capacitors having a second capacitance, the pair of second capacitors being positioned on opposite sides of the first capacitor,
- a detector for providing a signal proportional to an imbalance between the first and second capacitances,
- a reference circuit for providing a reference,
- a comparator for comparing the signal to the reference and providing an output,
- a display for indicating the location of the object,
- a controller for receiving the output and providing an indication of the object location on the display, and
- an input device for allowing a user to vary the reference between two or more values.
4 more elements
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a first capacitor having a first capacitance,
- a pair of second capacitors having a second capacitance, the pair of capacitors being positioned on opposite sides of the first capacitor,
- a first detection circuit coupled to the capacitors for providing a first signal proportional to an imbalance between the first and second capacitances,
- a second detection circuit coupled to the capacitors for providing a second signal proportional to a alternating signal induced in the capacitors,
- a display for indicating the location of the object, and
- a controller for receiving the first or second signals and providing an indication of the object location on the display.
3 more elements
A device for locating an object behind a wall lining including:
- a first capacitor having a first capacitance,
- a pair of second capacitors having a second capacitance, the pair of capacitors being positioned on opposite sides of the first capacitor,
- a ferrite core with at least two windings,
- a first detection circuit coupled to the capacitors for providing a first signal proportional to an imbalance between the first and second capacitances,
- a second detection circuit coupled to one of the windings for detecting a change in voltage of the windings,
- a display for indicating the location of the object, and
- a controller for receiving the first or second signals and providing an indication of the object location on the display.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.