Obscured feature detector with multiple modes of operation

An obscured feature detector comprising:

• a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on:
• (a) the proximity of the sensor plates to one or more surrounding objects, and (b) the dielectric constant(s) of the surrounding object(s);
• a sensing circuit coupled to the plurality of sensor plates, the sensing circuit being configured to measure the capacitance of each of the sensor plates;
• a controller coupled to the sensing circuit, the controller being configured to receive the capacitance measurements from the sensing circuit;
• the controller configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode;
• the first mode configured to detect obscured features of a predetermined first material, and the second mode configured to detect obscured features of a predetermined second material;
• one or a plurality of indicators coupled to the controller, each indicator capable of toggling between a deactivated state and an activated state;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more of the indicators to identify a location of an obscured feature.

A method for determining the location of an obscured feature behind a surface, the method comprising:

• selecting a first mode or a second mode of an obscured feature detector, the first mode being configured to detect obscured features of a predetermined first material and the second mode being configured to detect obscured features of a predetermined second material;
• placing the obscured feature detector on the surface, the obscured feature detector having a plurality of sensor plates arranged in an array;
• sensing the capacitance in an area surrounding one or more of the sensor plates;
• identifying, based upon the sensed capacitance, the location of one or a plurality of obscured features;
• and
• activating one or a plurality of indicators to promote visual identification of the location of an obscured feature.