Surface-conforming obscured feature detector
AssigneeFranklin Sensors Inc.
InventorDavid M. Dorrough
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surface-conforming obscured feature detector includes a plurality of sensor plates flexibly connected together, each having a capacitance that varies based on the dielectric constant of the materials that compose the surrounding objects and the proximity of those objects. A sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor plates to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and are selectively activated to identify the location of a relative high capacitance, which can be indicative of an obscured feature behind a surface.
Claims20
A surface conforming obscured feature detector comprising:
- a plurality of sensor plates, flexibly connected together, each having a capacitance that varies based on:
- (a) the proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects, and (b) the dielectric constant(s) of the surrounding object(s);
- a sensing circuit coupled to the sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates;
- a controller coupled to the sensing circuit, the controller being configured to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit;
- one or a plurality of indicators coupled to the controller, each indicator capable of toggling between a deactivated state and an activated state,
- wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more of the indicators to identify a location of an obscured feature.
A surface-conforming obscured feature detector configured to be placed against a surface to detect the presence of one or more features obscured by the surface, the detector comprising:
- a housing with a handle;
- a plurality of flexibly interconnected sensor plates coupled to the housing, each sensor plate having a capacitance that varies based on:
- (a) the proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects, and (b) the dielectric constant of the surrounding object(s);
- a sensing circuit coupled to the sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates;
- a controller coupled to the sensing circuit, the controller being configured to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit;
- one or a plurality of indicators coupled to the controller, each indicator capable of toggling between a deactivated state and an activated state,
- wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more of the indicators to identify a location of an obscured feature.
A method of detecting an obscured feature behind a surface with a surface-conforming obscured feature detector having a plurality of sensor plates that are flexibly connected together in an array, the method comprising:
- placing the surface-conforming obscured feature detector against the surface such that the array of sensor plates conforms to the surface;
- measuring the capacitance of one or a plurality of the sensor plates;
- identifying, based on the capacitance readings, a location of the obscured feature behind the surface;
- activating one or more indicators to indicate the location of the obscured feature behind the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.