Method allowing the detection and display of objects located behind an obscuring surface

A method for detecting and displaying an object hidden behind an obscuring surface, the hidden object having a dielectric constant, the method comprising:

• disposing at the obscuring surface between an electrode and the obscuring surface a chamber of visual display material having a visual display characteristic that changes in response to the amount of energy applied to it by the electrode and in response to the dielectric constant of the hidden object;
• applying energy to the electrode and to the visual display material so that the visual display material becomes part of an electrical circuit that includes the obscuring surface and the hidden object;
• detecting the presence of the hidden object by the amount of energy applied to the visual display material and the dielectric constant of the hidden object;
• and
• displaying the shape of the hidden object by a change in the visual display characteristic of the visual display material resulting from the amount of energy applied to the visual display material and the dielectric constant of the hidden object;
• whereby the visual display material is used to both detect and display the hidden object.

A method for detecting and visually mapping relatively high frequency alternating current electric fields, comprising:

• locating a chamber of visual display material having a visual display characteristic between an electrode and the electric field to be detected and mapped, the visual display characteristic configured to change in response to the amount of energy applied to it by the electrode and in response to the electric field to be detected and mapped;
• determining the frequency of the electric field to be detected and mapped;
• synchronizing a frequency of energy applied to the electrode with the frequency of the electric field to be detected and mapped, and applying an offset in the frequency of energy applied to the electrode from the electric field frequency;
• detecting the presence of the electric field to be detected and mapped by the amount of energy applied to the visual display material and the electric field detected;
• and
• visually mapping the detected electric field by a flashing change in the visual display characteristic of the visual display material resulting from the frequency and amount of energy applied to the visual display material and the frequency and energy of the detected electric field;
• whereby the visual display material is used to both detect and map the electric field.

A method for displaying an object hidden behind an obscuring surface, the hidden object having a dielectric constant, the method comprising:

• disposing at the obscuring surface between a substantially transparent electrode and the obscuring surface a chamber containing an inert luminescent gas that emits light in response to the amount of energy applied to it by the electrode and in response to the dielectric constant of the hidden object;
• applying energy having a relatively high AC voltage to the electrode and to the luminescent gas so that the luminescent gas becomes part of an electrical circuit that includes the obscuring surface and the hidden object;
• controlling the energy applied to the electrode and the luminescent gas to maintain the gas substantially just above an ionization level at which the gas glows, and controlling the application of energy to the electrode to control an effective depth of view of the gas;
• and
• displaying the shape of the hidden object through the transparent electrode by a change in the emitted light of the luminescent gas resulting from the amount of energy applied to the luminescent gas and the dielectric constant of the hidden object;
• whereby the luminescent gas displays the hidden object.