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US 2022/0187487 A1Published application
Stud Finder Employing Photochromism
AssigneeRobert 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.
Claims20
A handheld stud finder system, comprising:
- a housing having at least one surface configured to be placed proximate a substrate;
- a stud-finding circuit disposed within the housing, the circuit configured to locate an object behind the substrate;
- and
- an ultraviolet light source at least partially disposed within the housing, wherein the ultraviolet light source, upon the stud-finding circuit locating an object, emits ultraviolet light outward from the housing and towards the substrate.
1 more element
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
A system for locating objects behind a substrate, comprising:
- a photochromic compound configured to change color when illuminated with a predetermined wavelength of light, wherein the photochromic compound is applied to a substrate;
- and
- a detector device having a control circuit and a light source, wherein the light source is configured to emit the predetermined wavelength of light, and 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.