Apparatus and methods for detecting obscured features

• US 10,261,208 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Sensors Inc.
• Original Assignee: Franklin Sensors Inc.
• Inventors: Dorrough, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tang, Minh N
• Application Number:
  US15/136,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20160377758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

Obscured feature detectors and methods of detecting obscured features are disclosed. An obscured feature detector can include a plurality of sensor plates. Each of the sensor plates can have an equivalent primary sensing field zone and 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 can be selectively set to identify a location of an obscured feature behind a surface.

Claims

1. An obscured feature detector comprising:

three or more sensor plates each to take a sensor reading that varies based on a proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects and on a material property of each of the one or more surrounding objects, the three or more sensor plates to collectively create a sensing field, each individual sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates to create a corresponding primary sensing field zone within the sensing field where an individual sensor plate that creates the corresponding primary sensing field zone contributes more strongly to the sensing field in the corresponding primary sensing field zone than any other of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the three or more sensor plates are arranged in radial symmetry to create primary sensing field zones that are geometrically similar;

a sensing circuit coupled to the three or more sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the sensor readings of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the sensor readings are based on the sensing field; and

an indicator to be toggled between a deactivated state and an activated state to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading.

2. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein the primary sensing field zones are to be geometrically similar when all of the three or more sensor plates are under the operating conditions of the detector.

3. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the sensing circuit, the controller being configured to analyze the sensor readings measured by the sensing circuit,

wherein the controller is configured to set the indicator to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading on one or more sensor plates of the three or more sensor plates.

4. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, comprising a plurality of indicators to be toggled between a deactivated state and an activated state to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading on the three or more sensor plates.

5. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein the sensor reading comprises a capacitance reading,

wherein the sensing circuit senses the capacitance surrounding each sensor plate.

6. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit reads at least two of the three or more sensor plates simultaneously.

7. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein the three or more sensor plates are arranged in a square pattern.

8. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein all of the three or more sensor plates have a similar geometry.

9. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein each of the three or more sensor plates are arranged in a radially symmetrical pattern.

10. The obscured feature detector of claim 1, wherein each sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates has an internal border extending along at least a portion of an internal border of one or more other sensor plates of the three or more sensor plates and an external border disposed at an outer perimeter of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the external border of each sensor plate is similar in length to the external border of every other sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates.

11. An obscured feature detector comprising:

a group of three or more sensor plates configured so that each sensor plate has an internal border extending along at least a portion of an internal border of one or more other sensor plates of the group and an external border disposed at an outer perimeter of the group, wherein the external border of each sensor plate is similar in length to the external border of every other sensor plate of the group of three or more sensor plates, each sensor plate to take a sensor reading that varies based on a proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects and on a material property of each of the one or more surrounding objects,

wherein the similar length to the external borders of the three or more sensor plates creates sensing field zones for each of the three or more sensor plates that are geometrically similar;

a sensing circuit coupled to the group of three or more sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the sensor readings of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the sensor readings are based on the sensing field zones; and

an indicator to be toggled between a deactivated state and an activated state to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading.

12. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, further comprising a controller coupled to the sensing circuit, the controller being configured to analyze the sensor readings measured by the sensing circuit,

wherein the controller is configured to activate the indicator to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading.

13. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, comprising a plurality of indicators to be toggled between a deactivated state and an activated state to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading on one or more of the three or more sensor plates.

14. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the sensor reading comprises a capacitance reading,

wherein the sensing circuit senses the capacitance surrounding each sensor plate.

15. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the sensor reading comprises an electromagnetic reading,

wherein the sensing circuit senses an electromagnetic field surrounding each sensor plate.

16. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the sensing circuit reads at least two of the three or more sensor plates simultaneously.

17. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein each sensor plate is a combination of two or more mini sensor plates, wherein two or more mini sensor plates are sensed simultaneously.

18. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the three or more sensor plates all have substantially similar effective border lengths.

19. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the three or more sensor plates all have substantially similar internal border lengths.

20. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the three or more sensor plates all have substantially similar geometries.

21. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the three or more sensor plates all have similar internal border contours.

22. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the three or more sensor plates all have similar external border contours.

23. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the group of three or more sensor plates are arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

24. The obscured feature detector of claim 11, wherein the group of three or more sensor plates collectively create a three-dimensional sensing field, the three or more sensor plates positioned so that each individual sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates has a corresponding primary sensing field zone that is a geometric three-dimensional volume of the sensing field where an individual sensor plate that creates the corresponding primary sensing field zone contributes more strongly to the sensing field than any other of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the three or more sensor plates all have primary sensing field zones that are geometrically similar.

25. A method of detecting an obscured feature behind a surface, comprising:

taking a sensor reading of sensor plates of an obscured feature detector that is disposed in a stationary position on the surface, the obscured feature detector comprising three or more sensor plates, a sensing circuit, and an indicator, wherein the three or more sensor plates collectively create a sensing field, wherein the three or more sensor plates are configured so that each individual sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates has a corresponding primary sensing field zone that is a geometric three-dimensional volume of the sensing field where an individual sensor plate that creates the corresponding primary sensing field zone contributes more strongly to the sensing field than any other of the three or more sensor plates,

wherein the three or more sensor plates are arranged in radial symmetry to create primary sensing field zones that are geometrically similar;

measuring, via the sensing circuit, the sensor readings of the three or more sensor plates based on the sensing field;

comparing measured sensor readings in different regions of the sensing field; and

toggling the indicator from a deactivated state to an activated state to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the three or more sensor plates and one active shield create the three-dimensional sensing field, wherein the active shield is driven with a signal that is similar to the signal on the sensor plates.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the measured sensor reading is a capacitive reading.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the measured sensor reading is an electromagnetic reading.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein each of the sensor plates has a similar geometry.

30. A method of detecting an obscured feature behind a surface, comprising:

taking a sensor reading of sensor plates of an obscured feature detector that is disposed in a stationary position on the surface, the obscured feature detector comprising a group of three or more sensor plates, a sensing circuit, and an indicator, wherein the group of three or more sensor plates are configured so that each sensor plate has an internal border extending along at least a portion of an internal border of one or more other sensor plates of the group and an external border disposed at an outer perimeter of the group, wherein the external border of each sensor plate is similar in length to the external border of every other sensor plate of the group of three or more sensor plates, each sensor plate to take a sensor reading that varies based on a proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects and on a material property of each of the one or more surrounding objects,

wherein the similar length to the external borders of the three or more sensor plates creates sensing field zones for each of the three or more sensor plates that are geometrically similar;

measuring, via the sensing circuit, the sensor readings of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the sensor readings are based on the sensing field zones;

comparing measured sensor readings in different regions of the sensing field; and

toggling the indicator from a deactivated state to an activated state to indicate a location of a region of relative high sensor reading on the three or more sensor plates.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the three sensor more plates and one active shield create the three-dimensional sensing field, wherein the active shield is driven with a signal that is similar to the signal on the sensor plates.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the measured sensor reading is a capacitive reading.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the measured sensor reading is an electromagnetic reading.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein each of the sensor plates has a similar geometry.

35. An obscured feature detector comprising:

three or more sensor plates each to take a sensor reading that varies based on a proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects and on a material property of each of the one or more surrounding objects, the three or more sensor plates collectively creating a sensing field, the three or more sensor plates positioned so that each individual sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates has a corresponding primary sensing field zone that is a geometric three-dimensional volume of the sensing field where the individual sensor plate is able to sense effectively, wherein the three or more sensor plates are arranged in radial symmetry to create primary sensing field zones that are geometrically, and wherein each of the three or more sensor plates have similar sensing fields within their respective primary sensing field zones.

36. An obscured feature detector comprising:

three or more sensor plates each to take a sensor reading that varies based on a proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects and on a material property of each of the one or more surrounding objects, the three or more sensor plates and an active shield collectively creating a sensing field, the three or more sensor plates positioned so that each individual sensor plate of the three or more sensor plates has a corresponding primary sensing field zone that is a geometric three-dimensional volume of the sensing field where an individual sensor that creates the corresponding primary sensing field zone contributes more strongly to the sensing field than the active shield or any other of the three or more sensor plates, wherein the three or more sensor plates are arranged in radial symmetry to create primary sensing field zones that are geometrically similar.