Blending and display of RF in wall imagery with data from other sensors

• US 10,302,793 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Mrvaljevic, Nikola, Rhead, Jamie, Silva, Luis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US15/228,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20180038981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 324634, 324635, 324637-646, 342 22
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/12 Measuring electrostatic fields or voltage-potential
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/10 Providing two-dimensional and co-ordinated display of distance and direction
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for blending and display of radio frequency in-wall imagery are provided. In the method and apparatus, an RF sensor assembly receives an RF signal for capturing an RF image of one or more objects including an electricity-bearing object disposed in a space behind a surface, a voltage sensor detects a presence of the electricity-bearing object disposed in the space behind the surface and a processor determines the RF image based on the data representing the RF signal, identifies a position of the electricity-bearing object in the RF image based on the data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object and a relative position of the sensory field to the RF sensor assembly and generates, based on the RF image, a composite image in which the electricity-bearing object is marked.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) imaging device comprising:

an RF sensor assembly configured to receive an RF signal for capturing an RF image of one or more objects including an electricity-bearing object disposed in a space behind a surface and output data representing the RF signal;

a voltage sensor having a sensory field and configured to detect a presence of the electricity-bearing object disposed in the space behind the surface in the sensory field and output data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object in the sensory field;

a contact moisture sensor operable to contact the surface and configured to sense a moisture level in a portion of the surface and output data representing the moisture level; and

a processor configured to;

receive the data representing the RF signal, the data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing wire, and the data representing the moisture level;

determine the RF image based on the data representing the RF signal;

identify a position of the electricity-bearing object in the RF image based on the data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object and a relative position of the sensory field to the RF sensor assembly;

generate, based on the RF image, a composite image in which the electricity-bearing object is marked;

adjust the composite image to display an indication of the moisture level on the composite image; and

output the composite image for storage or display.

2. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor is a non-contact voltage sensor.

3. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor detects a characteristic of a voltage or current of the electricity-bearing object and outputs data indicating the characteristic of the voltage or current of the electricity-bearing object.

4. The RF imaging device of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to receive the data indicating the characteristic of the voltage or current of the electricity-bearing object, and wherein generating the composite image in which the electricity-bearing object is marked includes generating the composite image to include the characteristic of the voltage or current.

5. The RF imaging device of claim 3, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of a voltage level of the electricity-bearing object, a current level of the electricity-bearing object, a type of current of the electricity-bearing object, or a frequency of a current of the electricity-bearing object, and wherein the type of current of the electricity-bearing object indicates whether the current is alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).

6. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein generating the composite image includes superposing onto the RF image an image indicative of a position of the sensory field in relation to RF image.

7. The RF imaging device of claim 6, wherein generating the composite image includes marking the image indicative of the position of the sensory field in response to receiving the data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object in the sensory field.

8. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein marking the electricity-bearing object includes coloring the electricity-bearing object in the composite image or text-labelling the electricity-bearing object in the composite image.

9. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein:

the RF imaging device further comprises;

a position sensor configured to output data representing a position of the RF sensor assembly; and

a memory; and

the processor is configured to;

receive the data representing the position of the RF sensor assembly; and

cause the data representing the position of the RF sensor assembly to be stored in the memory in association with the data representing the RF signal and the data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object.

10. The RF imaging device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive subsequent data representing a subsequent RF image of one or more other objects disposed in a space behind the surface at a subsequent position of the RF sensor assembly;

receive subsequent data indicating a presence of another electricity-bearing object disposed in the space behind the surface in the sensory field of the voltage sensor at the subsequent position of the RF sensor assembly;

receive data representing the subsequent position of the RF sensor assembly;

generate, based on the subsequent data representing the subsequent RF image and the subsequent data indicating the presence of another electricity-bearing object, a subsequent composite image in which the other electricity-bearing object is marked; and

cause the subsequent composite image to be stored in association with the subsequent position.

11. The RF imaging device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to assemble a panoramic RF image of the space behind the surface by:

collating the composite image and the subsequent composite image at the respective position and subsequent position of the RF sensor assembly.

12. A radio frequency (RF) imaging device, comprising:

an RF sensor assembly configured to emit an RF wave in a direction relative to an area of a surface, sense a reflection of the RF wave from one or more objects in a space behind the area of the surface, capture reflection data representing the sensed reflection of the RF wave, and output the reflection data;

a contact moisture sensor operable to contact the surface and configured to sense a moisture level in a portion of the surface and output data representing the moisture level; and

a processor operatively coupled to the RF sensor assembly and the contact moisture sensor and configured to;

receive the reflection data and the data representing the moisture level;

determine, based on the reflection data, an RF image of the one or more objects; and

adjust the RF image to display an indication of the moisture level on the RF image.

13. The RF imaging device of claim 12, wherein the portion of the surface is within the area of the surface, and wherein displaying the indication of the moisture level on the RF image includes displaying the indication of the moisture level at a location on the RF image that corresponds to a location of the portion of the surface whose moisture level is sensed by the contact moisture sensor.

14. The RF imaging device of claim 12, wherein the contact moisture sensor includes at least two probes that are operable to contact the surface at at least two respective locations on the surface, and wherein the portion of the surface lies between the at least two respective locations.

15. The RF imaging device of claim 14, wherein adjusting the RF image to display an indication of the moisture level on the RF image includes showing an indication of the at least two respective locations on the RF image.

16. The RF imaging device of claim 15, wherein showing the indication of the at least two respective locations on the RF image includes showing a reticle that indicates the at least two respective locations on the RF image.

17. A radio frequency (RF) imaging device, comprising:

an RF imaging sensor assembly configured to emit an RF wave in a direction relative to a first area of a surface, sense a reflection of the RF wave from one or more objects in a space behind the area of the surface, capture reflection data representing the sensed reflection of the RF wave, and output the reflection data;

a voltage sensor having sensory field within the area and configured to detect a presence of an electricity-bearing object behind the surface in the sensory field and output data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object;

a contact moisture sensor operable to contact the surface and configured to sense a moisture level in a portion of the surface and output data representing the moisture level; and

a processor operatively coupled to the RF imaging sensor assembly, the voltage sensor and the contact moisture sensor and configured to;

receive the reflection data, the data indicating the presence of the electricity-bearing object, and the data representing the moisture level;

determine, based on the reflection data, an RF image of the one or more objects;

adjust the RF image to display an indication of the presence of the electricity-bearing object at a location in the RF image that corresponds to a location of the sensory field within the area;

adjust the RF image to display an indication of the moisture level on the RF image; and

output the RF image for storage or display.

18. The RF imaging device of claim 17, wherein the voltage sensor is a non-contact voltage sensor that detects a characteristic of a voltage or current of the electricity-bearing object and outputs data indicating the characteristic of the voltage or current of the electricity-bearing object.

19. The RF imaging device of claim 17, wherein:

the contact moisture sensor is a first contact moisture sensor that is configured to sense a first moisture level in a first portion of the surface and output data representing the first moisture level;

the RF imaging device includes a second contact moisture sensor operable to contact the surface and configured to sense a second moisture level in a second portion of the surface different than the first portion of the surface and output data representing the second moisture level; and

the processor is operatively coupled to the second contact moisture sensor and is configured to;

receive the data representing the second moisture level; and

adjust the RF image to display an indication of the second moisture level on the RF image, the indication of the second moisture level being displayed at a location that corresponds to a location of the second contact moisture sensor in relation to the area of the surface.