Electronic wall stud sensor
First Claim
1. A portable device for locating a wall stud positioned behind a wall surface, comprising in combination:
- a housing having a flat surface;
a capacitor plate mounted adjacent said housing flat surface;
a circuit for detecting any change in the capacitance of the capacitor plate due to a change in the dielectric constant of the wall adjacent the housing flat surface; and
means for indicating the change in the capacitance of the capacitor plate whereby by moving the device such that the flat surface thereof is in close proximity to the wall, the change in the dielectric constant caused by the stud in the wall changes the capacitance of the capacitor plate as indicated by the indicating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable sensor adapted to be moved along a wall to indicate a change in the dielectric constant of the wall thereby to signal the presence of a wall stud within the wall. The sensor incorporates a capacitor plate positioned adjacent the surface in contact with the wall and a circuit for detecting any change in the capacitive charge on the capacitor. Any change in capacitive charge as the sensor is moved along the wall is due to a change in the dielectric constant of the wall because of the presence of a wall stud behind the wallboard. The sensor visually indicates any change in the dielectric constant in a manner to permit selection of the center of the change in dielectric constant thereby indicating the center of the wall stud. An additional feature of the circuit permits automatic calibration of the sensor to a level corresponding to the dielectric constant of the wallboard so that any change in the dielectric constant of the wall due to the presence of a stud is readily observable.
213 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A portable device for locating a wall stud positioned behind a wall surface, comprising in combination:
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a housing having a flat surface; a capacitor plate mounted adjacent said housing flat surface; a circuit for detecting any change in the capacitance of the capacitor plate due to a change in the dielectric constant of the wall adjacent the housing flat surface; and means for indicating the change in the capacitance of the capacitor plate whereby by moving the device such that the flat surface thereof is in close proximity to the wall, the change in the dielectric constant caused by the stud in the wall changes the capacitance of the capacitor plate as indicated by the indicating means. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A device for locating a wall stud positioned behind a wall surface, comprising in combination:
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a housing having a flat surface; a pair of capacitor plates positioned side-by-side adjacent the housing flat surface; circuit means for conducting a charge to both capacitor plates; second circuit means for indicating any changes in the relative capacitance of the two capacitor plates; and indicating means for indicating any detected changes in the relative capacitance of the two capacitor plates whereby by moving the housing along the wall and detecting any change in capacitance the position of a stud in the wall can be detected. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification