Method and device for a material-penetrative localization of a measurement signal

• US 7,605,743 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mahler, Michael, Hoffmann, Ulli, Wieland, Chirstoph, Wewers, Felix, Skultety-Betz, Uwe, Krapf, Reiner, Haase, Bjoern
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor; John B
• Application Number:
  US11/570,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 342/179
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the material-penetrative localization of a measurement signal, in particular a material-penetrative positioning method for use on walls, ceilings, and floors.

According to the invention, a high-frequency transmitter (20, 120) emits a measurement signal (22, 122) in the gigahertz frequency range, which penetrates the material (10) at least once and is detected by a high-frequency receiver (24, 124) in order to locate the penetration position (18).

The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A material-penetrative positioning method for locating a measurement signal on walls, ceilings, and floors, comprising steps of:

transmitting a measurement signal (22, 122) in the gigahertz frequency range using a high-frequency transmitter (20, 120) positioned at a first surface (14) of a material (10) to penetrate the material at least once;

moveably positioning a reflecting means (126) at a second surface (16) of the material (10) to reflect a portion of the measurement signal (22, 122) that has penetrated; and

receiving a portion of the measurement signal portion reflected from the reflecting means (126) using a high-frequency receiver (24, 124) positioned at the first surface (14) of the material (10) to locate a penetration position (18) of the measurement signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, the measurement signal (22, 122) has more than one measurement frequency.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the measurement signal (22, 122) is directed.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more measurement frequency/frequencies in an interval of 1000 MHz to 5000 MHz are used.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said measurement frequency/frequencies fall within an interval of 1500 MHz to 3500 MHz.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the measurement signal (22, 122) is generated using the FMCW method in the gigahertz frequency range.

7. The method as recited in one of the claim 6, wherein the measurement signal (22, 122) in the gigahertz frequency range is generated using a pulsed-radar method and is transmitted into the material.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, the reflector means (126) include a SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) element.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, the reflector means (126) include a transponder (128).

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising utilizing a signal strength display to locate the measurement signal (22, 122, 123) which penetrated the workpiece (10), the display positioned at one of the high frequency receiver (24, 124) and/or reflecting means (126).

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of transmitting and receiving include that high-frequency transmitter (120) and the high-frequency receiver (124) are operated in the same device (100).

12. A material-penetrative positioning system for locating a measurement signal on walls, ceilings, and floors, comprising:

a high-frequency transceiver (100) positioned on a first surface (14) of a material (10) for transmitting a measurement signal (22, 122) in the gigahertz frequency range into and penetrating the material (10) at least once; and

a reflecting means (126) that is movably positioned at a second surface (16) of the material (10) to reflect a portion of the measurement signal (22, 122) that has penetrated;

wherein the high-frequency transceiver (100) receive a portion of the measurement signal portion reflected from the reflecting means (126) back to said first surface (14) of the material (10) to locate a penetration position (18) of the measurement signal.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of receiving further comprises that at least the high-frequency receiver (124) utilizes a marking device for producing a mark on a surface (14, 16).

14. The system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a signal strength display to locate the measurement signal (22, 122, 123) which penetrated the workpiece (10) at the high frequency transceiver.