Obscured feature detector with pattern matching
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An obscured feature detector comprising:
- a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on;
(a) the proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects, and (b) the dielectric constant(s) of the surrounding object(s);
a sensing circuit coupled to the sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates with the obscured feature detector in a stationary position, the set of measured capacitance values comprising a measured reading pattern;
a controller comprising non-volatile memory storing a predetermined reading pattern comprising a plurality of capacitance values, and a pattern matching module configured to compare the measured reading pattern with the predetermined reading pattern, and determine whether the predetermined reading pattern matches the measured reading pattern; and
one or a plurality of indicators coupled to the controller, each indicator capable of toggling between a deactivated state and an activated state,wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more of the indicators to identify a location of an obscured feature.
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Abstract
A surface-conforming obscured feature detector includes a plurality of sensor plates, each having 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 32 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 are selectively activated to identify the location of an obscured feature behind a surface.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An obscured feature detector comprising:
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a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on;
(a) the proximity of the sensor plate to one or more surrounding objects, and (b) the dielectric constant(s) of the surrounding object(s);a sensing circuit coupled to the sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates with the obscured feature detector in a stationary position, the set of measured capacitance values comprising a measured reading pattern; a controller comprising non-volatile memory storing a predetermined reading pattern comprising a plurality of capacitance values, and a pattern matching module configured to compare the measured reading pattern with the predetermined reading pattern, and determine whether the predetermined reading pattern matches the measured reading pattern; and one or a plurality of indicators coupled to the controller, each indicator capable of toggling between a deactivated state and an activated state, wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more of the indicators to identify a location of an obscured feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining the location of obscured features behind a surface, the method comprising:
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placing an obscured feature detector in a stationary position on the surface, the obscured feature detector having a plurality of sensor plates arranged in an array; measuring capacitance readings sensed in a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to an area surrounding one or more of the sensor plates, the set of capacitance readings forming a measured reading pattern; comparing the measured reading pattern to each of a plurality of predetermined reading patterns, each predetermined reading pattern comprising a set of capacitance values and being stored in non-volatile memory in a controller; identifying, based upon comparisons of the measured reading pattern to the predetermined reading patterns, the predetermined reading pattern that best matches the measured reading pattern, each predetermined reading pattern being associated with one or more indicators; and activating the one or more indicators associated with the predetermined reading pattern that best matches the measured reading pattern. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification