Apparatus and method of determining location of an object

• US 7,679,546 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Holbrook, David S., Scott, John S., Bublitz, Scott D., Mergener, Matthew J., Hessenberger, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US11/858,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/407, 600425-435, 342/21, 342/22, 342 25 R- 25 F, 342 52- 55, 342/89, 342/90, 342/175, 342/176, 342/179, 342/181, 342189-197, 342/27, 342/28, 342/82, 324/323, 324332-346, 324/600, 324/629, 324637-646, 373/47, 373/48
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An apparatus and method of determining location of an object hidden from view. The apparatus includes an imaging tool for detecting hidden objects. The imaging tool includes a housing including a first end and a second end, a display supported by the first end of the housing, and a tracking device supported by the second end of the housing. The imaging tool also includes a transmitter supported by the housing and operable to transmit electromagnetic radiation toward a hidden target, an analysis module supported by the housing and operable to analyze feedback data related to the interaction between the target and the electromagnetic radiation, and an image module operable to receive data from the analysis module to generate an image on the display.

Claims

1. An imaging tool for detecting hidden objects, the imaging tool comprising:

a housing including a first end and a second end;

a display supported by the first end of the housing;

a tracking device supported by the second end of the housing and operable to measure movements of the imaging tool as the imaging tool moves along a surface;

a transmitter supported by the housing and operable to transmit electromagnetic radiation toward a hidden target;

an analysis module supported by the housing and operable to analyze feedback data related to the interaction between the target and the electromagnetic radiation; and

an image module operable to receive data from the analysis module to generate an image on the display.

2. The imaging tool of claim 1 further comprising a handle coupled to the housing, the handle including an actuator operable to activate the transmitter.

3. The imaging tool of claim 1 wherein the housing is frusto-conical shaped.

4. The imaging tool of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes a plurality of wheels adapted to glide along the surface.

5. The imaging tool of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes an omni wheel adapted to glide along the surface.

6. The imaging tool of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes a frequency in a range of about 300 MHz to about 300 GHz.

7. The imaging tool of claim 1 further comprising a speaker supported by the housing and operable to generate sound to a user of the tool.

8. An imaging tool comprising:

a housing including a first end and a second end;

a display supported by the first end of the housing;

a transmitter supported by the housing and operable to transmit microwaves through the second end and toward a hidden target;

an image module operable to generate an image of the hidden target on the display; and

a tracking device supported by the second end of the housing and operable to maintain position data of the imaging tool as the imaging tool moves along a surface.

9. The imaging power tool of claim 8 further comprising an analysis module supported by the housing and operable to analyze feedback data related to the interaction between the hidden target and the microwaves.

10. The imaging power tool of claim 8 wherein the tracking device includes a plurality of wheels adapted to glide along the surface.

11. The imaging power tool of claim 8 wherein the tracking device includes an omni wheel adapted to glide along the surface.

12. The imaging power tool of claim 8 further comprising a handle coupled to the housing, the handle including an actuator operable to activate the transmitter.

13. A method of locating a hidden object, the method comprising:

positioning an imaging tool against a surface;

moving the imaging tool along the surface;

transmitting microwaves toward an object behind the surface;

detecting feedback from the interaction between the microwaves and the object;

generating an image on a display supported by the imaging tool, the image being representative of a size of the object, a depth of the object, and a location of the object; and

tracking, with a tracking device supported by the imaging tool, a position of the imaging tool as the imaging tool moves along the surface.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising analyzing the feedback to generate the image.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising adjusting a penetration depth of the microwaves.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the depth of the object is indicated with color on the display.