Handheld Locating Device Multi-Sensor Wall Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locating devices for objects behind walls or surfaces often provide erroneous indications due to calibration and scanning errors, lacking accuracy and confidence in identifying metal wiring and plastic pipes.
Innovation Solution
A handheld locating device equipped with multiple sensors (optoelectronic, capacitance, Doppler radar, inductance, electric field, and wave propagation sensors) that work in conjunction with a controller to accurately detect and differentiate between various objects by analyzing motion parameters and sensor inputs, eliminating the need for calibration and enhancing confidence levels through multi-sensor verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor unit is used for detecting objects behind walls, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of object detection deteriorates due to calibration and scanning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor units (capacitance sensor, Doppler radar sensor, inductance sensor, electric field sensor, and wave propagation sensor) into a single locating device. These sensors work together to detect objects behind walls, providing multiple verification points that eliminate calibration errors and improve detection accuracy without requiring complex external calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The locating device incorporates multiple sensor types that can detect various materials (metal, wood, plastic pipes, electric wires) using different physical principles. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to accurately identify diverse objects behind walls without requiring separate specialized tools or calibration for each object type.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to verify detections and eliminate calibration, then the measurement precision and reliability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple sensors in the locating device perform self-verification of detections without requiring external calibration or adjustment by the user. The sensors automatically cross-check their readings and provide confidence levels for detections, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures and reducing reliance on user expertise while maintaining high reliability.
3Ease of operation
If traditional single-sensor locating devices are used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of information occurs due to erroneous indications and inability to differentiate object types
Solution Approach 1:
The locating device uses different LED indicator colors to communicate detection results and confidence levels to the user. Green LEDs indicate high-confidence detections, yellow LEDs indicate lower confidence, and red LEDs indicate no detection or low confidence. This visual coding system allows users to quickly interpret complex multi-sensor data without requiring technical expertise, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating information loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides high accuracy and confidence in identifying objects by using multiple sensors to verify detections, reducing false positives and enabling detection of multiple objects simultaneously without calibration, ensuring precise identification of metal, wood, and plastic pipes, as well as electric wires and studs.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit with two optoelectronic sensors for picking up a first and a second motion parameter
Implementation Method 2
a capacitance sensor for detecting objects
Implementation Method 3
a Doppler radar sensor for detecting objects
Implementation Method 4
an inductance sensor for detecting objects
Implementation Method 5
an electric field sensor for detecting objects
Implementation Method 6
a wave propagation sensor for detecting objects
Data Source
Figure 1~4B
Figure 3
Figure 4A~5
AI summary
A locating device disposable on a surface has a housing, a capacitance sensor, a radar sensor, and an inductance sensor. The locating device also has a motion sensor disposed for detecting at least one motion parameter. A controller receives data from the capacitance sensor, the radar sensor, the inductance sensor and the motion sensor, and determines from the data a presence of objects disposed within or behind the surface. A display is used for displaying a graphical representation of the objects disposed within or behind the surface.