Obscured Feature Detector With Live Wire Interleaving
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing obscured feature detectors face interference between live wire sensing and obscured feature sensing, leading to inaccurate detection of structural elements due to overlapping electrical fields, particularly with higher accuracy detectors.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves interleaving the sensing of obscured features and live wires using a multiplexer to couple the live wire sensing element to either sensing circuitry or a reference, allowing it to float while being sensed, and amplifying the signal for digital processing, thereby reducing interference and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate circuitry and sensor pads are used for sensing live wires and obscured features simultaneously, then both detection capabilities are provided, but multiple sources of electrical fields interfere with accurate obscured feature sensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternately switching the sensing element between live wire sensing mode and obscured feature sensing mode using a multiplexer. The sensing element is coupled to live wire sensing circuitry during live wire detection, then coupled to a reference to allow obscured feature sensing. This time-division multiplexing eliminates electrical field interference while maintaining both detection capabilities, resolving the contradiction between versatility and measurement precision.
2Reliability
If the live wire sensing element is left electrically floating and sensed continuously, then live wire detection is achieved, but the voltage level oscillates at substantially lower voltage requiring amplifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by intermittently coupling the sensing element to the live wire sensing circuitry rather than continuous sensing. The multiplexer switches the sensing element between connected and disconnected states from the amplifier, reducing the time the amplifier must operate and thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliable live wire detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the amplifier by controlling it to operate only during specific time intervals when live wire sensing is required, rather than continuously. This parameter change in duty cycle reduces power consumption while maintaining the reliability of live wire detection when needed.
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
This approach achieves higher accuracy in detecting obscured features while maintaining the capability to warn for live wires, even with more sensitive detectors, at a low cost by minimizing signal interference and optimizing sensing time.
Implementation Method 1
These detectors sense changes in capacitance on the examined surface that result from the presence of features positioned behind, beneath or within the surface
Implementation Method 2
The sensing element is coupled to live wire sensing circuitry to sense a live wire. An electrical field is formed between the sensing element and the live electrical wire
Implementation Method 3
A multiplexer is used to switch the sensing element between connected and disconnected states from the amplifier
Implementation Method 4
An amplifier may be used to increase the signal strength of the sensed live wire sensing element
Data Source
AI summary
Obscured feature detectors are disclosed that have both the capability to sense the location of obscured structural features and the ability to warn a user of obscured live electrical wires in the vicinity. An interleaving component, such as a MUX, can interleave the sensing of obscured features and the sensing of live wires. The interleaving component is configured to alternately couple the electrical wire sensing element to the electrical wire sensing circuitry or to the common plate separately. Coupling the live wire sensing element to the electrical wire sensing circuitry can allow sensing of a live electrical wire and coupling the live wire sensing element to a known reference signal can allow sensing of obscured features.