Device for sensing and locating objects hidden behind accessible surfaces of architectural structures

Abstract

A hidden object sensor is described which senses and locates hidden objects hidden behind a surface of an architectural structure. The sensor includes sensing elements for sensing live wires behind the accessible surface, and separate sensing elements for respectively sensing metal and non-metallic objects behind the tested surface. A microprocessor alternates between the use of the various sensing elements and their associated circuits to detect live wires, metal objects, or wood studs. Visible and audible indicators are provided for indicating the device's mode of operation and the locations of sensed hidden objects.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hand-held hidden object sensor for sensing a location of objects hidden behind a surface of an architectural structure, said sensor comprising: 
 an indicator for indicating a location of first and second object types hidden behind a surface;    sensing circuitry for sensing said first and second object types hidden behind said surface of said architectural structure;    an indication activation mechanism for causing the indication by said indicator of the location of said first object type as sensed by said sensing circuitry and precluding a concurrent indication of said second object type;    and a housing supporting said indicator, said sensing circuitry, and said indication activation mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The hand-held hidden object sensor of    claim 1   , wherein said first object type comprises a live wire carrying 110 or 220 Volts AC and said second object type comprises an object not carrying a voltage or current.  
     
     
         3 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 1   , wherein said first object type comprises a metallic object and said second object type comprises a non-metallic object.  
     
     
         4 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 1   , wherein said indicator comprises a visible indicator and an audible indicator, said visible indicator comprising an array of light emitting elements, said audible indicator comprising a tone generator.  
     
     
         5 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 1   , wherein said sensing circuitry comprises a live wire circuit for sensing live wires carrying at least 110 or 220 Volts AC, a metal circuit for sensing metal objects, and a wood circuit for sensing wood objects; 
 said hand-held hidden object sensor further comprising a calibration activation mechanism for causing the calibration of said metal circuit and said wood circuit, said calibration activation mechanism deactivating said wood circuit when said wood circuit is not successfully calibrated, said indication activation mechanism causing the indication by said indicator of a “metal-only” indication when said wood circuit is deactivated.    
     
     
         6 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 1   , wherein said first object type comprises live wires carrying 110 or 220 Volts AC, and said sensor further comprising a live wire deactivating mechanism for bypassing the sensing and indication of said live wires where the user anticipates static electricity accumulating on said surface of said architectural structure and knows said architectural structure is devoid of live wires.  
     
     
         7 . A hand-held hidden object sensor for sensing a location of objects hidden behind an architectural surface, said sensor comprising: 
 a housing comprising a contact surface for contacting said architectural surface and a manually engageable portion to be held by a user's hand during operation to scan said sensor across said architectural surface while said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface, said housing further comprising a marking mechanism positioned and operable to place a mark on said architectural surface, said mark on said architectural surface corresponding to the location of an object located behind said architectural surface;    an indicator for indicating the location of a sensed object;    sensing circuitry for sensing the sensed object behind said architectural surface; and    an indication activation mechanism for causing the indication by said indicator of the location of said sensed object when said housing is at a position corresponding to said location of said sensed object and said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface.    
     
     
         8 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 7   , wherein said marking mechanism comprises a resilient flexible member and a scribe pointed toward said architectural surface while said contacting surface remains in contact with said architectural surface, said resilient flexible member responding to a user's finger by moving toward said architectural surface and causing said scribe to place a mark on said architectural surface at a location in line with an edge of said object being located.  
     
     
         9 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 8   , wherein said scribe comprises a rigid object comprising a sharp apex pointing toward said architectural surface while said contact surface of said housing remains in contact with said architectural surface.  
     
     
         10 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 9   , wherein said rigid object comprises a rigid apex portion in the shape of a cone.  
     
     
         11 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 8   , wherein said resilient flexible member comprises a plate arranged substantially parallel with said architectural surface while said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface, said plate being secured at a first end to a portion of said housing and being unsecured at an end opposite said first end, and said scribe being located on a side of said plate facing toward said architectural surface while said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface.  
     
     
         12 . A hand-held hidden object sensor for sensing and locating objects hidden behind an architectural surface, said sensor comprising: 
 a housing comprising a contact surface for contacting said architectural surface and a manually engageable portion to be held by a user's hand during operation to scan said sensor across said architectural surface while said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface, said housing further comprising an axis corresponding in position to a sensed edge of an object being sensed and located by said hand-held hidden object sensor, and a mid-stud indicating marker spaced from said axis by a predetermined distance equal to ½ the width of a standard wall stud;    an indicator for indicating the location of a sensed object;    sensing circuitry for sensing the location of said sensed object behind said architectural surface; and    an indication activation mechanism for causing the indication by said indicator of the location of said sensed object when said housing is at a position corresponding to said location of said sensed object and said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface.    
     
     
         13 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 12   , wherein said predetermined distance is ⅞ inches, and wherein said mid-stud indicating marker comprises a protruding portion.  
     
     
         14 . A method for sensing and locating objects hidden behind a surface of an architectural structure, using a hand-held hidden object sensor, said method comprising: 
 sensing for first and second object types hidden behind said surface of said architectural structure; and    indicating a location of said first object type sensed; and    precluding a concurrent indication of said second object type.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 14   , wherein said first object type comprises a live wire carrying 110 or 220 Volts AC and said second object type comprises an object not carrying a voltage or current.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 14   , wherein said first object type comprises a metallic object and said second objects type comprises a non-metallic object.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 14   , wherein said indication of the presence and location of said first or second object types causes the illumination of an array of light emitting elements and the generation of a tone.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 14   , further comprising causing the calibration of a metal circuit and a wood circuit, each provided within said sensor, and deactivating said wood circuit when said wood circuit is not successfully calibrated and causing the indication of a “metal-only” indication when said wood circuit is deactivated.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 14   , further comprising deactivating a live wire circuit to bypass the sensing and indication of live wires carrying 110 or 220 Volts AC where a user anticipates problems with static electricity accumulating on said architectural surface and knows said architectural surface is devoid of live wires.  
     
     
         20 . A method for marking a position on an architectural surface while using a hand-held hidden object sensor for locating objects hidden behind the architectural surface, said method comprising; 
 placing said sensor so that a contact surface thereof contacts said architectural surface; and    scanning said sensor across said architectural surface while said contact surface remains in contact with said architectural surface; and    depressing a marking mechanism positioned on said sensor against said architectural surface to place a mark on said architectural surface, the mark corresponding to the location of said object sensed and located behind said architectural surface.    
     
     
         21 . A method for sensing and locating objects hidden behind an architectural surface and for locating a center point of a stud hidden behind said architectural surface, said method comprising: 
 identifying the edge of said stud hidden behind said architectural surface which corresponds to an edge marking provided on a housing of said sensor; and    identifying the center point of said standard wall stud as a point along said architectural surface which is identified by a mid-stud indicating marker carried by said housing of said sensor and spaced from said edge marking by a predetermined distance equal to ½ the width of a standard wall stud.    
     
     
         22 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 1   , wherein said indicator is further capable of indicating the location of a third object type.  
     
     
         23 . The hand-held hidden object sensor according to    claim 22   , wherein said first object type comprises a live wire, said second object type comprises metal, and said third object type comprises a non-metallic object.