Wall scanner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664808-B2
Application number	US-55468409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2009
Priority date	Mar 6, 2009
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a wall scanner that includes a housing, a plurality of sensors, a display, and a control section. The housing includes a handle portion and a body portion. The handle portion is adapted to receive a removable and rechargeable battery pack such as a high-voltage lithium-ion (“Li-Ion”) battery pack. The body portion of the housing encloses the plurality of sensing devices, such as, for example, capacitive plate sensors for sensing the presence of a stud behind a surface, a D-coil sensor for identifying the presence of metal behind the surface, and a non-contact voltage sensor for detecting the presence of live wires carrying AC currents. The display is configured to display, among other things, the location of an object behind the surface in real-time, the depth of an object behind the surface, and whether an object behind the surface is ferrous or non-ferrous. The control section includes a plurality of actuation devices for controlling the functions and operations of the wall scanner, such as the scanning mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wall scanner for sensing objects behind a surface, the wall scanner comprising:
a housing that includes a body portion and a handle portion, the handle portion having a first axis and defining a first recess, the body portion having a second axis approximately parallel to the first axis;
first and second power terminals within the first recess;
wherein a second recess is formed between the body portion and the handle portion; and
wherein the first recess is operable to receive a removable battery pack along the first axis, the battery pack being electrically connected to the first and second power terminals and substantially covering the first recess when inserted into the first recess;
wherein the handle has an outer surface defining a cylinder along the first axis, the battery pack being within the cylinder;
a first sensor of a first sensor type for sensing a first object of a first object type behind the surface;
a second sensor of a second sensor type for sensing a second object of a second object type behind the surface;
wherein the first sensor type is different than the second sensor type, and the first object type is different than the second object type;
a non-contact voltage sensor operable to detect a medium carrying an alternating current behind the surface; and
a display configured to display a plurality of indications to a user, the indications including at least an indication of a depth of the second object behind the surface and a graphical representation of the location of the first object behind the surface.

2. The wall scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a capacitive plate sensor.

3. The wall scanner of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is a D-coil sensor.

4. The wall scanner of claim 1 , wherein the first object type is a stud.

5. The wall scanner of claim 1 , wherein the second object type is a metal.

6. The wall scanner of claim 1 , further comprising a control section including a plurality of actuation devices configured to be actuated by a gripping hand of a user, wherein the handle portion is gripped by the gripping hand of the user.

7. The wall scanner of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack.

8. A method of operating a non-motorized wall scanner that includes a handle portion having a first axis and defining a receiving chamber, first and second power terminals positioned in the receiving chamber, a body portion having a second axis approximately parallel to the first axis, a first sensor of a first type, and a second sensor of a second type, the method comprising:
inserting a removable battery pack into the receiving chamber of the handle portion along the first axis, the battery pack including a battery pack housing, a plurality of battery cells supported by the battery pack housing, and battery pack terminals electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, when inserted the battery pack is inserted into the receiving chamber, the battery pack substantially covering the receiving chamber, and the battery pack terminals connecting to the first and second power terminals;
wherein the handle has an outer surface defining a cylinder along the first axis, wherein inserting includes inserting the battery pack into the receiving chamber with the battery pack being within the cylinder;
holding the handle for single-handed operation of the wall scanner;
powering the wall scanner with the removable battery pack;
sensing, using the first sensor, a first object of a first object type behind a surface;
sensing, using the second sensor, a second object of a second object type behind the surface;
wherein the first sensor type is different than the second sensor type, and the first object type is different than the second object type;
detecting, using a non-contact voltage sensor, a medium carrying an alternating current behind the surface; and
displaying, on a display, a plurality of indications to a user, the indications including at least an indication of a depth of the second object behind the surface and a graphical representation of the location of the first object behind the surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is a capacitive plate sensor.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second sensor is a D-coil sensor.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first object type is a stud.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second object type is a metal.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling the wall scanner using one or more actuation devices configured to be actuated by a gripping hand of a user, wherein the handle portion is gripped by the gripping hand of the user.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack.

15. A wall scanner for sensing objects behind a surface, the wall scanner comprising:
a housing that includes a body portion and a handle portion, the handle portion forming a first axis and defining a first recess, the body portion forming a second axis, the second axis being approximately parallel to and offset from the first axis;
first and second power terminals within the first recess;
wherein the first recess is operable to receive a battery pack having a lithium-based chemistry, the battery pack being electrically connected to the first and second power terminals and substantially covering the first recess when inserted into the first recess;
wherein the handle has an outer surface defining a cylinder along the first axis, the battery pack being within the cylinder;
a first sensor of a first sensor type for sensing a first object of a first object type behind the surface;
a second sensor of a second sensor type for sensing a second object of a second object type behind the surface;
wherein the first sensor type is different than the second sensor type, and the first object type is different than the second object type; and
a non-contact voltage sensor operable to detect a medium carrying an alternating current behind the surface.

16. The wall scanner of claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is a capacitive plate sensor.

17. The wall scanner of claim 15 , wherein the second sensor is a D-coil sensor.

18. The wall scanner of claim 15 , wherein the first object type is a stud.

19. The wall scanner of claim 15 , wherein the second object type is a metal.

20. The wall scanner of claim 15 , further comprising a control section including a plurality of actuation devices configured to be actuated by a gripping hand of a user, wherein the handle portion is gripped by the gripping hand of the user.

Assignees

• Nguyen Evans H
• Crowe Jason R
• Bublitz Scott D
• Jones Mike N
• Tse Wai Nang
• Siu Pak Fai
• Ho Man Kit
• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Nguyen Evans H
• Crowe Jason R
• Bublitz Scott D
• Jones Mike N
• Tse Wai Nang
• Siu Pak Fai
• Ho Man Kit

Classifications

• G01V3/15

  specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat · CPC title

• G01V3/10 Primary

  using induction coils · CPC title

• H01M2/105

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M50/213

  adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title