US 12,174,333 B2
Display methods, techniques, and apparatus for indicating a centerline of an obscured feature
David M. Dorrough, Eagle, ID (US); Natalie A. Boehm, Meridian, ID (US); Jay R. Paxman, Meridian, ID (US); and Daniel S. Toborg, Meridian, ID (US)
Assigned to Franklin Sensors Inc., Meridian, ID (US)
Filed by Franklin Sensors Inc., Meridian, ID (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/964,628.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125967 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. G01V 3/08 (2006.01); G01N 27/22 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 3/08 (2013.01) [G01N 27/226 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An obscured feature detector comprising:
a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on proximity of the sensor plate to one or more adjacent objects and a material property of the one or more adjacent objects;
a sensing circuit coupled to the plurality of sensor plates, the circuit being configured to measure the capacitances of each of the sensor plates;
a plurality of indicators, each indicator capable of being toggled between a deactivated state and an activated state; and
a controller coupled to the sensing circuit, the controller configured to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit to identify an obscured feature and a centerline of the obscured feature, wherein the controller is also coupled to the plurality of indicators, the controller to toggle one or more of the plurality of indicators to a first activated state to indicate detection of the obscured feature and to toggle another indicator of the plurality of indicators to a second activated state to indicate the centerline of the obscured feature.