Abstract: Method, techniques, and apparatus of providing obscured feature detection. The disclosed embodiments provide an obscured feature detector to be placed on a surface to detect an obscured feature obscured by the surface, the obscured feature detector having a plurality of sensor plates arranged in an array. Measurements, via a sensing circuit, of capacitance readings sensed by the sensor plates in a plurality of regions are taken, each region corresponding to an area surrounding one or more of the at least three sensor plates. A comparison is made of the sensed capacitance readings in different regions using a controller coupled to the sensing circuit. The controller identifies an edge of the obscured feature and a centerline of the obscured feature, based on the comparison of the sensed capacitance readings. The controller activates an edge indicator to indicate proximity to the edge of the obscured feature and a centerline indicator to indicate the centerline of the obscured feature.

Abstract: Systems are described for variably displaying at a display of an obscured feature detector a variable output responsive to signal strength at one or more sensor elements of the obscured feature detector. The variable output may vary by one or more of luminance, color, size, shape, etc.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Method, techniques, and apparatus of providing obscured feature detection. The disclosed embodiments provide an obscured feature detector to be placed on a surface to detect an obscured feature obscured by the surface, the obscured feature detector having a plurality of sensor plates arranged in an array. Measurements, via a sensing circuit, of capacitance readings sensed by the sensor plates in a plurality of regions are taken, each region corresponding to an area surrounding one or more of the at least three sensor plates. A comparison is made of the sensed capacitance readings in different regions using a controller coupled to the sensing circuit. The controller identifies an edge of the obscured feature and a centerline of the obscured feature, based on the comparison of the sensed capacitance readings. The controller activates an edge indicator to indicate proximity to the edge of the obscured feature and a centerline indicator to indicate the centerline of the obscured feature.

Abstract: Systems are described for variably displaying at a display of an obscured feature detector a variable output responsive to signal strength at one or more sensor elements of the obscured feature detector. The variable output may vary by one or more of luminance, color, size, shape, etc.

Abstract: 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.