COMPRESSIBLE CAPACITANCE SENSOR FOR DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF AN OBJECT
First Claim
1. A sensor for determining the presence of an object, the sensor comprising:
- first and second flexible conductor elements separated by a separation distance and having a capacitance dependent on the separation distance; and
a non-conductive compressible element interposed between the first and second flexible conductor elements, wherein the non-conductive compressible element compresses in response to an object applying a force to at least one of the first and second flexible conductor elements such that the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreases, wherein the capacitance of the first and second flexible conductor elements changes in response to the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreasing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compressible variable capacitance sensor for determining the presence, size, position, and type of an object such as a human body part includes two flexible conductor elements separated by a non-conductive compressible element. The capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes as a function of force applied by an object on the capacitance sensor. A controller senses the capacitance of the capacitance sensor and controls a device accordingly. The device may be a movable closed opening such as a window in which the controller controls the window as a function of the monitored capacitance to prevent pinching of the object. The device may also be a seat in which the controller determines the characteristics of the seat occupant based on the monitored capacitance.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sensor for determining the presence of an object, the sensor comprising:
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first and second flexible conductor elements separated by a separation distance and having a capacitance dependent on the separation distance; and
a non-conductive compressible element interposed between the first and second flexible conductor elements, wherein the non-conductive compressible element compresses in response to an object applying a force to at least one of the first and second flexible conductor elements such that the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreases, wherein the capacitance of the first and second flexible conductor elements changes in response to the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreasing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. A pinch sensor system for determining the presence of an object within an opening defined by a closed opening device, the pinch sensor system comprising:
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a compressible capacitance pinch sensor fixedly positioned adjacent a closed opening device, the compressible capacitance pinch sensor having first and second flexible conductor elements separated by a separation distance, the first and second flexible conductor elements having a capacitance dependent on the separation distance, the compressible capacitance pinch sensor further having a non-conductive compressible element interposed between the first and second flexible conductor elements, wherein the non-conductive compressible element compresses in response to an object within the opening touching the compressible capacitance pinch sensor such that the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreases, wherein the capacitance of the first and second flexible conductor elements changes in response to the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreasing; and
a controller for monitoring the capacitance of the first and second flexible conductor elements, wherein the controller determines the presence of the object within the opening in response to the capacitance of the first and second flexible conductor elements changing, wherein the controller controls the closed opening device as a function of the change in capacitance.
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21. A seat occupant sensor system comprising:
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at least one seat occupant sensor disposed within a seat, the at least one seat occupant sensor including first, second, and third flexible conductor plates, wherein the first flexible conductor plate is interposed between the second and third flexible conductor plates such that the first and third flexible conductor plates are separated by a separation distance, wherein the second and third flexible conductor plates are electrically grounded and the first, second, and third flexible conductor plates have a capacitance dependent on the separation distance, the at least one seat occupant sensor further including a first non-conductive compressible element interposed between the first and second flexible conductor plates and a second non-conductive compressible element interposed between the first and third flexible conductor plates, wherein the first and second non-conductive compressible elements compress in response to a seat occupant applying force to the at least one seat occupant sensor such that the separation distance between the second and third flexible conductor plates decreases, wherein the capacitance changes in response to the separation distance decreasing; and
a controller for determining characteristics of the seat occupant as a function of the capacitance of the at least one seat occupant sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification