Segmented capacitive closure obstruction sensor
First Claim
1. A control system responsive to an obstruction of a motorized closing panel which is closing an aperture, the system comprising;
- a controller adaptor to control the motor, which when actuated reverses or stops the motorized closing panels, two or more sensor plates located adjacent to a portion of the aperture or on the closing panels assessing capacitance between the plates and/or to ground, and an electronic device or micro controller capable of measuring and analyzing the capacitances of the sensor plates and determining when any one or more of the capacitance values is less that the average of the highest value obtained for a certain number of plates minus a predetermined threshold value, and when this conditions is met it actuates the control adaptor.
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Abstract
The invention is a capacitive sensor system for preventing the pinching or trapping of a human body part or foreign object by a power-closing panel. The body part or object is sensed either before contact or at the time of contact with the sensor electrode by a change in capacitance. When the object or body part is detected, the power closing panels can be reversed or stopped to prevent the trapping of the object. The sensing electrodes consist of multiple segments. Each segment detects the capacitance of the sensed object (with respect to ground or between adjacent or nearby elements) and the adjacent environment. The capacitance values for each of the segments are analyzed in real time and compared against the average of the highest value obtained from a certain number of segments. When the capacitance of one or more segments is less than the average of the capacitance of all or some of the segments minus a predetermined constant, the sensor system is triggered.
63 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control system responsive to an obstruction of a motorized closing panel which is closing an aperture, the system comprising;
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a controller adaptor to control the motor, which when actuated reverses or stops the motorized closing panels, two or more sensor plates located adjacent to a portion of the aperture or on the closing panels assessing capacitance between the plates and/or to ground, and an electronic device or micro controller capable of measuring and analyzing the capacitances of the sensor plates and determining when any one or more of the capacitance values is less that the average of the highest value obtained for a certain number of plates minus a predetermined threshold value, and when this conditions is met it actuates the control adaptor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A detection device for detecting the presence of an object in or adjacent a space defined by a frame in which a panel is moved by a motor between a first position to at least partially open the space and a second position to substantially close the space, the detection device comprising:
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a first sensor plate having a plurality of segment sensors;
a second sensor plate having a plurality of segment sensors, the first and second sensor plates being disposed with respect to each other so that capacitance is formed therebetween;
a monitor for assessing the capacitance between the first sensor plate and the second sensor plate, the monitor being configured so as to detect a change in the capacitance produced by an object in the space; and
activating means for operating the motor when a change in capacitance has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification