System and method for using a capacitive door edge sensor
First Claim
1. A system for determining the a capacitance at an edge of a movable barrier and detecting an obstruction comprising:
- a holder disposed on the moveable barrier;
a conductive member positioned within the holder;
a controller coupled to the conductive member, the controller determining whether an obstruction exists within a path of movement between open and closed positions of the barrier by analyzing the capacitance sensed between the conductive member and a ground and detecting a change in the sensed capacitance; and
wherein the holder prohibits the conductor conductive member from achieving a distance from the a physical reference which is less than a predetermined distance as the physical reference is approached by the barrier such that the sensed capacitance between the physical reference and the conductive member remains below a predetermined level.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for sensing capacitance at the edge of a movable barrier and for detecting an obstruction includes positioning a conductive member within or about a holder. A sensed capacitance between the conductive member and ground. A controller is coupled to the sensor. The controller determines whether an obstruction exists within a path of the barrier by analyzing the sensed capacitance. The conductive member and holder move away from a physical reference as the physical reference is approached such that the sensed capacitance between the conductive member and the physical reference remains below a predetermined threshold.
16 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A system for determining the a capacitance at an edge of a movable barrier and detecting an obstruction comprising:
-
a holder disposed on the moveable barrier;
a conductive member positioned within the holder;
a controller coupled to the conductive member, the controller determining whether an obstruction exists within a path of movement between open and closed positions of the barrier by analyzing the capacitance sensed between the conductive member and a ground and detecting a change in the sensed capacitance; and
wherein the holder prohibits the conductor conductive member from achieving a distance from the a physical reference which is less than a predetermined distance as the physical reference is approached by the barrier such that the sensed capacitance between the physical reference and the conductive member remains below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for determining whether an obstruction exists in a pathway of a movable barrier comprising:
-
moving a movable barrier;
determining a capacitance between a conductive member and ground as the movable barrier is moved;
determining whether an obstruction exists in a pathway of the movable barrier based upon the capacitance; and
maintaining the conductive member at a minimum distance from a physical reference as the conductive member approaches the physical reference so as to maintain a substantially uniform sensed capacitance between the conductive member and the physical reference in the absence of an obstruction. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for determining a capacitance at an edge of a movable barrier and detecting an obstruction comprising:
-
a holder;
a conductive member positioned in the holder for measuring the capacitance between the conductive member and ground;
a controller coupled to the conductive member and the holder, the controller is programmed and arranged to communicate with the conductive member such that the capacitance measured between the conductive member and a physical reference is held at a substantially constant value in the absence of an obstruction as the moveable barrier approaches the physical reference. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
-
-
17. (canceled)
Specification