Entrapment detecting system

• US 20060267453A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugiura, Takehiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/319
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

An entrapment detecting system includes a detection portion provided at an opening/closing apparatus for detecting an acceleration thereof on the basis of an output from a piezoelectric sensor for outputting a voltage corresponding to the acceleration and a control portion for judging whether or not an object is entrapped by the opening/closing apparatus on the basis of a detected result of the detection portion. The detection portion includes a current control portion connected to the control portion in series as a closed circuit whereby electricity is supplied from the control portion to the current control portion. The current control portion changes a consumed current of the detection portion on the basis of the output from the piezoelectric sensor. The control portion judges whether or not the object is entrapped on the basis of the consumed current of the detection portion changed by the current control portion.

Claims

1. An entrapment detecting system, comprising:

a detection portion provided at an opening/closing apparatus for detecting an acceleration of the opening/closing apparatus on the basis of an output from a piezoelectric sensor for outputting a voltage corresponding to the acceleration of the opening/closing apparatus; and

a control portion for judging whether or not an object is entrapped by the opening/closing apparatus on the basis of a detected result of the detection portion, wherein

the detection portion includes a current control portion connected to the control portion in series as a closed circuit whereby electricity is supplied from the control portion to the current control portion, the current control portion for changing a consumed current of the detection portion on the basis of the output from the piezoelectric sensor, and the control portion judges whether or not the object is entrapped by the opening/closing apparatus on the basis of the consumed current of the detection portion changed by the current control portion.

2. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 1, wherein

the current control portion increases the consumed current of the detection portion on the basis of the output from the piezoelectric sensor in a case where the object is entrapped by the opening/closing apparatus.

3. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 1, wherein

the piezoelectric sensor is provided at an end portion of a slide door of a vehicle.

4. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 2, wherein

the piezoelectric sensor is provided at an end portion of a slide door of a vehicle.

5. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 2, wherein

the current control portion includes a constant current circuit.

6. An entrapment detecting system, comprising:

a detection portion provided at a slide door of a vehicle and including a piezoelectric sensor for outputting a voltage according to a moving state of the slide door, the detection portion detecting the moving state of the slide door on the basis of an output from the piezoelectric sensor; and

a control portion for judging whether or not an object is entrapped between the slide door and a door frame of the vehicle when the slide door moves on the basis of a detected result of the detection portion, wherein

the detection portion is connected to the control portion in series whereby electricity is supplied from the control portion to the detection portion, the detection portion includes a current control portion for changing a consumed current of the detection portion on the basis of the output from the piezoelectric sensor, and the control portion judges whether or not the object is entrapped on the basis of the consumed current of the detection portion.

7. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 6, wherein

the detection portion includes a judging circuit having a power supply circuit, a signal processing portion, and a current generating portion.

8. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 7, wherein

the signal processing portion extracts a voltage signal of a predetermined frequency band from a voltage signal outputted from the piezoelectric sensor.

9. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 7, wherein

the current generating portion generates a current in a case after the judgment of the signal processing portion on the basis of the output from the piezoelectric sensor that an entrapment occurred.

10. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 7, wherein

the current generating portion generates a current according to a judged result of the signal processing portion.

11. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 7, wherein

the current generating portion includes a resistor connected to a power supply and a transistor having a collector connected to the resistor, a base connected to the signal processing portion and an emitter connected to a ground.

12. The entrapment detecting system according to claim 6, wherein

the piezoelectric sensor is provided between the slide door and the door fame.