Combined pinch/temperature sensor for a power liftgate
First Claim
1. A combination pinch/temperature sensor for a closure member of a motor vehicle, the closure member having a left side and a right side and mounted for articulation relative to a body portion of the motor vehicle, the closure member driven by a drive mechanism between an open position and a closed position, the sensor comprising:
- a first pinch sensing element coupled to one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the one of the left and right sides of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal;
a second pinch sensing element in electrical communication with the first pinch sensing element and coupled to the other one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the other one of the left and right sides of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal; and
wherein one of the first and second pinch sensing elements further for sensing an ambient temperature outside the motor vehicle and generating an ambient temperature signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination pinch/temperature sensor for a closure member of a motor vehicle includes a first and second pinch sensing element coupled thereto. The first pinch sensing element is coupled to one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the corresponding side of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal. The second pinch sensing element is in electrical communication with the first pinch sensing element and is coupled to the other one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the other side of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal. Furthermore, one of the first and second pinch sensing elements also senses an ambient temperature outside the motor vehicle and generates an ambient temperature signal for use in controlling the closure member in extreme ambient temperature conditions.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A combination pinch/temperature sensor for a closure member of a motor vehicle, the closure member having a left side and a right side and mounted for articulation relative to a body portion of the motor vehicle, the closure member driven by a drive mechanism between an open position and a closed position, the sensor comprising:
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a first pinch sensing element coupled to one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the one of the left and right sides of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal;
a second pinch sensing element in electrical communication with the first pinch sensing element and coupled to the other one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the other one of the left and right sides of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal; and
wherein one of the first and second pinch sensing elements further for sensing an ambient temperature outside the motor vehicle and generating an ambient temperature signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A motor vehicle comprising:
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a body;
a closure member mounted to the body for articulation about a laterally extending pivot axis between an open position and a closed position, the closure member having a left side and a right side;
a drive mechanism for driving said closure member between said open position and said closed position;
a pinch sensor coupled to said closure member, said sensor comprising a first pinch sensing element coupled to one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the one of the left and right sides of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal, a second pinch sensing element in electrical communication with the first pinch sensing element and coupled to the other one of the left side and right side of the closure member for sensing a pinch condition on the other one of the left and right sides of the closure member and generating a corresponding pinch signal, and wherein one of the first and second pinch sensing elements is further provided for sensing an ambient temperature outside the motor vehicle and generating an ambient temperature signal; and
a control module in electrical communication with said sensor, said control module for controlling said drive mechanism to articulate the closure member to the open position and for automatically disabling the drive mechanism based on the pinch signal and the ambient temperature signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification