Anti-entrapment system
First Claim
1. An anti-entrapment system for preventing objects from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:
- a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to or on a translating device, the capacitance sensor having first and second conductors separated by a separation distance and a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors, the conductors having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance;
wherein the capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a geometry of the capacitance sensor changing as a result of at least one of the conductors and the dielectric element deforming in response to a first object touching the capacitance sensor;
wherein the capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-entrapment system for preventing objects from being entrapped by a translating device includes a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to the translating device and a controller. The sensor has first and second conductors separated by a separation distance and a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors. The conductors have a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance. The capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a geometry of the sensor changing as a result of either conductor or the dielectric element deforming in response to a first object touching the sensor. The capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with either conductor. The controller receives a signal from the sensor indicative of the capacitance of the conductors, and controls the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the conductors to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An anti-entrapment system for preventing objects from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:
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a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to or on a translating device, the capacitance sensor having first and second conductors separated by a separation distance and a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors, the conductors having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance;
wherein the capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a geometry of the capacitance sensor changing as a result of at least one of the conductors and the dielectric element deforming in response to a first object touching the capacitance sensor;
wherein the capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An anti-entrapment system for preventing objects from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:
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a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to or on a translating device, the capacitance sensor having first and second conductors separated by a separation distance and a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors, the conductors having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance;
wherein the capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a geometry of the capacitance sensor changing as a result of at least one of the conductors and the dielectric element deforming in response to a first object touching the capacitance sensor;
wherein the capacitance of the conductors changes in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors; and
a controller for receiving a signal from the capacitance sensor indicative of the capacitance of the conductors, wherein the controller controls the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the conductors in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification