ENTRAPMENT DETECTION AND PREVENTION DEVICE FOR OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM
First Claim
1. An entrapment prevention device for an opening/closing mechanism including a capacitive sensor arranged on at least either one of a movable body, which opens or closes a space when an actuator is driven, and a receiving position, at which the movable body is received at a fully closed position, in which the entrapment prevention device detects a foreign object between the movable body and the receiving position with the capacitive sensor during a closing movement and avoids entrapment of the foreign object, the entrapment prevention device comprising:
- an actuator drive means for driving the actuator to perform an opening/closing movement with the movable body;
a capacitance calculation means for receiving a detection signal from the capacitive sensor and calculating a present capacitance;
a memory for storing the capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means;
a comparison circuit for comparing a most recent capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means with a previous capacitance stored in the memory means;
a determination means for determining whether a foreign object is located between the movable body and the receiving position based on the comparison of the comparison means; and
an actuator drive control means for outputting a drive control signal to the actuator drive means in order to stop the movable body or perform an opening movement with the movable body by the actuator when the determination means determines the approach of a foreign object.
30 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An entrapment prevention and detection device for an opening/closing mechanism detects entrapment with a simple structure and does not occupy much space. When a foreign object, such as a human body part approaches a window glass, such as an automobile window, the capacitance of a capacitive sensor increases. A control circuit compares a most recent capacitance obtained by a capacitance detection circuit with a previous value and if the most recent capacitance value is greater than the previous value, when the glass is being raised (closed), the control circuit determines that a foreign object has approached the glass and then stops or lowers (opens) the glass.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An entrapment prevention device for an opening/closing mechanism including a capacitive sensor arranged on at least either one of a movable body, which opens or closes a space when an actuator is driven, and a receiving position, at which the movable body is received at a fully closed position, in which the entrapment prevention device detects a foreign object between the movable body and the receiving position with the capacitive sensor during a closing movement and avoids entrapment of the foreign object, the entrapment prevention device comprising:
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an actuator drive means for driving the actuator to perform an opening/closing movement with the movable body; a capacitance calculation means for receiving a detection signal from the capacitive sensor and calculating a present capacitance; a memory for storing the capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means; a comparison circuit for comparing a most recent capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means with a previous capacitance stored in the memory means; a determination means for determining whether a foreign object is located between the movable body and the receiving position based on the comparison of the comparison means; and an actuator drive control means for outputting a drive control signal to the actuator drive means in order to stop the movable body or perform an opening movement with the movable body by the actuator when the determination means determines the approach of a foreign object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An entrapment detection device for an opening/closing mechanism that detects a foreign object located between a movable body, which opens and closes a space, and a receiving position, at which the movable body is received at a fully closed position, based on a detection signal from a capacitive sensor arranged on at least either one of the movable body and the receiving position, the entrapment detection device comprising:
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a capacitance calculation means for receiving the detection signal from the capacitive sensor and calculating a present capacitance; a memory for storing the capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means; a comparison means for comparing the capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means with a previous capacitance stored in the memory; and a determination means for determining whether a foreign object is located between the movable body and the receiving position based on the comparison of the comparison means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An entrapment prevention device for an automobile window, wherein a glass of the window moves within a frame between an open position and a closed position, the entrapment prevention device comprising:
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a capacitive sensor that generates a detection signal, wherein the capacitive sensor is arranged proximate to a first edge of the glass, and wherein the first edge of the glass is received within the frame when the window is in the closed position; an actuator that moves the glass between the open position and the closed position; a capacitance calculation means coupled to the capacitive sensor that receives the detection signal from the capacitive sensor and calculates a current capacitance; a memory coupled to the capacitance calculation means for storing the current capacitance; a comparison circuit for comparing a most recent capacitance calculated by the capacitance calculation means with a previous capacitance stored in the memory means; a determination means for determining whether a foreign object is located between the glass and the window frame based on the comparison by the comparison means; and an actuator drive controller that outputs a drive control signal to the actuator to stop the glass form moving towards the frame when the determination means determines that a foreign object is located between the window and the frame. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification