ANTI-TRAPPING DEVICE

• US 20100024301A1
• Filed: 07/28/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Hallstadt (Brose)
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Company KG Hallstadt (Brose)
• Inventors: Wuerstlein, Holger, Weingaertner, Thomas, Mueller, Wolf-Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/28
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08

Abstract

The invention specifies an anti-trapping device (26), comprising a motor (M) for driving a pivotable actuating element (6) of a motor vehicle (2), a sensor (8) for contactlessly identifying an obstacle in the way of the actuating element (6) with an electrode (14), which has a plurality of segments (12), for producing an external electrical field with respect to a mating electrode (15) and a control unit (20). The electrode (14) extends in a radial direction (R) with respect to the pivotable actuating element (6) and is split in the radial direction (R) into the plurality of segments (12), which can each be evaluated separately for the purpose of generating an interference signal. The control unit (20) is designed to drive the motor (M) as a function of an interference signal from one of the segments (12). Such an anti-trapping device (26) has particularly high flexibility when driving the pivotable actuating element (6) if an obstacle in the way of the pivotable actuating element (6) has been detected.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. An anti-pinch device, comprising:

a motor configured to drive a pivotable actuating element of a motor vehicle;

a sensor for non-contact detection of an obstacle in a path of the actuating element with an electrode for generating an external electric field relative to a counter electrode, the electrode extending in a radial direction relative to the pivotable actuating element and being divided in the radial direction into a plurality of segments, each of which being evaluated separately for generation of an interference signal; and

a control unit configured to control the motor depending on an interference signal from one of the segments.

19. The anti-pinch device according to claim 18, wherein the control unit is configured to pause the motor more slowly at an interference signal generated by a first radially inner segment than at an interference signal from a second radially outer segment.

20. The anti-pinch device according to claim 19, wherein the control unit is set up to reversibly control the motor to pause.

21. The anti-pinch device according to claim 18, wherein the electrode has a first radially inner, a second radially central, and a third radially outer segment group.

22. The anti-pinch device according to claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to gently pause or slow the motor when there is an interference signal from the first segment group.

23. The anti-pinch device according to claim 22, wherein the control unit is configured to control the motor via a PWM regulation.

24. The anti-pinch device according to claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to shut off the motor immediately when there is an interference signal from the second segment group.

25. The anti-pinch device according to claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to run the motor immediately in a reverse direction when there is an interference signal from the third segment group.

26. The anti-pinch device according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the segment groups is configured such that when the motor is run, a substantially continuous transition occurs within the segment group relative to the adjacent segments.

27. The anti-pinch device according to claim 18, wherein the electrode is carried in a flexible carrier.

28. The anti-pinch device according to claim 27, wherein a shielding electrode is provided in addition in the flexible carrier to direct the electric field into a hazard region.

29. The anti-pinch device according to claim 28, wherein the shielding electrode is divided into electrically contacted shielding segments, between which separate lines are arranged in an isolated manner.

30. The anti-pinch device according to claim 28, wherein a switch is provided for potential equalization between the electrode and the shielding electrode.

31. The anti-pinch device according to claim 28, wherein for potential equalization an amplifier is provided that is connected on the output side to the shielding electrode to supply a signal derived from the signal line.

32. The anti-pinch device according to claim 31, further comprising a tactile sensor.

33. The anti-pinch device according to claim 32, wherein the non-contact sensor is designed simultaneously as a tactile sensor.

34. The anti-pinch device according to claims 33, wherein a grounded body of the motor vehicle serves as the counter electrode.