Anti-Pinch Sensor

• US 20100156440A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Weingärtner, Thomas, Würstlein, Holger, Kuhnen, Thorsten
• Application Number:
  US12/063,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/658
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36), in particular for recognising an obstacle that obstructs an actuating element (7) of a motor vehicle (1). Said sensor comprises an electrode (17), which can be attached to a measuring potential via a signal line (26) and can be positioned opposite a counter-electrode (25) and comprises an evaluation circuit (34) for detecting the capacitance between the electrode (17) and the counter-electrode (25). The electrode (17) is sub-divided into several electrodes (35), each of which has a separate feed line (23) for connection to the measuring potential. An anti-pinch sensor of this type (10, 13, 36) has a high detection sensitivity.

Claims

1. An anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36), in particular for detecting an obstacle in the path of an actuator element (7) of a motor vehicle (1), having an electrode (17) which can be connected to a measurement potential via a signal line (26) and can be positioned opposite a corresponding electrode (25), and having an evaluation circuit (34) for detecting the capacitance between the electrode (17) and corresponding electrode (25), wherein the electrode (17) is divided into a plurality of separate electrodes (35) which each have a separate feed line (23) for connection to the measurement potential.

2. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode (17) extends in a longitudinal direction and is divided into the plurality of separate electrodes (35) in the longitudinal direction.

3. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrode (17) is made to extend in a flexible carrier.

4. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a shielding electrode (16) is additionally provided, and wherein the electrode (17) and the shielding electrode (16) are arranged essentially one opposite the other and are insulated from one another.

5. The anti-pinch sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrode (17) and the shielding electrode (16) are made to extend in a flexible carrier.

6. The anti-pinch sensor as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the shielding electrode (16) is divided into individual electrodes (18, 20) with which there is electrical contact and between which the separate feed lines (23) are arranged in an insulated fashion.

7. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, wherein switching means (32) are provided for approximating the potential between the electrode (17) and the shielding electrode (16).

8. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in one of claims 4 to 7, wherein, in order to approximate the potential, an amplifier is provided which is connected at the output end to the shielding electrode (16) in order to supply it with a signal which is derived from the signal line (26).

9. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in one of claims 2 to 8, wherein a ribbon cable (11) or a round cable (38) is used as the carrier.

10. The anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in one of claims 2 to 8, wherein a flexible printed circuit board (14) is used as the carrier.

11. The use of an anti-pinch sensor (10, 13, 36) as claimed in one of the preceding claims in a motor vehicle (1), wherein the grounded bodywork of the motor vehicle (1) serves as the corresponding electrode (25).