Sensor strip

• US 4,944,116 A
• Filed: 08/30/1989
• Issued: 07/31/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mewald GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mewald GmbH
• Inventors: Mewald, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Kannan, Philip C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US07/400,557
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 49/25-28, 200/61.43, 250/222.1, 250/231 P, 340/555, 340/556
• US Class Current: 49/27
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 13/26 between closing doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/434 with cameras or optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/14 using reflectors

Abstract

A sensing strip for stopping or reversing the drive of a door or other movable member having an edge along which the hollow light guide profile is provided. The sensing strip has an elongated hollow body connected to the edge of the door by a support and is formed internally with a hollow light guide profile forming the leading edge with the body. This profile has an elongated slit which spreads upon deformation of said body to permit escape of light forming light beam traversing the hollow light guide profile, thereby diminishing the lighting reaching a receiver at an end of the sensing strip.

Claims

1. A sensing strip for a movable member having an edge and a drive for said movable member, said sensing element comprising:

an elongated hollow elastically deformable body extending along said edge;

a support connecting said body to said edge and extending therealong;

a hollow light guide profile formed in said body at a side thereof opposite said support and constituting a leading edge portion with said hollow body, said hollow light guide profile being provided with a slit within said body whereby a light from said light beam traversing said hollow light guide profiles can escape upon spreading of said slit;

a light source generating said light beam at one end of said body directing said light beam into said hollow light guide profiles; and

a light receiver operatively connected to said drive for controlling same and disposed to receive said light beam in an undeformed state of said body, whereby a deformation force applied to said body spreads said slit and reduces light reaching said receiver.

2. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow light guide profile has an axis, said slit being parallel to said axis.

3. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said slit extends substantially the entire length of said light beam.

4. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said body is formed with a plurality of mutually parallel hollow light guide profiles each having a respective slit and a respective light beam.

5. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow light guide profile is angled along the length thereof, further comprising mirrors at angled portions of said hollow light guide profile targeting said beam on said receiver in an undeformed state of said body.

6. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein the interior of said hollow light guide profile is internally reflected.

7. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow light guide profile has a circular cross section.

8. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow light guide profile has a polygonal cross section.

9. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said body has an oval cross section.

10. The sensing strip defined in claim 1 wherein said body has an open prismatic cross section.