Pressure sensitive sensor, object detecting device and opening, attachment structure thereof and opening-and-closing device

• US 6,883,382 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogino, Hiroyuki, Ueda, Shigeki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, Andre
• Application Number:
  US10/352,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 737/56, 735/74, 310/330, 310/319, 310/339, 310/345
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/443 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

A pressure sensitive sensor provided in at least one of an opening section and an opening and closing section for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing section based on an output signal generated by deformation upon receipt of external force, comprising pressure sensitive means 33 for generating an output signal corresponding to deformation and support means 35 for supporting the pressure sensitive means 33 on at least one of the opening section and the opening and closing section, the support means 35 including at least a first deformation section 37 having a first elastic modulus and serving to increase deformation of the pressure sensitive sensor 17, and a second deformation section 39 having a second elastic modulus which is higher than the first elastic modulus.

Claims

1. A pressure sensitive sensor provided in at least one of an opening section and an opening-and-closing section for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing section based on an output signal generated by deformation upon receipt of external force, said pressure sensitive sensor comprising:

pressure sensitive means for generating an output signal corresponding to deformation; and

support means for supporting the pressure sensitive means on at least one of the opening section and the opening and closing section;

the support means including at least a first deformation section having a first elastic modulus and serving to increase deformation of the pressure sensitive sensor; and

a second deformation section having a second elastic modulus which is higher than the first elastic modulus.

2. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first deformation section has a hollow section and a side wall section.

3. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first deformation section and the second deformation section are formed separately and are bonded to each other.

4. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second deformation section is formed integrally with a part of a weather strip of a car.

5. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second deformation section is a window frame of a car.

6. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 2, wherein the first deformation section and the second deformation section are formed integrally and the second deformation section has a smaller gap than the hollow section.

7. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive means is molded by using a compound piezoelectric member mixing chlorinated polyethylene and piezoelectric ceramics powder.

8. A pressure sensitive sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is long, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and is provided on at least the inclined side of the opening section.

9. A pressure sensitive sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is formed like a long shaft, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and

the single continuous pressure sensitive sensor is inserted in the elastic support means in a region including the inclined side and another side.

10. An object detecting device comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor provided in at least one of an opening section and an opening-and-closing section for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing section based on an output signal generated by deformation upon receipt of external force, said pressure sensitive sensor including;

pressure sensitive means for generating an output signal corresponding to deformation; and

support means for supporting the pressure sensitive means on at least one of the opening section and the opening and closing section;

the support means including at least a first deformation section having a first elastic modulus and serving to increase deformation of the pressure sensitive sensor; and

a second deformation section having a second elastic modulus which is higher than the first elastic modulus; and

deciding means for deciding presence of a contact of an object with the pressure sensitive sensor based on a signal output from the pressure sensitive sensor.

11. The object detecting device according to claim 10, wherein the deciding means outputs a decision signal when the signal output from the pressure sensitive means has a preset first change amount or more.

12. The object detecting device according to claim 11, wherein the deciding means holds the decision signal until the signal output from the pressure sensitive means which has a different polarity from the polarity of the output signal has a preset second change amount or more after the signal output from the pressure sensitive means has the first change amount or more.

13. An opening and closing device comprising the object detecting device according to claim 10, driving means for driving an opening and closing section, and control means for controlling the driving means to stop a closing operation of the opening and closing section or to cause the opening and closing section to carry out an opening operation when deciding means decides a contact of an object with a pressure sensitive sensor when the opening and closing section carries out the closing operation.

14. An object detecting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is long, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and is provided on at least the inclined side of the opening section.

15. An object detecting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is formed like a long shaft, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and

the single continuous pressure sensitive sensor is inserted in the elastic support means in a region including the inclined side and another side.

16. An object detecting device comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor provided in at least one of an opening section and an opening and closing section for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing section based on an output signal generated by deformation upon receipt of external force; and

deciding means for deciding presence of a contact of the object with the pressure sensitive sensor based on a signal output from the pressure sensitive sensor;

wherein the pressure sensitive sensor includes pressure sensitive means for generating an output signal corresponding to deformation and support means for supporting the pressure sensitive means on at least one of the opening section and the opening and closing section, and

the deciding means outputs a decision signal when the signal output from the pressure sensitive means reaches a preset first change amount, and holds the decision signal until the signal output from the pressure sensitive means which has a different polarity from the polarity of the output signal has a preset second change amount or more after the decision signal is output.

17. An object detecting device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is long, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and is provided on at least the inclined side of the opening section.

18. An object detecting device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is formed like a long shaft, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and

the single continuous pressure sensitive sensor is inserted in the elastic support means in a region including the inclined side and another side.

19. An opening and closing device comprising:

an object detecting device comprising;

a pressure sensitive sensor provided in at least one of an opening section and an opening and closing section for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing section based on an output signal generated by deformation upon receipt of external force; and

deciding means for deciding presence of a contact of the object with the pressure sensitive sensor based on a signal output from the pressure sensitive sensor;

wherein the pressure sensitive sensor includes pressure sensitive means for generating an output signal corresponding to deformation and support means for supporting the pressure sensitive means on at least one of the opening section and the opening and closing section, and

the deciding means outputs a decision signal when the signal output from the pressure sensitive means reaches a preset first change amount, and holds the decision signal until the signal output from the pressure sensitive means which has a different polarity from the polarity of the output signal has a preset second change amount or more after the decision signal is output;

driving means for driving an opening and closing section; and

control means for controlling the driving means to stop a closing operation of the opening and closing section or to cause the opening and closing section to carry out an opening operation when deciding means decides a contact of an object with a pressure sensitive sensor when the opening and closing section carries out the closing operation.

20. An opening and closing device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is long, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and is provided on at least the inclined side of the opening section.

21. An opening and closing device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is formed like a long shaft, and is inserted in elastic support means to be supported on the opening section or the opening and closing member, and

the single continuous pressure sensitive sensor is inserted in the elastic support means in a region including the inclined side and another side.