Anti-entrapment systems for preventing objects from being entrapped by translating devices

• US 7,132,642 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Inventors: Shank, David W., Perrin, Randall L., Washeleski, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US10/927,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/239
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2417 by varying separation
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96078 Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers

Abstract

An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device includes a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to the translating device. The sensor has first and second conductors separated by a separation distance, a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors, and a non-conductive elastomer outer jacket encasing the conductors and the dielectric element. The sensor having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance between the conductors. The capacitance changes in response to the separation distance changing as a result of the dielectric element compressing in response to a first object touching the outer jacket, and in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors. A controller controls the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

Claims

1. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor having first and second electrical conductors separated by a separation distance, a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors, and an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket encasing the conductors and the dielectric element, the capacitance sensor having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance between the conductors;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to the separation distance between the conductors decreasing as a result of the dielectric element compressing in response to a first object touching the outer jacket;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to a second electrically conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors; and

a controller for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is an automobile window, wherein a portion of the outer jacket is attached to a window weather seal in order to position the capacitance sensor adjacent to an automobile window frame.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the outer jacket has angled side walls for attaching the portion of the outer jacket to the window weather seal.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the outer jacket has straight side walls for attaching the portion of the outer jacket to the window weather seal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the conductors are conductor plates.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein:

each conductor plate has spaced apart slots arranged in a serpentine pattern.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the dielectric element is a dielectric elastomer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the outer jacket is semi-rigid.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the dielectric element is a semi-rigid dielectric elastomer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the dielectric element is air.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is formed integral with a weather strip which receives the translating device when the translating device is in a fully closed position.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is an automobile sliding-door.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on an automobile sliding-door body panel which receives the automobile sliding-door when the automobile sliding-door is in a fully closed position.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is an automobile sunroof.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on an automobile roof panel which receives the automobile sunroof when the automobile sunroof is in a fully closed position.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is an automobile deck lid.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on an edge of an automobile trunk which receives the automobile deck lid when the automobile deck lid is in a fully closed position.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is an automobile hatch.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on an automobile body panel which receives the automobile hatch when the automobile hatch is in a fully closed position.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is a pair of doors.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on one of the pair of doors which receives the other one of the pair of doors when the pair of doors are in a fully closed position.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device includes a sliding door.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein:

the sliding door includes a pair of sliding doors.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating door is a hinged door.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on the hinged door.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein:

the hinged door includes a pair of hinged doors.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is a garage door.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on the garage door.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is a movable press mechanism.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein:

the capacitance sensor is positioned on a press which receives the movable press mechanism.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the translating device is a tonneau cover.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the dielectric element includes a cell foam.

33. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor having first and second electrical conductors separated by a separation distance, a dielectric element interposed between the conductors, and an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket encasing the conductors and the dielectric element, the capacitance sensor having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance between the conductors;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to a first electrically conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors; and

a controller for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping the object.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein:

the dielectric element is compressible, wherein the capacitance changes in response to the separation distance between the conductors decreasing as a result of the dielectric element compressing in response to a second object touching the outer jacket;

wherein the controller controls the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein:

the dielectric element is non-compressible.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein:

the translating device is an automobile window, wherein a portion of the outer jacket is attached to a window weather seal in order to position the capacitance sensor adjacent to an automobile window frame.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein:

the outer jacket has angled side walls for attaching the portion of the outer jacket to the window weather seal.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein:

the outer jacket has straight side walls for attaching the portion of the outer jacket to the window weather seal.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein:

the conductors are conductor plates.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein:

each conductor plate has spaced apart slots arranged in a serpentine pattern.

41. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the sensor having an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket having an interior filled with air, first and second electrically conductive elastomer carriers connected to opposite sides of the outer jacket and positioned within the air interior of the outer jacket, and first and second electrically conductive wires respectively sheathed in the first and second carriers;

wherein the carriers contact one another upon a compression force being applied to the outer jacket such that the configuration of the air interior changes and the carriers move towards and contact one another;

a controller connected to the wires for monitoring contact between the carriers, wherein upon contact of the carriers the controller prevents the translating device from moving in a selected direction in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping an object; and

an elastomer base upon which a portion of the outer jacket rests against, the elastomer base having a higher compression force compared to the compression force of the outer jacket required for changing the configuration of the air interior thereby providing an over-travel feature to prevent inertia from the translating device from causing high forces against an entrapped object.

42. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the sensor haying an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket having an interior filled with an electrically conductive elastomer material, first and second electrically conductive elastomer carriers connected to opposite sides of the outer jacket and positioned within the interior of the outer jacket such that the carriers are separated from the elastomer material by respective air spaces, and first and second electrically conductive wires respectively sheathed in the first and second carriers;

wherein the carriers electrically contact one another via the elastomer material upon a compression force being applied to the outer jacket such that the configuration of the air spaces change and the carriers move towards and contact the elastomer material;

a controller connected to the wires for monitoring contact between the carriers and the elastomer material, wherein upon such contact the controller prevents the translating device from moving in a selected direction in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping an object;

wherein the elastomer material continues to compress after the carriers have contacted the elastomer material thereby providing an over-travel feature to prevent inertia from the translating device from causing high forces against an entrapped object.

43. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor including an electrically conductive elastomer outer jacket having an interior filled with a dielectric medium, an electrically non-conductive elastomer carrier held at each end by the outer jacket within the interior of the outer jacket, and an electrically conductive fabric sheathed within the carrier and an electrical conductor wire encased by the outer jacket such that the conductive fabric and the conductor wire are separated from one another by a separation distance;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to the separation distance between the conductive fabric and the conductor wire changing as a result of the dielectric element compressing in response to a first object touching the outer jacket;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a second electrically conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductive fabric and the conductor wire; and

a controller connected to the conductive fabric and the conductor wire for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein:

the controller is operable with the capacitance sensor in order to provide electrical energy to the conductive fabric to cause the conductive fabric to act as a heating element in order to heat the capacitance sensor.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein:

the controller controls the translating device to inhibit movement of the translating device while the conductive fabric is acting as a heating element.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein:

the controller is operable with the capacitance sensor in order to receive temperature signals from the conductive fabric indicative of the temperature of the conductive fabric.

47. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor including an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket having an interior filled with a dielectric medium, a first electrically conductive fabric attached to the exterior surface of the outer jacket and covered with flexible electrically non-conductive flocking material, and a second electrically conductive fabric encased within the outer jacket at a position opposite to the first conductive fabric such that the conductive fabrics are separated from one another by a separation distance;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to the separation distance between the conductive fabrics decreasing as a result of a first object touching the flocking material;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a second electrically conductive object coming into proximity with the first conductive fabric; and

a controller connected to the conductive fabrics for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein:

the controller provides electrical energy to the first conductive fabric in order to cause the first conductive fabric to act as a heating element to heat the capacitance sensor.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein:

the controller controls the translating device to inhibit movement of the translating device while the first conductive fabric is acting as a heating element.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein:

the controller monitors the temperature of the first conductive fabric.

51. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor including an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket having an interior filled with a dielectric medium, a flexible electrically non-conductive flocking material attached to the exterior surface of the outer jacket and a first electrically conductive fabric attached to the interior surface of the outer jacket, and a second electrically conductive fabric encased within the outer jacket at a position opposite to the first conductive fabric such that the conductive fabrics are separated from one another by a separation distance;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to the separation distance between the conductive fabrics changing as a result of a first object touching the flocking material;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a second electrically conductive object coming into proximity with the first conductive fabric; and

a controller connected to the conductive fabrics for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein:

the controller provides electrical energy to the first conductive fabric to cause the first conductive fabric to act as a heating element in order to heat the capacitance sensor.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein:

the controller controls the translating device to inhibit movement of the translating device while the first conductive fabric is acting as a heating element.

54. The system of claim 51 wherein:

the controller monitors the temperature of the first conductive fabric.

55. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor including an electrically non-conductive elastomer outer jacket having an interior filled with a dielectric medium;

the capacitance sensor further including a first electrically conductive fabric attached to the interior surface of the outer jacket, a second electrically conductive fabric attached to the exterior surface of the outer jacket, and an electrically non-conductive flocking material covering the second conductive fabric on the exterior surface of the outer jacket;

the capacitance sensor further including a third electrically conductive fabric encased within the outer jacket at a position opposite to the first conductive fabric such that the first and third conductive fabrics are separated from one another by a separation distance;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to the separation distance between the first and third conductive fabrics changing as a result of a first object touching the flocking material;

wherein capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a second electrically conductive object coming into proximity with the first conductive fabric; and

a controller connected to the conductive fabrics for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein:

the controller provides electrical energy to the second conductive fabric to cause the second conductive fabric to act as a heating element in order to heat the capacitance sensor.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein:

the controller controls the translating device to inhibit movement of the translating device while the first conductive fabric is acting as a heating element.

58. The system of claim 55 wherein:

the controller monitors the temperature of the second conductive fabric.

59. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

an anti-pinch capacitance sensor strip positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor strip having first and second electrical conductors separated by a separation distance and a compressible dielectric element interposed between the conductors, the capacitance sensor strip having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance between the conductors;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to the separation distance changing as a result of the dielectric element compressing in response to a first object touching the capacitance sensor;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to a second electrically conductive object coming into proximity with at least one of the conductors; and

a controller for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein:

the capacitance sensor strip is in the form of a weather seal.

61. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor having a conductor separated from a metal frame by a separation distance, the capacitance sensor further having a non-conductive elastomer encasing the conductor and resting in a conductive elastomer, the surface of the non-conductive elastomer is exposed, the conductor having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to a conductive object coming into proximity with the conductor; and

a controller for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping the object.

62. An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising:

a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor having a conductor separated from a metal frame by a separation distance, the capacitance sensor further having a non-conductive rigid covering encasing the conductor and resting on or in near proximity to the metal frame, the conductor having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance;

wherein the capacitance changes in response to a conductive object coming into proximity with the conductor; and

a controller for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping the object.