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

• US 7,165,457 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• 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 J
• Application Number:
  US11/005,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 737/00, 318/468, 318/266, 49/28
• US Class Current: 73/700
• 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, including a pressure sensitive element 33 for generating an output signal corresponding to deformation and a support element 35 for supporting the pressure sensitive element 33 on at least one of the opening section and the opening and closing section, the support element 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 attachment structure, comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to an acceleration due to deformation of the sensor, and

an elastic support means, wherein the attachment structure is provided in at least one of an opening section having an inclined side and another side connected thereto through a corner section and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing member,

wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is long, and is inserted in the 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.

3. The pressure sensitive sensor attachment structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure sensitive sensor serves includes a piezoelectric device.

4. The pressure sensitive sensor attachment structure according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein a piezoelectric element material of the pressure sensitive sensor is formed by a compound piezoelectric member mixing chlorinated polyethylene and piezoelectric ceramics powder.

5. The pressure sensitive sensor attachment structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a surface of the elastic support means is subjected to a high friction processing.

6. The pressure sensitive sensor attachment structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a surface of the whole elastic support means or a part thereof is a surface from which a material surface having no coating layer is exposed.

7. An opening and closing device comprising:

the pressure sensitive sensor attached with the pressure sensitive sensor attachment structure according to claims 1 or 2;

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

opening and closing means for operating the opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening section; and

control means for controlling the opening and closing means in order to stop the operation of the opening and closing member or to start an opening operation of the opening and closing member when the deciding means decides that the contact with the object is caused in response to the signal sent from the pressure sensitive sensor.

2. A pressure sensitive sensor attachment structure, comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to an acceleration due to deformation of the sensor, and

an elastic support means, wherein the attachment structure is provided in at least one of an opening section having an inclined side and another side connected thereto through a corner section and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening section and serving to detect pinching of an object between the opening section and the opening and closing member,

wherein the pressure sensitive sensor has a flexibility and is formed like a long shaft, and is inserted in the 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.