Sensor system, sensor element, and method with a light sensor and an electrical sensor for monitoring a closing mechanism

• US 7,521,665 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leoni AG, GECOM Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Leoni AG, GECOM Corporation (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Weiss, Christoph, Kodl, Georg, Vosburgh, Keith, Frommberger, Michael, Yuge, Masaaki, Reichinger, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US11/775,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20080006763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/214.R, 250/201.1, 250/227.14, 340/463, 340/507, 340/545.1, 340/545.4, 340555-557, 340/5.72, 280/735, 180/281, 180/286, 180/289
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/436 the beam being parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/487 Fault detection of safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/50 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/242 the material being an optical fibre

Abstract

In order to be able to reliably detect when an object is caught between two parts which move in relation to one another in a motor-driven closing mechanism, in particular in an electromotively driven window winder system, provision is made for the sensor system to have an optical pressure sensor as well as an electrical capacitive sensor in addition. The optical pressure sensor comprises a light-guiding element, a light source for injecting light into the light-guiding element and a light sensor for sensing the light which has been output. The electrical sensor comprises an electrode which is connected to a voltage source. Both sensors are each assigned to an evaluation unit for evaluating the respective signal.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

an optical pressure sensor having an optical sensor element with a light-guiding element;

a light source disposed for injecting light into said light-guiding element;

a light sensor for sensing light output from said light-guiding element;

a first evaluation unit connected to said light sensor for evaluating the light output from said light-guiding element;

an electrical sensor with an electrode connected to a voltage source; and

a second evaluation unit connected to said electrical sensor for evaluating a voltage signal output by said electrical sensor.

2. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said optical pressure sensor and said electrical sensor are disposed for monitoring a motor-driven closing mechanism with regard to an object being caught between two relatively moving parts of the closing mechanism.

3. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor element and said electrode are commonly disposed in a hose-shaped sheath.

4. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor element is formed by said light-guiding element and said light-guiding element is substantially without cladding and spaced apart from said sheath.

5. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor element is formed by said light-guiding element and a protective hose wherein said light-guiding element is loosely passed and enclosed.

6. The sensor system according to claim 4, wherein said electrode is passed along said light-guiding element.

7. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is wound around said light-guiding element.

8. The sensor system according to claim 4, wherein said electrode is formed of braiding directly disposed around said light-guiding element and leaving surface regions of said light-guiding element free at regular intervals.

9. The sensor system according to claim 8, wherein said electrode forms a spacer between said light-guiding element and said sheath.

10. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein contact is made between said electrode and a ferrule at an end of said optical sensor element.

11. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is a first electrode, and wherein a second electrode is connected, as a transmission electrode, to the voltage source and is positioned opposite said first electrode, and said first electrode forms a reception electrode and is connected to said second evaluation unit.

12. The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein said optical sensor element and said first electrode are commonly disposed in a hose-shaped sheath, and one of said first and second electrodes is integrated in a wall of said hose-shaped sheath.

13. The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein said electrodes are integrated in the wall of the sheath, and said optical sensor element is passed through a cavity in the sheath.

14. The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein said electrode is embedded in said sheath by extrusion.

15. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor element is disposed in a hose-shaped sheath and laid in a manner of a loop in said sheath.

16. The sensor system according to claim 3, wherein a supply line for said light source is co-integrated in said sheath.

17. The sensor system according to claim 16, wherein said supply line for said light source is configured to also form said electrode.

18. The sensor system according to claim 1, in which the light-guiding element is made from a conductive material and at the same time forms the electrode.

19. The sensor system according to claim 1, in which the sheath is made from a conductive material and at the same time forms the electrode.

20. The sensor system according to claim 1, in which the sheath is a sealing element for a closing element such as a door, for example.

21. The sensor system according to claim 1, in which the sheath is a sealing profile for a motor vehicle door, and a protective hose in which an optical fiber is loosely passed as a light-guiding element is embedded in the sheath, said electrode running along the protective hose.

22. The sensor system according to claim 1, configured as an anti-catch device for the closing mechanism, the evaluation units being designed in such a manner that, when it is detected that something is caught, a stop signal is generated for the closing mechanism.

23. A sensor element for a sensor system according to claim 1 comprising an optical sensor element, which is passed in a hose-shaped sheath, of an optical pressure sensor and an electrode, which extends in the direction of the hose-shaped sheath, of an electrical sensor.

24. A method for monitoring a closing mechanism for an object that may be caught between two parts of the closing mechanism which move in relation to one another with the aid of the sensor system according to claim 1, the method which comprises monitoring the closing mechanism in parallel with the aid of the optical pressure sensor and with the aid of the electrical sensor.

25. The method according to claim 24, which comprises evaluating a signal which is respectively sensed by the sensors for an object being caught with the aid of an evaluation algorithm.

26. The method according to claim 25, which comprises, if the sensed signal profile of one of the signals sensed by the sensors differs from an expected signal profile, determining that something is caught.

27. The method according to claim 26, which comprises stopping the closing mechanism upon an indication of an abnormal event.

28. The method according to claim 26, which comprises continuously checking the functionality of the optical pressure sensor and of the electrical sensor.