Anti-entrapment system
First Claim
1. A sensor device comprising:
- a capacitance sensor, wherein a capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a conductive object coming into proximity of the capacitance sensor; and
a plurality of charge storing capacitors;
a controller including a micro-controller configured to;
closing a first switch to develop an electrical charge in the sensor by placing a known voltage from a voltage source across conductors of the capacitance sensor;
opening the first switch to isolate the capacitance sensor from the voltage source;
closing a second switch to instigate a charge transfer between the capacitance sensor and at least one charge storing capacitor of the charge storing capacitors, wherein the transferred charge from the capacitance sensor is indicative of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor;
opening the second switch to isolate the at least one charge storing capacitor from the sensor;
determine the capacitance of the capacitance sensor based on the transferred charge;
wherein the controller is operable to select a number of the plurality of charge storing capacitors for the charge transfer with the capacitance sensor to reach a target capacitance value of the plurality of charge storing capacitors; and
wherein the selected number of the plurality of charge storing capacitors corresponds to a sensitivity of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device such as a vehicle window includes a capacitance sensor and a controller. The sensor has a jacket with a cavity, a dielectric element within the cavity, and first and second electrical conductors. The conductors are within the cavity on opposite sides of the dielectric element such that the conductors are separated from one another by a separation distance. The capacitance of the sensor changes in response to an electrically conductive object moving in proximity to at least one of the conductors. The controller is configured to control a translating device as a function of the capacitance of the sensor. The jacket is attachable to a seal configured to receive the translating device.
12 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sensor device comprising:
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a capacitance sensor, wherein a capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a conductive object coming into proximity of the capacitance sensor; and a plurality of charge storing capacitors; a controller including a micro-controller configured to; closing a first switch to develop an electrical charge in the sensor by placing a known voltage from a voltage source across conductors of the capacitance sensor; opening the first switch to isolate the capacitance sensor from the voltage source; closing a second switch to instigate a charge transfer between the capacitance sensor and at least one charge storing capacitor of the charge storing capacitors, wherein the transferred charge from the capacitance sensor is indicative of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor; opening the second switch to isolate the at least one charge storing capacitor from the sensor; determine the capacitance of the capacitance sensor based on the transferred charge; wherein the controller is operable to select a number of the plurality of charge storing capacitors for the charge transfer with the capacitance sensor to reach a target capacitance value of the plurality of charge storing capacitors; and wherein the selected number of the plurality of charge storing capacitors corresponds to a sensitivity of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor device comprising:
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a capacitance sensor, wherein a capacitance of the capacitance sensor changes in response to a conductive object coming into proximity of the capacitance sensor; a plurality of charge storing capacitors; and a controller including a micro-controller configured to; select a number of the charge storing capacitors, closing a first switch to develop an electrical charge in the capacitance sensor by applying a known voltage from a voltage source across conductors of the capacitance sensor; opening the first switch to isolate the capacitance sensor from the voltage source; closing a second switch to instigate a charge transfer between the capacitance sensor and the selected number of charge storing capacitors, wherein the transferred charge from the capacitance sensor is indicative of the capacitance of the capacitance sensor; opening the second switch to isolate the selected number of charge storing capacitors from the sensor; and determine the capacitance of the capacitance sensor based on the transferred charge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of sensing an object using a capacitance sensor having a capacitance that changes in response to a conductive object coming into proximity of the capacitance sensor, comprising the steps of:
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charging the capacitance sensor by closing a first switch with a micro-controller to develop an electrical charge in the capacitance sensor by applying a known voltage from a voltage source across conductors of the capacitance sensor; opening the first switch with the micro-controller to isolate the capacitance sensor from the voltage source; performing a plurality of charge transfers from the capacitance sensor to at least one charge storing capacitor by sequentially opening and closing a second switch with the micro-controller; opening the second switch with the micro-controller to isolate the at least one charge storing capacitor from the capacitance sensor; and determining a capacitance of the capacitance sensor based on a collective charge stored on the at least one charge storing capacitor from the plurality of charge transfers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification