Capacitive sensor having flexible polymeric conductors

• US 7,215,529 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlegel Corporation (GKN PLC)
• Inventors: Rosenau, Keith W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ha; Nguyen T.
• Application Number:
  US10/643,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20050041375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 361302-303, 361/305, 361277-278, 361/283.1, 361/283.4, 361/280, 361/284, 361286-287, 361/301.2, 361291-292
• US Class Current: 361/303
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/79 for flush-glass windows, i.e. for windows flush with the vehicle body or the window frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/46 responsive to changes in electrical capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2405 by varying dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/144 with associated circuitry G01L1/146 and G01L1/148 take precedence

Abstract

A capacitive sensor having a first and a second polymeric conductor are embedded within a non conducting body, wherein the body maintains a fixed separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor. The body can include a non conducting web, wherein the web substantially precludes variation in the spacing of the polymeric conductors during use in the intended operating environment.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensor comprising:

(a) an elongate first polymeric conductor,

(b) an elongate second polymeric conductor; and

(c) a non conductive web intermediate the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor to maintain a substantially fixed separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor, the web, the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor embedded within a non conductive polymer.

2. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second polymeric conductors has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

3. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and the second polymeric conductors are directly bonded to the non conductive web.

4. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the web and the non conductive polymer are integral.

5. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the non conductive web provides a maximum and minimum separation of the first and second polymeric conductors.

6. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, further comprising a secondary conductor in at least one of the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor.

7. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the secondary conductor is a wire.

8. The capacitive sensor of claim 7, wherein the secondary conductor includes a plurality of strands.

9. The capacitive sensor of claim 1, further comprising a non conductive body embedding the first and second polymeric conductors.

10. The capacitive sensor of claim 9, wherein the non conductive body has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

11. The capacitive sensor of claim 9, wherein the non conductive body is integral with the web.

12. An elongate capacitive sensor for installation about an opening in a motor vehicle, the opening having at least one corner, the sensor comprising:

(a) a one-piece extruded non conducting body; and

(b) a first polymeric conductor and a second polymeric conductor embedded in the body,

the body configured to substantially maintain a nominal separation distance between the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor after installation about the corner.

13. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein the first and the second polymeric conductors have substantially similar cross sectional profiles.

14. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein the polymeric conductors include a conductor selected from the group consisting of carbon blacks, graphite and metal powder.

15. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein the body surrounds a cross section of the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor.

16. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and the second polymeric conductor has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

17. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein the first and the second polymeric conductors are directly bonded to the web.

18. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein body maintains a substantially constant separation distance between the first and second polymeric conductors.

19. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, further comprising a secondary conductor in at least one of the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor.

20. The capacitive sensor of claim 19, wherein the secondary conductor is a wire.

21. The capacitive sensor of claim 19, wherein the secondary conductor includes a plurality of strands.

22. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein the body has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

23. The capacitive sensor of claim 12, wherein the body is configured to maintain less than a 10 percent variation in the separation distance along the length of the sensor in the corner.

24. A capacitive sensor, comprising a polymeric conductor embedded within a non conductive polymeric body, a cross sectional periphery of the polymeric conductor substantially defined by the body.

25. The capacitive sensor of claim 24, wherein the polymeric body defines at least a portion of a weatherseal.

26. A method manufacturing a capacitive sensor for installation about a motor vehicle opening having at least one corner, the method comprising forming a non conductive web intermediate a first polymeric conductor and a second polymeric conductor to define a separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor, the web configured to substantially maintain the separation distance upon installation about the corner.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising maintaining the separation distance after installation to within 10 percent of the separation distance before installation.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising maintaining the separation distance after installation about a corner having a radius less than 45 mm to within 10 percent of the separation distance before installation.

29. A capacitive sensor comprising:

(a) an elongate first polymeric conductor,

(b) an elongate second polymeric conductor; and

(c) a non conductive web intermediate the first and the second polymeric conductor, the web and the first and the second polymeric conductor defining a radius of curvature and the web maintaining a substantially fixed separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor along the radius of curvature.

30. The capacitive sensor of claim 29, wherein the web maintains the separation distance to within 10 percent of a nominal separation distance.

31. The capacitive sensor of claim 29, further comprising a polymeric body at least partially surrounding one of the polymeric conductors, the web being a harder material than the body.

32. The capacitive sensor of claim 29, wherein the radius of curvature is less than 35 mm.