Wide activation angle pinch sensor section

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9234979-B2
Application number	US-201313949203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2013
Priority date	Dec 8, 2009
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

In an aspect, a pinch sensor is provided, comprising: an elongate non-conductive casing enclosing first, second, and third elongate conductive electrodes; the first and second electrodes being separated by a portion of the casing, a capacitance between the first and second electrodes changing when an obstacle approaches the first electrode to provide a proximity indication of the obstacle to the pinch sensor; and, the second and third electrodes being separated by an air gap formed in the casing, a resistance between the second and third electrodes changing when the second and third electrodes come into contact upon compression of the casing by the obstacle to provide a contact indication of the obstacle with the pinch sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pinch sensor, comprising:
an elongate non-conductive casing having a base;
a first wire and a first conductive material around the first wire, positioned inside of the casing proximate the base; and
a second wire and a second conductive material around the second wire, positioned inside the casing away from the base,
wherein the casing has side walls between the first and second conductive materials,
wherein the first conductive material has a central region that is a plateau, and left and right regions that slope downward towards the base from the central region towards the side walls.

2. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side walls have bend points therein to initiate bending of the side walls when the sensor incurs a force in a downward direction towards the base.

3. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the casing has lateral maxima and the bend points are between the lateral maxima and the base.

4. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the left and right regions that slope downward towards the base at an angle that permits the activation of the pinch sensor by an activation force acting at an angle of less than about 37.5 degrees from a normal plane to the base.

Assignees

• Magna Closures Inc

Inventors

• Bolbocianu Liviu
• Isailovic Rade
• Pribisic Mirko
• Mellary Thomas
• Porat Alex

Classifications

• E05F15/44 Primary

  responsive to changes in electrical conductivity · CPC title

• G01L1/225

  Measuring circuits therefor · CPC title

• G01R27/02

  Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant (by measuring phase angle only G01R25/00) · CPC title

• E05F15/16

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• G01R27/14

  Measuring resistance by measuring current or voltage obtained from a reference source (G01R27/16, G01R27/20, G01R27/22 take precedence) · CPC title