Wide activation angle pinch sensor section

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417099-B2
Application number	US-201514963620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 8, 2009
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 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 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.

2. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is encased in a wall of the casing, and the second and third electrodes are positioned in an interior space provided in the casing.

3. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the casing has side walls between the second and third electrodes,
and wherein the second electrode has a central region that is a plateau, and left and right regions that slope downward towards the base in a direction away from the central region at a selected angle.

4. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the third electrode has an engagement region which has a central region, and left and right regions that extend downward towards the first electrode relative to the central region towards the side walls.

5. A pinch sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the casing is tubular,
wherein the second electrode includes an electrically-conductive tubular conduit disposed within the tubular casing,
and wherein the third electrode includes an electrically-conductive core disposed within the electrically-conductive tubular conduit and normally spaced apart from the tubular conduit.

Assignees

• Magna Closures Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G01L1/225

  Measuring circuits therefor · CPC title

• B60J5/0493

  Appurtenances · CPC title

• G01L1/205

  using distributed sensing elements · CPC title

• E05F15/46

  responsive to changes in electrical capacitance · CPC title

• G01D5/16 Primary

  by varying resistance · CPC title