Patent ID: 9477003
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: B60J,E05F,E05Y,G01D,G01R,G01V,H03K

Claim Text:
1. An obstacle sensor for a closure panel of a vehicle, comprising: an elongate non-conductive case enclosing a first, second, and third elongate conductive electrodes; said first and second electrodes being separated by a portion of said case, a capacitance between said first and second electrodes changing when an obstacle approaches said first electrode to provide a proximity indication of the obstacle to the obstacle sensor; and said second and third electrodes being separated by an air gap formed in the case, a resistance between said second and third electrodes changing when the second and third electrodes come into contact upon compression of the case by the obstacle to provide a contact indication of the obstacle with the obstacle sensor, wherein said second and third electrodes are bounded by compressible spring side walls of said case to allow said second and third electrodes to contact one another when the obstacle sensor is contacted by the obstacle.