Patent ID: 6499359
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B60N,B60R,E05Y,G01D,H03K

Abstract:
A pinch sensor for preventing an object within an opening defined by a closed opening device from being pinched by the closed opening device, the sensor comprising:first and second flexible conductor elements separated by a separation distance and having a capacitance dependent on the separation distance, the first and second flexible conductor elements fixedly positioned adjacent to an opening defined by a closed opening device; and a non-conductive compressible element interposed between the first and second flexible conductor elements, wherein the non-conductive compressible element compresses in response to an object within the opening applying a force to at least one of the first and second flexible conductor elements such that the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreases, wherein the capacitance of the first and second flexible conductor elements changes in response to the separation distance between the first and second flexible conductor elements decreasing.