Patent ID: 7821275
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: E05F,E05Y,G01D,G01V,H03K

Abstract:
1. A capacitive anti-pinch sensor for detecting an obstacle in a path of an actuating element of a motor vehicle, the anti-pinch sensor comprising: a sensor body with an electrically isolated measuring electrode that is provided in the sensor body and to which a measuring potential can be applied; a calibrating electrode, which is provided in the sensor body, directly adjacent to the measuring electrode and to which a calibrating potential can be applied; and a control unit, which controls the measuring electrode and the calibrating electrode so that the measuring potential and the calibrating potential are substantially equal in a measurement phase and differ from one another in a calibration phase, wherein the control unit measures and stores a value of a calibration capacitance during the calibration phase of the capacitive anti-pinch sensor, and uses the measured calibration capacitance value to correct the value of a measurement capacitance detected in the measurement phase of the capacitive anti-pinch sensor, to account for the presence of water, dirt or other contaminants on a surface of the sensor body.