Patent ID: 6968746

Claim:
An anti-entrapment system for preventing an object from being entrapped by a translating device, the system comprising: a capacitance sensor positioned adjacent to a translating device, the capacitance sensor having a flexible conductor separated from a frame by a separation distance, the frame having conductivity means which make the frame conductive in the region of the conductor, the capacitance sensor further having a compressible, non-conductive elastomer encasing the conductor and resting on the frame, the conductor having a capacitance dependent upon the separation distance; wherein the capacitance changes in response to the separation distance changing as a result of the elastomer compressing in response to a first object touching the elastomer; wherein the capacitance changes in response to a second conductive object coming into proximity with the conductor; and a controller for controlling the translating device as a function of the capacitance in order to prevent the translating device from entrapping either object.