Patent ID: 7038414

Claim:
A method for preventing a closure panel from pinching an obstruction extending through an aperture of a motor vehicle having a motor to drive the closure panel between an open position and a closed position, a position sensor and a capacitive sensor, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a capacitance of a field extending through the aperture using the capacitive sensor as the motor drives the closure panel between the open and closed positions; generating a voltage signal from the capacitance sensor based on the capacitance measurements; identifying a position of the motor using the position sensor as the motor drives the closure panel between the open and closed positions; correlating the voltage measured to the position identified to create data; comparing the data to a reference map to create a compare value; and detecting an object in a path of the closure panel as the closure panel moves toward the closed position when the compare value exceeds a predetermined value; and measuring a time period that the compare value exceeds the predetermined value to distinguish the detection of the object from noise.