Patent ID: 8493081

Claim:
A pinch sensor ( 100 , 100 ′, 200 , 200 ′), comprising: a non-conductive tubular casing ( 110 ; 210 ) having an outer wall and an inner wall and defining an internal hollow region ( 108 ; 208 ), the tubular casing being formed from a resiliently deformable material; three electrically-conductive conduits ( 102 ; 202 , 203 ) disposed along the casing inner wall, wherein each electrically-conductive conduit has a periphery that extends into the hollow region, and wherein, in section, the three electrically-conductive conduits are substantially equidistantly spaced circumferentially along the casing inner wall; wherein, upon deformation of the casing, at least one of the electrically-conductive conduits ( 102 ; 202 ) comes into contact with a electrically conductive reference element ( 112 ; 203 ) to thereby lower the resistance therebetween.