Capacitive Sensor for Vehicle Door Entrapment Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack effective solutions for detecting objects, particularly humans, in proximity to moving panels such as lift gates and doors, which can lead to entrapment and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of capacitive sensors mounted on movable panels, which detect changes in capacitance when an object comes into proximity or contact, triggering a controller to halt or reverse the movement of the panel to prevent entrapment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capacitive sensors are mounted on movable panels to detect objects in proximity, then safety and entrapment prevention are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor systems with capacitive sensing technology. The capacitive sensor detects objects through changes in electrical capacitance when an object approaches or contacts the movable panel, eliminating the need for complex mechanical switches, pressure sensors, or optical systems while improving reliability and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensor acts as an intermediary between the movable panel and the control system. It converts physical proximity or contact of objects into electrical signals that the controller can process, enabling safe operation without direct mechanical contact or complex sensing mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If capacitive sensors are used to detect objects through contact or proximity, then measurement precision for object detection is improved, but the sensor may be less reliable for non-conductive objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in capacitance parameters to detect objects. When an object approaches or contacts the movable panel, it alters the electrical capacitance of the sensor, which the controller detects and processes. This parameter-based detection method provides precise measurement while maintaining reliability across different object types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents entrapment by reliably detecting objects in the path of moving panels, ensuring safer operation of vehicle lift gates and doors.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is positioned on a panel such that at least a portion of the sensor will come into proximity or contact of a person or thing that is proximal to the closing edges of the panels
Data Source
AI summary
A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of doors, a weather seal, at least one sensor disposed inside the weather seal, wherein the at least one sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive moving object proximal to the weather seal such that the capacitance of the at least one sensor changes, and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller analyzing the sensing by the at least one sensor and being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the obstruction is present.