# US 6,723,933 B2 · Flexible capacitive strip for use in a non-contact obstacle detection system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,723,933 B2 - Document ID: US6723933B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/142,643 - Filed: 2002-05-10 - Published: 2003-05-01 - Granted: 2004-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 2001-10-17 - Inventors: Ronald Helmut Haag; Brian Deplae; Jeremy M. Husic; John Pasiecznik, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6723933B2 ## CPC - E05F 15/46: responsive to changes in electrical capacitance - E05Y 2600/40: Mounting location; Visibility of the elements - H03K 2017/9602: {characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes} - H03K 2217/96078: Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A flexible, capacitive strip for use in a non-contact obstacle detection system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the strip includes an elongated body for flexible mounting to a panel along a bottom surface of the elongated body. A first elongated planar conductor is contained within an upper section of the elongated body, and a longitudinal cavity is formed through a central portion of the elongated body, the longitudinal cavity being disposed between the planar conductor and the bottom surface. The first elongated planar conductor forms a first electrode of a sensing capacitor and the longitudinal cavity defines a portion of a dielectric material of the sensing capacitor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible, capacitive strip for use in a non-contact obstacle detection system, the strip comprising: an elongated body for flexible mounting to a panel along a bottom surface of said elongated body; a first elongated planar conductor contained within an upper section or said elongated body; and a longitudinal cavity formed through a central portion of said elongated body, said longitudinal cavity being disposed between said planar conductor and said bottom surface; wherein said first elongated planar conductor further comprises a first electrode of a non-contact sensing capacitor and said longitudinal cavity comprises a portion of a dieleetric material of said non-contact sensing capacitor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said panel comprises a second electrode of said non-contact sensing capacitor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said planar conductor comprises a flexible material such that a substantially constant distance is maintained between said first elongated planar conductor and said panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said elongated body is formed by extrusion of an insulating material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The capacitive strip of claim 4, wherein said insulating material further comprises santoprene rubber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The capacitive strip of claim 5, wherein a dielectric constant of said capacitive strip is determined by both said longitudinal cavity and said santoprene rubber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The capacitive strip of claim 4, wherein said insulating material surrounds said first elongated planar conductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said first elongated planar conductor further comprises braided wire. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The capacitive strip of claim 8, wherein said braided wire is formed from tinned copper material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive strip affixed to said bottom surface of said elongated body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, further comprising: a second elongated planar conductor, formed within said elongated body; said second elongated planar conductor being disposed substantially parallel to said first elongated planar conductor, with said longitudinal cavity further being disposed between said first elongated planar conductor and said elongated planar conductor; wherein said second elongated planar conductor further comprises a second electrode of said non-contact sensing capacitor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The capacitive strip of claim 11, wherein said elongated body includes a pair of grooves therein, said grooves thereby allowing said elongated body to be slid into and mounted within a carrier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The capacitive strip of claim 12, wherein said insulating material surrounds said first elongated planar conductor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The capacitive strip of claim 11, wherein said longitudinal cavity provides a dielectric between said first planar conductor and said second planar conductor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said elongated body provides a moisture resistant covering for the first elongated planar conductor disposed therein. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said elongated body has a dielectric property or constant of approximately 2.3. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The capacitive strip of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal cavity is defined by a pair of side walls, said upper section and said elongated body wherein a cross section of the capacitive strip has a trapezoidal configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The capacitive strip of claim 17, wherein said longitudinal cavity comprises curved protrusions disposed within the material of said elongated body, said curved protrusions causing said elongated body to be more resilient to compression forces. ### Claim 19 A flexible, capacitive strip for use in a non-contact obstacle detection system of a vehicle, the strip comprising: an elongatcd body for flexible mounting to a surface of the vehicle along a bottom surface of said elongated body; a first elongated planar conductor contained within an upper section of said elongated body; and a longitudinal cavity formed through a central portion of said elongated body, said longitudinal cavity being disposed between said planar conductor and said bottom surface; wherein said first elongated planar conductor further comprises a first elctrode of a non-contact sensing capacitor and said longitudinal cavity comprises a portion of a dielectric material of said non-contact sensing capacitor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The capacitive strip of claim 19, wherein the capacitive strip is capable of conforming to the surface of the vehicle and said first elongated planar conductor is maintained in a parallel spaced relationship with respect to the surface of the vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The capacitive strip of claim 20, further comprising: a second elongated planar conductor, formed within said elongated body; said second elongated planar conductor being disposed substantially parallel to said first elongated planar conductor, with said longitudinal cavity further being disposed between said first elongated planar conductor and said elongated planar conductor; wherein said second elongated planar conductor further comprises a second electrode of said non-contact sensing capacitor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The capacitive strip of claim 21, wherein said longitudinal cavity is defined by a pair of side walls, said upper section and said elongated body wherein a cross section of the capacitive strip has a trapezoidal configuration. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The capacitive strip of claim 22, wherein said longitudinal cavity comprises curved protrusions disposed within the material of said elongated body, said curved protrusions causing said elongated body to be more resilient to compression forces.