FLEXIBLE CAPACITIVE STRIP FOR USE IN A NON-CONTACT OBSTACLE DETECTION SYSTEM

摘要

A flexible, capacitive strip (12) for use in a non-contact obstacle detection system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the strip (12) includes an elongated body (14) for flexible mounting to a panel (20) along a bottom surface (18) of the elongated body (14). A first elongated planar conductor (22) is contained within an upper section (24) of the elongated body (14), and a longitudinal cavity (26) is formed through a central portion of the elongated body (14), the elongated cavity (26) being disposed between the planar conductor (22) and the bottom surface (18). The first elongated planar conductor (22) forms a first electrode of a sensing capacitor and the longitudinal cavity (26) defines a portion of a dielectric material of the sensing capacitor.