Abstract There is provided a moisture-responsive system for protecting the interior of an enclosure such as a motor vehicle which includes an opening; a closure for the opening; a moisture sensor for providing a moisture signal in response to sensing of moisture in excess of a predetermined threshold; a circuit coupled to the closure and the moisture sensor for providing a signal to actuate the closure in response to receipt of a moisture signal and for sensing obstructions of the closure and temporarily terminating the actuation of the closure in response thereto. There is also provided an improved moisture sensor comprising conductive plates separated by and supported on an insulating layer with a raised bulbous portion which extends above the plates to predetermine the amount of moisture necessary to electronically bridge the gap between the conductive plates and therefore the level at which the sensor commences to sense moisture.
An improved electrical moisture sensing means for sensing moisture in excess of a predetermined level comprising: a pair of parallel electrically conductive plates subjected by a bottom insulating layer; an insulating layer separating said conductive plates, said separating insulating layer extending above said conductive plates and terminating in a bulbous portion with edges extending over said conductive plates to provide a groove for securing and aligning said conductive plates and to provide means for predetermining the level of moisture in excess of which said moisture sensing means senses moisture; whereby, said moisture sensing means senses moisture whenever moisture builds up on said conductive plates to a level sufficient to cover said bulbous portion and electrically bridge said conductive plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
An improved electrical moisture sensing means for sensing moisture in excess of a predetermined level comprising: a pair of parallel electrically conductive plates subjected by a bottom insulating layer; an insulating layer separating said conductive plates, said separating insulating layer extending above said conductive plates and terminating in a bulbous portion with edges extending over said conductive plates to provide a groove for securing and aligning said conductive plates and to provide means for predetermining the level of moisture in excess of which said moisture sensing means senses moisture; whereby, said moisture sensing means senses moisture whenever moisture builds up on said conductive plates to a level sufficient to cover said bulbous portion and electrically bridge said conductive plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Moisture sensing means as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said conductive plates is coupled to ground and the other of said conductive plates is coupled to an input of a motor control circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Moisture sensing means as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said conductive plates is coupled to an output and the other of said conductive plates is coupled to an input of a motor control circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Moisture sensing means as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom insulating layer and said separating insulating layer are of unitary construction.