Capacitive sensor having flexible polymeric conductors

1. A capacitive sensor comprising:

(a) an elongate first polymeric conductor,

(b) an elongate second polymeric conductor; and

(c) a non conductive web intermediate the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor to maintain a substantially fixed separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor, the web, the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor embedded within a non conductive polymer.

2. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second polymeric conductors has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

3. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second polymeric conductors are directly bonded to the non conductive web.

4. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , wherein the web and the non conductive polymer are integral.

5. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , wherein the non conductive web provides a maximum and minimum separation of the first and second polymeric conductors.

6. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary conductor in at least one of the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor.

7. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , wherein the secondary conductor is a wire.

8. The capacitive sensor of claim 7 , wherein the secondary conductor includes a plurality of strands.

9. The capacitive sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a non conductive body embedding the first and second polymeric conductors.

10. The capacitive sensor of claim 9 , wherein the non conductive body has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

11. The capacitive sensor of claim 9 , wherein the non conductive body is integral with the web.

12. An elongate capacitive sensor for installation about an opening in a motor vehicle, the opening having at least one corner, the sensor comprising:

(a) a one-piece extruded non conducting body; and

(b) a first polymeric conductor and a second polymeric conductor embedded in the body,

the body configured to substantially maintain a nominal separation distance between the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor after installation about the corner.

13. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first and the second polymeric conductors have substantially similar cross sectional profiles.

14. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric conductors include a conductor selected from the group consisting of carbon blacks, graphite and metal powder.

15. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein the body surrounds a cross section of the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor.

16. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and the second polymeric conductor has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

17. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first and the second polymeric conductors are directly bonded to the web.

18. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein body maintains a substantially constant separation distance between the first and second polymeric conductors.

19. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , further comprising a secondary conductor in at least one of the first polymeric conductor and the second polymeric conductor.

20. The capacitive sensor of claim 19 , wherein the secondary conductor is a wire.

21. The capacitive sensor of claim 19 , wherein the secondary conductor includes a plurality of strands.

22. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein the body has one of a rectangular, square, circular, triangular, curvilinear or faceted cross section.

23. The capacitive sensor of claim 12 , wherein the body is configured to maintain less than a 10 percent variation in the separation distance along the length of the sensor in the corner.

24. A capacitive sensor, comprising a polymeric conductor embedded within a non conductive polymeric body, a cross sectional periphery of the polymeric conductor substantially defined by the body.

25. The capacitive sensor of claim 24 , wherein the polymeric body defines at least a portion of a weatherseal.

26. A method manufacturing a capacitive sensor for installation about a motor vehicle opening having at least one corner, the method comprising forming a non conductive web intermediate a first polymeric conductor and a second polymeric conductor to define a separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor, the web configured to substantially maintain the separation distance upon installation about the corner.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising maintaining the separation distance after installation to within 10 percent of the separation distance before installation.

28. The method of claim 26 , further comprising maintaining the separation distance after installation about a corner having a radius less than 45 mm to within 10 percent of the separation distance before installation.

29. A capacitive sensor comprising:

(a) an elongate first polymeric conductor,

(b) an elongate second polymeric conductor; and

(c) a non conductive web intermediate the first and the second polymeric conductor, the web and the first and the second polymeric conductor defining a radius of curvature and the web maintaining a substantially fixed separation distance between the first and the second polymeric conductor along the radius of curvature.

30. The capacitive sensor of claim 29 , wherein the web maintains the separation distance to within 10 percent of a nominal separation distance.

31. The capacitive sensor of claim 29 , further comprising a polymeric body at least partially surrounding one of the polymeric conductors, the web being a harder material than the body.

32. The capacitive sensor of claim 29 , wherein the radius of curvature is less than 35 mm.