# US 10,246,010 B2 · Ultrasonic sensor and obstacle detection apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,010 B2 - Document ID: US10246010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/749,566 - Filed: 2015-08-31 - Published: 2018-08-09 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-31 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Satoru Inoue; Takashi Ohsawa; Masato Kurahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246010B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/525: {automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data} - B60Q 1/52: for indicating emergencies - B60Q 9/006: {using a distance sensor} - B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds - B60R 19/483: {with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type} - B60R 19/50: with lights or registration plates - B60R 21/00: Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks (safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles B60R22/00; seats constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats, B60N2/42; energy-absorbing arrangements for hand wheels for steering vehicles B62D1/11; energy-absorbing arrangements for vehicle steering columns B62D1/19) - B60R 21/013: including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over - G01S 7/521: Constructional features - G01S 15/931: of land vehicles - B60Q 2400/20: Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp - B60R 2019/505: {with lights} - G01S 2015/937: {sensor installation details} - G01S 2015/938: {in the bumper area} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract An ultrasonic sensor (10) includes a transmission and reception unit (11) for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a holder (12) and an attachment (13) for fixing the transmission and reception unit (11) to the bumper (1) of a vehicle, and light source units (14a, 14b) mounted in a back side of the bumper (1). The holder (12) is shaped so as to be exposed on a surface of the bumper (1), and guides light beams emitted by the light source units (14a, 14b) to the surface of the bumper (1), to project the light beams from a light projecting surface (12a) to the outside of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic sensor configured to be fixed to a bumper of a vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor comprising: a transducer for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; one or more light sources to be mounted in a back side of the bumper; and an optical element for holding the transducer configured in such a manner that at least a part of the optical element is exposed on a front surface of the bumper, wherein the optical element is configured to guide light emitted by the one or more light sources to a front surface of the bumper and to project the light to an outside of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a light scattering portion for scattering light to be projected to the outside of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 2, wherein the light scattering portion is a semi-transparent member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 2, wherein the light scattering portion is a member having a front surface on which bumps are formed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein a light projecting surface of the optical element to be exposed on the front surface of the bumper has an optical property to diffuse or condense light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the optical element has a mirror portion and a half mirror portion which are opposite to each other, and causes light emitted by the one or more light sources to be reflected between the mirror portion and the half mirror portion multiple times, to project the light from the half mirror portion to the outside of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: a supporting portion for supporting either the optical element or the one or more light sources, with the optical element or the one or more light sources oriented to face any direction; and an actuator for changing a direction of the light projected to the outside of the vehicle by changing the direction toward which either the optical element or the one or more light sources are oriented. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of light sources that can emit light beams individually. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 8, wherein the optical element projects the light beams emitted by the light sources toward one or more directions. ### Claim 10 An obstacle detection apparatus comprising: a transducer for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; one or more light sources to be mounted in a back side of a bumper of a vehicle; an optical element for holding the transducer configured in such a manner that at least a part of the optical element is exposed on a front surface of the bumper, wherein the optical element is configured to guide light emitted by the one or more light sources to a front surface of the bumper and to project the light to an outside of the vehicle; a processor to execute a program; and a memory to store the program which, when executed by the processor, results in the processes of: controlling transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave by the transducer; detecting an obstacle by using a result of transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave by the transducer; and causing the one or more light sources to emit light when the transducer transmits the ultrasonic wave or when the obstacle detection unit detects an obstacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The obstacle detection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor causes the one or more light sources to emit light in a predetermined mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The obstacle detection apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of light sources configured to emit light with different light emission colors, wherein the processor controls light emissions by the plurality of light sources configured to emit light with different light emission colors, thereby controlling color of light beams to be projected to the outside of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The obstacle detection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the processor detects an obstacle, the processor controls a direction of emission of light to a direction in which the obstacle is detected. ### Claim 14 An ultrasonic sensor configured to be fixed to a bumper of a vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor comprising: a transducer for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a plurality of light sources; and an optical element for holding the transducer, the optical element being configured in such a manner that at least a part of the optical element is exposed on a front surface of the bumper to guide light emitted by the plurality of light sources to a front surface of the bumper and to project the light to an outside of the vehicle, wherein the optical element comprises a light scattering portion for scattering light to be projected to the outside of the vehicle.