# US 7,613,073 B2 · Ultrasonic sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,073 B2 - Document ID: US7613073B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/797,205 - Filed: 2007-05-01 - Published: 2007-11-22 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-08 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Yasuyuki Okuda; Takahiko Yoshida; Makiko Sugiura; Ryounosuke Tera; Yuuta Hasebe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613073B2 ## CPC - G01S 15/931: of land vehicles - G01H 11/08: using piezoelectric devices - G01S 7/521: Constructional features - 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 - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES ## Abstract An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of vibrating parts, a plurality of receiving elements, and a waveguide. Each of the vibrating parts vibrates when a corresponding ultrasonic wave reflected by a detection object is transmitted thereto, and receives the ultrasonic wave. Each of the elements includes corresponding one of the vibrating parts and detects the object using the corresponding ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted through the waveguide to each of the elements. The waveguide includes a first opening facing the object, a second opening, and a reflecting surface that reflects the ultrasonic wave in a direction to each of the vibrating parts. The ultrasonic wave enters through the first opening. The second opening is not viewable from the first opening. The second opening holds the elements such that the each of the vibrating parts faces a direction where the each of the vibrating parts receives the ultrasonic wave. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic sensor comprising: a plurality of vibrating parts, each of which vibrates when a corresponding ultrasonic wave, which is reflected by a detection object, is transmitted thereto, and thereby receives the corresponding ultrasonic wave; a plurality of receiving elements, each of which includes corresponding one of the plurality of vibrating parts and detects the detection object based on the corresponding ultrasonic wave; and a waveguide, which holds the plurality of receiving elements and is formed such that the corresponding ultrasonic wave is transmitted through the waveguide to each of the plurality of receiving elements, wherein the waveguide includes: a first opening that faces the detection object, wherein the corresponding ultrasonic wave reflected by the detection object enters through the first opening into the waveguide; a second opening that is not viewable from the first opening, wherein the plurality of receiving elements is held by the second opening of the waveguide such that each of the plurality of vibrating parts is arranged to face a direction in which the each of the plurality of vibrating parts receives the corresponding ultrasonic wave; and a reflecting surface for reflecting the corresponding ultrasonic wave, which enters through the first opening of the waveguide, in a direction to the each of the plurality of vibrating parts, wherein an absorbing member is formed on an inner wall surface of the waveguide except the reflecting surface, the absorbing member comprising a material having a higher absorption coefficient of the corresponding ultrasonic wave than the reflecting surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first opening and the each of the plurality of vibrating parts are arranged relative to the reflecting surface, such that the corresponding ultrasonic wave, which enters through the first opening, is directly reflected by the reflecting surface and then transmitted directly to the each of the plurality of vibrating parts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting member is formed on the reflecting surface and the reflecting member is made of a material, which has a higher reflectivity of the corresponding ultrasonic wave than an inner wall surface of the waveguide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first opening is formed such that a cross-sectional area of the first opening increases as the first opening extends from a predetermined position inside the waveguide toward an end part of the first opening, which faces the detection object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first opening is formed such that a cross-sectional area of the first opening decreases as the first opening extends from a predetermined position inside the waveguide toward an end part of the first opening, which faces the detection object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first opening is covered with a transmitting member, which prevents a foreign object from entering through the first opening into the waveguide and transmits the corresponding ultrasonic wave to the waveguide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting element, which is disposed inside the waveguide, wherein the transmitting element transmits an ultrasonic wave to the detection object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is attached to an object that is used outdoors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 8, wherein the object is one of a vehicle and a robot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing member is made of an elastic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 10, wherein the elastic material is one of a sponge material, rubber and resin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the material of the absorbing member has the absorption coefficient which is equal to or larger than 70%. ### Claim 13 An ultrasonic sensor comprising: a plurality of vibrating parts, each of which vibrates when a corresponding ultrasonic wave, which is reflected by a detection object, is transmitted thereto, and thereby receives the corresponding ultrasonic wave; a plurality of receiving elements, each of which includes corresponding one of the plurality of vibrating parts and detects the detection object based on the corresponding ultrasonic wave; and a waveguide, which holds the plurality of receiving elements and is formed such that the corresponding ultrasonic wave is transmitted through the waveguide to each of the plurality of receiving elements, wherein the waveguide includes: a first opening that faces the detection object, wherein the corresponding ultrasonic wave reflected by the detection object enters through the first opening into the waveguide; a second opening that is not viewable from the first opening, wherein the plurality of receiving elements is held by the second opening of the waveguide such that each of the plurality of vibrating parts is arranged to face a direction in which the each of the plurality of vibrating parts receives the corresponding ultrasonic wave; and a reflecting surface for reflecting the corresponding ultrasonic wave, which enters through the first opening of the waveguide, in a direction to the each of the plurality of vibrating parts, wherein the first opening is formed such that a cross-sectional area of the first opening decreases as the first opening extends from a predetermined position inside the waveguide toward an end part of the first opening, which faces the detection object.