Ultrasonic sensor and obstacle detection apparatus
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic sensor configured to be fixed to a bumper of a vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An obstacle detection apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An ultrasonic sensor configured to be fixed to a bumper of a vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor comprising:
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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.
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Specification