ULTRASONIC SENSOR

• US 20110277550A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyoda, Hiroyuki, ABE, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 8,813,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/632
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00

Abstract

The ultrasonic element includes an ultrasonic oscillator for sending, receiving or transceiving ultrasonic waves, an element body having an opening for passage of ultrasonic waves formed on one surface, the ultrasonic oscillator being arranged within the element body, and terminal portions protruding from the element body to feed an electric current to the ultrasonic oscillator. The ultrasonic sensor further includes a housing having an opening formed on one surface for communication with the opening of the element body. The housing includes a receiving portion for receiving the ultrasonic element and a positioning portion integrally formed with the receiving portion to position the ultrasonic element in place. The ultrasonic sensor includes a printed wiring board arranged to interpose the ultrasonic element between the printed wiring board and the receiving portion. The terminal portions of the ultrasonic element are mounted to the printed wiring board.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic sensor, comprising:

an ultrasonic element including an ultrasonic oscillator for sending, receiving or transceiving ultrasonic waves, an element body having an opening for passage of ultrasonic waves formed on one surface, the ultrasonic oscillator being arranged within the element body, and terminal portions protruding from the element body to feed an electric current to the ultrasonic oscillator;

a housing having an opening formed on one surface for communication with the opening of the element body, the housing including a receiving portion for receiving the ultrasonic element and a positioning portion integrally formed with the receiving portion to position the ultrasonic element in place; and

a printed wiring board arranged to interpose the ultrasonic element between the printed wiring board and the receiving portion of the housing, the terminal portions of the ultrasonic element being mounted to the printed wiring board.

2. The ultrasonic sensor of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion includes a peripheral wall surrounding the ultrasonic element, the positioning portion being a plurality of ribs integrally formed with the peripheral wall to make contact with the ultrasonic element under pressure.

3. The ultrasonic sensor of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion includes a peripheral wall surrounding the ultrasonic element, the positioning portion being a plurality of thin wall sections formed in the peripheral wall, the thickness of the thin wall sections in a radial direction of the peripheral wall being set smaller than the thickness of the remaining sections of the peripheral wall.