ULTRASONIC SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120188849A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MATSUDA, Hiroshi, KANO, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,082,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/135
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/341 Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits

Abstract

The ultrasonic sensor includes: a plurality of transmission/reception dual-use elements, first electrode switches connected to the first electrodes of the transmission/reception dual-use elements; second electrode switches connected to the second electrodes of the transmission/reception dual-use elements; a control circuit; a transmitting circuit; a receiving circuit; a common-electrode connection wiring; and serial connection wiring. When an ultrasonic signal is to be transmitted, the control circuit connects the first electrode switches to the transmitting circuit, connects the second electrode switches to the common-electrode connection wiring so that the transmission/reception dual-use elements are connected in parallel to the transmitting circuit and the common electrode. When an ultrasonic signal is to be received, the control circuit connects the first electrode switches and the second electrode switches to the serial connection wiring so that the transmission/reception dual-use elements are serially connected to the receiving circuit.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

a plurality of transmission/reception dual-use elements configured and arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, each of the transmission/reception dual-use elements including a first electrode and a second electrode;

a plurality of first electrode switches respectively connected to the first electrodes of the transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a plurality of second electrode switches respectively connected to the second electrodes of the transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a control circuit configured and arranged to control transmission and reception of the ultrasonic waves of the transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a transmitting circuit configured and arranged to output signals for ultrasonic wave transmission to the transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a receiving circuit configured and arranged to receive signals outputted from the transmission/reception dual-use elements when ultrasonic waves are received by the transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a common-electrode connection wiring connected to a common electrode; and

a serial connection wiring serially connecting the transmission/reception dual-use elements, wherein

when an ultrasonic signal is to be transmitted, the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the first electrode switches to the transmitting circuit, and to connect the second electrode switches to the common-electrode connection wiring so that the transmission/reception dual-use elements are connected in parallel to the transmitting circuit and the common electrode, and

when an ultrasonic signal is to be received, the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the first electrode switches and the second electrode switches to the serial connection wiring so that the transmission/reception dual-use elements are serially connected to the receiving circuit.

2. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the transmission/reception dual-use elements include n number of the transmission/reception dual-use elements where n is an integer of 2 or more,

the first electrode switches include the n number of the first electrode switches, and the second electrode switches include the n number of the second electrode switches, and

the serial connection wiring includes

n−

1 number of inter-element connection wirings connecting the n number of the transmission/reception dual-use elements in series with each of the n−

1 number of the inter-element connection wirings connecting the first electrode switch of one of the transmission/reception dual-use elements to the second electrode switch of a different one of the transmission/reception dual-use elements,

a first element-circuit connection wiring connecting one of the first electrode switches, which is not connected to the inter-element connection wirings, to the receiving circuit, and

a second element-circuit connection wiring connecting one of the second electrode switches, which is not connected to the inter-element connection wirings, to the receiving circuit.

5. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, further comprising

a sensor substrate in which a plurality of openings are formed at positions in which the transmission/reception dual-use elements are arranged,

each of the transmission/reception dual-use elements including

a flexible support film layered on one surface of the sensor substrate and covering the opening,

the first electrode layered on the support film,

a piezoelectric film layered on the first electrode, and

a second electrode layered on the piezoelectric film.

6. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, further comprising

a plurality of transmitting elements configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves, each of the transmitting elements including a first electrode and a second electrode,

the first electrode of each of the transmitting elements being connected to the transmitting circuit, and

the second electrode of each of the transmitting elements being connected to the common electrode.

7. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 6, further comprising

a sensor substrate in which the transmission/reception dual-use elements and the transmitting elements are arranged along two mutually orthogonal X axis and Y axis directions,

the transmission/reception dual-use elements and the transmitting elements being arrayed in equidistant intervals in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and

the transmission/reception dual-use elements being arranged in positions nearest to a center point of a region in which the transmission/reception dual-use elements and the transmitting elements are arranged.

8. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 7, wherein

the sensor substrate includes four regions divided by the X axis and Y axis, which pass through the center point, and

within each of the regions, electrode lines connected to the first electrode and the second electrode of at least one of the transmission/reception dual-use elements and the electrode line connected to the first electrode of at least one of the transmitting elements extend in the X-axis direction away from the Y axis.

9. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 8, further comprising

common-electrode wiring connecting the transmitting elements to the common electrode, the common-electrode wiring extending along the Y axis,

within each of the regions, the electrode lines drawn out from the second electrodes of the transmitting elements being connected to the common-electrode wiring.

10. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1.

11. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 2.

14. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 5.

15. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 6.

16. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 7.

17. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 8.

18. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 9.

3. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

first and second transmission/reception dual-use elements configured and arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, each of the first and second transmission/reception dual-use elements including a first electrode and a second electrode;

a first switch connected to the first electrode of the first transmission/reception dual-use element;

a second switch connected to the second electrode of the first transmission/reception dual-use element;

a third switch connected to the first electrode of the second transmission/reception dual-use element;

a fourth switch connected to the second electrode of the second transmission/reception dual-use element;

a control circuit configured and arranged to control transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves of the first and second transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a transmitting circuit configured and arranged to output signals for ultrasonic wave transmission to the first and second transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a receiving circuit configured and arranged to receive signals outputted from the first and second transmission/reception dual-use elements when ultrasonic waves are received by the first and second transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a common-electrode connection wiring connected to a common electrode; and

a serial connection wiring, wherein

when an ultrasonic signal is to be transmitted, the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the first switch and the third switch to the transmitting circuit, and to connect the second switch and the fourth switch to the common-electrode connection wiring, and

when an ultrasonic signal is to be received, the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the first switch and the fourth switch to the serial connection wiring, and to connect the second switch and the third switch to the receiving circuit.

12. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 3.

4. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

first to fourth transmission/reception dual-use elements configured and arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, each of the first to fourth transmission/reception dual-use elements including a first electrode and a second electrode;

a first switch connected to the first electrode of the first transmission/reception dual-use element;

a second switch connected to the second electrode of the first transmission/reception dual-use element;

a third switch connected to the first electrode of the second transmission/reception dual-use element;

a fourth switch connected to the second electrode of the second transmission/reception dual-use element;

a fifth switch connected to the first electrode of the third transmission/reception dual-use element;

a sixth switch connected to the second electrode of the third transmission/reception dual-use element;

a seventh switch connected to the first electrode of the fourth transmission/reception dual-use element;

an eighth switch connected to the second electrode of the fourth transmission/reception dual-use element;

a control circuit configured and arranged to control transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves of the first to fourth transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a transmitting circuit configured and arranged to output signals for ultrasonic wave transmission to the first to fourth transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a receiving circuit configured and arranged to receive signals outputted from the first to fourth transmission/reception dual-use elements when ultrasonic waves are received by the first to fourth transmission/reception dual-use elements;

a common-electrode connection wiring connected to a common electrode; and

first to third serial connection wirings, wherein

when an ultrasonic signal is to be transmitted, the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the first, third, fifth, and seventh switches to the transmitting circuit, and to connect the second, fourth, sixth, eighth switches to the common-electrode connection wiring, and

when an ultrasonic signal is to be received, the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the first switch and the fourth switch to the first serial connection wiring, to connect the third switch and the sixth switch to the second serial connection wiring, to connect the fifth switch and the eighth switch to the third serial connection wiring, and to connect the second switch and the seventh switch to the receiving circuit.

13. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 4.