Ultrasound sensor

• US 6,532,193 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fehse, Meike, Ernst, Waldemar, Rapps, Peter, Noll, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/581,957
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 310/338, 367/140, 367/173, 367/172, 367/188, 735/70, 732/90.V
• US Class Current: 367/140
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/122 using piezoelectric driving means G10K9/121 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/22 Mountings; Casings

Abstract

In an ultrasonic sensor, including a housing having a plug connector, an ultrasonic converter, and a circuit board, the housing is divided into a support and a hood enclosing the support. The support carries the circuit board, the plug connector, and the ultrasonic converter.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

an ultrasonic converter;

a circuit board; and

a housing including a plug connector, the housing being divided into a support and a hood enclosing the support, the support carrying the circuit board, the plug connector and the ultrasonic converter, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is completely filled with an encapsulating compound and is sealed.

3. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the support includes an annular receptacle for the ultrasonic converter, the plug connector being shaped onto the support, the plug connector being joined to the receptacle by struts.

4. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 3, wherein two of the struts are shaped laterally onto the support, the circuit board being situated between the two struts.

5. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 3, wherein the hood is slid along the struts over the support.

6. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the hood is open at two sides butting against one another.

7. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 6, wherein one of the two open sides of the hood is closed off by a flange shaped onto the support.

2. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

an ultrasonic converter;

a circuit board; and

a housing including a plug connector, the housing being divided into a support and a hood enclosing the support, the support carrying the circuit board, the plug connector and the ultrasonic converter, wherein the circuit board includes circuit elements, the circuit board being accessible from both of two sides when the hood has not yet been installed.

8. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 2, further comprising a retaining cap for immobilizing the ultrasonic converter on the support.