Ultrasonic sensor and electronic device

• US 9,774,358 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): N'Dure, Amie M
• Application Number:
  US14/745,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/341 Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits

Abstract

An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave elements each including a first electrode and a second electrode, and a control circuit configured to switch parallel connection and serial connection of the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic wave elements each including a first electrode and a second electrode;

a transmitting circuit configured to output signals for ultrasonic wave transmission to the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements;

a receiving circuit configured to receive signals outputted from the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements;

a serial connection wiring configured to serially connect the ultrasonic wave elements, the serial connection wiring being configured to be connected to the receiving circuit; and

a control circuit configured to switch between parallel connection of the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements to the transmitting circuit and serial connection of the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements to the receiving circuit,

during the parallel connection, the control circuit being configured to connect each of the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements to the transmitting circuit and disconnect the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements from the serial connection wiring, and

during the serial connection, the control circuit being configured to connect the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements to the serial connection wiring and disconnect the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements from the transmitting circuit.

2. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to short-circuit the first electrodes of the plurality of ultrasonic wave elements so that there is no potential difference between the first electrodes and to short-circuit the second electrodes of the plurality of ultrasonic wave elements so that there is no potential difference between the second electrodes during the parallel connection, and

the control circuit is configured to electrically connect each pair of one of the first electrodes and one of the second electrodes during the serial connection.

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 ultrasonic wave elements are arranged,

each of the ultrasonic wave 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. An electronic device comprising the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1.

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

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

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

a common electrode configured to electrically connect the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements,

the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements being further connected in parallel to the common electrode during the parallel connection.

3. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:

a plurality of ultrasonic wave elements each including a first electrode and a second electrode;

a control circuit configured to switch parallel connection and serial connection of the plurality of the ultrasonic wave elements;

a plurality of first electrode switches respectively connected to the first electrodes of the ultrasonic wave elements; and

a plurality of second electrode switches respectively connected to the second electrodes of the ultrasonic wave elements, wherein

the control circuit includes a common-electrode connection wiring connected to a common electrode, and a serial connection wiring serially connecting the ultrasonic wave elements,

the control circuit is configured and arranged to connect the second electrode switches to the common-electrode connection wiring during the parallel connection, and to connect the first electrode switches and the second electrode switches to the serial connection wiring during the serial connection.

4. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 3, wherein

the ultrasonic wave elements include n number of the ultrasonic wave 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 ultrasonic wave 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 ultrasonic wave elements to the second electrode switch of a different one of the ultrasonic wave elements.

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

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