Denso Corporation

Noboru Endoh

Takahiko Yoshida

Makiko Sugiura

Yasuaki Makino

Yasuyuki Okuda

Katsunori Michiyama

Kazuaki Watanabe

Takanori Makino

Takamitsu Ookura

Jyun Ishihara

An optical sensor includes: first and second light receiving elements on a semiconductor substrate; a light blocking film over the semiconductor substrate via a light transmitting film; and first and second openings corresponding to the light receiving elements and disposed in the light blocking film. First and second virtual lines are defined to extend from the centers of the first and second light receiving elements and pass through the centers of the first and second openings, respectively. At least one of elevation angles and left-right angles of the first and second virtual lines are different. The photosensitive area of the first light receiving element is larger than the aperture area of the first opening. The photosensitive area of the second light receiving element is larger than the aperture area of the second opening.

Optical sensor having a blocking film disposed over light receiving elements on a semiconductor substrate via a light transparent film for detecting an incident angle of light

An ultrasonic sensor composed of a substrate and a piezoelectric vibrator mounted on the substrate is advantageously used as a sensor for detecting a distance to an object located in front of an automotive vehicle. Ultrasonic waves transmitted from the sensor are reflected by the object, and the reflected waves are received by the sensor. Based on the reflected waves, the distance from the vehicle to the object is calculated. To reduce rigidity and thereby to lower a resonant frequency of the substrate to a desirable level, grooves are formed in the substrate. A thickness of the substrate is not reduced to maintain its mechanical strength against an impact force. A resonant frequency which is desirable to realize a sufficiently high directivity and sensitivity is obtained in this manner without enlarging a size of the ultrasonic sensor.

Ultrasonic sensor having vibrator mounted on substrate

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Anjo, Japan

Noboru Endoh