The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 2025

Filed:

Mar. 01, 2022
Applicant:

Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;

Inventors:

Kensuke Kobayashi, Nisshin, JP;

Masayoshi Satake, Nisshin, JP;

Dai Kondou, Kariya, JP;

Assignee:

DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya, JP;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 27/22 (2006.01); G01L 1/16 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 7/521 (2006.01); G01S 15/931 (2020.01); H04R 17/02 (2006.01); H10N 30/30 (2023.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 15/931 (2013.01); G01L 1/162 (2013.01); G01S 7/52004 (2013.01); G01S 7/521 (2013.01); H04R 17/025 (2013.01); H10N 30/302 (2023.02); G01S 2007/52009 (2013.01); G01S 2015/938 (2013.01);
Abstract

An ultrasonic sensor includes an adhesion sensor detecting adhesion of a foreign substance to a first surface of a bottom of a microphone housing. The adhesion sensor includes: a plurality of variable capacitances defined between a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on the first surface of the bottom, each of the variable capacitances having a capacitance value which changes in response to adhesion of a foreign substance to the first surface; and an adhesion detection unit configured to measure an individual capacitance value which is a capacitance value of each of the variable capacitances and a total capacitance value which is a total of capacitance values of all the variable capacitances to determine, based on the individual capacitance value and the total capacitance value, whether a foreign substance adheres to the first surface, and, when it is determined that a foreign substance adheres, specify a type of the foreign substance.


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