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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2007
Kazuaki Watanabe, Nagoya, JP;
Takahiko Yoshida, Okazaki, JP;
Makiko Sugiura, Hekinan, JP;
Noboru Endoh, Anjo, JP;
Yasuyuki Okuda, Aichi-gun, JP;
Kazuaki Watanabe, Nagoya, JP;
Takahiko Yoshida, Okazaki, JP;
Makiko Sugiura, Hekinan, JP;
Noboru Endoh, Anjo, JP;
Yasuyuki Okuda, Aichi-gun, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
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.