JP2003204595A - Ultrasonic wave sensor and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic wave sensor capable of preventing falling and position deviation of an ultrasonic wave vibrator and to provide a manufacturing method for the ultrasonic wave capable of efficiently manufacturing the ultrasonic wave sensor as above. <P>SOLUTION: This invention provides the ultrasonic wave sensor in which the ultrasonic wave vibrator 11 for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave is supported by a support 12 made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a storage modulus of elasticity of 5GPa or below within a temperature range of -50 to 100°C and the ultrasonic wave vibrator 11 and the support 12 are contained in a housing 13. The ultrasonic wave sensor as above can be manufactured by a method or the like by fitting the ultrasonic wave vibrator for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave to the inside of a forming mold so as to cause a gap between the ultrasonic wave vibrator and a face of the forming mold, filling a molten thermoplastic elastomer in the gap between the ultrasonic wave vibrator and the face of the forming die, and cooling and solidifying the thermoplastic elastomer so as to incorporate the ultrasonic wave vibrator and the support made of the thermoplastic elastomer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasonic sensors in which an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves are housed in a housing are used for applications such as back sensors and corner sensors of automobiles.

In this type of ultrasonic sensor, the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator is not disturbed, and the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator propagates to a mounting member (metal plate or the like) outside the ultrasonic sensor, and the vibration of the mounting member The ultrasonic transducer has a high level of anti-vibration so that the ultrasonic transducer does not detect the vibration, and the effect of external force applied to the housing on the ultrasonic transducer is mitigated. It is required to hold it in place.

Therefore, in general, as shown in FIG.
Molded body 2 made of a material having excellent elasticity such as silicone rubber
1, the ultrasonic transducer 22 is pushed and fitted so that the portion other than the vibration surface of the ultrasonic transducer is covered with the molded body 21, and then the bottom portion of the molded body 21 is placed on the bottom surface inside the housing 23. The ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by pushing the molded body 21 into the housing 23 so as to abut, and fitting the molded body 21 into the housing 23.

[0005]

The method of manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor according to the above method is complicated because it requires a two-step assembly process. Further, since the ultrasonic vibrator is easily pushed into the molded body and the molded body is required to be easily pushed into the housing, there are restrictions on the shapes of the ultrasonic vibrator, the molded body, and the housing. When an external force acts on the ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic vibrator may fall off or the position of the ultrasonic vibrator may shift.

Further, when silicone rubber is used as the material of the molded body, it is difficult to coat the surface of the molded body, and if an ultrasonic sensor is attached to a bumper of an automobile, the appearance may be impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to efficiently manufacture an ultrasonic sensor in which the ultrasonic transducer is prevented from falling off or being displaced, and such an ultrasonic sensor. It is an object to provide a method of manufacturing a possible ultrasonic sensor.

[0008]

Each invention of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an ultrasonic sensor of the invention according to claim 1 is an ultrasonic vibration device for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The child is held by a holder made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a storage elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in a temperature range of -50 to 100 ° C, and the ultrasonic transducer and the holder are housed in a housing. It is characterized by

Here, the storage elastic modulus (E ') is a value obtained by dividing a stress having the same phase as the strain by the strain (JIS K).
6394) (dynamic storage elastic modulus (E '))
Sometimes. ). The freshly stored elastic modulus (E ') is a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device (for example, Rh manufactured by UBM Co., Ltd.).
Eogel-E4000). Specifically, a sine wave distortion or a synthetic wave distortion vibration whose frequency and amplitude are set from below by an electrodynamic exciter is applied to a sample of the thermoplastic elastomer at the measurement temperature, which is generated While the stress response is detected by the quartz piezoelectric stress sensor provided above, the strain of the sample is detected by the displacement sensor attached to the vibration exciter, and the FFT calculation is performed from the obtained dynamic stress waveform and dynamic strain waveform. The amplitude and phase difference angle of each frequency are obtained by the above method, and the elastic modulus is obtained by storing the equation by an arithmetic expression based on the linear viscoelasticity theory.

An ultrasonic sensor according to a second aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic sensor according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein both the boundary surface between the ultrasonic transducer and the holding body and the boundary surface between the housing and the holding body or A projection or a recess is provided on either one of them.

An ultrasonic sensor according to a third aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic sensor according to the first or second aspect of the invention,
Members adjacent to each other on either or both of the boundary surface between the ultrasonic transducer and the holding body and / or the boundary surface between the housing and the holding body (that is, in the ultrasonic transducer and the holding body, in the housing and the holding body). .) Are fused together.

An ultrasonic sensor according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic sensor according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein a portion where the vibration of the ultrasonic oscillator is large is thick and a portion where the vibration is small is thin. The ultrasonic transducer is held by holding bodies having different thicknesses.

An ultrasonic sensor according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the ultrasonic sensor according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the holder has a rib shape.

In the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a gap is formed between the ultrasonic vibrator and the molding die surface of the ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. As described above, the molten thermoplastic material is filled in the gap between the ultrasonic transducer and the surface of the molding die, and the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified to obtain the ultrasonic transducer. The present invention is characterized in that the holder made of the thermoplastic material is integrated, and then the integrated ultrasonic transducer and holder are mounted in the housing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method, which comprises an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a housing for housing the ultrasonic vibrator. Mounted in a mold so that there is a gap between the housing and the housing, the molten thermoplastic material is filled in the gap between the ultrasonic transducer and the housing surface, and the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified. Then, the ultrasonic oscillator, the holder made of the thermoplastic material, and the housing are integrated.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method, wherein a housing, in which an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is mounted, is mounted in a molding die, and the ultrasonic transducer is installed in the housing. A molten thermoplastic material is filled in leaving a gap where the sound wave oscillator is mounted, the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, and the housing and a holder made of the thermoplastic material are integrated, and then the housing. It is characterized in that an ultrasonic transducer is mounted in a holder integrated with the above.

In each of the above inventions relating to the method of manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor, the thermoplastic material is -50 to 100 ° C.
It is possible to use a thermoplastic elastomer having a storage elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in the above temperature range.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1 of Manufacturing Method of Ultrasonic Sensor) Regarding a manufacturing method of an ultrasonic sensor of the present invention,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an injection molding machine used in the ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method of the present invention.
Shows the structure of the mold of this injection molding machine, and FIG. 3 shows the state of the intermediate stage of the manufacturing process of the ultrasonic sensor.

The injection molding machine used in the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor of the present invention is a standard machine equipped with a mold 1 and a cylinder 2, and pellets 3 of a thermoplastic material are melted in the cylinder, The thermoplastic resin is extruded into voids (cavities) in the mold, and after the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, the mold is opened and the molded product is taken out.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment,
An ultrasonic vibrator 4 is attached in the mold 1, and a melted thermoplastic material 7 is filled in a gap between a surface other than the vibrating surface 5 of the ultrasonic vibrator 4 and the mold mirror surface 6. It When the mold is opened after the thermoplastic material has been cooled and solidified, a holder 8 made of the thermoplastic material is formed so as to cover the surface other than the vibration surface of the ultrasonic oscillator, as schematically shown in FIG. . An ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by mounting a molded product in which the ultrasonic transducer and the holding body thus obtained are integrated in a predetermined housing (not shown). As a result, according to the conventional method of manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor, a two-step fitting process is required, but only one fitting process is required, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. Further, according to the method of manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor, the boundary surface between the ultrasonic vibrator and the holding body can be brought into close contact with each other, and the drip-proof property of the ultrasonic sensor can be improved. Further, the vibration surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the icicle position of the holder can be aligned. Second Embodiment of Manufacturing Method of Ultrasonic Sensor Another embodiment of the manufacturing method of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the structure of the mold of the injection molding machine in this embodiment. The injection molding machine is a standard one as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment,
The ultrasonic oscillator 4 and the housing 9 are mounted in the mold 1, and the thermoplastic material 7 melted in the gap between the surface of the ultrasonic oscillator 4 other than the vibrating surface 5 and the housing 9.
Is filled. When the mold is opened after the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, the vibrating surface 5 of the ultrasonic oscillator is exposed, and the ultrasonic sensor in which the ultrasonic oscillator, the holder made of the thermoplastic material, and the housing are integrated with each other Is obtained. by this,
According to the conventional ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method, the two-step fitting process is required, but the fitting process is not required, and the manufacturing process can be greatly simplified. Further, according to this ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method, the boundary surfaces of the ultrasonic transducer, the holder, and the housing can be brought into close contact with each other, and the drip-proof property of the ultrasonic sensor can be improved. Furthermore, the vibration surface of the ultrasonic transducer, the holder, and the icicle position of the housing can be aligned. Third Embodiment of Manufacturing Method of Ultrasonic Sensor Another embodiment of the manufacturing method of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows the structure of the mold of the injection molding machine in this embodiment. The injection molding machine is a standard one as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the third embodiment,
A housing 9 is attached to the inside of the mold 1, and the mold surface 1 is formed so that a space for fitting the ultrasonic transducer later remains.
The melted thermoplastic material 7 is filled in the gap between 0 and the housing 9. When the mold is opened after the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, a molded product in which the holding body made of the thermoplastic material and the housing are integrated is obtained, leaving a space for fitting the ultrasonic oscillator. An ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by mounting an ultrasonic transducer (not shown) in this space. As a result, according to the conventional method of manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor, a two-step fitting process is required, but only one fitting process is required, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. Further, according to this ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method, the boundary surface between the holder of the ultrasonic transducer and the housing can be brought into close contact with each other, and the drip-proof property of the ultrasonic sensor can be improved. Further, the cradle positions of the holder and the housing can be aligned.

Here, in each of the above embodiments of the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor, a material having excellent elasticity is used as the thermoplastic material so as not to disturb the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator. Examples of such a material include thermoplastic elastomers (for example, olefin-based ones), and -50 to 10
A thermoplastic elastomer having a storage elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in the temperature range of 0 ° C. is preferably used.

A compatible material is selected for the holder and the housing (for example, an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer is used for the holder and polypropylene (PP) is used for the housing) to manufacture the ultrasonic sensor as described above. For example, the ultrasonic transducer and the holder (or the ultrasonic transducer and the housing) are fused by the thermal energy during injection molding, and the both can be more firmly integrated. In this way, when an external force is applied to the ultrasonic sensor by fusing adjacent members on either or both of the boundary surface between the ultrasonic transducer and the holding body and / or the boundary surface between the housing and the holding body. In addition, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that the ultrasonic transducer may fall off or be displaced.

Further, as will be described later, a concave portion or a convex portion (protrusion) is provided on a surface other than the vibration surface of the ultrasonic transducer or inside the housing, and the holder is formed by using the injection molding method. Also by this, when an external force is applied to the ultrasonic sensor, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that the ultrasonic transducer may fall off or be displaced. In this case, it is possible to select a compatible material for the holder and the housing.

According to the conventional method of manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor,
If a protrusion is provided on the ultrasonic vibrator or the housing, the holder is deformed when the ultrasonic vibrator is fitted into the holder or when the holder is fitted into the housing, and the ultrasonic vibrator is placed at a predetermined position. Difficult to hold. However, if the ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by each of the above methods using the injection molding method, it is easy to provide a concave portion or a convex portion (projection) on a surface other than the vibration surface of the ultrasonic vibrator or inside the housing. Is.

Further, in manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor by the above-mentioned method, as described later, the holder is downsized,
By making the contact portion between the ultrasonic vibrator and the holding body into a rib-like structure, the contact area between the side surface of the ultrasonic vibrator and the holding body and the contact area between the holding body and the housing are reduced,
It is possible to reduce vibration transmission from the ultrasonic transducer to the housing when transmitting ultrasonic waves. Also, as will be described later, by changing the thickness of the holder so that the portion with large vibration is thick and the portion with small vibration is thin, it is possible to change from the ultrasonic transducer at the time of ultrasonic transmission to the housing. The vibration transmission can be reduced. Embodiment 1 of Ultrasonic Sensor FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of an example of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a front view,
(B) is a side view and (c) is a rear view.

In this ultrasonic sensor, the surfaces other than the vibrating surface 11b of the ultrasonic transducer 11 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves have a stored elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in the temperature range of -50 to 100 ° C. Is covered with a holding body 12 made of a thermoplastic elastomer having an ultrasonic wave.
2 is housed in the housing 13. A signal when the ultrasonic transducer 11 transmits or receives a wave is supplied through the lead wire 11a.

In this way, the ultrasonic transducer 1 is set to -50 to 1
It is possible to make it difficult for the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer side surface 11c to be transmitted to the housing 13 by being held by the holding body 12 made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a storage elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in the temperature range of 00 ° C. When such an ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by using the injection molding method as described above, the vibration surface 11b, the upper surface of the holding body 12 and the upper surface of the housing 13 (that is, the icicle positions of the three parts) have the same height. It is easy to align

The surface of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention may be coated if necessary. For example, when attaching an ultrasonic sensor for a back sensor, a corner sensor, etc. to a bumper of an automobile, a coating of the same color as the bumper is applied to the surface of the ultrasonic sensor. Even if the coating is performed so that there is no joint between the coating surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the coating surface 12a of the holding body (FIG. 7 (a)), the joint between the coating surface 12a of the holding body and the coating surface 13a of the housing is formed. (B) in the same figure, the coated surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the coated surface 12a of the holding body, the coated surface 12a of the holding body
It may be applied so that there is no joint between the coating surface 13a of the housing and the painted surface 13a of the housing (FIG. 7C). By thus seamlessly painting, it is possible to improve the aesthetic appearance and the drip-proof property. It is also possible to prevent dirt from accumulating at the joint. Generally, coating is easy if a thermoplastic elastomer is used instead of fixing the ultrasonic transducer in the housing with a molded body of silicone rubber as in the past.

If an ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by using the injection molding method as described above, the ultrasonic transducer vibrating surface 11
It is easy to align the positions of b, the holder 12 and the housing 13, and the surface coating is also easy. Second Embodiment of Ultrasonic Sensor FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of another example of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a side view, and FIG. 8C is a rear view. In FIG. 8, the same parts as those in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this ultrasonic sensor, an annular protrusion 11f is provided on the ultrasonic transducer side surface 11c. The ultrasonic transducer 11 is provided by providing the annular protrusion 11f.
Does not fall off the holder 12 and the ultrasonic sensor is suddenly subjected to an external force.
It is possible to reduce the possibility that the holding position of 1 shifts.

In order to securely hold the ultrasonic vibrator, the annular protrusion is provided on the side surface of the ultrasonic vibrator. The ultrasonic vibrator is pushed into the molded body made of silicon rubber and fitted into the molded body, and this is fitted into the housing. Although it is difficult with the conventional manufacturing method of pressing and fitting in, it can be easily realized by the manufacturing method using the above-mentioned injection molding method.

In order to prevent the ultrasonic transducer from falling off and shifting, the housing 3 may be provided with an annular housing projection 13b as shown in FIG. 9A, and as shown in FIG. 9B. On the side surface 11c of the ultrasonic transducer, the annular protrusion 11 is formed.
f is an annular housing protrusion 13b in the housing 13.
May be provided respectively. There may be a plurality of each of these protrusions in a ring shape, and there may be a break in the middle. Further, instead of providing the protrusion, a recess may be provided. Third Embodiment of Ultrasonic Sensor Another example of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this ultrasonic sensor, the boundary surface 1 between the ultrasonic transducer 11 and the holder 12 is
4 and a boundary surface 15 between the holding body 12 and the housing 13
In both or either of the above, adjacent members are fused to each other. By doing so, when an external force is applied to the ultrasonic sensor, it is possible to further reduce the possibility that the ultrasonic transducer will fall off or be displaced.

If compatible materials are selected for the holder and the housing and the ultrasonic sensor is manufactured by using the injection molding method,
The ultrasonic vibrator and the holder (or the ultrasonic vibrator and the housing) can be fused with each other by the heat energy during the injection molding. It is also possible to fuse each boundary surface by heating each boundary surface, irradiating each boundary surface with an energy wave, exciting with ultrasonic waves, and the like. Fourth Embodiment of Ultrasonic Sensor A schematic side view of another example of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention is shown in FIG. In this ultrasonic sensor, in order to reduce the vibration transmission from the ultrasonic transducer side surface to the housing side surface during ultrasonic wave transmission, the holding body 12 is downsized, and the contact area between the ultrasonic transducer side surface and the holding body 12 is reduced. The contact area between the holder 12 and the housing 13 is reduced. Embodiment 5 of Ultrasonic Sensor A schematic side view of another example of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention is shown in FIG. In this ultrasonic sensor, the thickness of the holder 12 is made different in the direction of the axis P1 (in the figure) so that the portion where the vibration is large is thick and the portion where the vibration is small is thin. By adopting such a thickness distribution, it is possible to reduce the vibration transmission from the side surface of the ultrasonic transducer to the side surface of the housing when transmitting the ultrasonic wave. Embodiment 6 of Ultrasonic Sensor FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of another example of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention. 13A is a front view, FIG. 13B is a side view, and FIG. 13C is a rear view. In FIG. 13, the same parts as those in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this ultrasonic sensor, the contact portion between the ultrasonic transducer side surface 11c and the holding body 12 has a rib-like structure, which allows the ultrasonic transducer side surface 11c to the housing side surface 13c during ultrasonic wave transmission.
It is possible to reduce the vibration transmission to the.

Also in the fourth to sixth embodiments of the ultrasonic sensor described above, adjacent members are provided on the boundary surface between the ultrasonic transducer and the holder and / or the boundary surface between the holder and the housing. By fusing, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the ultrasonic transducer may fall off or be displaced when an external force is applied to the ultrasonic sensor.

The ultrasonic sensor of each of the present invention described above has a plate material made of metal or plastic as shown in the front view in FIG. 14A, the side view in FIG. 14B and the rear view in FIG. 14C. Attached to an external mounting member such as 16,
It is used for automobile back sensors and corner sensors.

[0038]

According to the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of claim 1, the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator is prevented from being propagated to the mounting portion outside the ultrasonic sensor without disturbing the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator. At the same time, even if a strong external force is applied to the housing, it is possible to prevent the ultrasonic transducer from falling off and being displaced. In addition, the surface of the thermoplastic elastomer is generally easy to paint, and when attaching the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention to a vehicle bumper for a back sensor, a corner sensor, etc., the same color as the bumper may be applied. It's easy.

According to the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the second aspect, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of the falling of the ultrasonic vibrator and the displacement.

According to the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the third aspect, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of displacement and displacement of the ultrasonic vibrator, and at the same time, the boundary portion between the ultrasonic vibrator, the molded body and the housing. The drip-proof property of can be improved.

Further, according to the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the fourth or fifth aspect, it is possible to further prevent the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator from propagating to the mounting portion outside the ultrasonic sensor.

According to the invention of the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor according to claims 6 to 8 of the present invention, the vibration of the ultrasonic sensor propagates to the mounting portion outside the ultrasonic sensor without disturbing the vibration of the ultrasonic sensor. In addition to the above, it is possible to efficiently manufacture an ultrasonic sensor in a simple process that can prevent the ultrasonic transducer from falling off or being displaced even when a strong external force is applied to the housing. be able to. Further, according to the present invention, there are few restrictions on the shapes of the ultrasonic vibrator, the molded body, and the housing, and the ultrasonic vibrator may fall off,
It is possible to easily manufacture an ultrasonic sensor in which the position of the ultrasonic transducer is unlikely to shift. Furthermore, it is easy to align the icicle positions of the ultrasonic transducer, the molded body, and the housing at the same height. By coating the ultrasonic sensor surface, the drip-proof property is improved and each boundary is conspicuous. It can be lost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an injection molding machine used in the invention of the ultrasonic sensor manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a mold of an injection molding machine used in the invention of the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in an intermediate stage of the manufacturing process of the ultrasonic sensor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the mold of the injection molding machine used in the invention of the method for manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the mold of the injection molding machine used in the invention of the method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of the invention of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention is attached to an external attachment member.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a manufacturing process of a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mold, 4, 11 ... Ultrasonic vibrator, 5, 11b ... Ultrasonic vibrator vibrating surface, 8, 12 ... Holding body, 9, 13 ... Housing

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor T. Shibata             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Satoshi Kajiyama             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Yusuke Hashimoto             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Yasushi Arikawa             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Motohide Okada             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company F term (reference) 5D019 AA26 FF01 GG05 GG06                 5J083 AC19 CA01 CA22 CA35

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is held by a holder made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a stored elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in a temperature range of −50 to 100 ° C. An ultrasonic sensor, wherein the ultrasonic transducer and the holder are housed in a housing. 2. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein a projection or a recess is provided on both or one of the boundary surface between the ultrasonic transducer and the holder and the boundary surface between the housing and the holder. 3. The members adjacent to each other on either or both of the boundary surface between the ultrasonic transducer and the holding body and / or the boundary surface between the housing and the holding body are fused together.
The ultrasonic sensor described. 4. The ultrasonic vibrator is held by holding bodies having different thicknesses such that a large vibration part of the ultrasonic vibrator is thick and a small vibration part is thin. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1. 5. The holding body has a rib-like shape.
The ultrasonic sensor according to any one of items 1 to 3. 6. An ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is mounted in a molding die so that a gap is formed between the ultrasonic vibrator and the surface of the molding die. And filled with a molten thermoplastic material in the gap between the mold surface, the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, the ultrasonic vibrator and a holder made of the thermoplastic material are integrated, Then
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor, characterized in that the integrated ultrasonic vibrator and holder are mounted in a housing. 7. A molding die for forming an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and a housing for housing the ultrasonic vibrator so that a gap is formed between the ultrasonic vibrator and the housing. Mounted inside and filled with a melted thermoplastic material in a gap between the ultrasonic oscillator and the housing surface, the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, and the ultrasonic oscillator and the thermoplastic material are separated from each other. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor, characterized in that the holding body and the housing are integrated. 8. A heat generated by mounting a housing, in which an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is mounted, in a molding die, and melting the ultrasonic vibrator while leaving a gap for mounting the ultrasonic vibrator in the housing. A thermoplastic material is filled, the thermoplastic material is cooled and solidified, the housing and a holder made of the thermoplastic material are integrated, and then an ultrasonic transducer is mounted in the holder integrated with the housing. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic sensor, comprising: 9. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer having a storage elastic modulus of 5 GPa or less in a temperature range of −50 to 100 ° C. Production method.