JPH07318659A - Ultrasonic sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an ultrasonic sensor in which the detection area can be made thin easily by fixing an independent horn detachably to the front of a hollow spherically molded item having a horn part for guiding an ultrasonic wave transmitted from an ultrasonic oscillator or received thereby. CONSTITUTION:A tubular part 32 is provided at the forward end part of a hollow spherical molded item 30 for housing an ultrasonic oscillator 10 and provided with a horn part 31 for guiding an ultrasonic wave transmitted therefrom or received thereby. Recesses 33, 33 are made oppositely in the tubular part 32 and an annular recess 34 is made on the base side thereof. An independent horn 90 being fixed detachably to the front end part of the molded item 30 is provided oppositely with two projecting leaf spring parts 92. Hemispheric protrusions 93, 93 being fitted in the recesses 33, 33 in the tubular part 32 are provided on the inner side face at the leaf spring part 92.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor which detects the presence of obstacles by transmitting ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected waves thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic sensor of this type is shown in FIG. 9, for example. This conventional ultrasonic sensor 100 holds an ultrasonic transducer 110, which is mounted on a ceiling, transmits ultrasonic waves, and receives reflected waves from an obstacle, by a holding member 120 made of an elastic material or the like. 120
A hollow sphere molded product 130 that accommodates the ultrasonic transducer 110 and is formed in the horn portion 131 having an opening on one side, from the surface housing 140 and the elastic body attached to the central portion of the restraining component 150 including a leaf spring. It is configured to be sandwiched and supported by the supporting material 155.

The surface housing 140 is integrally attached to a base housing 170 in which a circuit section 160 such as a power supply circuit and a signal processing circuit is housed.
The restraining component 150 is directly attached to the front housing 140 with a set screw 141. In addition, in FIG.
Reference numeral 181 is a shield wire that transmits and receives a signal to and from the element 111 of the ultrasonic transducer 110, and reference numeral 185 is a surface plate that covers the surface housing 140.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the horn portion 131 of the hollow spherical molded article 130 is formed in an inverted truncated cone shape, the diameter of the base end portion is 5 mm, and the diameter of the opening portion is 14 mm.
The horn length is 7.5 mm. And this horn part 1
As shown in FIG. 11, the detection area formed by 31 has a diameter of 1.2 m at a distance of 1 m, a diameter of 1.4 m at a distance of 1.5 m, and a diameter of 1.2 m at a distance of 2 m. There is. However, this reflection target is a sphere having a diameter of 230 mm.

As shown in FIG. 11, this ultrasonic sensor 100 is mounted on the ceiling and has a detection area directed toward the ground. Therefore, in addition to the wide detection area as described above, two detection areas, a wide detection area and a narrow detection area, can be easily variably formed so as to form a narrower detection area, thereby expanding the application. When doing, conventionally, the gain of the amplifier in the circuit is changed,
A method of increasing or decreasing the level of the reflected wave from the obstacle has been adopted.

However, if the gain of the amplifier in the circuit is changed, there is a drawback that the maximum detection distance in the front direction of the sensor changes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, a separate horn 19 is provided on the front surface of the hollow sphere molded article 130.
It is possible to change the detection area of the sensor from a wide range to a narrow range by detachably attaching 0 without changing the maximum detection distance in the front direction of the sensor. Table 1 shows the detection areas at this time.

[0007]

[Table 1]

[0008]

By the way, since the ultrasonic sensor 100 is mounted on the ceiling of a room to provide a necessary detection area in the room, the separate horn is used as a hollow spherical molded product. If it cannot be attached in a detachable manner, it will take a lot of time and effort for construction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an ultrasonic sensor whose detection area can be easily changed only by detachably attaching a separate horn to the front surface of a hollow spherical molded article. Is intended to provide.

[0010]

An ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1 is an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected waves from an obstacle, and a holding member for holding the ultrasonic transducer. A hollow spherical molded product having the holding member and the ultrasonic transducer accommodated therein and having a front end formed in an opening-shaped horn portion; and a surface housing supporting the front part of the hollow spherical molded product, The rear surface of the hollow spherical molded product is supported, and the restraint component attached to the base portion of the surface housing and the circuit parts such as the power supply circuit and the signal processing circuit for operating the ultrasonic vibrator are housed to integrate the surface housing. In the ultrasonic sensor provided with a base housing that is attached, a hollow cylindrical portion is provided at a front end portion of the hollow spherical molded product, and cut concave portions are provided at positions facing the hollow cylindrical portion, respectively.
An annular recess is formed on the base side of the cylindrical part, and two separate leaf spring-like projecting plate parts are provided on a separate horn detachably attached to the front end part of the hollow spherical molded product. On the inner side surface of the portion, there is provided a protrusion for engagement which is engaged with the cut-in recess of the cylindrical portion of the hollow molded product.

In the ultrasonic sensor according to the second aspect of the present invention, the locking projections protruding from the inner surface of the protruding plate portion of the separate horn are formed in a hemispherical shape.

[0012]

According to the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention, in order to attach the separate horn to the front end portion of the hollow spherical molded product, the engagement between the cut-in concave portion of the cylindrical portion of the hollow spherical molded product and the protruding plate portion of the separate horn is performed. After aligning the stop projections, push the two leaf spring-shaped protruding plate portions of the separate horn into the cylindrical portion of the hollow spherical molded product, and the two leaf spring-shaped protruding plate portions will face outward. Then, it is pushed further in this bent state. Then,
The locking projection on the inner surface of the projecting plate portion is engaged with the cut-out recess of the tubular portion of the hollow spherical molded product, and the separate horn is attached to the hollow spherical molded product.

Next, when the separate horn is removed from the hollow spherical molded product, the front end of the leaf spring-like protruding plate portion of the separate horn is pressed against the annular recess of the hollow spherical molded product. Since the leaf spring-shaped projecting plate portion is bent so as to bulge, the locking projection of the projecting plate portion is disengaged from the cut-in concave portion of the tubular portion of the hollow spherical molded product. In this state, the separate horn is removed from the hollow spherical molded product.

Therefore, the separate horn can be easily attached to or detached from the hollow spherical molded product. In the ultrasonic sensor of claim 2,
Since the locking projections protruding from the inner surface of the protruding plate portion of the separate horn are formed in a hemispherical shape, this protruding plate portion of the separate horn is attached when the separate horn is attached to the hollow spherical molded product. The semi-spherical locking projection of (3) smoothly enters the annular recess of the cylindrical portion of the hollow spherical molded product, and the separate horn can be easily attached to the hollow spherical molded product.

[0015]

Embodiments of the ultrasonic sensor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The ultrasonic sensor 1 of this embodiment is mounted on the ceiling and has a detection area directed toward the ground. As shown in FIG. 1, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and reflected waves from obstacles are transmitted. The ultrasonic transducer 10 for receiving the ultrasonic wave is held by a holding member 20 made of an elastic material or the like, the holding member 20 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 are accommodated, and a hollow formed on one side with a horn portion 31 having a truncated cone shape. The spherical molded article 30 is configured to be supported by being sandwiched between a surface housing 40 and a support member 55 made of an elastic body attached to the central portion of a restraining component 50 made of a leaf spring, and the front end of the hollow spherical molded article 30. The separate horn 90 is detachably attached to the section.

Further, the surface housing 40 is integrally attached to a base housing 70 in which a circuit portion 60 such as a power supply circuit and a signal processing circuit is housed. As shown in FIG. 2, a hollow spherical molded product 30 is provided with a cylindrical portion 32 at the front end thereof, and notch concave portions 33, 33 are provided at opposing portions of the cylindrical portion 32, and the cylindrical portion 32 is provided.
An annular recess 34 is formed on the base side of the.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the separate horn 90 is provided with two opposing plate spring-like projecting plate portions 91, 91, and the inner surface of the projecting plate portions 91, 91 is hollow. Hemispherical locking projections 93, 93 that are engaged with the cut recesses 33, 33 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the spherical molded product 30 are provided in a protruding manner. The horn portion 31 of the hollow spherical molded article 30 is formed in an inverted trapezoidal shape, and has a base end portion having a diameter of 5 mm, an opening portion having a diameter of 14 mm, and a horn length of 7.5 mm.

The separate horn 90 has a base 9
4, an opening having a diameter of 11.5 mm is formed, and an open end portion 95 thereof is formed to have a diameter of 24 mm, and a frustum-shaped horn portion having a diameter gradually decreasing from the open end portion 95 toward the base portion 94. 91 is formed. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 81 is a shield wire for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the element 11 of the ultrasonic transducer 10, and reference numeral 85 is a surface housing 40.
Is a surface plate that covers.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic sensor 1 of this embodiment will be described. To attach the separate horn 90 to the front end portion of the hollow spherical molded product 30, the cutout recesses 33, 33 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the hollow spherical molded product 30 and the locking projections of the projecting plate portions 92, 92 of the separate horn 90 are attached. After the 93, 93 are aligned, the two leaf spring-shaped projecting plate portions 92, 92 of the separate horn 90 are pushed into the cylindrical portion 32 of the hollow spherical molded product 30, as shown in FIG. The two leaf spring-shaped projecting plate portions 92, 92 bend outward and are further pushed in in this bent state. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, locking projections 93, 93 on the inner side surfaces of the projecting plate portions 92, 92 are provided.
Is the cutout recess 3 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the hollow spherical molded product 30.
The separate horn 90 is attached to the hollow spherical molded article 30 by being engaged with the hollow spheres 3, 33.

At this time, the protruding plate portion 9 of the separate horn 90
Since the locking projections 93, 93 projectingly provided on the inner surface of 2 are formed in a hemispherical shape, when the separate horn 90 is attached to the hollow spherical molded product 30, the protruding plate portion of the separate horn 90 is attached. The hemispherical locking projections 93, 93 of 92 smoothly enter the annular recesses 33, 33 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the hollow spherical molded product 30, and the separate horn 90 can be easily attached to the hollow spherical molded product.

Next, when detaching the additional horn 90 from the hollow spherical molded article 30, as shown in FIG. 6, the front end portions of the leaf spring-like protruding plate portions 92, 92 of the additional horn 90 are hollow. When the finger U is pressed against the annular recess 34 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the spherical molded article 30, as shown in FIG. Since the plate spring-shaped protruding plate portions 92, 92 are bent so as to bulge into the annular recess 34, the protruding plate portion 9 is formed.
2, 92 locking projections 93, 93 are hollow spherical molded products 30
The cylindrical portion 32 is disengaged from the cutout recesses 33, 33. In this state, the separate horn 90 is removed from the hollow spherical molded product 30.

Therefore, the separate horn 90 can be easily attached to or detached from the hollow spherical molded product 30. When detecting the detection area E1 having a large diameter in FIG.
When the detection is performed without 0 being attached and the detection area E2 having a small diameter is detected, the detection is performed with the additional horn 90 attached.

As shown in Table 1, when the detection is performed without the attachment horn 90, the hollow spherical molded product 30 is obtained.
The detection area E1 formed by the horn portion 31 of
0.9m in the area 0.5m apart, 1.2m in the area 1m apart, 1.4m in the area 1.5m apart,
The diameter is 1.2 m in the area 2 m away. Further, when the detection is performed with the separate horn 90 attached, the detection area E2 formed by the horn portion 91 of the separate horn 90 has a diameter of 0.8 m at a distance of 0.5 m and a diameter of 1 m at a distance. Diameter 0.9 at 0.8m and 1.5m away
The diameter is 0.9 m in the regions separated by 2 m. However, this reflection target is a sphere having a diameter of 230 mm.

According to the ultrasonic sensor 1 of this embodiment, by attaching / detaching the separate horn 90 to the front surface of the hollow spherical molded article 30, the sensor detection can be performed without changing the maximum detection distance in the front direction of the sensor. The area can be changed into a wide range and a narrow range. The diameter of the opening-shaped horn portion 31 of the hollow sphere molded article 30 and the horn portion 91 of the separate horn 90 described in this embodiment is 1
This is an example, and the size may be appropriately set and changed as necessary.

It should be noted that the sizes of the large and small detection areas described in this embodiment are merely examples, and may be changed by appropriately setting the detection areas of a wide range and a narrow range as needed. May be.

[0026]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic sensor of the first aspect, the hollow spherical molded product is provided with the cylindrical portion at the front end thereof, and the notched concave portions are provided at the two opposing portions of the cylindrical portion. An annular concave portion is provided on the base side of the cylindrical portion, two leaf spring-like projecting plate portions facing the separately mounted horn are provided, and a locking projection is provided on the inner side surface of the projecting plate portion. By using the flexure of the leaf spring-like protruding plate, the separate horn can be easily attached to the hollow spherical molded product, or the front end of the leaf spring-like protruding plate of the separate horn can be attached to the base side of the cylinder. By pressing the annular recess into the protruding plate portion, the protruding plate portion is bent so as to bulge, and the engagement between the locking projection of the protruding plate portion and the notch recessed portion of the cylindrical portion of the hollow spherical molded product can be released and removed. This allows the separate horn to be attached to and detached from the hollow spherical molded product, It is possible to change the detection area.

According to the ultrasonic sensor of claim 2,
A locking projection formed on the inner surface of the protruding plate of the separate horn is formed in a hemispherical shape. For this reason, when attaching the separate horn to the hollow spherical molded product, the hemispherical locking projections on the protruding plate of this separate horn smoothly enter the annular recess of the hollow spherical molded product, and The detection area of the sensor can be changed by attaching a separate horn to the hollow spherical molded product.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an ultrasonic sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a front end portion of a hollow spherical molded product.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a separate horn.

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of an initial state when a separate horn is attached to a hollow spherical molded product.

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the final state when the separate horn is attached to the hollow spherical molded product.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the operation when the separate horn is removed from the hollow spherical molded product.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the separate horn is removed from the hollow spherical molded product.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection area of the ultrasonic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a hollow sphere molded product of a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection area of a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view when a separate horn is attached to a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Ultrasonic Sensor 10 Ultrasonic Transducer 20 Holding Member 30 Hollow Spherical Molded Product 31 Horn Section 32 Cylindrical Section 33 Cutting Depression 34 Annular Recess 40 Surface Housing 50 Suppression Component 60 Circuit Section 70 Base Housing 90 Separate Horn 92 protruding plate 93 locking projection

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and receiving a reflected wave from an obstacle, a holding member for holding the ultrasonic transducer, and the holding member and the ultrasonic transducer. In addition, a hollow spherical molded product having a front end formed in an opening-shaped horn portion, a surface housing supporting the front part of the hollow spherical molded product, and a rear part of the hollow spherical molded product supporting the surface housing. An ultrasonic wave including a restraint part attached to the base of the above, and a base housing that houses a circuit portion such as a power supply circuit and a signal processing circuit for operating the ultrasonic vibrator and integrally attaches the surface housing. In the sensor, a cylindrical portion is provided at the front end portion of the hollow spherical molded article, and notches are provided at opposing positions of the cylindrical section, and an annular concave section is formed on the base side of the cylindrical section. Previous Two separate leaf-spring-shaped projecting plate portions are provided on a separate horn that is detachably attached to the portion, and the inner surface of the projecting plate portion is engaged with the notch recess of the cylindrical portion of the hollow molded product. An ultrasonic sensor having a locking projection protruding from the ultrasonic sensor. 2. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein a locking projection protruding from the inner surface of the protruding plate portion of the separate horn is formed in a hemispherical shape.