Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor according to the present invention is used, for example, for detecting an obstacle positioned in front of an automotive vehicle. The ultrasonic sensor includes an piezoelectric element connected to an acoustic matching member and a processing circuit, all contained in a casing. Ultrasonic waves reflected on an object are received by the acoustic matching member and converted into electrical signals in the piezoelectric element. The electrical signals are processed in the processing circuit to thereby detect a distance to the object and/or positions of the object. A surface of the acoustic matching member connected to the piezoelectric element is made larger than the piezoelectric element to form an overhang area on a conductive layer formed on the acoustic matching member. In this manner, electrical connection in the ultrasonic sensor is easily made, and detection sensitivity of the ultrasonic sensor is enhanced.

Abstract: An obstacle sensor includes: a supersonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in a first range, the supersonic sensor including a substrate, a transmission device and a reception device disposed on the substrate; a detection element for detecting the obstacle in a second range; and a case. The reception device includes multiple reception elements. At least a part of the first range of the supersonic sensor is different from the second range of the detection element. The supersonic sensor and the detection element are disposed in the case.

Abstract: A fuel tank is allowed to hold any of types of liquid fuels and currently hold one type of liquid fuel. A light emitting element outputs a light beam of a predetermined emission spectrum to the liquid fuel of the fuel tank. The liquid fuel changes the light beam to a reflected light beam of a reflection spectrum according to spectral characteristics of the liquid fuel. The reflection spectrum is peculiar to the type of the liquid fuel of the fuel tank. A light receiving element detects the reflection spectrum, and a control circuit receives the detected reflection spectrum from the light receiving element. The control circuit collates the detected reflection spectrum with a referential reflection spectrum corresponding to each fuel type and identified the type of the liquid fuel of the fuel tank according to a collation result.

Abstract: An obstacle sensor includes: a supersonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in a first range, the supersonic sensor including a substrate, a transmission device and a reception device disposed on the substrate; a detection element for detecting the obstacle in a second range; and a case. The reception device includes multiple reception elements. At least a part of the first range of the supersonic sensor is different from the second range of the detection element. The supersonic sensor and the detection element are disposed in the case.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave generating device includes a substrate, a heat insulation layer on the substrate, a membrane heating portion on the heat insulation layer, and a membrane oscillator on the heating portion. The heating portion is electrically driven with a predetermined period, and produces heat for thermally displacing a surface of the oscillator. The oscillator receives a temperature variation with the predetermined period from the heating portion, and oscillates so as to generate ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of converters and a protection component. The plurality of converters convert one of a received ultrasonic wave into an electric signal and an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave for transmission. The plurality of converters are juxtaposed. The protection component protects each of the converters.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting a position and/or a shape of an object located around an automotive vehicle is mounted on a structure of the vehicle such as a bumper. The ultrasonic sensor includes a receiving member for receiving ultrasonic waves reflected on the object to be detected and receiving element having plural vibrating portions. The receiving member is sectioned by intercepting slits into plural receiving regions each corresponding to each vibrating portion. The intercepting slit eliminates or suppresses crosstalk between neighboring receiving regions, and thereby reducing detection noises due to the crosstalk and improving detection sensitivity of the ultrasonic sensor. The shape of the intercepting slit is made to satisfy the formula: 0.35?L/T?0.60, where L is a depth of the slit and T is a thickness of the receiving member. In this manner, the crosstalk resulting in detection noises is sufficiently suppressed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting an ultrasonic wave, which is output from an ultrasonic generator and reflected by an object to be detected, the ultrasonic sensor includes: an acoustic matching layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface which receives the ultrasonic wave, and the second surface which is opposite to the first surface; and an ultrasonic detection element including a vibration member. The vibration member is coupled with the second surface of the acoustic matching layer. The acoustic matching layer is repeatedly deformable in accordance with a standing wave, which is generated in the acoustic matching layer by the received ultrasonic wave. The vibration member resonates with the repeat deformation of the acoustic matching layer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic detecting element, an acoustic matching member, and an oscillation damping member. The ultrasonic detecting element detects an ultrasonic wave. The acoustic matching member has a receiving surface that is adapted on a side of the certain object to be exposed to a space, in which the detected body exists. The receiving surface receives the ultrasonic wave reflected by the detected body. The acoustic matching member is made of a material having an acoustic impedance larger than that of air and smaller than that of the ultrasonic detecting element. The oscillation damping member is disposed between an attachment portion and the acoustic matching member. The attachment portion is adapted for attaching the ultrasonic sensor to the certain object. The oscillation damping member damps transmission of oscillation from the certain object to the acoustic matching member.

Abstract: A detector made of lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate detects intensity of ultraviolet light radiated inside of a vehicle. The detector sends ultrasonic wave to an incidence direction of ultraviolet light, and detects ultrasonic wave reflected by an object. An electrical unit determines the object to be an occupant of the vehicle or not based on the reflected ultrasonic wave. The electrical unit outputs a signal representing that a predetermined or more amount of ultraviolet light is radiated to the occupant, when the detector detects the predetermined or more amount of ultraviolet light and when the electrical unit determines the object to be the occupant.

Abstract: An operator-specifying apparatus is combined with an on-board device such as a navigation device mounted on an automotive vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor device is mounted on a frame of a display panel of the navigation device. A hand of a person who is manipulating the navigation device, a driver or an assistant, is detected by the ultrasonic sensor device. If it is determined that the driver is manipulating (or about to manipulate) the navigation device when the vehicle is being driven, manipulation of the navigation device is prohibited to secure safety in driving. On the other hand, if it is found out the assistant is operating the navigation device, such prohibition is canceled to effectively use the navigation device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of converters and a protection component. The plurality of converters convert one of a received ultrasonic wave into an electric signal and an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave for transmission. The plurality of converters are juxtaposed. The protection component protects each of the converters.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of vibrating parts, a plurality of receiving elements, and a waveguide. Each of the vibrating parts vibrates when a corresponding ultrasonic wave reflected by a detection object is transmitted thereto, and receives the ultrasonic wave. Each of the elements includes corresponding one of the vibrating parts and detects the object using the corresponding ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted through the waveguide to each of the elements. The waveguide includes a first opening facing the object, a second opening, and a reflecting surface that reflects the ultrasonic wave in a direction to each of the vibrating parts. The ultrasonic wave enters through the first opening. The second opening is not viewable from the first opening. The second opening holds the elements such that the each of the vibrating parts faces a direction where the each of the vibrating parts receives the ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is provided with a substrate unit where a thin-walled portion is arranged and a piezoelectric oscillator which is formed at the substrate unit. The piezoelectric oscillator includes two electrodes and a piezoelectric film positioned between the two electrodes. The thin-walled portion and the piezoelectric oscillator construct a membrane structure which will resonate at a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of a vibrating object includes a plurality of detecting members. Each of the detecting members includes a vibrating portion disposed to be separated from the vibrating object, a transmitting portion for transmitting the vibration from the vibrating object to the vibrating portion, and a detecting portion disposed on a vibrating face of the vibration portion. The detecting portion outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a resonance of the vibrating portion. At least two of the vibrating portions of the detecting members have resonance frequencies, which are different from each other.

Abstract: A collision detection device for a vehicle includes a first direction signal outputting unit which detects an intensity of heat ray radiated from a detection object which is near or contacts the vehicle to outputs a first direction signal, a second direction signal outputting unit which detects ultrasound wave sent by a sending member and reflected by the detection object to output a second direction signal, an impact signal outputting unit which detects an impact on the vehicle to output an impact signal, and a control unit. The control unit determines an occurrence of a collision between the vehicle and a human, in the case where it is determined that a difference between the first direction signal and the second direction signal is within a first predetermined range and the impact signal is outputted.

Abstract: A capacitance type semiconductor dynamic quantity sensor includes a beam-shaped movable electrode displaceable in a predetermined direction in response to application of a dynamic quantity to a support substrate, and beam-shaped fixed electrodes which are fixedly supported on the support substrate and disposed so that the side surface thereof faces a side surface of the movable electrode. The applied dynamic quantity is detected on the basis of variation of electric capacitance between the side surface of the movable electrode and the side surface of the fixed electrodes. Countermeasures are included to prevent sticking between the fixed electrodes and the movable electrode.

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.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave generating device includes a substrate, a heat insulation layer on the substrate, a membrane heating portion on the heat insulation layer, and a membrane oscillator on the heating portion. The heating portion is electrically driven with a predetermined period, and produces heat for thermally displacing a surface of the oscillator. The oscillator receives a temperature variation with the predetermined period from the heating portion, and oscillates so as to generate ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a sending element for sending an ultrasonic wave to an object to be detected, a receiving portion for receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, an oscillating portion that oscillates by the ultrasonic wave transmitted thereto, and a supporting portion for holding an end part of the oscillating portion. The receiving portion is exposed to a space where the object exists. The receiving portion and the oscillating portion are connected through the supporting portion such that the ultrasonic wave received by the receiving portion is transmitted to the oscillating portion through the supporting portion. The oscillating portion is separate from the receiving portion by the supporting portion.