Abstract: An ECU of an object detection device stops transmission of search waves from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors when a vehicle travels at a predetermined speed or more, and counts the frequency of receiving waves with an intensity of not less than a threshold intensity for each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The ECU acquires a first count that is a count of the frequency in a first sensor that is one of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors, and a second count that is a count of the frequency in a second sensor different from the first sensor. The ECU determines that snow accretion has occurred on the first sensor if the first count is smaller than the second count, and a difference between the first count and a representative value that is set based on the second count is not less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drive signal generator that selectively outputs, as a drive signal, one of a first drive signal and a second drive signal. The first drive signal has a first temporal frequency change within a first frequency band that is defined from a first lowest frequency to a first highest frequency inclusive. The second drive signal has a second temporal frequency change within a second frequency band that is defined from a second lowest frequency to a second highest frequency inclusive. Each of the first and second frequency bands has a corresponding one of first and second intermediate frequencies that is defined as one of a center frequency and an average frequency of the corresponding one of the first and second frequency bands. The second intermediate frequency is different from the first intermediate frequency. The second frequency band is partially overlapped with the first frequency band.

Abstract: In an object detection device, a signal generation unit generates a drive signal, a transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave as a search wave in response to the input drive signal, and a reception unit receives an ultrasonic wave to generate a received signal. A judging unit performs object detection determination based on the received signal. The drive signal has at least two frequencies, and the judging unit extracts at least two amplitudes corresponding to the at least two frequencies from the received signal, and performs determination based on a relationship between the at least two amplitudes.

Abstract: An object detecting apparatus is configured to detect a surrounding object. The object detecting apparatus is provided with a driving signal generation unit provided to generate a driving signal that drives a transmitter unit including a transmitter emitting transmission waves externally; and a control unit provided to control an output of the driving signal transmitted to the transmitter unit from the driving signal generation unit. The driving signal generation unit is configured to generate the driving signal of which the frequency changes stepwise.

Abstract: An object detection device includes a drive signal generation unit provided to generate a drive signal for driving a transmitter configured to transmit a search wave to the outside, and a control unit provided to control output of the drive signal from the drive signal generation unit to the transmitter. The drive signal generation unit generates a first drive signal corresponding to a first search wave and a second drive signal corresponding to a second search wave having an encoding scheme that is different from the encoding scheme of the first search wave. The control unit causes the drive signal generation unit to output the first drive signal and the second drive signal to the transmitter at different timings so that one of the first and second search waves is transmitted in a transmission interval between transmissions of the other search wave.

Abstract: An object detection device includes a signal generator configured to generate a drive signal including an identification signal for identifying ultrasonic waves, a transmitter configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave as a probe wave in response to the drive signal, a receiver configured to receive the ultrasonic wave to generate a reception signal, and a determiner configured to analyze frequencies of the reception signal to determine whether the received wave is a reflected wave of the probe wave, thereby detecting an object. The drive signal includes a ramp-up signal generated to be followed by the identification signal and is used to ramp up an amplitude of the probe wave. A frequency of the ramp-up signal is set to include a frequency at which a transmission/reception efficiency is higher than a transmission/reception efficiency at each of a maximum frequency of the identification signal and a minimum frequency of the identification signal.

Abstract: An object detection device includes a signal generation unit, a drive unit, an object determination unit, and a drive control unit. The signal generation unit generates at least one pulse signal that includes an identification code for identifying the ultrasonic wave. The drive unit drives the wave transceiver unit using a current or a voltage according to the at least one pulse signal. The object determination unit compares a code included in the received ultrasonic wave with the identification code and determines whether the received ultrasonic wave is a wave resulting from reflection of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the wave transceiver unit, and determines whether an object is present in a predetermined detection range based on the amplitude of the received ultrasonic wave. The drive control unit reduces the current or the voltage used by the drive unit when a predetermined amplitude rise time has elapsed.

Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transceiver section that transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives an ultrasonic wave including a reflected wave of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and outputs a signal in accordance with a wavelength of the received ultrasonic wave; a frequency control section that changes a frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section to a plurality of frequencies different from a driving frequency used to detect the distance from the object; and a fault determination section that determines whether a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object due to a value of an environment temperature or a wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section, based on a value of the signal outputted from the transceiver section when the transceiver section transmits the ultrasonic wave at a selected one of the frequencies different from the driving frequency.

Abstract: A transmission/reception control device is configured to control transmission and reception in an ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit a probe wave as an ultrasonic wave and receive a reception wave. The reception wave includes a reflected wave of the probe wave. The transmission/reception control device includes a transmission frequency setting unit, a reception signal processing unit, and an object detection unit. The transmission frequency setting unit sets a frequency of the probe wave to a transmission frequency different from a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer. The reception signal processing unit processes a reception result of the reception wave based on the probe wave transmitted with the transmission frequency. The object detection unit detects the object based on a result of processing by the reception signal processing unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first electrode that is provided in an ultrasonic microphone including a vibration element having a function of performing conversion between mechanical vibration and an electrical signal; a second electrode that is provided at a position different from the first electrode in an in-plane direction intersecting a directional axis of the ultrasonic microphone; and a detection section that is provided to detect the presence or absence of attached matter attached to the ultrasonic sensor on the basis of a change in capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic sensor that is attached to a body component, a negative electrode line connected to a negative terminal is isolated from a shielding portion. The shielding portion is connected to a ground potential point without being connected to the negative electrode line.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus drives a piezoelectric vibrator to transmit an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected wave that is reflected from an object. The object detection apparatus includes the piezoelectric vibrator, a drive circuit that supplies drive power which drives the piezoelectric vibrator, and a resistor section that is connected in parallel with the piezoelectric vibrator and has a resistance value that is variable.

Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transceiver section that transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives an ultrasonic wave including a reflected wave of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and outputs a signal in accordance with a wavelength of the received ultrasonic wave; a frequency control section that changes a frequency of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section to a plurality of frequencies different from a driving frequency used to detect the distance from the object; and a fault determination section that determines whether a fault occurs in the function of detecting the distance from the object due to a value of an environment temperature or a wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the transceiver section, based on a value of the signal outputted from the transceiver section when the transceiver section transmits the ultrasonic wave at a selected one of the frequencies different from the driving frequency.

Abstract: An object detection device is applied to an object detection system configured such that connection to a control device is made via a communication line to perform power supply via the communication line and a signal is superimposed on current flowing through the communication line to transfer information. The object detection device is configured to drive a piezoelectric vibrator in a predetermined control period and transmit a survey wave and receive a wave reflected by an object. The object detection device includes a capacitor connected in parallel with a driver circuit configured to drive the piezoelectric vibrator, and a current control unit configured to control the current value of the communication line after the end of supplying power to the driver circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor, that transmits probe waves which are ultrasonic waves and acquires detection waves including reflected waves which have been reflected from surrounding objects, includes a transmitter/receiver that transmits the probe waves and acquires the detection waves, a detection wave processing section that executes processing for passing a predetermined frequency band which includes the frequency of the probe waves, an amplitude measurement section which measures the amplitude of the detection waves, and a judgement section which judges whether there is adherence of foreign matter on the transmitter/receiver, based on a relationship between a time axis and values of the amplitude of the detection waves during a reverberation interval following the termination of transmitting the probe waves.

Abstract: An object detection device is applied to an object detection system configured such that connection to a control device is made via a communication line to perform power supply via the communication line and a signal is superimposed on current flowing through the communication line to transfer information. The object detection device is configured to drive a piezoelectric vibrator in a predetermined control period and transmit a survey wave and receive a wave reflected by an object. The object detection device includes a capacitor connected in parallel with a driver circuit configured to drive the piezoelectric vibrator, and a current control unit configured to control the current value of the communication line after the end of supplying power to the driver circuit.

Abstract: An ECU of an object detection device stops transmission of search waves from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors when a vehicle travels at a predetermined speed or more, and counts the frequency of receiving waves with an intensity of not less than a threshold intensity for each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The ECU acquires a first count that is a count of the frequency in a first sensor that is one of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors, and a second count that is a count of the frequency in a second sensor different from the first sensor. The ECU determines that snow accretion has occurred on the first sensor if the first count is smaller than the second count, and a difference between the first count and a representative value that is set based on the second count is not less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus drives a piezoelectric vibrator to transmit an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected wave that is reflected from an object. The object detection apparatus includes the piezoelectric vibrator, a drive circuit that supplies drive power which drives the piezoelectric vibrator, and a resistor section that is connected in parallel with the piezoelectric vibrator and has a resistance value that is variable.