Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is provided with a mount that is fixed to an inside-face of the bumper, and a sensor body that is coupled to the mount so as to be exposed outside the bumper through an exposure hole that is provided in the bumper. Compared with a case where an ultrasonic sensor is fixed to a bumper by sandwiching the bumper from inside and outside of the bumper, appearance can be improved, since protrusion outward from the bumper is eliminated.

Abstract: The ultrasonic-transducer mounting structure includes: a housing including: a body part which is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided at its front surface with a transmission surface allowing an ultrasonic wave to pass therethrough and is designed to accommodate an ultrasonic transducer therein; and plural connection pieces provided to a side surface of the body part; and a holder fixed to a rear surface of a bumper and designed to hold the housing such that the transmission surface of the housing is exposed via an opening of the bumper. The holder includes plural reception pieces to which the plural connection pieces are detachably coupled respectively. The plural reception pieces are fixed to the rear surface of the bumper to surround the opening.

Abstract: An operation unit calculates a position of an obstacle with respect to a vehicle using a first distance and a second distance. The first distance is a distance to the obstacle measured by a first ultrasonic sensor (ultrasonic sensor) having a first microphone (microphone) at a first timing. The second distance is a distance to the obstacle measured by a second ultrasonic sensor (ultrasonic sensor) having a second microphone (microphone) at a second timing which is later than the first timing.

Abstract: An operation unit calculates a position of an obstacle with respect to a vehicle using a first distance and a second distance. The first distance is a distance to the obstacle measured by a first ultrasonic sensor (ultrasonic sensor) having a first microphone (microphone) at a first timing. The second distance is a distance to the obstacle measured by a second ultrasonic sensor (ultrasonic sensor) having a second microphone (microphone) at a second timing which is later than the first timing.

Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes ultrasonic sensors and a controller. The ultrasonic sensors include first and second ultrasonic sensors. Each of them is located at either side of a vehicle bumper so that its own beam axis has an angle deflected in a horizontal direction from a surface-normal direction of the bumper and is directed towards an intermediate portion of the bumper.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is provided at a bumper 31 of a vehicle 3 and used in a vehicle obstacle detector 1 that detects the presence of an obstacle within a detection area by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric element 21 configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves by using vibrations of a piezoelectric substrate and a plate-shaped acoustic matching layer 22 on one surface 22a of which the piezoelectric element is attached. The ultrasonic sensor is inserted in a mounting hole formed through the mounting surface. Another surface 22b of the acoustic matching layer 22 opposite to the one surface 22a is inclined with respect to the one surface 22a on which the piezoelectric element is attached, and is formed to be parallel with the outer surface of the bumper 31.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is provided with a mount that is fixed to an inside-face of the bumper, and a sensor body that is coupled to the mount so as to be exposed outside the bumper through an exposure hole that is provided in the bumper. Compared with a case where an ultrasonic sensor is fixed to a bumper by sandwiching the bumper from inside and outside of the bumper, appearance can be improved, since protrusion outward from the bumper is eliminated.

Abstract: A parking space monitoring device that calculates a parking space with higher accuracy. The parking space monitoring device includes an obstacle detection unit (2, 3, 4) that uses a relative distance (Ri) and relative angle (?i) between an obstacle (Cp) near a vehicle (1) and the vehicle to detect a relative position (Pi(R1, ?i)) of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle, a memory (8) that stores the relative position (Pi) detected by the obstacle detection unit in association with movement information of the vehicle, and a parking space calculation unit (7) that calculates a parking space based on the relative information (Pi) and the movement information that are stored in the memory.

Abstract: The ultrasonic-transducer mounting structure includes: a housing including: a body part which is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided at its front surface with a transmission surface allowing an ultrasonic wave to pass therethrough and is designed to accommodate an ultrasonic transducer therein; and plural connection pieces provided to a side surface of the body part; and a holder fixed to a rear surface of a bumper and designed to hold the housing such that the transmission surface of the housing is exposed via an opening of the bumper. The holder includes plural reception pieces to which the plural connection pieces are detachably coupled respectively. The plural reception pieces are fixed to the rear surface of the bumper to surround the opening.

Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes ultrasonic sensors and a controller. The ultrasonic sensors include first and second ultrasonic sensors. Each of them is located at either side of a vehicle bumper so that its own beam axis has an angle deflected in a horizontal direction from a surface-normal direction of the bumper and is directed towards an intermediate portion of the bumper.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is provided at a bumper 31 of a vehicle 3 and used in a vehicle obstacle detector 1 that detects the presence of an obstacle within a detection area by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric element 21 configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves by using vibrations of a piezoelectric substrate and a plate-shaped acoustic matching layer 22 on one surface 22a of which the piezoelectric element is attached. The ultrasonic sensor is inserted in a mounting hole formed through the mounting surface. Another surface 22b of the acoustic matching layer 22 opposite to the one surface 22a is inclined with respect to the one surface 22a on which the piezoelectric element is attached, and is formed to be parallel with the outer surface of the bumper 31.

Abstract: A parking space monitoring device that calculates a parking space with higher accuracy. The parking space monitoring device includes an obstacle detection unit (2, 3, 4) that uses a relative distance (Ri) and relative angle (?i) between an obstacle (Cp) near a vehicle (1) and the vehicle to detect a relative position (Pi(R1, ?i)) of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle, a memory (8) that stores the relative position (Pi) detected by the obstacle detection unit in association with movement information of the vehicle, and a parking space calculation unit (7) that calculates a parking space based on the relative information (Pi) and the movement information that are stored in the memory.

Abstract: An obstacle detection system for a vehicle which is capable of detecting nearby and remote objects successfully by use of a combination of an electromagnetic wave sensors and ultrasonic wave sensors. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors each transmitting an ultrasonic wave around the vehicle and receives a reflected wave thereof for detection of nearby obstacles around the vehicle, and an electromagnetic waver sensor which transmits an electromagnetic wave in a forward direction of the vehicle and receives a reflected electromagnetic wave thereof for detection of a remote obstacle. The system includes a vehicle speed sensor is provided for sensing a speed of the vehicle.