Patent US3457404A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4636997A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4636997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic transducer
Assignee: Soken Inc
•
Filing: 1985-01-31
•
Granted: 1987-01-13
•
Expires: 2005-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic transducer comprises a cylindrical housing embedded within a rear bumper of a vehicle and opening backward, a reflecting plate having a parabolic reflecting surface provided within the cylindrical housing along a closed end thereof and facing an open end thereof, and an ultrasonic vibrator provided in an upper wall of the housing at the focus of the reflecting plate for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer transmits ultrasonic waves behind the vehicle and receives ultrasonic waves reflected from an obstacle. The ultrasonic transducer further comprises a projecting member provided on the inner wall of the housing along the open end thereof for dispersing and cancelling the ultrasonic waves entering the housing at angles with respect to the axis of the housing. The projecting member has a smoothly curving cross section having a radius of substantially one fourth to five times the wavelength of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic vibrator.
Inventors
- 👤 Keiichiro Toyama
- 👤 Masao Kodera
- 👤 Kunihiko Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/93; G01S15/931; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/008; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/521; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/28; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end and an axis running therebetween; ultrasonic vibrator means, provided within said housing, for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; reflecting means, provided within said housing, for reflecting emitted ultrasonic waves toward said open end and reflecting received ultrasonic waves toward said ultrasonic vibrator; and projecting member means, provided on an inner wall of said housing, for dispersing and cancelling ultrasonic waves entering said housing at predetermined angles with respect to the axis of said housing, said projecting member being disposed at least along said open end of said housing and having a smoothly curved cross-section along the axis of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end and an axis running therebetween; ultrasonic vibrator means, provided within said housing, for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; reflecting means, provided within said housing, for reflecting emitted ultrasonic waves toward said open end and reflecting received ultrasonic waves toward said ultrasonic vibrator; and projecting member means, provided on an inner wall of said housing, for dispersing and cancelling ultrasonic waves entering said housing at predetermined angles with respect to the axis of said housing, said projecting member being disposed at least along said open end of said housing and having a smoothly curved cross-section along the axis of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting means is disposed at said closed end of said housing and includes a parabolic reflecting surface facing said open end of said housing, and wherein said ultrasonic vibrator means is provided on an upper wall of said housing substantially at a focus of said parabolic reflecting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said projecting member means comprises a projecting line having a smoothly curved, saddle-shaped cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said projecting member means comprises a projecting line having a circular cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said projecting member means comprises a plurality of balls arranged at intervals in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said smoothly curved surface of said projecting member means has a radius of curvature of substantially one fourth to five times the wavelength of the waves emitted by said ultrasonic vibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said projecting member means is disposed on upper and under inner walls of said housing along said open end thereof so as to be opposed to each other for dispersing and cancelling ultrasonic waves entering said housing from below at predetermined angles with respect to the axis of the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said housing is installed within a rear bumper of a vehicle so that said open end is directed behind the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, further comprising: a rain water stopping member projecting from said upper wall of said housing between an upper end of said reflecting means and said ultrasonic vibrator means so as to separate said reflecting means and said ultrasonic vibrator means from each other to cause rain water entering from said open end of said housing and rising along said reflecting means to be prevented from turning toward said ultrasonic vibrator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 9, wherein said rain water stopping member has a smoothly curved surface facing said ultrasonic vibrator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4433398A
Cited
JPS58218295A
Cited
US4581685A
Cited
JPS5939196A
Cited
JPS5939197A
Cited
JPS5939193A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-12 | 1990-07-14 | 1991-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-12 | 1994-07-14 | 1995-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-12 | 1998-07-14 | 1999-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |