US 11,703,580 B2
Ultrasonic sensor and retainer
Keisuke Ueda, Kariya (JP); Takeo Tsuzuki, Kariya (JP); Taketo Harada, Kariya (JP); and Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Nisshin (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on May 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/882,903.
Application 16/882,903 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2018/039031, filed on Oct. 19, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-227063 (JP), filed on Nov. 27, 2017; and application No. 2018-157614 (JP), filed on Aug. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0284890 A1, Sep. 10, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 7/521 (2006.01); H04R 1/00 (2006.01); H04R 17/02 (2006.01); B60R 21/00 (2006.01); B60R 19/52 (2006.01); B60R 19/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/521 (2013.01) [B60R 19/52 (2013.01); B60R 21/00 (2013.01); H04R 1/00 (2013.01); H04R 17/02 (2013.01); B60R 19/02 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic sensor configured to be attached to an auto body component, the ultrasonic sensor comprising:
a sensor body including an ultrasonic microphone having a columnar shape and extending along an axial direction parallel to a central axis line and a microphone support unit which allows a protruding part of the ultrasonic microphone to protrude and supports a supported part of the ultrasonic microphone, the protruding part being located at a distal end in the axial direction, the supported part being located at a proximal end in the axial direction;
a cushion member provided to cover the protruding part of the ultrasonic microphone and formed in a cylindrical shape from a synthetic resin-based elastic material;
a retainer unit provided outward of the ultrasonic microphone in a radial direction extending from the central axis line, the retainer unit being configured so that an exposed part of the cushion member is exposed and a sandwiched part of the cushion member is sandwiched between the retainer unit and an outer peripheral surface of the protruding part of the ultrasonic microphone, the exposed part being located at the distal end in the axial direction, the sandwiched part being located at the proximal end in the axial direction; and
a drainage path penetrating the retainer unit in the radial direction to allow water to be discharged out of the retainer unit from a gap between the retainer unit and the cushion member, wherein
the retainer unit includes: a microphone facing part corresponding to the ultrasonic microphone and formed in a cylindrical shape; and an engagement piece which is a plate-shaped part extending along the central axis line from the microphone facing part toward the proximal end in the axial direction, the engagement piece including an engagement part which engages the sensor body, and
the drainage path is provided to one of the microphone facing part and the engagement piece.