The flow regulating structure comprises a plurality of rail structures. Each rail structure has a plurality of rod-shaped members that are arranged side-by-side with the same direction of extension. The plurality of rail structures are disposed along the direction of gas travel in overlapping positions with space therebetween. The extension directions of the rod-shaped members differ between adjacent rail structures. In each rail structure, the plurality of rod-shaped members are arranged side-by-side with the same direction of extension in both a first virtual plane and a second virtual plane, which face one another in the direction of gas travel, and when viewed from the direction of gas travel, the rod-shaped members disposed on the second virtual plane are positioned between adjacent members among the plurality of rod-shaped members disposed on the first virtual plane.
The gas-liquid separator comprises: a swirl structure that causes a gas heading from upstream to downstream to swirl about a flow axis heading from upstream to downstream; a separation structure that discharges outward liquid components contained in the gas passing through the swirl structure; and a deflection structure that is provided downstream of the swirl structure and deflects the gas that has passed through the swirl structure. The deflection structure is provided with: a narrowing core portion that has a three-dimensional shape which narrows from upstream to downstream; and deflecting fins that are provided to the side surface of the narrowing core portion and deflect the gas in the opposite direction to the swirling direction resulting from the swirl structure.
B01D 45/16 - Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces generated by the winding course of the gas stream
The purpose of the present invention is to simply and accurately measure a gas concentration. This gas concentration measurement device (100) comprises: a concentration measurement space (22); a transmission unit (14) which transmits an ultrasonic wave to the concentration measurement space (22) in response to a transmission signal; a reception unit (16) which receives the ultrasonic wave propagated through the concentration measurement space (22), and outputs a reception signal; and an analysis unit (18). The analysis unit (18) obtains a space propagation time in the concentration measurement space (22) on the basis of a timing at which the transmission signal is input to the transmission unit 14 and a timing at which the reception signal is output from the reception unit 16, and obtains the concentration of a gas to be measured on the basis of the space propagation time. The analysis unit 18 obtains a correction value for a direct wave-type propagation time on the basis of the direct wave-type propagation time and a reflective wave-type propagation time, and obtains a space propagation time on the basis of: the corrected propagation time obtained by correcting the direct wave-type propagation time on the basis of the correction value; or one of the direct wave-type propagation time or a value related thereto in the reflection wave-type propagation time.
An objective of the present invention is to accurately measure the concentration of the gas. A gas concentration measurement device (100) comprises: a transmission unit (14) which transmits ultrasonic waves to a concentration measurement space (22); a reception unit (16) which receives the ultrasonic waves propagated through the concentration measurement space (22) and outputs a reception signal; and a concentration measurement unit (48) which determines the spatial propagation time during which the ultrasonic waves propagate through the concentration measurement space (22) and determines the concentration of the gas on the basis of the spatial propagation time. The concentration measurement unit (48) comprises a first memory (60) and a second memory (62), and a time shift filter (64) which applies a time shift process. The concentration measurement unit (18) determines the degree of approximation between a reception signal read from the second memory (62) and a time shift signal read from the first memory (60) and to which the time shift process has been applied, determines the time difference of pulses of neighboring reception signals on the time axis on the basis of the degree of approximation to the minimum shift time in the time shift process, and determines the spatial propagation time on the basis of this time difference.
The purpose of the present invention is to precisely measure the concentration of a gas. This waveform shaping device comprises a reception unit (16) for receiving ultrasonic waves having a frequency that corresponds to a frequency control value and outputting a reception signal, and an analysis unit (18) for generating a shaped reception signal obtained by synthesizing the reception signal and an adjustment signal in which the reception signal is delayed to adjust the level thereof. The analysis unit (18) derives an evaluation value obtained by synthesizing and integrating the reception signal and a delay signal in which the reception signal is delayed by a delay time that corresponds to the frequency control value, and searches for a frequency control value at which the evaluation value is minimized. The analysis unit (18) generates the adjustment signal on the basis of the delay signal corresponding to the frequency control value at which the evaluation value is minimized.
The objective of the present invention is to measure gas concentration with a high degree of accuracy. A gas sensor is provided with: a sensor enclosure: an ultrasonic transducer provided at one end of the sensor enclosure; an ultrasonic wave reflecting surface which is provided at the other end of the sensor enclosure and which intersects an axial direction of the sensor enclosure; and a plurality of ventilation holes provided in a side wall of the sensor enclosure. The plurality of ventilation holes are provided at positions such that one side of the sensor enclosure cannot be seen from the other side thereof when viewed from a side surface side of the sensor enclosure, and each ventilation hole has a shape extending in the axial direction of the sensor enclosure.
G01N 29/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object - Details
The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a flow regulating structure that improves the performance of a gas sensor. The flow regulating structure (32) comprises a plurality of rail structures. Each rail structure has a plurality of rod-shaped members (50) that are arranged side-by-side with the same direction of extension. The plurality of rail structures are disposed along the direction of gas travel in overlapping positions with space therebetween. The extension directions of the rod-shaped members (50) differ between adjacent rail structures. In each rail structure, the plurality of rod-shaped members (50) are arranged side-by-side with the same direction of extension in both a first virtual plane and a second virtual plane, which face one another in the direction of gas travel, and when viewed from the direction of gas travel, the rod-shaped members (50) disposed on the second virtual plane are positioned between adjacent members among the plurality of rod-shaped members (50) disposed on the first virtual plane.
The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a flow regulating structure that improves the performance of a gas sensor. The flow regulating structure (32) comprises a plurality of rail structures. Each rail structure has a plurality of rod-shaped members (50) that are arranged side-by-side with the same direction of extension. The plurality of rail structures are disposed along the direction of gas travel in overlapping positions with space therebetween. The extension directions of the rod-shaped members (50) differ between adjacent rail structures. In each rail structure, the plurality of rod-shaped members (50) are arranged side-by-side with the same direction of extension in both a first virtual plane and a second virtual plane, which face one another in the direction of gas travel, and when viewed from the direction of gas travel, the rod-shaped members (50) disposed on the second virtual plane are positioned between adjacent members among the plurality of rod-shaped members (50) disposed on the first virtual plane.
The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a gas-liquid separator that improves the performance of a gas sensor. The gas-liquid separator (16) comprises: a swirl structure that causes a gas heading from upstream to downstream to swirl about a flow axis heading from upstream to downstream; a separation structure that discharges outward liquid components contained in the gas passing through the swirl structure; and a deflection structure that is provided downstream of the swirl structure and deflects the gas that has passed through the swirl structure. The deflection structure is provided with: a narrowing core portion (26) that has a three-dimensional shape which narrows from upstream to downstream; and deflecting fins (32) that are provided to the side surface of the narrowing core portion (26) and deflect the gas in the opposite direction to the swirling direction resulting from the swirl structure.
The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a gas-liquid separator that improves the performance of a gas sensor. The gas-liquid separator (16) comprises: a swirl structure that causes a gas heading from upstream to downstream to swirl about a flow axis heading from upstream to downstream; a separation structure that discharges outward liquid components contained in the gas passing through the swirl structure; and a deflection structure that is provided downstream of the swirl structure and deflects the gas that has passed through the swirl structure. The deflection structure is provided with: a narrowing core portion (26) that has a three-dimensional shape which narrows from upstream to downstream; and deflecting fins (32) that are provided to the side surface of the narrowing core portion (26) and deflect the gas in the opposite direction to the swirling direction resulting from the swirl structure.
The present invention provides a backing material having an excellent attenuation effect of acoustic wave vibration, a method of producing the same, and an acoustic wave probe provided with the backing material. The backing material includes a resin and a magnetized particle, in which the magnetized particle has a magnetic flux density of 1,000 to 15,000 gauss.
A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
H01F 1/34 - Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor; Selection of materials for their magnetic properties of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity of soft-magnetic materials non-metallic substances, e.g. ferrites
The present invention is aimed to provide, as an acoustic lens propagating a sonic wave having a wavelength λ of 100 μm or less, an acoustic lens capable of exhibiting excellent acoustic characteristics in response to the wavelength λ of the sonic wave to be propagated and a production method thereof. The acoustic lens is an acoustic lens 1 to be used for propagating a sonic wave having a wavelength λ of 100 μm or less, wherein the acoustic lens contains a silicone resin and silica particles, an average primary particle diameter of the silica particles is 15 nm or more, and a particle diameter (D90) of 90% of a cumulative percentage in cumulative particle size distribution of the silica particles is less than ⅛ of the wavelength λ of the sonic wave to be propagated.
G10K 11/30 - Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses
H03H 9/145 - Driving means, e.g. electrodes, coils for networks using surface acoustic waves
H03H 9/25 - Constructional features of resonators using surface acoustic waves
13.
Ultrasonic wave transmitter, propagation time measurement device, gas concentration measurement device, propagation time measurement program, and propagation time measurement method
A gas concentration measurement device comprises: a transmission circuit and a transmission oscillator for transmitting first ultrasonic waves in a concentration measurement space and transmitting second ultrasonic waves, which continue temporally from the first ultrasonic waves in the concentration measurement space; a reception oscillator and a reception circuit for receiving the ultrasonic waves that have propagated through the concentration measurement space; and a propagation time measurement unit for determining, on the basis of the times at which the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves were transmitted and the times at which the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves were received, the time in which ultrasonic waves propagate through the concentration measurement space. The second ultrasonic waves have an opposite phase with respect to that of the first ultrasonic waves, and the amplitude of the second ultrasonic waves is greater than that of the first ultrasonic waves.
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/44 - Processing the detected response signal
Propagation time measurement machine, gas concentration measurement device, propagation time measurement program, and propagation time measurement method
A processor is configured to include a correlation object determination unit for establishing: a first to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a first upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a direct wave signal, and a first lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the direct wave signal; and a second to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a second upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a round-trip-delayed wave signal, and a second lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the round-trip-delayed wave signal. The processor is also configured to include a correlation processing unit for establishing a correlation value between the first to-be-correlated signal and a signal based on the second to-be-correlated signal.
The objective of the present invention is to measure gas concentration with a high degree of accuracy. A gas sensor (10) is provided with: a sensor enclosure (14); an ultrasonic transducer (30) provided at one end of the sensor enclosure (14); an ultrasonic wave reflecting surface (44) which is provided at the other end of the sensor enclosure (14) and which intersects an axial direction of the sensor enclosure (14); and a plurality of ventilation holes (16) provided in a side wall of the sensor enclosure (14). The plurality of ventilation holes (16) are provided in positions such that one side of the sensor enclosure (14) cannot be seen from the other side thereof when viewed from a side surface side of the sensor enclosure (14), and each ventilation hole (16) has a shape extending in the axial direction of the sensor enclosure (14).
G01N 29/024 - Analysing fluids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01N 29/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object - Details
The objective of the present invention is to measure gas concentration with a high degree of accuracy. A gas sensor (10) is provided with: a sensor enclosure (14); an ultrasonic transducer (30) provided at one end of the sensor enclosure (14); an ultrasonic wave reflecting surface (44) which is provided at the other end of the sensor enclosure (14) and which intersects an axial direction of the sensor enclosure (14); and a plurality of ventilation holes (16) provided in a side wall of the sensor enclosure (14). The plurality of ventilation holes (16) are provided in positions such that one side of the sensor enclosure (14) cannot be seen from the other side thereof when viewed from a side surface side of the sensor enclosure (14), and each ventilation hole (16) has a shape extending in the axial direction of the sensor enclosure (14).
G01N 29/024 - Analysing fluids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01N 29/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object - Details
17.
Gas concentration measuring device and method of calibrating same
A variable value calculating process includes: measuring a propagation time of the propagation of an ultrasound wave through a measurement sector inside a housing; obtaining a temperature calculated value on the basis of the measured value of the propagation time and a reference distance for the measurement sector; obtaining a temperature measured value by measuring the temperature inside the housing; and obtaining a temperature replacement fluctuation value indicating a difference between the temperature calculated value and the temperature measured value. The variable value calculating process is executed for each of a plurality of temperature conditions under which the temperature of a reference gas inside the housing differs. A temperature compensation table in which the temperature of a gas to be measured is associated with a temperature compensation value relating to the temperature is obtained on the basis of the temperature replacement fluctuation values obtained under each temperature condition.
Provided are a backing material exhibiting an excellent attenuation effect on acoustic wave vibrations, a production method therefor, and an acoustic wave probe provided with the backing material. The backing material comprises a resin and magnetized particles. The magnetized particles have a magnetic flux density of 1000 to 15000 gauss.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide: an acoustic lens which is for propagating a sound wave having a wavelength λ of 100 μm or less and can exhibit excellent acoustic characteristics depending on the wavelength λ of the sound wave to be propagated; and a method for manufacturing said acoustic lens. This acoustic lens 1 is used to propagate a sound wave having a wavelength λ of 100 μm or less and is formed by including a silicone resin and silica particles, wherein the average primary particle diameter of the silica particles is 15 nm or more and the particle diameter (D90) of a 90% cumulative percentage in the cumulative particle size distribution of the silica particles is less than 1/8 of the wavelength λ of the propagating sound wave.
A61B 8/00 - Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
H04R 1/34 - Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means
H04R 31/00 - Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor
20.
PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT MACHINE, GAS CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE, PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, AND PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT METHOD
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the precision of measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves. A processor 28 serving as a computation unit is configured to include a correlation object determination unit 32 for establishing: a first to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a first upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a direct wave signal, and a first lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the direct wave signal; and a second to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a second upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a round-trip-delayed wave signal, and a second lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the round-trip-delayed wave signal. The processor 28 is also configured to include a correlation processing unit 34 for establishing a correlation value between the first to-be-correlated signal and a signal in which the second to-be-correlated signal is moved on a time axis. The correlation processing unit 34 functions as a propagation time measurement unit for establishing the time difference between the first to-be-correlated signal and the second to-be-correlated signal on the basis of the correlation value, and establishing the time for ultrasonic waves to propagate through a concentration measurement space on the basis of the time difference.
G01N 29/024 - Analysing fluids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/50 - Processing the detected response signal using auto-correlation techniques or cross-correlation techniques
21.
ULTRASONIC WAVE TRANSMITTER, PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT DEVICE, GAS CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE, PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, AND PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT METHOD
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the precision of measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves. A gas concentration measurement device comprises: a transmission circuit 38 and a transmission oscillator 16 for transmitting first ultrasonic waves in a concentration measurement space and also transmitting second ultrasonic waves, which continue temporally from the first ultrasonic waves in the concentration measurement space; a reception oscillator 18 and a reception circuit 40 for receiving the ultrasonic waves that have propagated through the concentration measurement space; and a propagation time measurement unit 32 for determining, on the basis of the timings at which the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves were transmitted and the timings at which the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves were received, the time in which ultrasonic waves propagate through the concentration measurement space. The second ultrasonic waves have an opposite phase with respect to that of the first ultrasonic waves, and the amplitude of the second ultrasonic waves is greater than that of the first ultrasonic waves.
G01N 29/024 - Analysing fluids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/44 - Processing the detected response signal
22.
ULTRASONIC WAVE TRANSMITTER, PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT DEVICE, GAS CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE, PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, AND PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT METHOD
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the precision of measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves. A gas concentration measurement device comprises: a transmission circuit 38 and a transmission oscillator 16 for transmitting first ultrasonic waves in a concentration measurement space and also transmitting second ultrasonic waves, which continue temporally from the first ultrasonic waves in the concentration measurement space; a reception oscillator 18 and a reception circuit 40 for receiving the ultrasonic waves that have propagated through the concentration measurement space; and a propagation time measurement unit 32 for determining, on the basis of the timings at which the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves were transmitted and the timings at which the first ultrasonic waves and the second ultrasonic waves were received, the time in which ultrasonic waves propagate through the concentration measurement space. The second ultrasonic waves have an opposite phase with respect to that of the first ultrasonic waves, and the amplitude of the second ultrasonic waves is greater than that of the first ultrasonic waves.
G01N 29/024 - Analysing fluids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/44 - Processing the detected response signal
23.
PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT MACHINE, GAS CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE, PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, AND PROPAGATION TIME MEASUREMENT METHOD
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the precision of measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves. A processor 28 serving as a computation unit is configured to include a correlation object determination unit 32 for establishing: a first to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a first upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a direct wave signal, and a first lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the direct wave signal; and a second to-be-correlated signal established on the basis of a second upper-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of an upper-limit envelope of a once-delayed wave signal, and a second lower-limit rate of change, which is the rate of change of a lower-limit envelope of the once-delayed wave signal. The processor 28 is also configured to include a correlation processing unit 34 for establishing a correlation value between the first to-be-correlated signal and a signal in which the second to-be-correlated signal is moved on a time axis. The correlation processing unit 34 functions as a propagation time measurement unit for establishing the time difference between the first to-be-correlated signal and the second to-be-correlated signal on the basis of the correlation value, and establishing the time for ultrasonic waves to propagate through a concentration measurement space on the basis of the time difference.
G01N 29/024 - Analysing fluids by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01M 3/24 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
G01N 29/50 - Processing the detected response signal using auto-correlation techniques or cross-correlation techniques
24.
GAS CONCENTRATION MEASURING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CALIBRATING SAME
The objective of the present invention is to improve the measuring accuracy of a gas concentration measuring device. A variable value calculating process includes: a step of measuring a propagation time of the propagation of an ultrasound wave through a measurement sector inside a housing 10; a step of obtaining a temperature calculated value on the basis of the measured value of the propagation time and a reference distance for the measurement sector; a step of obtaining a temperature measured value by measuring the temperature inside the housing 10; and a step of obtaining a temperature replacement fluctuation value indicating a difference between the temperature calculated value and the temperature measured value. The variable value calculating process is executed for each of a plurality of temperature conditions under which the temperature of a reference gas inside the housing 10 differs. A temperature compensation table in which the temperature of a gas to be measured is associated with a temperature compensation value relating to the temperature is obtained on the basis of the temperature replacement fluctuation values obtained under each temperature condition.
The present invention solves a problem by fixing an ultrasonic vibrator to a housing so that the fixing position of the ultrasonic vibrator does not shift even if vibration is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator from the outside. This ultrasonic measuring device is provided with columnar ultrasonic vibrators 22, 23, and an inner chassis 25 that holds the ultrasonic vibrators 22, 23. In order to fix the ultrasonic vibrators 22, 23 by aligning the ultrasonic vibrators with the inner chassis 25, the ultrasonic measuring device has grooves 22b, 23b that extend in the circumferential direction of the ultrasonic vibrators 22, 23, and protrusions 25f, 25f, which are provided to the inner chassis 25, and which fit in the grooves 22b, 23b.
G01F 1/66 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
The objective of the present invention is to improve the measuring accuracy of a gas concentration measuring device. A variable value calculating process includes: a step of measuring a propagation time of the propagation of an ultrasound wave through a measurement sector inside a housing 10; a step of obtaining a temperature calculated value on the basis of the measured value of the propagation time and a reference distance for the measurement sector; a step of obtaining a temperature measured value by measuring the temperature inside the housing 10; and a step of obtaining a temperature replacement fluctuation value indicating a difference between the temperature calculated value and the temperature measured value. The variable value calculating process is executed for each of a plurality of temperature conditions under which the temperature of a reference gas inside the housing 10 differs. A temperature compensation table in which the temperature of a gas to be measured is associated with a temperature compensation value relating to the temperature is obtained on the basis of the temperature replacement fluctuation values obtained under each temperature condition.
Provided is an ultrasonic wave detecting device that allows exchange of a piezoelectric vibrator, including: a cylindrical rigid wall fixed to a rear surface of a vehicle fender; a lid that is detachably attached to the cylindrical rigid wall or a rigid cylinder extending upward from the wall; a piezoelectric vibrator including a buffer layer on the bottom surface; a restraining member made of a flexible material and provided on the top surface and the periphery of the piezoelectric vibrator; and an elastic material that is provided between the lid and the top surface of the restraining member so as to press, toward the rear surface of the fender, the piezoelectric vibrator restrained by the restraining member.
B60R 19/48 - Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
G01S 15/93 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
Provided is an ultrasonic sensor which is installed on the rear surface of a bumper of an automobile (a surface facing the front surface of the body of the automobile) and is thus particularly useful for detecting the position of a person or object near the automobile. The ultrasonic sensor includes the following members: a replaceable piezoelectric vibrator closely and detachably fixed to a surface of a plate-shaped base with or without a shock absorbing layer therebetween; a tubular housing which houses the piezoelectric vibrator therein, has an opening in a bottom surface thereof, and has a closed top surface; a first elastic body inserted between the top surface of the piezoelectric vibrator and the lower surface of the top portion of the tubular housing; a tubular wall made of a rigid material, having a surface joined to the plate-shaped base in a bottom portion thereof, having a detachable cover at a top portion thereof, and housing the tubular housing in a noncontact manner; and a second elastic body inserted between the lower surface of the cover of the tubular wall made of the rigid material and the top surface of the tubular housing.
B60R 19/48 - Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
This ultrasonic sensor contains the following: an ultrasonic transducer, the underside of which is affixed to the surface of a flat plate-shaped base, that contains a piezoelectric transducer element, said piezoelectric transducer element consisting of a piezoelectric sintered-ceramic column with electrode layers provided on the top and bottom surfaces thereof, and may be provided with an acoustic-matching-material layer at the bottom of the piezoelectric transducer element; a transmission circuit and a reception circuit electrically connected to the respective electrode layers on the piezoelectric transducer element; computation circuits electrically connected to said transmission circuit and reception circuit, respectively; and a rigid tubular wall material that is affixed to the surface of the flat plate-shaped base and laid out so as to surround the ultrasonic transducer without contacting same and with a gap therebetween. Said ultrasonic sensor is easy to affix to the surface of a flat plate-shaped base such as a bumper on a vehicle without reducing the mechanical strength of said flat plate-shaped base, can stably transmit and receive ultrasonic signals to and from a space on the opposite side of the flat plate-shaped base through said flat plate-shaped base with a suitable degree of directionality, and can precisely measure the position of an object in the space on the side of the flat plate-shaped base opposite the ultrasonic sensor.
B60R 19/48 - Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
G01S 15/93 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
[Problem] To develop a novel method and device that can monitor respiration and/or pulse changes in various kinds of animals including humans that are in a variety of positions such as during sleep or during exercise with high sensitivity. [Solution] A method for monitoring changes in either or both the respiration and pulse of an animal and a device used for implementing said monitoring method. The method comprises: a process of vibrating a piezoelectric vibrator by continuously or intermittently applying an AC voltage of a frequency corresponding to the characteristic resonance frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator on the piezoelectric vibrator with the piezoelectric vibrator pressed directly or indirectly in contact with the surface of the animal's body; a process of extracting the current generated by the piezoelectric vibrator that is vibrating; and a process of calculating the impedance of the piezoelectric vibrator from the value of said current and the value of the AC voltage applied on the piezoelectric vibrator and continuously or intermittently detecting the changes in the impedance over time.
b connected to the second terminal electrode 7, an acoustic matching layer 10 placed on the upper electrode layer, and an acoustic absorbing layer 11 placed on the surface of the lower electrode layer.
patents
