Ultrasonic sensor

Abstract

An ultrasonic sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor shell, a shell, a piezoelectric element, a filling material, a first PIN, a second PIN and a PIN seat. The ultrasonic sensor shell and the shell jointly define an inner cavity; the piezoelectric element is arranged on the bottom wall; the PIN needle seat comprises a first vertical edge part, a transverse edge part and a second vertical edge part; the first end and the second end of the transverse edge part are respectively connected with the bottom end of the first vertical edge part and the top end of the second vertical edge part; the first ends of the first vertical edge part and the transverse edge part are embedded in the shell, and the second end of the transverse edge part and the second vertical edge part extend into the inner cavity; the inner cavity is filled with the filling material, the top surface of the filling material is higher than the bottom surface of the transverse edge part and lower than the top surface of the transverse edge part, the PIN needle seat is provided with an exhaust port, and the exhaust port is located between the first PIN needle and the second PIN needle, penetrates through the second end of the transverse edge part in the thickness direction of the transverse edge part and penetrates through the second vertical edge part in the thickness direction of the second vertical edge part. According to the utility model, the filling integrity of the filling material can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to ultrasonic sensor technology. Background Art

[0002] Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of an existing ultrasonic sensor filled with filling material is shown. Figure 1 The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor housing 1a, a shell 2a, a piezoelectric element 3a, a filling material 4a, a first PIN needle 51a, a second PIN needle 52a and a PIN needle seat 6a.

[0003] The ultrasonic sensor housing 1a is made of metal material (usually aluminum), including a bottom wall 11a and a peripheral wall portion 12a, the bottom end of the peripheral wall portion 12a is connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 11a, the top end of the peripheral wall portion 12a is connected to the outer shell 2a, and the ultrasonic sensor housing 1a and the outer shell 2a jointly define an inner cavity 10a. Among them, the outer shell 2a includes a front cover 21a, an upper shell 22a and an elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23a. The material of the front cover 21a and the upper shell 22a is plastic, and the material of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23a is rubber. The elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23a is sleeved on the outside of the upper part of the ultrasonic sensor housing 1a, the front cover 21a is sleeved on the outside of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23a, and the bottom of the upper shell 22a is detachably connected to the top of the front cover 21a. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23a is provided with a waterproof convex ring 233a extending continuously in the circumferential direction. The front cover 21a includes a first annular bottom wall 211a and a first annular side wall 212a, the bottom end of the first annular side wall 212a is connected to the periphery of the first annular bottom wall 211a, and the inner wall of the first annular side wall 211a is provided with an annular sealing groove 213a that matches with the waterproof convex ring 233a of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve; the upper shell 22a includes a second annular bottom wall 221a and a second annular side wall 222a, the bottom end of the second annular side wall 222a is connected to the periphery of the second annular bottom wall 221a, and the bottom of the second annular bottom wall 221a is provided with a downwardly protruding snap ring 223a; the snap ring 223a of the upper shell is embedded in the gap between the top end of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23a and the inner wall of the first annular side wall 212a of the front cover, and is snap-connected with the first annular side wall 212a of the front cover 21a.

[0004] The piezoelectric element 3a is disposed on the bottom wall 11a. Figure 3 As shown, the first PIN needle 51a and the second PIN needle 52a are fixedly arranged on the PIN needle seat 6a, and the PIN needle seat 6a includes a first vertical side portion 61a, a horizontal side portion 63a and a second vertical side portion 62a, and the first end and the second end of the horizontal side portion 63a are respectively connected to the bottom end of the first vertical side portion 61a and the top end of the second vertical side portion 62a; the first ends of the first vertical side portion 61a and the horizontal side portion 63a are embedded in the upper shell 22a of the shell 2a, and the second end of the horizontal side portion 63a and the second vertical side portion 62a extend into the inner cavity 10a (please refer to Figure 2 ).

[0005] The filling material 4a is filled in the inner cavity 10a and covers the piezoelectric element 3a. The top surface 41a of the filling material 4a is higher than the bottom surface 632a of the lateral side portion 63a and lower than the top surface 631a of the lateral side portion 63a. The filling material 4a is generally made of foaming resin, such as polyurethane foaming resin. The filling material can reduce the mechanical quality factor of the ultrasonic sensor, thereby controlling the characteristics of the ultrasonic sensor to be consistent and meet the design requirements.

[0006] See also Figure 2 During the assembly phase of the ultrasonic sensor, after the ultrasonic sensor housing 1a, the outer shell 2a, the piezoelectric element 3a, and the PIN needle seat 6a are assembled, a cavity area A is formed between the outer shell 2a and the horizontal side 63a and the second vertical side 62a of the PIN needle seat 6a. The inventors have found in practice that during the foaming process, since the air in the A area cannot be discharged in time, it is easy to cause incomplete foaming due to air accumulation during the foaming process, and part of the space cannot be filled with the foaming filler. Summary of the invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide an ultrasonic sensor which can improve the filling integrity of the filling material.

[0008] The utility model also provides an ultrasonic sensor, comprising an ultrasonic sensor housing, an outer shell, a piezoelectric element, a filling material, a first PIN needle, a second PIN needle and a PIN needle seat; the ultrasonic sensor housing comprises a bottom wall and a peripheral wall portion, the bottom end of the peripheral wall portion is connected to the periphery of the bottom wall, the top end of the peripheral wall portion is connected to the outer shell, and the ultrasonic sensor housing and the outer shell jointly define an inner cavity; the piezoelectric element is arranged on the bottom wall; the first PIN needle and the second PIN needle are fixedly arranged on the PIN needle seat, and the PIN needle seat comprises a first vertical side portion, a horizontal side portion and a second vertical side portion, and the first end and the second end of the horizontal side portion are respectively connected to the bottom end of the first vertical side portion and the top end of the second vertical side portion; the first end of the first vertical side portion and the first end of the horizontal side portion are embedded in the outer shell, and the second end of the horizontal side portion and the second vertical side extend into the inner cavity; the filling material is filled in the inner cavity and covers the piezoelectric element, the top surface of the filling material is higher than the bottom surface of the horizontal side portion and lower than the top surface of the horizontal side portion, and the PIN needle seat is provided with an exhaust port, the exhaust port is located between the first PIN needle and the second PIN needle, and penetrates the second end of the horizontal side portion along the thickness direction of the horizontal side portion and penetrates the second vertical side portion along the thickness direction of the second vertical side portion.

[0009] In the embodiment of the utility model, an exhaust port is provided on the PIN needle seat. During foaming, the air in the area formed between the shell, the horizontal side portion and the second vertical side portion of the PIN needle seat can be discharged through the exhaust port, so that the above-mentioned area can be completely filled with the foaming filler, thereby improving the filling integrity of the filling material, and also improving the consistency and air tightness of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of an existing ultrasonic sensor that has been filled with a filling material is shown.

[0011] Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of an existing ultrasonic sensor that has not been filled with a filling material is shown.

[0012] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an existing PIN needle socket is shown.

[0013] Figure 4 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of an ultrasonic sensor after being filled with a filling material according to an embodiment of the utility model is shown.

[0014] Figure 5 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of an ultrasonic sensor according to an embodiment of the utility model that has not been filled with a filling material is shown.

[0015] Figure 6 and Figure 7 A front view schematic diagram and a left view schematic diagram of a PIN needle holder of an embodiment of the utility model are respectively shown.

[0016] Figure 8 A three-dimensional assembly schematic diagram of a PIN needle holder according to an embodiment of the utility model is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The utility model is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0018] Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic sensor after filling with filling material according to the embodiment of the utility model is shown. Figure 4 The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor housing 1 , a shell 2 , a piezoelectric element 3 , a filling material 4 , a first PIN needle 51 , a second PIN needle 52 and a PIN needle seat 6 .

[0019] The ultrasonic sensor housing 1 is made of metal material (usually aluminum), is cylindrical, and includes a bottom wall 11 and a peripheral wall portion 12. The bottom end of the peripheral wall portion 12 is connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 11, and the top end of the peripheral wall portion 12 is connected to the outer shell 2. The ultrasonic sensor housing 1 and the outer shell 2 jointly define an inner cavity 10. Among them, the outer shell 2 includes a front cover 21, an upper shell 22, and an elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23. The front cover 21 and the upper shell 22 are made of plastic, and the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23 is made of rubber. The elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23 is sleeved on the outer part of the upper part of the ultrasonic sensor housing 1, the front cover 21 is sleeved on the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23, and the bottom of the upper shell 22 is detachably connected to the top of the front cover 21. Specifically, the outer circumferential surface of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23 is provided with a waterproof convex ring 233 extending continuously in the circumferential direction. In the example in the figure, the outer circumferential surfaces of the top and bottom ends of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve 23 are respectively truncated cones with gradually increasing outer diameters from the end to the middle. The waterproof convex ring 233 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the middle part of the elastic vibration damping sleeve 23. There are two waterproof convex rings 233. The front cover 21 includes a first annular bottom wall 211 and a first annular side wall 212, the bottom end of the first annular side wall 212 is connected to the periphery of the first annular bottom wall 211, and the inner wall of the first annular side wall 211 is provided with an annular sealing groove 213 matched with the waterproof convex ring 233 of the elastic vibration damping sleeve; the upper shell 22 includes a second annular bottom wall 221 and a second annular side wall 222, the bottom end of the second annular side wall 222 is connected to the periphery of the second annular bottom wall 221, and the bottom of the second annular bottom wall 221 is provided with a downwardly protruding snap ring 223; the snap ring 223 of the upper shell is embedded in the gap between the top end of the elastic vibration damping sleeve 23 and the inner wall of the first annular side wall 212 of the front cover, and is snap-connected with the first annular side wall 212 of the front cover 21.

[0020] The piezoelectric element 3 is arranged on the bottom wall 11, and the arrangement method includes but is not limited to bonding, welding, etc. Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the first PIN needle 51 and the second PIN needle 52 are fixedly arranged on the PIN needle seat 6, and the two are integrally injection molded. The PIN needle seat 6 includes a first vertical side portion 61, a horizontal side portion 63, and a second vertical side portion 62. The first end and the second end of the horizontal side portion 63 are respectively connected to the bottom end of the first vertical side portion 61 and the top end of the second vertical side portion 62; the first ends of the first vertical side portion 61 and the horizontal side portion 63 are embedded in the upper shell 22 of the shell 2, and the second ends of the horizontal side portion 63 and the second vertical side portion 62 extend into the inner cavity 10 (please refer to Figure 5 The shapes of the first PIN needle 51 and the second PIN needle 52 are similar to those of the PIN seat 6. The top of the first PIN needle 51 and the top of the second PIN needle 52 extend upward from the first vertical side 61, and the bottom of the first PIN needle 51 and the bottom of the second PIN needle 52 extend downward from the second vertical side 62. The first PIN needle 51 and the second PIN needle 52 are respectively connected to the PCBA circuit board (not shown) and the piezoelectric element 3, and are used to transmit electrical signals between the PCBA circuit board and the piezoelectric element 3.

[0021] The main improvement of the embodiment of the utility model over the prior art is that the PIN needle seat 6 is provided with an exhaust port 60, which is located between the first PIN needle 51 and the second PIN needle 52, and penetrates the second end of the horizontal side portion 63 along the thickness direction of the horizontal side portion 63 and penetrates the second vertical side portion 62 along the thickness direction of the second vertical side portion 62. Specifically, the exhaust port 60 is in an inverted L shape, including a horizontal side notch portion 601 and a vertical side notch portion 602. The horizontal side notch portion 601 is provided at the second end of the horizontal side portion 63, and penetrates the horizontal side portion 63 along the thickness direction of the horizontal side portion 63; the vertical side notch portion 602 is provided at the second vertical side portion, and extends along the entire height direction of the second vertical side portion 62, and the top of the vertical side notch portion 602 is connected to the horizontal side notch portion 601.

[0022] In this embodiment, a second end of the lateral edge portion 63 is provided with an inclined chamfer 633 , and the exhaust port 60 passes through the inclined chamfer 633 .

[0023] The filling material 4 is filled in the inner cavity 10 and covers the piezoelectric element 3. The top surface 41 of the filling material 4 is higher than the bottom surface 632 of the lateral portion 63 and lower than the top surface 631 of the lateral portion 63. The filling material 4 is usually made of foaming resin, such as polyurethane foaming resin.

[0024] During the foaming process, the air in the area A formed between the housing 2, the horizontal side 63 of the PIN seat 6 and the second vertical side 62 can be discharged through the exhaust port 60. Figure 5 As shown by the arrow in the figure, the above-mentioned area can be completely filled with the foam filler, thereby improving the filling integrity of the filling material, and also improving the consistency, airtightness and waterproof effect of the product.

[0025] In a specific embodiment, the existing PIN needle holder is used, and the foamable cavity volume is 1443.28mm3, while the PIN needle holder of this embodiment is used, and the foamable cavity volume is 1459.26mm3, which increases the fillable space by 1.1%. After filling the cavity space below, the air tightness is increased and the waterproof effect is improved.

[0026] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic sensor, comprising an ultrasonic sensor housing, an outer shell, a piezoelectric element, a filling material, a first PIN needle, a second PIN needle and a PIN needle seat; the ultrasonic sensor housing comprises a bottom wall and a peripheral wall portion, the bottom end of the peripheral wall portion is connected to the periphery of the bottom wall, the top end of the peripheral wall portion is connected to the outer shell, and the ultrasonic sensor housing and the outer shell jointly define an inner cavity; the piezoelectric element is arranged on the bottom wall; the first PIN needle and the second PIN needle are fixedly arranged on the PIN needle seat, and the PIN needle seat comprises a first vertical side portion, a horizontal side portion and a second vertical side portion, the first end and the second end of the horizontal side portion are respectively connected to the bottom end of the first vertical side portion and the top end of the second vertical side portion; the first ends of the first vertical side portion and the horizontal side portion are embedded in the outer shell, and the second end of the horizontal side portion and the second vertical side portion extend into the inner cavity; the filling material is filled in the inner cavity and covers the piezoelectric element, the top surface of the filling material is higher than the bottom surface of the horizontal side portion and lower than the top surface of the horizontal side portion, characterized in that The PIN needle seat is provided with an exhaust port, which is located between the first PIN needle and the second PIN needle and penetrates the second end of the horizontal side portion along the thickness direction of the horizontal side portion and penetrates the second vertical side portion along the thickness direction of the second vertical side portion.

2. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second end of the lateral side portion is provided with an inclined chamfer, and the exhaust port passes through the inclined chamfer.

3. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The exhaust port is in an inverted L shape, including a horizontal notch portion and a vertical notch portion; The transverse edge notch is formed at the second end of the transverse edge and penetrates the transverse edge along the thickness direction of the transverse edge; The vertical edge notch portion is opened on the second vertical edge portion and extends along the entire height direction of the second vertical edge portion, and the top end of the vertical edge notch portion is connected to the horizontal edge notch portion.

4. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling material is foamed resin.

5. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling material is polyurethane foam resin.

6. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing comprises a front cover, an upper shell and an elastic vibration-damping sleeve; The elastic vibration-damping sleeve is sleeved on the outside of the upper part of the ultrasonic sensor housing, the front cover is sleeved on the outside of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve, and the bottom of the upper shell is detachably connected to the top of the front cover.

7. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outer circumferential surface of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve is provided with a waterproof convex ring extending continuously in the circumferential direction; The front cover comprises a first annular bottom wall and a first annular side wall, the bottom end of the first annular side wall is connected to the periphery of the first annular bottom wall, and the inner wall of the first annular side wall is provided with an annular sealing groove matched with the waterproof convex ring of the elastic vibration damping sleeve; The upper shell comprises a second annular bottom wall and a second annular side wall, the bottom end of the second annular side wall is connected to the periphery of the second annular bottom wall, and a downwardly protruding snap ring is provided at the bottom of the second annular bottom wall; The snap ring of the upper shell is embedded in the gap between the top end of the elastic vibration-damping sleeve and the inner wall of the first annular side wall of the front cover, and is snap-connected with the first annular side wall of the front cover.

8. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 6, characterized in that: The elastic vibration-damping sleeve is made of rubber.

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