Housing for ultrasonic transducers, said housing having differently inclined bottom surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) for an ultrasonic transducer (106) for detecting an object in the environment (102) of a vehicle (100), said housing comprising: a peripheral side wall (114) which defines a main axis (118) of the housing (110); and a bottom wall (112) which has a central receiving portion (130) for supporting a transducer element and at least one modulator region (132); wherein the modulator region (132) extends in a longitudinal sectional plane (126), which includes the main axis (118), radially from the receiving portion (130) to a transition (140) of the bottom wall (112) into the side wall (114); wherein a thickness (C) of the bottom wall (112) decreases radially outwardly over the entire modulator region (132); and wherein an inner side (120) of the bottom wall (112) in the modulator region (132) has at least two different angles of inclination (E, D).

Description

[0001] HOUSING FOR ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS WITH DIFFERENTLY INCLINED

[0002] FLOOR AREAS

[0003] The present invention relates to a housing for an ultrasonic transducer for detecting an object in the environment of a vehicle, further to an ultrasonic transducer for detecting an object in the environment of a vehicle and to a vehicle.

[0004] Ultrasonic transducers for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle are used, for example, in parking systems or similar applications. Such ultrasonic transducers often operate according to the pulse-echo principle, with the same ultrasonic transducer serving as both transmitter and receiver. Therefore, it is particularly difficult to design a "blind zone" as small as possible in the near field, from which no echo signal can be received or reliably detected. The size of this "blind zone" is characterized and determined by the reverberation time of the transducer after the pulse is emitted.

[0005] To achieve high electro-acoustic conversion efficiency and thus a wide detection range and / or a low signal-to-noise ratio, ultrasonic transducers are generally based on the bending transducer principle. A piezoelectric transducer disc is applied to a membrane and operated in a resonant mode.

[0006] To support this and avoid echoes from a roadway and / or very tall objects, such as roofs in parking garages and / or bridges, a pronounced directivity and a narrow beamwidth are generally desired. This can be achieved, for example, by a special diaphragm geometry.

[0007] One example is JP 2001 326987 A. This discloses a pot-shaped housing for an ultrasonic transducer, the base of which has a circular disk-shaped thickening in the center. This design exhibits a low electroacoustic efficiency, which shortens the detection range of the resulting ultrasonic transducer. Furthermore, this design can result in a long reverberation time after the transmission of an ultrasonic pulse, thereby increasing a blind spot in the near field.

[0008] A design for improving reverberation time is taught, for example, in JP 2006 174 003. This discloses a rotationally symmetrical, pot-shaped housing for an ultrasonic transducer. A base portion of the housing has a truncated cone shape, the thickness of which increases inward at a constant gradient from a side wall to a central plateau for a transducer element.

[0009] Sharp edges in JP 2006 174 003 can be complex to manufacture. Furthermore, fluctuations in the radius can strongly interact with a resonant frequency.

[0010] DE 11 2009 003 590 T5 discloses an ultrasonic transducer with improved resonance frequency stability. The described ultrasonic transducer comprises a circular cylindrical housing provided with a bottom surface and a piezoelectric element provided substantially at a center of a bottom surface of the housing. The bottom surface of the housing has a sloped portion that gradually becomes thinner from a position where the piezoelectric element is provided toward an inner wall surface of the housing, and a flat portion that extends from an outer edge of the sloped portion to the inner wall surface of the housing, while maintaining a thickness of the outer edge of the sloped portion.

[0011] In particular, in a design shown in Fig. 3 of DE 11 2009 003 590 T5, the reverberation time may be prolonged. The disclosed housing tends to exhibit visible burrs on the exterior of the vehicle body when installed. Compared to a design according to the aforementioned JP 2001 326987 A, the directional characteristic may be impaired and the aperture angle may be widened. Furthermore, the electroacoustic efficiency may be reduced. Other housings for ultrasonic transducers are known in the prior art:

[0012] JP 2005 039 689 A discloses a pot-shaped housing for an ultrasonic transducer with a flat base. On one side, the flat base is provided with a flat step or several flat steps towards the outside of the base, resulting in another thinner base section or several further thinner base sections. This one-sidedness leads to a tilt of an ultrasonic detection cone relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing. This tilting results in the ultrasonic detection cone being non-symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis. Therefore, the orientation of the sensor must be observed during installation. This concept may be unsuitable for a design in which an asymmetrical cable connection is provided and / or identical parts are required for the right and left sides of a vehicle body. In other words, the housing of JP 2005 039 689 A is unsuitable for embodiments that require a symmetrical overall sensor structure.

[0013] JP 2017 225 013 A discloses a circular disc-shaped housing for an ultrasonic transducer with a central oval recess. This oval recess has a flat bottom, which has kidney-shaped recesses with a thinner, flat bottom on the short sides. In cross-section along a longitudinal axis of the oval recess, this results in a stepped base thickness with shallow steps.

[0014] DE 10 2008 040905 A1 discloses a pot-shaped housing for an ultrasonic sensor with a base surface and a side wall. An electromechanical transducer element, such as a cylindrical disk-shaped piezo element, is glued to an otherwise flat inner surface of the base surface.

[0015] Against this background, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved ultrasonic transducer and in particular a housing therefor. The focus is on an advantageous compromise between directional characteristics, electro-acoustic efficiency and / or short reverberation time. Accordingly, a housing for an ultrasonic transducer for detecting an object in the surroundings of a vehicle is proposed. The housing has a circumferential side wall and a base wall. The circumferential side wall defines a main axis of the housing. The base wall has a central receptacle for supporting a transducer element or ultrasonic element and at least one modulator region. The modulator region extends in a longitudinal sectional plane containing the main axis, radially from the receptacle to a transition between the base wall and the side wall. The thickness of the base wall decreases radially outward over the entire modulator region.An inner side of the bottom wall has at least two different angles of inclination in the modulator area.

[0016] The enclosure achieves a compromise in the base wall. On the one hand, the enclosure is characterized by a directional characteristic, achieved by a large aperture in the longitudinal plane. On the other hand, the base wall is characterized by high electro-acoustic efficiency, which is achieved by a corresponding shape of the modulator area. Furthermore, the proposed enclosure is suitable for a desirable short reverberation time and is also robust against fluctuations in manufacturing tolerances. The proposed enclosure is easy to manufacture due to the proposed base wall.

[0017] Particularly in the longitudinal section plane, the thickness of the base wall decreases radially outward across the entire modulator region. The inner side of the base wall has at least two different angles of inclination in the modulator region, particularly in the longitudinal section plane.

[0018] The side wall is preferably closed in the circumferential direction, but variants with a circumferentially discontinuous wall and / or a partially discontinuous wall are also conceivable. The bottom wall has an outer side that preferably runs perpendicular to the main axis. Variants are also conceivable in which the outer side is concave and / or convex and / or frustoconical and / or pointed.

[0019] Preferably, the inner side of the modulator region extends in a convex curve in the longitudinal section plane. This reduces, i.e., improves, the tendency toward reverberation. It is possible for the entire modulator region to be designed as a convex curve, or for a portion of the modulator region to be designed as a convex curve.

[0020] In this description, the terms "convex" and "concave" refer to a viewer inside the housing. "Convex" means, as seen from the inside of the housing, directed outwards, especially rounded. Colloquially, "convex" can be considered a bulge "outwards." Functionally, a "convex" section of the inside of the base wall corresponds to more internal volume of the housing. "Concave" means, as seen from the inside of the housing, directed inwards, especially rounded. Colloquially, "concave" can be considered a bulge "inwards." Functionally, a "concave" section of the inside of the base wall corresponds to less internal volume of the housing.

[0021] According to a preferred option, a continuously differentiable profile of the inner surface in the longitudinal section plane can be provided. Examples include a parabolic and / or exponential profile. This can improve frequency response. It is possible for the inner surface to be continuously differentiable across the entire modulator range. Furthermore, it is possible for the inner surface to be continuously differentiable only over a portion of the modulator range.

[0022] For reasons of electro-acoustic efficiency, it is preferred that an outer edge of the curve and / or parabola be tangential to an imaginary truncated cone angle. If the modulator region contains several truncated cone sections that have at least two different angles of inclination, a shape for the housing can be manufactured relatively easily. If two adjacent truncated cone sections, in particular radially adjacent truncated cone sections, merge into one another through a convex curve, damping can be improved and reverberation reduced. However, it is also possible for two adjacent truncated cone sections, in particular radially adjacent truncated cone sections, to merge into one another through an edge, so that a natural frequency behavior is more pronounced. Depending on the design, both are preferable developments.

[0023] For reasons of electro-acoustic efficiency, it is preferable that a surface section of the modulator region be positioned further radially outward, the flatter the respective surface section is. For example, if two truncated cone sections with different inclination angles are provided, it is electro-acoustically more efficient to position the flatter truncated cone section radially outside the steeper truncated cone section. Terms such as "flat" and "steep" preferably refer to an imaginary perpendicular to the imaginary main axis.

[0024] If the modulator region, or a modulator region in each case, extends symmetrically to the main axis in the longitudinal plane, a directional characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer that is symmetrical to the main axis can be achieved. For example, this can provide a horizontally wide and vertically narrow ultrasonic cone.

[0025] Even if the side wall reaches the receptacle in a second longitudinal section plane perpendicular to the longitudinal section plane, which contains the main axis, an advantageous directional characteristic can be achieved. Specifically, an effective aperture can be narrower in the direction of the second longitudinal section plane than in the direction of the first longitudinal section plane, so that a directional characteristic is wider in this direction of the second longitudinal section plane. According to a preferred example, the side wall has a thickened portion that is parallel and / or at least approximately parallel and / or partially parallel to the longitudinal section plane. Optionally, an inner wall of the thickened portion can run concentrically to the receptacle.

[0026] Experiments have shown that, in an electro-acoustically efficient housing, the inclination angle inside the modulator area is at least 2°, preferably at least 2.5°, and more preferably at least 3°. "Inside" the modulator area means that a curve that transitions into the preferably flat receptacle and / or a curve that transitions into the preferably steep side wall can have a lower inclination angle. An inclination angle of 0° means a perpendicular to the main axis, and an inclination angle of 90° means a parallel to the main axis.

[0027] If the sidewall is interrupted at least in sections along the circumferential direction and / or projects from the main axis at different distances along the circumferential direction, the housing can incorporate an anti-twist device. This allows a desired orientation of a directional characteristic relative to a vehicle to be reliably adjusted.

[0028] Preferably, the inner side of the base wall transitions from the modulator area into the receptacle via a concave curve. This makes the housing more tolerant to manufacturing variations.

[0029] In order to make the housing easier to manufacture, it is proposed as an option that an inner side of the bottom wall transitions from the modulator area into an inner side of the side wall by means of a convex curve.

[0030] For mounting a disk-shaped transducer element, it is advantageous if the receptacle has a constant thickness. According to a further aspect of the invention, an ultrasonic transducer is proposed. This comprises a housing according to one of the above options and a transducer element. The transducer element is supported in and / or on the receptacle, for example, by means of gluing, welding, and / or a chemical and / or mechanical fastening method.

[0031] According to yet another aspect, a vehicle is proposed which contains at least one such ultrasonic transducer.

[0032] The vehicle is, for example, a passenger car or a truck.

[0033] Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments not explicitly mentioned. In this case, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

[0034] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention will be explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a vehicle containing several ultrasonic transducers;

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective sectional view of a housing for an ultrasonic transducer according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of part of a bottom wall and part of a side wall of the housing for an ultrasonic transducer according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0037] Fig. 4 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of part of a bottom wall and part of a side wall of a housing for an ultrasonic transducer according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0038] Fig. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of part of a bottom wall and part of a side wall of a housing for an ultrasonic transducer according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0039] Fig. 6 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of part of a bottom wall and part of a side wall of a housing for an ultrasonic transducer according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

[0040] Fig. 7 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of part of a bottom wall and part of a side wall of a housing for an ultrasonic transducer according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

[0041] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference numerals unless otherwise stated.

[0042] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle 100 from a bird's eye view. The vehicle 100 is, for example, a car located in an environment 102. The car 100 has a control unit 104. Furthermore, several ultrasonic transducers 106 are provided on the car 100. The ultrasonic transducers 106 are configured to detect a distance to objects located in the environment 102 and to output a corresponding sensor signal. The ultrasonic transducers 106 are connected to the control unit

[0043] 104. Figs. 2 and 3 show a housing 110 for an ultrasonic transducer 106 according to a first embodiment of the housing 110.

[0044] Fig.2 shows the structure of the housing 110 in a perspective longitudinal section. The housing 110 has a bottom wall 112 and a side wall 114.

[0045] The side wall 114 is closed all the way around, forming an irregularly shaped tube. The side wall 114 defines a main axis 118 at its center.

[0046] At one axial end of the side wall 114, the housing is closed in a pot-like manner by the approximately disc-shaped bottom wall 112. An inner side 120 of the bottom wall 112 and an inner side 122 of the side wall 114 define an interior space 124 of the housing 110.

[0047] In the illustration of Fig. 2, the housing 110 is cut in a longitudinal section plane 126 which contains the main axis 118.

[0048] Figure 3 shows a portion of the longitudinal section of Figure 2 in a top view of the cut surface. Figure 3 thus shows the section of the housing 110 with the longitudinal section plane 126. Part of the side wall 114 is shown on the left side of the image, and the main axis 118 is shown on the right side of the image.

[0049] The bottom wall 112 has a receptacle 130 and a modulator region 132 extending radially outward from the main axis 118. The side wall 114 adjoins the modulator region 132 radially outward.

[0050] Receptacle 130 is a portion of the base wall 112 that is designed to support a transducer element (not shown). A piezoelectric element for converting between mechanical vibrations and electrical vibrations in the ultrasonic range is preferably used as the transducer element.

[0051] An outer side 136 of the bottom wall 112 preferably runs perpendicular to the main axis 118.

[0052] Preferably, the transducer element is connected to the receptacle 130, such as by gluing. For this purpose, the inner side 120 in the region of the receptacle 130 preferably runs perpendicular to the main axis 118. The receptacle 130 thus has a thickness A.

[0053] In the longitudinal section plane 126, the modulator region 132 is located between the receptacle 130 and the side wall 114. In the first embodiment, the modulator region 132 connects to the receptacle 130 by means of an inner transition 138. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the modulator region 132 connects to the side wall 114 by means of an outer transition 140.

[0054] At the outer transition 140, the bottom wall 112 has a smallest thickness B. This radially outer smallest thickness B is smaller than the radially inner thickness A of the receptacle 130.

[0055] A thickness C at any location in the modulator region 132 gradually decreases from the receptacle 130 to the transition 140. More specifically, in the first embodiment, the thickness C of the bottom wall 112 gradually decreases from the inner transition 138 to the outer transition 140. In other words, any thickness C of a location inside the modulator region 132 is smaller than the thickness A and larger than the thickness B.

[0056] Because in the first embodiment the transitions 138, 140 are continuous, the thickness C of the modulator region 132 is equal to the thickness A at the inner edge of the modulator region 132 and equal to the thickness B at the outer edge. In the first embodiment, the modulator region 132 has two truncated cone sections 150 and 152. A truncated cone section 150 arranged radially inward in the modulator region 132 has a relatively large angle of inclination D. A truncated cone section 152 arranged radially outward in the modulator region 132 has a relatively small angle of inclination E.

[0057] Due to the different inclination angles D and E, an advantageous compromise between directional characteristics and electro-acoustic efficiency is achieved by means of the modulator region 132.

[0058] The angle of inclination D, E of a truncated cone 150, 152 or cone is the cone angle between a base and a flank of the cone or truncated cone.

[0059] The inner side 120 has a surface section 134 in the area of ​​the truncated cone sections 150, 152.

[0060] In the first embodiment, the truncated cone sections 150 and 152 merge into one another by means of a radially central transition 154.

[0061] The inner transition 138 from the receptacle 130 into the inner truncated cone section 150 is a concave transition 156, i.e. a transition curved inwards as seen from the interior 124.

[0062] The middle transition 154 from the inner truncated cone section 150 into the outer truncated cone section 152 and the outer transition 140 from the outer truncated cone section 152 into the side wall 114 are each a convex transition 158, i.e. a transition curved outwards as seen from the interior space 124.

[0063] Even if Fig. 3 shows only one half of the sectional area of ​​the longitudinal section plane 126 with the

[0064] Bottom wall 112 shows, Fig. 2 illustrates that in the longitudinal section plane 126 there are two modulator regions 132 which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the main axis 118.

[0065] In this case, the side wall 114 has a section designed as a collar 160, which is arranged, for example, at an end of the side wall 114 remote from the bottom wall 112. The collar 160 protrudes radially outward, but to different extents in the circumferential direction. Thus, Fig. 2 shows a narrow collar section 162 and a wide collar section 164. By alternating between narrow and wide collar sections 162, 164, an anti-twist device is achieved after the housing 110 has been inserted into a recess formed in the opposite direction, for example, in a bumper of the vehicle 100. Thus, the orientation of the directional characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer 104 in the vehicle 100 can be monitored and adjusted.

[0066] The following discusses the design advantages of the first embodiment. It goes without saying that these preferred dimensions and ratios are also advantageous individually.

[0067] A distance from the main axis 118 to the transition 138 is designated as a radius F in Fig. 3. A distance from the main axis 118 to the inner side 122 of the side wall 114 is designated as a radius G or a distance G. A difference between the thicknesses A and B is designated as a depth H. The depth H is a depth of a recess formed by the modulator region 132 opposite the receptacle 130, see Fig. 2. Finally, an outer radius of the side wall 114 is designated by J.

[0068] The ratio of radius G to radius J significantly influences the directional characteristic. Therefore, the thinnest possible side wall 114 is desired in the longitudinal section plane 126. Advantageous G / J ratios are in the range above 0.9, preferably above 0.92. For example, the radius F of the receptacle can be 4.1 mm, the distance G can be 7.1 mm, and / or the side wall 114 can be 0.6 mm thick in the longitudinal section plane 126.

[0069] The directional characteristic is also significantly influenced by the outer radius F of the receptacle 130. Figure 2 shows, by way of example, that the side wall 114 has a thickened portion 170 in an area adjacent to the bottom wall. The thickened portion 170 is designed such that it is spaced from the longitudinal section plane 126 by approximately the radius F of the receptacle 130 and runs essentially parallel. "Approximately" in this specific context means, in particular, a range from +30% to -30% and preferably a range from +5% to -15%. The outer radius F of the receptacle 130 is primarily influenced by the transducer element to be installed. For example, a transducer element with a radius of 4 mm and a matching outer radius F of 4.1 mm is proposed.

[0070] The directional characteristic is also significantly influenced by the ratio of depth H to outer thickness B. The same applies to the electroacoustic efficiency. Preferably, the depth H is greater in magnitude than the outer thickness B. Experiments have shown that a ratio H / B in the range of 1 to 2, and especially 1.2 to 1.5, is preferred.

[0071] Experiments have shown that the smallest inclination angle E should be at least 2° to demonstrate behavior that is robust against manufacturing variations. Preferably, the smallest inclination angle E is at least 2.5° and more preferably at least 3°. The inclination angle is preferably measured or compared against a perpendicular to the main axis 118.

[0072] Experiments have also shown that the steepest angle of inclination D should be at least 25° and preferably at least 30°. In preferred variants with two truncated cone sections, the steeper angle of inclination D is 40° in one case and 30° in another case. A radial extension of the modulator region 132 is the difference GF. A preferred ratio of the depth H to a radial extension of the modulator region 132, i.e., a ratio H / (GF), is in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 and preferably in the range of 0.15 to 0.25. In other words, the radially wider the modulator region 132, the more advantageous the transmission behavior of the housing 110.

[0073] For high electro-acoustic efficiency, on the one hand, the previously described ratio H / B must be taken into account. On the other hand, the smoothest possible transition from the thickness A of the receptacle 130 to the thickness B of the bottom wall 112 in the region of the transition 140 into the side wall should be sought. Advantageous for this are the ratio of the angles of inclination D, E and the largest possible radius of the convex central transition 154, 158. In the present case, the central transition 154 is designed with an exemplary radius of 0.75 mm for a thickness B of 0.4 mm or a thickness A of 0.94 mm. By means of these measures, a radial mode or radial vibration form of the preferred piezo-based transducer element can be advantageously and efficiently converted into a bending mode or bending vibration form of the ultrasonic transducer 106. The smooth shape of the modulator section 132 ensures adaptation to the impedance of the transducer element.

[0074] To reduce reverberation after the transmission of an ultrasonic pulse, two measures are proposed. First, the interior space 124 can be cast or filled with a damping material after the transducer element has been mounted. Silicone is preferred for this purpose. Second, straight surfaces between the transducer element or the receptacle 130 and the side wall 114 should be avoided. By using curved surfaces whenever possible, energy input into the damping material can be improved and distributed more evenly than before.

[0075] Finally, it should be noted that a smooth progression of the modulator region 132 prevents burrs, marks and / or markings from occurring on the outer side 136 of the bottom wall 112 during production, thus improving customer acceptance.

[0076] In the following, a housing 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is proposed. Differences from the first embodiment are primarily discussed.

[0077] The second embodiment shows, in a sense, an ideal form of the invention. The housing 200 of the second embodiment has a modulator region 132, which has a continuous curvature 202 on the inner side 120 between the receptacle 130 and the side wall 114. A side wall-side inclination angle or outer inclination angle E is at least 2°, preferably at least 2.5°, and in particular at least 3°. A receptacle-side or inner inclination angle D is, in this case, 60°, for example.

[0078] The transition 138 is designed as a sharp edge 204. The transition 140 is designed as a sharp edge 206.

[0079] The continuous curvature 202 follows, for example, a parabola opening toward the side wall 114, so that the thickness C of the modulator region decreases more sharply near the receptacle 130 than near the side wall 114. In this respect, the design of the continuous curvature 202, based on a horizontal parabola, corresponds to the suggestion that, of two truncated cone sections, the flatter one should preferably be arranged radially outward. Instead of the parabolic shape, a curve following an exponential function is also preferred. More generally, experiments have shown that a continuously differentiable curve of the inner side 120 of the bottom wall 114 exhibits the smoothest curve and therefore the highest electroacoustic efficiency. The continuously differentiable curve can also be understood as the extreme form of "at least two different angles of inclination."For the rest, reference is made to the description of the first embodiment, in particular to the description of preferred dimensions and ratios.

[0080] A housing 210 according to a third embodiment shown in Fig. 5 differs from the housing 200 according to the second embodiment in the transition 138. Instead of the sharp edge 204, the concave rounding 156 is provided. For the rest, reference is made to the above description, in particular to the second embodiment.

[0081] A housing 220 according to a fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 6 differs from the housing 210 according to the third embodiment in the transition 140. Instead of the sharp edge 206, the convex rounding 158 is provided. For the rest, reference is made to the above description, in particular to the second and third embodiments.

[0082] Finally, Fig. 7 shows a housing 230 according to a fifth embodiment. This differs from the first embodiment primarily in that a sharp edge 232 is provided instead of the central transition 154 between the truncated cone sections 150 and 152.

[0083] For the sake of safety, it should be noted that the flattest angle of inclination in each of the figures is at least 2°, even if this fineness is difficult to represent figuratively.

[0084] The dimensions given describe a preferred embodiment. They may vary individually or in combination.

[0085] Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it is capable of being modified in many ways.

[0086] 100 vehicles

[0087] 102 Surroundings

[0088] 104 Control unit

[0089] 106 ultrasonic transducers

[0090] 110 housings

[0091] 112 floor wall

[0092] 114 Side wall

[0093] 118 Main axis

[0094] 120 Inside of the floor wall

[0095] 122 Inside of the side wall

[0096] 124 Interior

[0097] 126 Longitudinal section plane

[0098] 130 recording

[0099] 132 modulator range

[0100] 134 area section

[0101] 136 Outside

[0102] 138 inner transition

[0103] 140 external transition

[0104] 150 truncated cone section

[0105] 152 truncated cone section

[0106] 154 middle transition

[0107] 156 concave transition

[0108] 158 convex transition

[0109] 160 collars

[0110] 162 collar section

[0111] 164 collar section

[0112] 170 Thickening

[0113] 200 Housing 202 continuous curvature

[0114] 204 sharp edge

[0115] 206 sharp edge

[0116] 210 Housing 220 Housing

[0117] 230 housings

[0118] 232 sharp edge

[0119] A inner thickness

[0120] B outer thickness C thickness of the modulator area

[0121] D inner inclination angle

[0122] E outer inclination angle

[0123] F Radius

[0124] G Radius H Depth

[0125] J Radius

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1 . Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) for an ultrasonic transducer (106) for detecting an object in the environment (102) of a vehicle (100), comprising a circumferential side wall (114) which defines a main axis (118) of the housing (110), and a bottom wall (112) which has a central receptacle (130) for carrying a transducer element and at least one modulator region (132), wherein the modulator region (132) extends in a longitudinal sectional plane (126) containing the main axis (118) radially from the receptacle (130) to a transition (140) of the bottom wall (112) into the side wall (114), wherein a thickness (C) of the bottom wall (112) decreases radially outward over the entire modulator region (132), and wherein an inner side (120) of the bottom wall (112) in the modulator region (132) has at least two different angles of inclination (E, D).

2. Housing (200, 210, 220) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the longitudinal section plane (126) the inner side (120) of the modulator region (132) extends in a convex curve (202).

3. Housing (200, 210, 220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner side (120) in the longitudinal section plane (126) runs at least once in a continuously differentiable manner.

4. Housing (110, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modulator region (132) contains a plurality of truncated cone sections (150, 152) with different angles of inclination (D, E).

5. Housing (110, 230) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least two radially adjacent truncated cone sections (150, 152) merge into one another by a convex rounding (158).

6. Housing (110, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a surface section (134) of the modulator region (132) is arranged further radially outward, the flatter the respective surface section (134) is.

7. Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the longitudinal section plane (126) the modulator region (132) or in each case a modulator region (132) extends symmetrically to the main axis (118).

8. Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall (114) has a thickening (170) parallel to the longitudinal section plane (126).

9. Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inclination angle (D, E) inside the modulator region (132) is at least 2°, preferably at least 2.5° and more preferably at least 3°.

10. Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall (114) is interrupted at least in sections in the circumferential direction and / or projects from the main axis to different distances when viewed along the circumferential direction.

11. Housing (110, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner side (120) of the bottom wall (112) transitions from the modulator region (132) into the receptacle (130) by means of a concave curve (156).

12. Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner side (120) of the bottom wall (112) transitions from the modulator region (132) into an inner side (122) of the side wall (114) by means of a convex curve (158).

13. Housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (130) has a constant thickness (A).

14. Ultrasonic transducer (106) for detecting an object in the environment (102) of a vehicle (100), comprising a housing (110, 200, 210, 220, 230) according to one of the preceding claims and a transducer element carried on and / or in the receptacle (130).

15. A vehicle (100) having an ultrasonic transducer (106) according to claim 14.

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