Ultrasound Sensor Decoupling Ring Lip Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultrasonic sensors used in motor vehicles face issues with structure-borne noise transmission due to the filling material escaping and making contact with the housing, affecting sound pressure and measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A decoupling ring with a lip design is implemented between the membrane pot and housing, creating a gap to prevent the filling material from contacting the housing, made of damping materials like rubber-elastic materials, which reduces vibration transmission and enhances sound pressure and measurement precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the membrane pot is filled with damping filling material to obtain rapid oscillation, then the ringing time is reduced, but the filling material may escape and contact the housing causing structure-borne noise transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveringing timeVSAvoidstructure-borne noise transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decoupling ring acts as an intermediary element between the membrane pot and the housing. It includes a lip that extends into the housing to create a containment space, preventing the filling material from contacting the housing while maintaining the damping function for rapid oscillation decay

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The decoupling ring segments the internal space of the housing into two distinct regions: a first space for the filling material enclosed by the lip, and a second space between the lip and housing wall. This segmentation prevents contamination while preserving damping functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If the filling material contacts the housing to provide damping, then oscillation decay is improved, but vibration transmission to the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoscillation decayVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decoupling ring with its lip structure serves as a mediator that allows the filling material to perform damping function within the enclosed first space while preventing direct contact with the housing, thus eliminating the harmful vibration transmission pathway

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manufacturing tolerances vary causing filling material to escape, then assembly flexibility is improved, but vibration transmission control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decoupling ring with its lip is installed beforehand to create a preventive barrier. The lip extends into the housing to form a containment structure that anticipates and prevents potential filling material escape due to manufacturing tolerances, ensuring vibration transmission is blocked regardless of assembly variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution increases sound pressure for measuring larger distances, reduces ringing time for shorter distance measurements, and allows for uniform decay times, while maintaining current production processes and minimizing unwanted vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

the decoupling ring is made of a damping material. A rubber-elastic material, for example, is suitable as a material for producing the decoupling ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

A piezo element is usually used as the sound transducer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

a sound pulse is sent from the ultrasonic sensor, which is reflected by an object in the vicinity of the motor vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic radiation: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 4

the membrane pot is filled with a filling material that has a damping effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP2805321B1Ultrasound sensor
Publication Date: 2016.02.03 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2805321B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an ultrasound sensor for sending and/or receiving ultrasound signals, comprising a diaphragm cup (3) having a transducer (11) and a housing (7), wherein the diaphragm cup (3) is releasably connected to the housing (7), a decoupling ring (13) is accommodated between the membrane cup (3) and the housing (7), and the membrane cup (3) is filled with a filling material (15). The decoupling ring (13) comprises a lip (27) that is designed in such a way that a gap (31) is formed between the lip (27) and the housing inner wall and the filling material (15) is accommodated in a space at the decoupling ring (13), which space is enclosed by the membrane cup (3) and the lip (27). The invention further relates to a use of the ultrasound sensor.