ULTRASONIC WAVE SENSOR AND VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM

To provide an ultrasonic wave sensor that can suppress spoiling of an exterior appearance design of a portion where the ultrasonic wave sensor is installed, as reducing manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic wave sensor comprises: a substantially rectangular propagation path that is formed of a thin sheet; an ultrasonic wave transmitter that is provided on one end side in a longer direction of the propagation path, and transmits a pulse-like ultrasonic wave to cause the propagation path excitation; an ultrasonic wave receiver that is provided on the other end side in the longer direction of the propagation path, and, of the ultrasonic wave propagating through the propagation path excited by the pulse-like ultrasonic wave, receives a direct wave propagating through only the propagation path and a reflection wave returning to the propagation path after the ultrasonic wave radiated externally is reflected upon an object; a convex-shape part that is provided between both ends in the longer direction of the propagation path, and protrudes in a shorter direction of the propagation path from the propagation path; and a detection part that detects the object existing in the vicinity of the propagation path on the basis of a difference between a time when the direct wave is received by the ultrasonic wave receiver and a time when the reflection wave is received by the ultrasonic wave receiver.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1 【課題】製造コストを低減しつつ、超音波センサが設置される部位の外観デザインを損なうことを抑制可能な超音波センサを提供する。【解決手段】薄板で形成された略長方形状の伝搬路と、前記伝搬路の長手方向の一端側に設けられ、パルス状の超音波を送信して前記伝搬路を励振させる超音波送信器と、前記伝搬路の長手方向の他端側に設けられ、前記パルス状の超音波により励振された前記伝搬路を伝搬する超音波のうち、前記伝搬路のみを伝搬する直接波と、外部に放射されて物体で反射された後に前記伝搬路に戻ってくる反射波とを受信する超音波受信器と、前記伝搬路の長手方向の両端部の間に設けられ、前記伝搬路から当該伝搬路の短手方向に突出した凸状部と、前記超音波受信器により前記直接波が受信された時間と、前記超音波受信器により前記反射波が受信された時間との差に基づいて、前記伝搬路の近傍に存在する物体を検知する検知部と、を備える。【選択図】図１