METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR OF A VEHICLE WITH REDUCED DIAGNOSTICS IN A MEASURING MODE OF THE ULTRASONIC SENSOR, AND ULTRASONIC SENSOR DEVICE

The invention relates to a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor () of a vehicle (), in which a sound transducer element () of the ultrasonic sensor () is excited with a predetermined excitation signal, wherein the excitation signal has a predetermined current amplitude, an electrical test voltage (U) at the sound transducer element () resulting from the excitation signal is measured, and a diagnosis of the ultrasonic sensor () is carried out on the basis of the test voltage (U), wherein the ultrasonic sensor () is excited with the excitation signal in a measuring mode for the transmission of an ultrasonic signal, the electrical test voltage (U) is measured during the transmission, on the basis of the electrical test voltage (U) a reduced diagnosis is carried out, wherein the ultrasonic sensor () either continues to be operated in the measuring mode or is operated in a diagnostic mode for a complete diagnosis, depending on a result of the reduced diagnosis.