Apparatus for transmitting acoustic signals in a primary direction and/or receiving acoustic signals from the primary direction , in particular for detecting vehicle surroundings, comprising an electroacoustic transducer and a deflection element , wherein the electroacoustic transducer is configured so as • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to transmit the acoustic signal in the primary direction and a backward direction , and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to be stimulated by the acoustic signal from the primary direction and from the backward direction ; wherein the deflection element is configured so as • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a first acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction , which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the first acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction , wherein the deflection element is further configured so as: • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to further deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a second acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction , which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the second acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction , wherein the first acoustic path and the second acoustic path have a different delay for the acoustic signal in order to influence a directional characteristic of the apparatus , characterized in that the apparatus has a diaphragm , wherein the electroacoustic transducer is connected to a first subregion of the diaphragm , and the first acoustic path is routed via a second subregion of the diaphragm . • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to transmit the acoustic signal in the primary direction and a backward direction , and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to be stimulated by the acoustic signal from the primary direction and from the backward direction ; • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a first acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction , which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the first acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction , • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to further deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a second acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction , which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the second acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction , <EOS>