# US 10,768,703 B2 · Operating unit mount with improved leaf spring element attachment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,703 B2 - Document ID: US10768703B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/913,593 - Filed: 2018-03-06 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-09 - Assignees: Preh GmbH - Applicants: Preh GmbH - Inventors: Benedikt Schmidt; Kai Lang; Mario Schmitt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768703B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - B60R 11/0264: {for control means} - F16F 3/023: {composed only of leaf springs} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - F16F 2230/0005: Attachment, e.g. to facilitate mounting onto confer adjustability - F16F 2230/18: Control arrangements - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract The present disclosure is a touch-sensitive input detector having an operating unit with an input surface; a support; a fastener for mounting the operating unit to the support in a vibration direction so as to be displaceable from a resting position and elastically restorable; and an actuator for stimulating the operating unit to vibrate in the direction of vibration for a haptic feedback; wherein the fastener for attaching the operating unit includes leaf spring elements, which each form a first section for attaching to the support and a second section for attaching to the operating unit, and an intermediate middle section, so that the operating unit is mounted on the support in an elastically vibratable manner, and which are arranged at a distance from each other by the middle section, wherein at least one section from first section and second section is attached by a form-fit seat, such as overmolding. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A touch-sensitive input detector, comprising: an operating unit having an input surface and a support; a fastener for attaching the operating unit to the support in order to mount the operating unit in a vibration direction (S) so as to be displaceable from a resting position and elastically restorable to the resting position; an actuator for stimulating the operating unit to vibrate in the direction of vibration (S) to provide a haptic feedback, wherein the actuator has a coil and an armature that interacts with the coil, and the armature is accommodated at least partially in a form-fit in the operating unit; wherein the fastener for attaching the operating unit comprises several leaf spring elements, which each form a first section for attaching to the support and a second section for attaching to the operating unit, and an intermediate middle section, so that the operating unit is mounted on the support in an elastically vibratable manner, and which are arranged at a distance from each other by the middle section, and wherein at least one section from the first section and the second section is attached by a form-fit seat, such as overmolding, and wherein the actuator is positioned with one of the several leaf spring elements in a mold cavity and overmolded with a molding compound to form a base of the operating unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein the first section, the second section, and the middle section are arranged in a common plane when the operating unit is in the resting position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section are each arranged in a plane perpendicular to the touch-sensitive input surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein the leaf spring elements are aligned parallel to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein the operating unit is, via the leaf spring elements, mounted so as to be suspended on the support. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein at least one section from first section and second section is attached by a latching means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein the first section or the second section is arranged so as to extend through an associated aperture, and is secured in the aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, wherein at least two leaf spring elements are integrally formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 8, wherein the two integrally-formed leaf spring elements are designed in the shape of a frame, and the first sections and second sections are each connected by connection sections. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 8, wherein the two integrally-formed leaf spring elements are designed so that the associated middle sections, in the resting position, are arranged on a common imaginary line. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1, with a force sensor for determining an actuating force (F) acting on the input surface, and at least one leaf spring element, via a foot, made of an elastic material, adjoining the first section or second section, is supported on the support or the operating unit, wherein the force sensor and foot interact to detect an elastic deformation of the foot caused by the actuating force (F). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The touch-sensitive input detector of claim 1 configured to be installed within a motor vehicle. ### Claim 13 A method for mounting a touch-sensitive input detector, comprising: attaching, using a fastener an operating unit having an input surface to a support in order to mount the operating unit in a vibration direction (S) so as to be displaceable from a resting position and elastically restorable, wherein the fastener for attaching the operating unit comprises a plurality leaf spring elements, which each form a first section for attaching to the support and a second section for attaching to the operating unit, and an intermediate middle section, so that the operating unit is mounted on the support in an elastically vibratable manner, and which are arranged at a distance from each other by the middle section; stimulating using an actuator for the operating unit to vibrate in the direction of vibration (S), for a haptic feedback, wherein the actuator has a coil and an armature that interacts with the coil, and, in the overmolding step, an armature belonging to the actuator is overmolded with molding compound; overmolding the plurality of leaf spring elements with a molding compound to create a base of the operating unit, such that the second section is attached to the operating unit by a form-fit seat, and overmolding the leaf spring elements with molding compound to create a support, such that the first section is attached to the support by the form-fit seat; and mutually attaching of the operating unit, the support, and the actuator, wherein the actuator is positioned with one of the plurality of leaf spring elements in a mold cavity and overmolded with the molding compound to form the base of the operating unit.