# US 12,223,134 B2 · Acceleration sensor for touch display surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,134 B2 - Document ID: US12223134B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/533,377 - Filed: 2023-12-08 - Published: 2024-04-25 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-08 - Assignees: Harman Becker Automotive Systens GmbH - Applicants: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH - Inventors: Peter Brandt; Joerg Welke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223134B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G01H 1/00: Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector (G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence) - G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES ## Abstract A sensor unit including a housing and a contact element movably mounted along a first axis and configured to come into contact with a touch display surface. The contact element is moved along the first axis when coming into contact with the touch display surface. An acceleration sensor is movably mounted in the housing at least along the first axis. A biasing element is located on one side of the acceleration sensor and configured to bias the acceleration sensor in one of two directions along the first axis. The contact element is movably mounted on the other side of the acceleration sensor opposite the biasing element and is coupled to the acceleration sensor to move the acceleration sensor against the bias of the biasing element in the other of the two directions along the first axis when contacting the touch display surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor unit configured to determine an acceleration of a touch display surface, the sensor unit comprising: a housing, a contact element movably mounted along a first axis and configured to come into contact with the touch display surface, wherein the contact element is moved along the first axis when coming into contact with the touch display surface, an acceleration sensor movably mounted in the housing at least along the first axis, a biasing element located on one side of the acceleration sensor and configured to bias the acceleration sensor in one of two directions along the first axis, wherein the contact element is movably mounted on the other side of the acceleration sensor opposite the biasing element and is coupled to the acceleration sensor to move the acceleration sensor against the bias of the biasing element in the other of the two directions along the first axis when contacting the touch display surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor unit of claim 1 further comprising a first mounting element fixedly connected to the housing and a second mounting element to which the acceleration sensor is coupled, wherein the biasing element is arranged between the first and second mounting element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the contact element is coupled to the second mounting element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, further comprising a support structure coupled to the second mounting element, wherein the contact element is coupled to the second mounting element through the support structure and is configured to move the second mounting element together with support structure when being moved along the first axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises an opening and the biasing element is configured to press the contact element against the opening, and wherein a tip portion of the contact element is protruding above an outer surface of the housing in a rest position of the contact element when the contact element is not contacting the touch display surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the contact element has a spherical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the contact element is made of steel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the housing is a U-shaped housing, and wherein the first mounting element is fixedly connected to the housing at one end of the U-shaped housing, and the contact element protrudes above an outer surface of the housing at the opposite end of the U-shaped housing in a rest position of the contact element when the contact element is not contacting the touch display surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sensor unit of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises a fixing surface at which the first mounting element is fixedly connected to the housing, and wherein the fixing surface is provided at said one end of the U-shaped housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the biasing element comprises a preloaded spring with an axial direction parallel to the first axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the biasing element is configured to bias the contact element in the one of the two directions with a force between 0.5 N and 6 N. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The sensor unit of claim 2, further comprising a control element configured to adjust a force applied by the biasing element to bias the acceleration sensor in the one of two directions, wherein the control element is connected to the biasing element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system comprising a touch display with a touch display surface to be touched by a finger of a user, wherein the touch display surface is configured to be moved in direction of the finger when being touched by the finger, and the sensor unit claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the touch display comprises an piezo actuator configured to move the touch display surface in direction of the finger when being touched by the finger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 further comprising a first mounting element fixedly connected to the housing and a second mounting element to which the acceleration sensor is coupled, wherein the biasing element is arranged between the first and second mounting element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sensor unit of claim 15, wherein the contact element is coupled to the second mounting element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a support structure coupled to the second mounting element, wherein the contact element is coupled to the second mounting element through the support structure and is configured to move the second mounting element together with support structure when being moved along the first axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises an opening and the biasing element is configured to press the contact element against the opening, and wherein a tip portion of the contact element is protruding above an outer surface of the housing in a rest position of the contact element when the contact element is not contacting the touch display surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the contact element has a spherical shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the contact element is made of steel.