Apparatus for sensing user input

An apparatus for sensing user input provided on an exterior surface of an electronic device, comprising:

• a first strain gauge grouping attached to an inner surface of a sidewall of a housing of the electronic device, the first strain gauge grouping forming a first resistor bridge that includes:
• (a) a first strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a first strain gauge affixed in a first orientation, and
• (b) a second strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a second strain gauge affixed in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
• a second strain gauge grouping attached to the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing of the electronic device, the second strain gauge grouping forming a second resistor bridge that includes:
• (c) a third strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a third strain gauge affixed in the first orientation, and
• (d) a fourth strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a fourth strain gauge affixed in the second orientation that differs from the first orientation;
• and
• an electronic circuit electrically coupled to the first strain gauge grouping and the second strain gauge grouping, the electronic circuit configured to:
• (i) receive a first parameter signal from the first strain gauge grouping associated with changes in a resistance attribute of the first strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the first strain gauge grouping, and
• (ii) receive a second parameter signal from the second strain gauge grouping associated with changes in a resistance attribute of the second strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the second strain gauge grouping.