Force sensor-based motion or orientation determination in a device

A method comprising:

• measuring a first value from a first force sensor of a plurality of force sensors coupled to a touch sensor panel of an electronic device and configured to detect an amount of force with which an object touches the touch sensor panel, wherein measuring the first value from the first force sensor comprises determining a first gap value with respect to a neutral state of the first force sensor;
• measuring a second value from a second force sensor of the plurality of force sensors, the second force sensor different from the first force sensor and separated from the first sensor by a first axis on the electronic device, wherein measuring the second value from the second force sensor comprises determining a second gap value with respect to a neutral state of the second force sensor;
• and
• determining a motion characteristic of the electronic device with respect to the first axis based on the first value and the second value, wherein determining the motion characteristic comprises:
• comparing the first value and the second value;
• in accordance with a determination that the first value and the second value are indicative of force sensor position measurements in opposing directions, determine that the electronic device is undergoing at least rotational movement with respect to the first axis;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the first value and the second value are indicative of force sensor position measurements in a same direction, determine that the electronic device is undergoing at least translational movement with respect to the first axis.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• measuring a first value from a first force sensor of a plurality of force sensors coupled to a touch sensor panel of an electronic device and configured to detect an amount of force with which an object touches the touch sensor panel, wherein measuring the first value from the first force sensor comprises determining a first gap value with respect to a neutral state of the first force sensor;
• measuring a second value from a second force sensor of the plurality of force sensors, the second force sensor different from the first force sensor and separated from the first sensor by a first axis on the electronic device, wherein measuring the second value from the second force sensor comprises determining a second gap value with respect to a neutral state of the second force sensor;
• and
• determining a motion characteristic of the electronic device with respect to the first axis based on the first value and the second value, wherein determining the motion characteristic comprises:
• comparing the first value and the second value;
• in accordance with a determination that the first value and the second value are indicative of force sensor position measurements in opposing directions, determine that the electronic device is undergoing at least rotational movement with respect to the first axis;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the first value and the second value are indicative of force sensor position measurements in a same direction, determine that the electronic device is undergoing at least translational movement with respect to the first axis.

An electronic device comprising:

• a touch sensor panel configured to detect one or more objects touching the touch sensor panel;
• a plurality of force sensors coupled to the touch sensor panel and configured to detect an amount of force with which the one or more objects touch the touch sensor panel, the force sensors comprising a flex layer having a first portion and a second portion;
• and
• a processor coupled to the plurality of force sensors, the processor configured to:
• in accordance with a determination that the first portion of the flex layer and the second portion of the flex layer have deflected in opposite directions from a neutral state, determine that the electronic device is undergoing at least rotational movement;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the first portion of the flex layer and the second portion of the flex layer have deflected in a same direction from the neutral state, determine that the electronic device is undergoing at least translational movement.