Force determination employing sheet sensor and capacitive array

An electronic device, comprising:

• a cover;
• a first force-sensing structure disposed under at least a first edge of the cover and comprising a first pair of capacitive elements separated by a compressible layer;
• a second force-sensing structure disposed under at least a second edge of the cover and comprising a second pair of capacitive elements separated by the compressible layer;
• and
• a sheet sensor positioned below the cover between the first and second force-sensing structures and configured to be engaged when a sufficient force is applied at a region of the cover away from an edge of the cover;
• wherein:
• the first and second force-sensing structures have a different force sensing range than the sheet sensor;
• at least before the sheet sensor is engaged, the first and second force-sensing structures are configured to produce first outputs corresponding to capacitive changes of the first and second force-sensing structures, the capacitive changes of the first and second force-sensing structures indicating an amount of force applied to the cover;
• and
• after the sheet sensor is engaged, the sheet sensor is configured to produce a second output corresponding to a capacitive change of the sheet sensor, the capacitive change of the sheet sensor indicating the amount of force applied to the cover.

An electronic device, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a cover disposed over the opening;
• a touch sensor disposed within the electronic device on one side of the cover and configured to detect a location of a touch on the cover;
• a force-sensitive layer disposed within the electronic device on the one side of the cover;
• and
• a force-sensing structure disposed on a side of the force-sensitive layer opposite the cover;
• and
• a compressible layer located between the force-sensitive layer and the force-sensing structure;
• wherein:
• the force-sensing structure is configured to be engaged when a sufficient force is applied at a region of the cover away from an edge of the cover, the sufficient force causing the compressible layer to collapse;
• at least before the compressible layer collapses in response to an amount of force of the touch on the cover, the force-sensitive layer is configured to produce a first output corresponding to a capacitive change of the force-sensitive layer, the capacitive change of the force-sensitive layer indicating the amount of force;
• and
• after the compressible layer collapses in response to the amount of force, the force-sensing structure is configured to produce a second output corresponding to a capacitive change of the force-sensing structure, the capacitive change of the force-sensing structure indicating the amount of force.