Sensor assemblies for electronic devices

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a housing carrying a display assembly, the display assembly covered by an outer protective cover having an opening;
• a processor carried by the housing and in communication with the display assembly;
• a solid-state sensor assembly carried by the housing and in communication with the processor, the solid-state sensor assembly having a touch sensor and a sensor cover disposed within the opening and overlaying the touch sensor, wherein a movement of the sensor cover, in accordance with a touch input applied by a user, that is detectable by the touch sensor is generally undetectable to the user, and the touch sensor is capable of providing a signal to the processor corresponding to a detection of the movement exceeding a threshold distance;
• and
• a haptic component in communication with the processor and capable of providing, based on the signal indicative of the movement exceeding the threshold distance, a haptic feedback that signifies a valid touch input to the user.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a housing comprising a bottom wall, side walls cooperating to define an opening, and a display cover positioned at the opening;
• a display assembly carried by the housing, disposed within the opening, and overlaid by the display cover;
• a processor carried by the housing and in communication with the display assembly;
• a touch sensor coupled to the display cover and in communication with the processor, the touch sensor capable of detecting an external force applied at a location of the display cover and providing a signal in response to the external force;
• and
• a haptic component in communication with the processor and capable of providing a vibration in response to a command from the processor based on the signal.