Sensing Force and Press Location in Absence of Touch Information

An electronic device comprising:

• an input surface;
• a force sensor at a position proximate to a boundary of the input surface, and configured to detect an input applied to the input surface and provide a force sensor value;
• and
• a processor configured to operate in response to the input applied to the input surface by:
• receiving the force sensor value;
• receiving a baseline force value for the force sensor;
• when the force sensor value exceeds the baseline force value by more than a first threshold:
• freezing the baseline force value;
• and
• operating the electronic device according to a user having applied a force input to the input surface;
• and
• when the force sensor value does not exceed the baseline force value by more than the first threshold:
• operating the electronic device according to no force input having been applied to the input surface;
• and
• updating the baseline force value toward the force sensor value.

A method of operating an electronic device having an input surface, a plurality of force sensors, and a processor, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the processor, respective force sensor values from the plurality of force sensors;
• determining from the respective force sensor values, and without reference to a touch sensor value, that a force applied to the input surface is applied by a user;
• when the force applied to the input surface is determined to be applied by the user:
• operating the electronic device according to a first operational state;
• and
• determining a location on the input surface at which the force was applied;
• and
• when the force applied to the input surface is determined not to be applied by the user, operating the electronic device according to a second operational state.