Dual sensor touchscreen utilizing projective-capacitive and force touch sensors

A touchscreen system, comprising:

• a plurality of force sensors coupled to a touchscreen of said touchscreen system;
• at least on e electrode coupled to said touchscreen;
• a projective-capacitive sensor system coupled to said at least one electrode, wherein said at least one electrode is insufficient to determine a set of position coordinates associated with a touch of said touchscreen;
• and
• a processor coupled to said plurality of force sensors and said projective-capacitive sensor system, wherein said processor calculates said set of position coordinates when said plurality of force sensors and said projective-capacitive sensor system substantially simultaneously detect s aid touch, wherein said set of position coordinates is determined by said plurality of force sensors.

A touchscreen system, comprising:

• a plurality of force sensors coupled to a touchscreen of said touchscreen system;
• a plurality of electrodes coupled to said touchscreen, wherein a first portion of said plurality of electrodes are formed along a first axis and a second portion of said plurality of electrodes are formed along a second axis;
• a projective-capacitive sensor system coupled to said plurality of electrodes;
• and
• a processor coupled to said plurality of force sensors and said projective-capacitive sensor system, wherein said processor calculates said set of position coordinates when said plurality of force sensors and said projective-capacitive sensor system substantially simultaneously detect a touch of said touchscreen.

A method of operating a touchscreen system, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a force applied to a touchscreen of said touchscreen system with at least one force sensor, wherein said detected force corresponds to a touch of said touchscreen;
• confirming said touch of said touchscreen detected by said at least one force sensor with a projective-capacitive sensor;
• generating a set of position coordinates corresponding to said touch;
• and
• transmitting said set of position coordinates to a touchscreen operating system.