Device and method for localized force and proximity sensing

An input device comprising:

• a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a first layer and configured to detect input objects in a sensing region of the input device, the first plurality of sensor electrodes including a first subset of transmitter electrodes and a second subset of receiver electrodes;
• a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a second layer such that the first layer is disposed between an input surface and the second layer, the second plurality of sensor electrodes being configured to detect a force imparted to the input surface and configured for capacitive coupling with the first subset of transmitter electrodes;
• a non-compressible layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer;
• a compressible dielectric configured to compress in response to force applied to the input surface such that the capacitive coupling between the first subset of transmitter electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes varies in response to the applied force, the compressible dielectric disposed such that the second layer is disposed between the first layer and the compressible dielectric;
• and
• a processing system communicatively coupled to the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to:
• drive a sensing signal onto the first subset of transmitter electrodes;
• receive a first type of resulting signal, including effects of the force imparted on the input surface, from the second plurality of sensor electrodes;
• receive a second type of resulting signal, including effects of an input object in proximity to the input surface, from the second subset of receiver electrodes;
• and
• determine positional and force information for the input object based on the first type of resulting signal and the second type of resulting signal.

A processing system for an input device, the input device comprising a display, a first plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect input objects in a sensing region, a second plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect a force imparted to an input surface, a non-compressible layer disposed between the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes, and a compressible dielectric configured to compress in response to force applied to the input surface, wherein the second plurality of sensor electrodes is disposed between the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the compressible dielectric, wherein a capacitive coupling of the second plurality of sensor electrodes and a conductor varies in response to the applied force, the processing system communicatively coupled to the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to:

• drive a sensing signal onto a first subset of the first plurality of sensor electrodes;
• receive a first type of resulting signal from the second subset of the first plurality of sensor electrodes;
• and
• receive a second type of resulting signal from a second plurality of sensor electrodes;
• wherein the processing system is configured to determine positional and force information for an input object based on the first type of resulting signal and second type of resulting signals.