US Patent 10365818 Force transfer element for edge force sensing

An input device includes a deformable input surface and a force sensing layer disposed beneath the deformable input surface. The force sensing layer includes a plurality of force sensors to detect forces exerted by an input object on the deformable input surface. A force transfer layer is disposed between the deformable input surface and the force sensing layer. The force transfer layer is configured to transmit a force exerted by the input object in a first region of the deformable input surface to one of the force sensors coinciding with a first area of the force sensing layer, and to distribute a force exerted by the input object in a second region of the deformable input surface to one or more of the force sensors coinciding with a second area of the force sensing layer, wherein the second area of the force sensing layer is larger than the first area.