US Patent 10534468 Force sensing using touch sensors

An electronic device includes a surface such as a cover glass, a first group of electrodes coupled to the surface and arranged in a first direction with respect to the surface, a second group of electrodes coupled to the surface and arranged in a second direction with respect to the surface, a dielectric separating the first and second groups of electrodes, and a controller electrically connected to the first and second groups of electrodes. The controller is operable to detect a touch of an object to the surface using a mutual capacitance between the first and second groups of electrodes and determine a non-binary amount of force exerted based on resistances of the first and second groups of electrodes.