US Patent 11842003 Integrated force sensing method for haptic function

A touch panel device includes a face plate, a bracket, and a PCB. The face plate receives a contact. The bracket includes a permanent magnet affixed to a surface of the bracket. The PCB is positioned proximate to the bracket such that a surface of the PCB is adjacent to the bracket. The PCB includes a Hall sensor collocated proximate to the permanent magnet. The touch panel circuit is coupled to the Hall sensor. When the contact is received at the face plate, the PCB moves closer to the bracket. In response, the touch panel circuit receives a voltage from the Hall sensor, determines a force associated with the contact based upon the voltage, and triggers a haptic feedback response in the bracket.