System for detecting and characterizing inputs on a touch sensor

Abstract

One variation of a method for characterizing inputs includes: scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to a first geometry dimension of the first force input exceeding a first threshold, characterizing the first force input as a non-stylus input type; in response to the first geometry dimension of the first force input remaining below the first threshold: scanning the array of sense electrodes at a second resolution; detecting a second force input in a second force image; and, in response to a ratio of a force magnitude of the second force input to a geometry dimension of the second force input exceeding a second threshold, characterizing the first force input as a stylus input type; and outputting a location and a type of the first force input.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting and characterizing inputs comprising:
 reading a first set of force values from an array of sense electrodes;   detecting a first input on the touch sensor surface;   interpreting a first geometry dimension of the first input;   interpreting a first force magnitude of the first input based on the first set of force values;   in response to a first ratio of the first force magnitude to the first geometry dimension exceeding a threshold ratio, characterizing the first input as a finger input type; and   recording a first location and a first input type of the first force input;