RESISTIVE AND CAPACITIVE FORCE SENSOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

Resistive and capacitive force sensor including an element having first and second electrodes, wherein the element is configured such that, when an external force is applied, intrinsic capacitance of the electrodes and intrinsic resistance between the electrodes change as a function of a magnitude of the external force; a first unit connected to the electrodes and configured to determine an intrinsic electrical capacitance C(t) of the second electrode; a second unit connected to the electrodes and configured to determine an electrical resistance R(t) between the electrodes; an evaluation unit configured to determine magnitude |F(t)| of force F(t) applied externally to the element as a function of a mean value of the determined intrinsic capacitance C(t) in a time interval and as a function of a mean value of the determined resistance R(t) in the time interval; and an output unit configured to output the determined magnitude |F(t)| of force F(t).