NOVELTY - The electronic device (100) comprises a lithium battery (104), a battery force sensor (105) comprising force sensing material and force sensing circuitry coupled to the force sensing material, a remote object independent of the battery, a contact sensor disposed between the battery and the remote object, and a processor (102). A portion of the force sensing material is coupled to an internal surface of the battery. The force sensing material has a conductance that is configured to vary based on an internal force and an external force influencing the battery.    USE - Used as an electronic device such as a portable media player, music players, video players, still image players, game players, other media players, music recorders, video recorders, cameras, other media recorders, radios, medical equipment, domestic appliances, transportation vehicle instruments, calculators, cellular telephones, other wireless communication devices, personal digital assistants, programmable remote controls, pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers and printers.    ADVANTAGE - The electronic device is portable, easy to handle and light-weight.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The electronic device (100) comprises a lithium battery (104), a battery force sensor (105) comprising force sensing material and force sensing circuitry coupled to the force sensing material, a remote object independent of the battery, a contact sensor disposed between the battery and the remote object, and a processor (102). A portion of the force sensing material is coupled to an internal surface of the battery. The force sensing material has a conductance that is configured to vary based on an internal force and an external force influencing the battery. The force sensing circuitry is configured to produce a force output signal based on the conductance of the force sensing material. The contact sensor is configured to produce a contact output signal when the contact sensor contacts the battery and the remote object. The force sensing material comprises a variable electrical conductor, which has a first level of electrical conductance when the variable electrical conductor is quiescent and a second level of conductance when a mechanical stress is applied to the variable electrical conductor. The variable electrical conductor is a quantum tunneling composite. The processor is configured to: receive the force output signal from the battery force sensor; conduct an evaluation based on the received force output signal; generate a processor output signal based on the evaluation; produce a log of one of the received force output signal and the processor output signal; calibrate the battery force sensor with respect to an initial condition of the battery; receive a battery status output signal from the battery; conduct the evaluation based on the received force output signal and on the received battery status output signal; and alter an operation of the electronic device based on the processor output signal. The battery status output signal is based on a characteristic of the battery, where the characteristic is a voltage, a current or a temperature of the battery. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a method for monitoring a battery; and    (2) a battery force sensor for use with a battery.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a simplified block diagram of an electronic device with a battery and a battery force sensor.    Electronic device (100)    Housing (101)    Processor (102)    Battery (104)    Battery force sensor. (105)