Patent · US Active

Optical interferometry proximity sensor with optical path extender

US11629948B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

72References

19Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Apple Inc. · US

Inventors

Nathan Shou · San Francisco, US
Daryl I. Vulis · San Francisco, US
Tong Chen · Taipei, TW

Key dates

Filing date	Feb 4, 2021
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 4, 2041

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01S17/36
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical proximity sensor includes an optical path extender that extends an optical path length of the optical proximity sensor without a corresponding extension of a geometric path length of the optical proximity sensor. The optical path extender may be a high-refractive index material positioned along the optical path through the optical proximity sensor. The optical path extender may include one or more redirection features configured to change a direction of the light traveling within the optical proximity sensor. The optical path extender may include a photonic component configured to simulate an extension of the geometric path within an optical proximity sensor by applying a momentum-dependent transfer function to the light traveling through it.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.