- Patent Title: Optical interferometry proximity sensor with optical path extender
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Application No.: US17167218Application Date: 2021-02-04
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Publication No.: US11629948B2Publication Date: 2023-04-18
- Inventor: Nathan Shou , Daryl I. Vulis , Tong Chen
- Applicant: Apple Inc.
- Applicant Address: US CA Cupertino
- Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Cupertino
- Agency: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
- Main IPC: G01B11/14
- IPC: G01B11/14 ; G01B9/02015 ; G01B9/02

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.
Public/Granted literature
- US20220244041A1 Optical Interferometry Proximity Sensor with Optical Path Extender Public/Granted day:2022-08-04
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