Apple Inc.

Daryl I Vulis

Tong Chen

Zhenbin Ge

Ahmet Fatih Cihan

Nathan Shou

Mingzhou Jin

Runyu Zhang

Christian Ocier

Shang Wang

Brandon J Hui

An optical sensor module includes an interferometric sensor and a set of one or more optical elements. The interferometric sensor includes a coherent light source and at least one detector configured to generate an interferometric signal. The set of one or more optical elements is configured to simultaneously direct a first portion of light emitted by the coherent light source toward a first focus area within a first depth of focus; direct a second portion of the light emitted by the coherent light source toward a second focus area within a second depth of focus; and direct portions of the emitted light that are returned from one or more objects within the first depth of focus or the second depth of focus toward the interferometric sensor.

Optical sensor module including an interferometric sensor and extended depth of focus optics

Configurations for a beam deflector metasurface are disclosed. The beam deflector metasurface may include beam deflectors arranged in a repeating, radial pattern of concentric zones. The beam deflector metasurface may be a large area, high numerical aperture metasurface optic with high efficiency when directing light at non-normal angles of incidence. The different concentric zones may direct received light in varying directions with various steepness of angles. The beam deflectors may include pillars that may be the same or different width, height, or shape. The pillars may function as diffractive gratings and the cross-coupling between the pillars may direct the output light. The zones of the beam deflector metasurface may allow for diffusing hot spots and spreading the light evenly over the target area. The beam deflector metasurface may be used for non-imaging applications where the deterioration of focus allows for better efficiency at non-normal input and output angles of incidence. The beam deflectors may be designed for polarization and wavelength sensitivity as well as allowing for multiple processing benefits such as patterning the beam deflectors onto active devices.

Beam deflector metasurface

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.

Optical interferometry proximity sensor with optical path extender

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Daryl I Vulis