Optical interferometry proximity sensor with optical path extender

An optical proximity sensor for an electronic device, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) light source positioned within the enclosure and configured to emit a coherent beam of light toward an object;
• a photodiode optically coupled to the VCSEL light source;
• an optical path extender positioned between the VCSEL light source and the object, the optical path extender including a photonic component configured to apply a momentum-dependent transfer function to the coherent beam of light;
• and
• a power controller configured to:
• monitor a power output of the photodiode;
• and
• determine a property of the object reflecting the beam of light based, at least in part, on the power output of the photodiode.

An electronic watch comprising:

• a housing defining an aperture;
• a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to provide a graphical output;
• a rotatable crown configured to receive a rotational input;
• and
• an optical proximity sensor positioned at least partially within the housing, the optical proximity sensor comprising:
• a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) light source configured to emit a beam of light through the aperture;
• and
• an optical path extender positioned in a light path of the VCSEL light source, the optical path extender including at least one of,
• a substrate on which the VCSEL is formed and through which the VCSEL emits the beam of light;
• or
• a photonic component configured to apply a momentum-dependent transfer function to the beam of light;
• and
• a processor positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the optical proximity sensor, the processor configured to modify the graphical output based on an output signal of the optical proximity sensor.