Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes a housing, a set of one or more SMI sensors attached to the housing, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors includes a set of one or more electromagnetic radiation emitters having a set of one or more resonant cavities and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation. The set of one or more SMI sensors also includes a set of one or more detectors configured to generate indications of self-mixing within the set of one or more resonant cavities. The processor is configured to characterize, using the indications of self-mixing, an optical field speckle of a target. The processor is also configured to characterize, using the characterization of the optical field speckle, a surface quality of the target.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device including a housing that is worn by a user and a SMI sensor contained within the housing. The SMI sensor may include an emitter that outputs coherent light toward the skin of a user when the housing is worn by the user. The SMI sensor may also include a detector that detects a portion of the coherent light reflected towards the sensor and generates electrical signals that indicate displacements of the skin based on the portion of coherent light received at the detector. The housing may include a transmitter that is operatively coupled with the SMI sensor and is configured to transmit physiological data to a receiving device based on electrical signals output from the SMI sensor.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a device housing configured to be worn on a first surface of a user, a set of one or more SMI sensors, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors is mounted within the device housing and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation, with each beam emitted in a different direction extending away from the first surface. The set of one or more SMI sensors is also configured to generate a set of one or more SMI signals containing information about a relationship between the device housing and a second surface. The processor is configured to extract the relationship between the device housing and the second surface from digitized samples of the set of one or more SMI signals.

Abstract: Methods and systems concerning non-reciprocal sensing paths for a self-mixing interferometry operation are disclosed herein. Optical components may be used to direct light transmit from a light source along an illumination path. The optical components may additionally return light to the light source after being reflected from a target and may direct the returned light along a collection path. The illumination path and the collection path may be at least partially non-reciprocal so that the transmitted light and the returned light follow along partially different paths. Once the received light is received within a cavity of the light source, a self-mixing interferometry operation may be performed and may be used to detect a property of the target in relation to the light source.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes a housing, a set of one or more SMI sensors attached to the housing, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors includes a set of one or more electromagnetic radiation emitters having a set of one or more resonant cavities and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation. The set of one or more SMI sensors also includes a set of one or more detectors configured to generate indications of self-mixing within the set of one or more resonant cavities. The processor is configured to characterize, using the indications of self-mixing, an optical field speckle of a target. The processor is also configured to characterize, using the characterization of the optical field speckle, a surface quality of the target.

Abstract: A finger device may be worn on a user's finger and may serve as a controller for a head-mounted device or other electronic device. The finger device may have a housing having an upper housing portion that extends across a top of the finger and first and second side housing portions that extend down respective first and second sides of the finger. Displacement sensors in the side housing portions may measure movements of the sides of the finger as the finger contacts an external surface. To account for variations in skin compliance, the finger device and/or the electronic device may store calibration data that maps displacement values gathered by the displacement sensors to force values. The calibration data may be based on calibration measurements gathered while the user's finger wearing the finger device contacts a force sensor in an external electronic device.

Abstract: A wearable electronic device including a housing that is worn by a user and a SMI sensor contained within the housing. The SMI sensor may include an emitter that outputs coherent light toward the skin of a user when the housing is worn by the user. The SMI sensor may also include a detector that detects a portion of the coherent light reflected towards the sensor and generates electrical signals that indicate displacements of the skin based on the portion of coherent light received at the detector. The housing may include a transmitter that is operatively coupled with the SMI sensor and is configured to transmit physiological data to a receiving device based on electrical signals output from the SMI sensor.

Abstract: A device includes a first component, a second component having a reconfigurable distance from the first component, an optical element, an SMI sensor, and a processor. The optical element has a fixed relationship with respect to the first component, and has a known optical thickness between a first surface and a second surface of the optical element. The SMI sensor has a fixed relationship with respect to the second component, and has an electromagnetic radiation emission axis that intersects the first and second surfaces of the optical element. The processor is configured to identify disturbances in an SMI signal generated by the SMI sensor, relate the disturbances to the known optical thickness of the optical element, and to determine a distance between the first and second components using the SMI signal and the relationship of the disturbances to the known optical thickness of the optical element.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a device housing configured to be worn on a first surface of a user, a set of one or more SMI sensors, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors is mounted within the device housing and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation, with each beam emitted in a different direction extending away from the first surface. The set of one or more SMI sensors is also configured to generate a set of one or more SMI signals containing information about a relationship between the device housing and a second surface. The processor is configured to extract the relationship between the device housing and the second surface from digitized samples of the set of one or more SMI signals.

Abstract: A device includes an electronic display, a cover through which the electronic display projects an image, and an array of SMI sensors. The array of SMI sensors is positioned on a same side of the cover as the electronic display. Each SMI sensor is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a respective portion of: an interior surface of the cover, or a surface of a component of the device attached to the cover; and generate a respective SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the respective portion of the cover or the component. The device also includes circuitry configured to characterize a vibratory waveform impinging on the device. The vibratory waveform is characterized using at least two of the SMI outputs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices, and methods for their operation, that identify user inputs based on interaction of an object with input surfaces separate from the electronic devices. The electronic devices may include one or more self-mixing interferometry sensors that scan a field of view containing the input surface with a light beam, such as a laser beam emitted laser diode. Self-mixing of the emitted light with reflections can generate a self-mixing interferometry signal. Analysis of the self-mixing interferometry signal can allow for identification of an object, such as a user's finger, in the field of view. Deformation of the finger can be detected with the self-mixing interferometry sensor, and a user input identified therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable devices, their configurations, and methods of operation that use self-mixing interferometry signals of a self-mixing interferometry sensor to recognize user inputs. The user inputs may include voiced commands or silent gesture commands. The devices may be wearable on the user's head, with the self-mixing interferometry sensor configured to direct a beam of light toward a location on the user's head. Skin deformations or vibrations at the location may be caused by the user's speech or the user's silent gestures and recognized using the self-mixing interferometry signal. The self-mixing interferometry signals may be used for bioauthentication and/or audio conditioning of received sound or voice inputs to a microphone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices, and methods for their operation, that identify user inputs based on interaction of an object with input surfaces separate from the electronic devices. The electronic devices may include one or more self-mixing interferometry sensors that scan a field of view containing the input surface with a light beam, such as a laser beam emitted laser diode. Self-mixing of the emitted light with reflections can generate a self-mixing interferometry signal. Analysis of the self-mixing interferometry signal can allow for identification of an object, such as a user's finger, in the field of view. Deformation of the finger can be detected with the self-mixing interferometry sensor, and a user input identified therefrom.