Patents by Inventor Daryl I. Vulis

Daryl I. Vulis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12209890
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Daryl I. Vulis, Mingzhou Jin
  • Patent number: 12124002
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl I. Vulis, Brandon J. Hui, Christian Ocier, Shang Wang, Tong Chen, Zhenbin Ge, Runyu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230314185
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Daryl I. Vulis, Mingzhou Jin
  • Patent number: 11629948
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Shou, Daryl I. Vulis, Tong Chen
  • Publication number: 20230070943
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Daryl I. Vulis, Brandon J. Hui, Christian Ocier, Shang Wang, Tong Chen, Zhenbin Ge, Runyu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220244041
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan Shou, Daryl I. Vulis, Tong Chen