The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a distance from a mobile device to a remote object or a size of the remote object. An embodiment of the disclosure rotates a rotatable micro-reflector to direct energy toward a remote surface, said rotatable micro-reflector disposed in a mobile device, wherein said rotating is relative to said mobile device. An embodiment of the disclosure further measures a distance based at least in part on reflected energy from said remote surface resulting from said directed energy.