Patent ID: 8022942
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A device comprising: a projector; a keypad comprising one or more keys; a waveguide comprising an image portion having a first surface forming a first boundary of the image portion and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface and forming a second boundary of the image portion, wherein the first and second surfaces of the image portion converge along a projection path from the projector and are configured to reflect rays of electromagnetic radiation by internal reflection through a first portion of the image portion to a second portion of the image portion, and wherein the one or more keys have a first key surface facing the second portion of the image portion and a second key surface opposite the first key surface; a projection controller, configured to receive instructions from a computing device and to provide one or more display images via the projector onto one or more display surfaces, the one or more display surfaces comprising the second key surface of one or more of the keys, the waveguide being disposed between the projector and the one or more display surfaces and the waveguide comprising an expansion portion with boundaries that diverge along the projection path away from the projector, the projector being positioned in interface with the expansion portion and the image portion being positioned in interface with the one or more display surfaces, such that rays emitted by the projector are internally reflected throughout the expansion portion and are transmitted from the image portion to the one or more display surfaces, the waveguide including a waveguide nexus configured to reflect images from the projector onto respective image paths in the expansion portion, the projector being positioned adjacent the waveguide nexus and configured to project the images directly to the waveguide nexus, and wherein the display images are indicative of a first set of input controls when the computing device is in a first operating context, and a second set of input controls when the computing device is in a second operating context; and an imaging sensor, configured to optically detect physical contacts between an object and the one or more display surfaces.