Enhanced field of view to augment three-dimensional (3D) sensory space for free-space gesture interpretation

A rim mounted space imaging apparatus, mounted in a rim of a display that has a vertical axis, comprising:

• a camera mounted in the rim of a display with optical axis facing within 20 degrees of tangential to a vertical axis of the display;
• at least one triangular solid prism that redirects the optical axis of the camera, giving the camera a field of view that covers at least 45 to 80 degrees from tangential to the vertical axis of the display;
• and
• a camera controller coupled to the camera that compensates for redirection by the triangular solid prism and determines a position of at least one control object within the field of view of the camera.

A portable electronic device with a bezel for a display screen, comprising:

• a bezel for a display screen that has a vertical axis;
• one camera mounted in the bezel with optical axis facing within 20 degrees of tangential to the vertical axis of the display screen;
• a Fresnel prismatic element that redirects the optical axis of the camera, giving the camera a field of view that covers at least 45 to 80 degrees from tangential to the vertical axis of the display screen;
• and
• a camera controller coupled to the camera that compensates for redirection by the Fresnel prismatic element and determines a position of at least one control object within the field of view of the camera.