Camera positioning system and method for eye-to-eye communication

• US 20030112325A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyden, James H., Meibos, David W., Christensen, Kory D.
• Application Number:
  US10/016,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact

Abstract

Eye-to-eye videoconferencing may be carried out through the use of a bendable coupling that removably disposes an image receiving device between a screen portion of a display and a person viewing the screen portion. According to one example, the image receiving device comprises a lens that conveys light into the distal end of a coherent fiber optic bundle. The light then moves through the cable to reach a camera offset from the screen portion. Alternatively, the image receiving device may be a miniature camera that provides a video signal via a video cable connected to the camera. As another alternative, the camera may be coupled to a miniature wireless transmitter. A wireless receiver offset from the screen portion may then receive the video signal and convey it to a display or communications network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving light for conversion to a video signal from a position proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing a display, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

an image receiving device that collects light; and

a bendable coupling having a proximal end coupled to the base and a distal end coupled to the image receiving device, the bendable coupling having a stiffness selected to support the distal end at a plurality of positions along and within a circumference of a generally hemispherical positioning zone, wherein the bendable coupling is deformable into a deployed disposition in which the distal end is positioned within a deployment zone beside the screen portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bendable coupling is further deformable into a retracted disposition in which the distal end is not positioned within the deployment zone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a coherent fiber optic bundle connected to convey the light from the image receiving device to the base.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the image receiving device comprises a distal lens positioned to direct the light into the coherent fiber optic bundle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a camera that receives the light from the coherent fiber optic bundle and processes the light to provide the video signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a proximal lens positioned to direct the light from the coherent fiber optic bundle into the camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image receiving device comprises a camera that processes the light to generate the video signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

electric wiring connected to convey the video signal from the camera to the base.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image receiving device comprises a camera that processes the light to provide the video signal, the apparatus further comprising:

a wireless transmitter positioned at the distal end of the bendable coupling to receive the video signal from the camera and transmit the video signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base comprises a wireless receiver that receives the video signal from the wireless transmitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bendable coupling is translucent.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is coupled to the display.

13. An apparatus for receiving light for conversion to a video signal from a position proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing a display, the apparatus comprising:

a camera; and

a coherent fiber optic bundle that conveys light from a distal end to a proximal end, wherein the distal end is positioned within a deployment zone beside a screen portion of the display and the proximal end is positioned to direct the light into the camera.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a bendable coupling having a proximal end and a distal end that supports the distal end of the coherent fiber optic bundle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the proximal end of the bendable coupling is coupled at a location outside the deployment zone.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bendable coupling is deformable to move between a deployed disposition in which the distal end of the bendable coupling is positioned within the deployment zone, and a retracted disposition in which the distal end of the bendable coupling is not positioned within the deployment zone.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a base coupled to the proximal end of the bendable coupling and to the display.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the camera comprises a base coupled to the proximal end of the bendable coupling and to the display.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a distal lens positioned to direct the light into the distal end of the coherent fiber optic bundle.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a proximal lens positioned to direct the light from the proximal end of the coherent fiber optic bundle into the camera.

21. A method for receiving light for conversion to a video signal from a position proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing a display with an apparatus comprising a base, an image receiving device, and a bendable coupling having a proximal end coupled to the base and a distal end coupled to the image receiving device, the method comprising:

bending the bendable coupling to position the image receiving device proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing the display;

orienting the image receiving device to receive light from along the eye-level;

receiving light through the image receiving device; and

processing the light to generate a video signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein bending the bendable coupling comprises moving the bendable coupling from a retracted disposition in which the distal end is not positioned within a deployment zone beside a screen portion of the display to a deployed disposition in which the distal end is positioned within the deployment zone.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

conveying the light from the distal end to the proximal end via a coherent fiber optic bundle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the light comprises capturing the light via a distal lens positioned to direct the light into the coherent fiber optic bundle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the base comprises a camera that generates the video signal, the method further comprising:

conveying the light from the proximal end to the camera.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein conveying the light from the proximal end to the camera comprises positioning a proximal lens to direct the light from the coherent fiber optic bundle into the camera.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the image receiving device comprises a camera that processes the light.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

conveying the video signal from the camera to the proximal end via electrical wiring extending from the camera to the proximal end.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the image receiving device comprises a camera that processes the light, the method further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting the video signal from the proximal end.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving the video signal in the base.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising permitting viewing of a screen portion of the display through the bendable coupling via translucency of the bendable coupling.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

coupling the base to the display.

33. A method for receiving light for conversion to a video signal from a position proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing a display with an apparatus comprising a camera and a coherent fiber optic bundle that conveys light from a distal end to a proximal end, the method comprising:

receiving light in the distal end of the coherent fiber optic bundle from along an eye-level of a person viewing the display screen;

conveying the light through the coherent fiber optic bundle from the distal end to the proximal end; and

processing the light in the camera to generate a video signal.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

bending a bendable coupling to position the distal end proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing the display; and

orienting the distal end to receive light from along the eye-level.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the bendable coupling has a proximal end coupled at a location outside a deployment zone beside a screen portion of the display.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein bending the bendable coupling comprises moving the bendable coupling from a retracted disposition in which the distal end is not positioned within the deployment zone to a deployed disposition in which the distal end is positioned within the deployment zone.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

coupling a base to the proximal end of the bendable coupling and to the display.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

coupling the camera to the proximal end of the bendable coupling and to the display to form a base.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

positioning a distal lens to direct the light into the distal end of the coherent fiber optic bundle.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

positioning a proximal lens to direct the light from the proximal end of the coherent fiber optic bundle into the camera.

41. An apparatus for receiving light for conversion to a video signal from a position proximate to an eye-level of a person viewing a display, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

an image receiving means that collects light; and

a bendable coupling means having a proximal end coupled to the base and a distal end coupled to the image receiving means, the bendable coupling means having a stiffness selected to support the distal end at a plurality of positions along and within a circumference of a generally hemispherical positioning zone, wherein the bendable coupling means is deformable into a deployed disposition in which the distal end is positioned within a deployment zone beside the screen portion.