Retractable teleconferencing apparatus

• US 5,666,153 A
• Filed: 10/03/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virtual Shopping, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Virtual Shopping, Inc.
• Inventors: Copeland, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/538,792
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14-20, 354/293, 379/96-99, 379/110, 379/90, 379/202, D14/102-104, D14/106, D14/100, D14/113, D14/114, D14/125, D14/126, D14/129, D14/132, D16/200, D16/211, D16/201, D16/229, D16/232, D16/208
• US Class Current: 348/14.1
• 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

A retractable video teleconferencing apparatus for a video monitor having an optical axis. An optical assembly includes a housing mounted to the video monitor; a track for moving the housing between a retracted position and a forward position in which the housing is positioned forward of the video monitor; a beamsplitter hingedly attached to the housing and movable between a first position in which the beamsplitter is positioned across the optical axis at an angle relative thereto, whereby optical images directed toward the display along the optical axis are at least partially reflected by the beamsplitter, and a second position in which the beamsplitter is retracted into the housing; and a video camera located in the housing and positioned relative to the beamsplitter for receiving the partially reflected images and for generating a video signal corresponding to the partially reflected images. The beamsplitter, in the first position, is mounted at a 45° angle relative to the optical axis. An adjustable bracket secures the track to the video monitor. The housing may include a pair of retractable wings extending laterally therefrom to block out stray light. An opaque panel positioned below the beamsplitter and hinged thereto blocks stray images from the beamsplitter.

Claims

1. A retractable video teleconferencing apparatus for a video monitor, the video monitor comprising a display having an optical axis, the retractable video teleconferencing apparatus comprising:

a) a beamsplitter mounted to the display and movable between a first position in which the beamsplitter is positioned across the optical axis at an angle relative thereto, whereby optical images directed toward the display along the optical axis are at least partially reflected by the beamsplitter, and a second position in which the beamsplitter is not positioned across the optical axis; and

b) a video camera positioned relative to the beamsplitter for receiving the partially reflected images and for generating a video signal corresponding to the partially reflected images.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the beamsplitter, in the first position, is mounted at a 45°

angle relative to the optical axis.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the video camera has a camera axis, the camera being mounted with the camera axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the video camera has a camera axis, the camera being mounted with the camera axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a housing mounted to the video monitor, the camera being mounted in the housing, the beamsplitter being contained in the housing in the second position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a track mounted to the video monitor, wherein the teleconferencing apparatus is movable between an operating position in which the beamsplitter can move between the first position and the second position, and a retracted position in which the teleconferencing apparatus is moved toward the rear of the video monitor with the beamsplitter in the second position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a track mounted to the video monitor, wherein the housing is movable between an operating position in which the beamsplitter can move between the first position and the second position, and a retracted position in which the housing is moved toward the rear of the video monitor with the beamsplitter in the second position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising bracket means for securing the teleconferencing apparatus to the monitor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the housing further comprises at least one retractable wing extending laterally from the housing.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an opaque panel positioned below and hinged to the beamsplitter.

11. A retractable video teleconferencing apparatus which comprises:

I) a video monitor comprising a display having an optical axis; and

II) an optical assembly which comprises;

a) a housing mounted to the video monitor;

b) means for moving the housing between a retracted position and a forward position in which the housing is positioned forward of the video monitor;

c) a beamsplitter hingedly attached to the housing and movable between a first position in which the beamsplitter is positioned across the optical axis at an angle relative thereto, whereby optical images directed toward the display along the optical axis are at least partially reflected by the beamsplitter, and a second position in which the beamsplitter is retracted into the housing; and

d) a video camera located in the housing and positioned relative to the beamsplitter for receiving the partially reflected images and for generating a video signal corresponding to the partially reflected images.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the beamsplitter, in the first position, is mounted at a 45°

angle relative to the optical axis.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the housing further comprises at least one retractable wing extending laterally from the housing.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the optical assembly further comprises an opaque panel positioned below the beamsplitter and hinged thereto.

15. A retractable video teleconferencing apparatus for a video monitor having an optical axis, the teleconferencing apparatus comprising:

a) a housing mounted to the video monitor;

b) means for moving the housing between a retracted position and a forward position in which the housing is positioned forward of the video monitor;

c) a beamsplitter hingedly attached to the housing and movable between a first position in which the beamsplitter is positioned across the optical axis at an angle relative thereto, whereby optical images directed toward the video monitor along the optical axis are at least partially reflected by the beamsplitter, and a second position in which the beamsplitter is retracted into the housing; and

d) a video camera located in the housing and positioned relative to the beamsplitter for receiving the partially reflected images and for generating a video signal corresponding to the partially reflected images.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the beamsplitter, in the first position, is mounted at a 45°

angle relative to the optical axis.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the video camera has a camera axis, the camera being mounted with the camera axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the means for moving the housing comprises a track mounted to the video monitor.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising adjustable bracket means for securing the track to the video monitor.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the housing further comprises at least one retractable wing extending laterally from the housing.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the optical assembly further comprises an opaque panel positioned below the beamsplitter and hinged thereto.