Foldable eye contact components for a dual mode display
First Claim
1. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus for mounting to an existing display monitor which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
- a display having a viewing screen;
a housing containing the display;
a transparent-reflective panel mounted to the housing and utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; and
a transparent-reflective panel repositioning means which repositions the panel from the first position to the second position by one of flipping a bottom of the panel over a top of the panel so the panel may rest behind the viewing screen, by swiveling the panel to a side of the viewing screen, and rolling the panel upon itself away from the viewing screen being constructed of a flexible substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention permits a dual mode use of a display screen of which in one mode the display screen is accessible and in the second mode has placed in front of the display screen videoconferencing eye contact components. The invention utilizes a uniquely hinged folded eye contact component apparatus which permits in the major embodiment of the present invention all of the eye contact components including the partially silvered mirror to fold with more than a one-half rotational turn entirely over to the back side of the flat panel display completely out of view. The folded eye contact components are attachable to existing flat panel displays and also are illustrated built in as a part of the flat panel housing. The same hinged folding function is also demonstrated as being suspended separate from the monitor so that no attaching to the display is required. Additional embodiments include adaptations for portable computers, flexible partially silvered mirrors that can be rolled up as well as other unique embodiments.
54 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus for mounting to an existing display monitor which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel mounted to the housing and utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; and a transparent-reflective panel repositioning means which repositions the panel from the first position to the second position by one of flipping a bottom of the panel over a top of the panel so the panel may rest behind the viewing screen, by swiveling the panel to a side of the viewing screen, and rolling the panel upon itself away from the viewing screen being constructed of a flexible substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel connectably fabricated as a part of the housing and utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; and a transparent-reflective panel repositioning means which repositions the panel from the first position to the second position by one of flipping a bottom of the panel over a top of the panel so the panel may rest behind the viewing screen, by swiveling the panel to a side of the viewing screen, and rolling the panel upon itself away from the viewing screen being constructed of a flexible substrate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; a transparent-reflective panel repositioning means which repositions the panel from the first position to the second position by one of flipping a bottom of the panel over a top of the panel so the panel may rest behind the viewing screen, by swiveling the panel to a side of the viewing screen, and rolling the panel upon itself away from the viewing screen being constructed of a flexible substrate; and a transparent-reflective panel support stand supporting the panel in both the first position and the second position so that panel does not require mounting to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dual position foldable eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to observe a viewing screen without the intrusion of a transparent-reflective panel protruding at an angle from the viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel, resting in front of and angled between 30 and 60 degrees to the viewing screen, utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel while that panel rests approximately parallel to the viewing screen; a transparent-reflective panel folding means for folding the panel between the first position and the second position; and a reflection reduction means to reduce excessive reflections upon the transparent-reflective panel when it is resting in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel mounted to the housing and utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; an ambient light shield, for blocking unwanted ambient light from striking the transparent-reflective panel, positioned in front of the viewing screen in the first position; a folding connection means permitting the transparent reflective panel to be closed upon the ambient light shield; and a releasable connection means for permitting the connectable releasing of the transparent-reflective panel, ambient light shield, folding connection means and the camera from the front of the viewing screen in the second position for storage separate from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel connectably fabricated as apart of the housing and utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; an ambient light shield, for blocking unwanted ambient light from striking the transparent-reflective panel, positioned in front of the viewing screen in the first position; a folding connection means permitting the transparent reflective panel to be closed upon the ambient light shield; and a releasable connection means connectably fabricated as a part of the housing for permitting the connectable releasing of the transparent-reflective panel, ambient light shield, folding connection means and the camera from the front of the viewing screen in the second position for storage separate from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; an ambient light shield, for blocking unwanted ambient light from striking the transparent-reflective panel, positioned in front of the viewing screen in the first position; a folding connection means permitting the transparent reflective panel to be closed upon the ambient light shield; and a transparent-reflective panel support stand supporting the panel, ambient light shield and the camera in the first position so that they are not mounted to the display housing; and a releasable connection means permitting the connectable releasing of the transparent-reflective panel, ambient light shield, folding connection means and the camera from the support stand in the second position for storage separate from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A dual position eye contact apparatus which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to observe a viewing screen without the intrusion of a transparent-reflective panel protruding at an angle from the viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:
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a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing the display; a transparent-reflective panel fabricated from a flexible substrate, resting in front of and angled between 30 and 60 degrees to the viewing screen, utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel while that panel rests approximately parallel to the viewing screen; a transparent-reflective panel folding means for folding the panel between the first position and the second position; and a transparent-reflective panel rolling means for rolling up the flexible substrate to an area of the panel that is substantially reduced in reflectivity, the reduced reflective area disposed over the viewing screen in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A portable computer eye contact apparatus for transmitting images to a distant terminal, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing containing a computer and hingedly attached to a housing containing a display having a viewing screen; a housing containing a keyboard for operating the computer; and a detachable connecting means so that the keyboard when removed from the computer exposes a camera aimed upward toward a transparent reflective panel angled between 30 and 60 degrees to the viewing screen, the transparent-reflective panel utilized for creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by the camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. A projector for projecting the display screen of a portable computer, the apparatus comprising:
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a projector housing with an opening to receive a display screen of a portable computer; a projection system for projecting the image of the display screen; and a light amplification system for increasing the brightness of the projected image. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A rear projection eye contact apparatus for transmitting images to a distant terminal, the apparatus comprising:
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a projector for projecting an image of a first conferee transmitted form a distant terminal; a camera for capturing images of a second conferee for transmission to the distant terminal; and a rear projection screen with a first focal point range that is clear so that the camera can capture an image of the second conferee through the screen and a second focal point range in which the screen is diffused permitting the projected image to form a visible image that is observable by the second conferee.
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Specification