Video phone form factor

• US 6,667,759 B2
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Walker, Hopeton S., Martin, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/001,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,183 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/435, 379/436, 379/53, 348/10, 348/12, 348/14-17, 348/836-837, 348/838-839, 345/905, 345/902, 345/501, 345/507, 345/503, 345/126, 248/917-924, 364/708.01, 312/313, 358/400, 358/42, 361/680-683, 708/140, 455/556
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00299 with a television transmission apparatus, e.g. a videophone, a teletext system or a digital television system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A flat screen videophone has a microprocessor card located behind the video display, and an associated keyboard, and can be supported for convenient use in a variety of locations, such as on a wall, under a cabinet or shelf, or on a desk or counter. Wall-mounted versions suspend the keyboard on an adjustable bracket which holds the keyboard in an oblique use position, or in a storage position flat against the wall below the videophone housing. On under-cabinet versions the bracket-mounted keyboard can be swung behind the housing for storage, while the housing can be slid to the rear for storage, or swung upwardly for storage. Desk-top models have one or more cradles for storing the keyboard flat against the housing.

The housing can support peripheral devices, such as a printer, a scanner or a fax machine. Other devices may include a microphone, a camera, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a card reader, a telephone handset, and loudspeakers.

Claims

1. A videophone comprising:

a housing having a front surface and a substantially flat rear face, at least a portion of said front surface including a substantially flat panel touch screen video display comprising at least one video window for viewing an image corresponding to a signal received from a remote videophone terminal, a virtual touch keypad for inputting a telephone number by touching the video display with a dialed-telephone number window for displaying the inputted telephone number, and a plurality of virtual buttons for performing various telecommunications functions spaced from said keypad, wherein the image in the video window and the virtual keypad are simultaneously displayed on said substantially flat panel touch screen video display during the operation of the videophone;

a controller in said housing, said controller causing said image to e received by the video window in response to the signal from the remote videophone being received by said videophone;

a plug-in microprocessor card insertable in said housing behind said video display and operatively coupled to said controller;

a keyboard operatively connected to said microprocessor card, an at least one adjustable bracket securing said keyboard to said housing wherein said bracket adjustably positions said keyboard in a range from a storage position below said ho sing and substantially vertical, to an oblique operative position in front of and below said housing; and

a mounting structure for removably mounting said housing on a substantially vertical surface.

2. A videophone according to claim 1 further comprising a peripheral device suspended from the bottom of said housing and operatively connected to said microprocessor card, said keyboard, when in its storage position, being located below said peripheral device.

3. A videophone comprising:

a housing have a depth substantially less than the width and the height thereof, said housing including a front surface with at least a portion thereof including a substantially flat panel touch screen video display comprising a display window for displaying an image corresponding to a signal received from a remote videophone terminal received by said videophone and a virtual keypad for inputting a telephone number, wherein said display window and virtual touch keypad are simultaneously displayed on said substantially flat panel touch screen video display during the operation of said videophone;

a controller in said housing, said controller causing said image to e received by the video window in response to the signal from the remote videophone being received by said videophone;

a plug-in microprocessor card insertable in said housing behind said video display and operatively coupled to said controller;

a keyboard operatively connected to said microprocessor card, an at least one cradle on said housing for supporting said keyboard in a substantially flat storage position against said housing; and

a base at the bottom of said housing for supporting said housing generally upright on a substantially horizontal surface.

4. A videophone according to claim 3 wherein said at least one cradle comprises a front cradle located on the front of said housing below said video display.

5. A videophone according to claim 4 further comprising a peripheral device at the bottom of said housing and operatively connected to said microprocessor card, said peripheral device having a horizontal document feed slot at the front thereof, and said front cradle supporting said keyboard above said document feed slot.

6. A videophone according to claim 4 wherein said at least one cradle comprises a rear cradle on the rear of said housing.