Workspace display

• US 6,760,999 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Branc, Joseph R., Stanfield, Joel D., Miller, William L., Niewiadomski, Michell, Baloga, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, YVONNE MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US10/139,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 52/361, 522/39, 52/27, 359/443, 359/449, 359/451, 359/460, 434/432
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0071 Booth like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0068 Modular articulated structures, e.g. stands, and articulation means therefor

Abstract

A workspace display for open plan spaces includes a partition with a plurality of freestanding partition walls configured to divide a building space into at least one workspace. The workspace has an opening permitting user ingress and egress, and the partition has a height lower than a ceiling height to form a gap between a top edge of the partition and a ceiling. The workspace display includes a dry erasable whiteboard secured to the partition, and a video device is mounted to the partition in a generally overhead position in optical communication with the whiteboard, such that an occupant of the workspace can electronically manipulate images on the whiteboard.

Claims

1. In a workspace created by a plurality of walls and having a whiteboard on at least one of the walls, the improvement comprising:

a camera attached to at least one of said walls, said camera being mounted in a manner that allows said camera to optically communicate with said whiteboard so that an occupant of the workspace can electronically manipulate images on said whiteboard using the camera, said camera further being mounted substantially overhead such that an occupant of said workspace does not substantially interfere with the optical communication between said camera and said whiteboard.

2. The workspace display set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the whiteboard and the camera are mounted to different walls within said workspace.

3. The workspace display set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said whiteboard and said camera are mounted to non-adjacent walls.

4. The workspace display set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said whiteboard comprises a first display screen;

said workspace has an opening configured to permit user ingress and egress; and

including;

a second display screen positioned outside said workspace adjacent said opening and in optical communication with said camera.

5. The workspace display set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a door movably mounted to a selected one of said panel walls, said door being movable between an open position permitting user ingress and egress, and a closed position substantially closing off said opening.

6. The workspace display set forth in claim 1, wherein:

one of said walls is movably mounted to form a door, said whiteboard positioned on said door.

7. The workspace display set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said whiteboard comprises a first whiteboard; and

including;

a second whiteboard positioned exterior of said workspace adjacent said door.

8. The workspace display set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said workspace includes at least first and second walls in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship.

9. The workspace display set forth in claim 8, including:

a third wall extending between and interconnecting said first and second walls to form a three sided workspace.

10. In a workspace created by a plurality of walls and having a whiteboard comprising a first display screen on at least one of the walls, the improvement comprising:

a projector attached to at least one said walls, said projector being mounted in a manner that allows said projector to optically communicate with said whiteboard so that an occupant of the workspace can electronically manipulate images on said whiteboard using the projector, said projector further being mounted substantially overhead such that an occupant of said workspace does not substantially interfere with the optical communication between said projector and said whiteboard;

said workspace having an opening configured to permit user ingress and egress;

a second display screen positioned outside said workspace adjacent said opening and in optical communication with said projector; and

wherein;

said second display screen defines an interior screen surface and an exterior screen surface, said second display screen having light transmitting properties providing an image on said interior screen surface and said exterior screen surface.

11. A workspace display for open plan spaces, comprising:

a partition wall structure including a plurality of partition walls configured to divide a building space into at least one workspace having an opening permitting user ingress and egress;

a dry erasable whiteboard secured to said partition; and

a camera mounted to said partition in a generally overhead position in optical communication with said whiteboard.

12. The workspace display set forth in claim 11, including:

a door movably mounted to said partition wall structure, said door being movable between an open position permitting user ingress and egress, and a closed position substantially closing off said opening.

13. The workspace display set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said whiteboard comprises a first display screen; and

including;

a second display screen positioned outside said workspace adjacent said opening and in optical communication with said camera.

14. The workspace display set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said partition wall structure includes at least three partition walls forming a workspace having at least three sides.

15. The workspace display set forth in claim 11, including:

a worksurface positioned in said workspace.

16. A workspace display, comprising:

a generally vertical wall structure defining a workspace;

a dry erasable whiteboard mounted to the wall structure;

a support member connected to said wall structure; and

a camera mounted on the support member and positioned to record images on the whiteboard.

17. The workspace display of claim 16, wherein:

the support member comprises a support arm.

18. The workspace display of claim 17, wherein:

at least a portion of the support arm extends horizontally.

19. A display device, comprising:

a generally vertical wall structure;

a display screen mounted to the wall structure;

a support member connected to said wall structure; and

a camera mounted on the support member and positioned to record images on the display screen.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein:

said display screen comprises a dry erasable whiteboard.

21. The display device of claim 20, wherein:

said camera is mounted in an overhead position.

22. The display device of claim 21, wherein:

said wall structure includes at least two orthogonal walls defining a workspace.

23. A combination display screen and camera, comprising:

a display screen adapted to be mounted to a wall in a generally vertical position;

a camera;

a support member configured to support said camera on a wall above said display screen with said camera positioned to record images on the display screen.

24. The combination display screen and camera of claim 23, wherein:

said display screen comprises a dry erasable whiteboard.

25. The combination display screen and camera of claim 24, wherein:

said camera is mounted in an overhead position.

26. The combination display screen and camera of claim 23, wherein:

the support member comprises a support arm.

27. The combination display screen and camera of claim 26, wherein:

at least a portion of the support arm extends horizontally.