Retractable and extendable camera and microphone array computer system

• US 7,057,888 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Oakley, Nicholas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/948,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, D14/317
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor

Abstract

A computer system includes one or more panels that are retractable or extendable relative to a display housing. The one or more panels include a panel located at proximally a top edge of the display housing and including an image capturing device. The one or more panels also include a panel located at proximally a left edge and a panel located at proximally a right edge of the display housing and each including one or more sound capturing devices. The one or more panels are synchronously retracted or extended relative to the display housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a display housing having a display screen;

a first panel coupled to the display housing at proximally a top edge of the display housing, the first panel retractable and extendable relative to the display housing;

an image capturing device coupled to the first panel, the image capturing device being visible when the first panel is extended relative to the display housing and not being visible when the first panel is retracted relative to the display housing; and

one or more side panels coupled to the display housing at one or more side edges of the display housing, the one or more side panels retractable and extendable synchronously with the first panel relative to the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sound capturing devices coupled to the first panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more side panels include a second panel at proximally a left edge of the display housing and a third panel at proximally a right edge of the display housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the second panel and the third panel includes one or more sound capturing devices.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a display housing having a display screen and sufficient displacement between a front of the display housing and a back of the display housing to at least partially accommodate retraction and extension of a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel relative to the display housing,

wherein the first panel includes an image capturing device and one or more sound capturing devices, and wherein the second panel and the third panel each includes one or more sound capturing devices,

wherein the first panel, the second panel and the third panel are retracted or extended relative to the display housing in a synchronous manner.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first panel is coupled to the display housing at proximally a top edge of the display housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second panel and the third panel are coupled to the display housing at proximally at a left edge and a right edge of the display housing, respectively.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the image capturing device and the sound capturing devices are activated when the first panel, the second panel and the third panel are extended relative to the display housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the image capturing device is controllable to capture an image in different directions.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a display screen coupled to the processor and included in a display housing, the display housing having one or more panels retractable and extendable relative to the display housing, wherein the one or more panels are located proximally near one or more edges of the display housing and are to include an image capturing device and one or more sound capturing devices, and wherein the one or more panels are to be retracted or extended synchronously relative to the display housing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more panels include a first panel located at proximally a top edge of the display housing, the first panel including the image capturing device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more panels include a second panel and a third panel located at proximally at a left edge and a right edge of the display housing, respectively, wherein each of the second panel and the third panel is to include one or more sound capturing devices.