System and method for providing enhanced eye gaze in a video conferencing environment

• US 8,670,019 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Byers, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US13/096,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/14.16
• US Class Current: 348/14.16
• 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

An apparatus is provided in one example and includes first and second cameras configured to capture image data associated with an end user involved in a video session. The can further include a display configured to interface with the cameras, and a shaft coupled to a rotor. The cameras are secured to the shaft, and the shaft receives a rotational force such that during rotation of the shaft, the cameras pass over the display in order to capture particular image data associated with the end user'"'"'s face in such a way as to improve eye gaze alignment.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

first and second cameras configured to capture image data in a video session;

a display configured to interface with the cameras and to display an image extending in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

a shaft coupled to a rotor mounted on a member protruding above the display in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, wherein the cameras are secured to the shaft, and the shaft receives a rotational force such that, during a rotation of the shaft, the cameras rotate about the member in a plane extending in the first direction and the second direction to capture particular image data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a video frame is captured as a particular one of the cameras rotates into a position coincident with an eye of a displayed face on the display.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

optics elements configured to affect an image path associated with the cameras, wherein the optics elements comprise a mirror.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate at a rate such that one of the cameras rotates to a shutter trigger position at a frequency equal to a frame rate of an associated video system to which the cameras are associated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

illumination elements disposed on a perimeter of the display, wherein at least some of the illumination elements are synchronized to shutter times associated with at least one of the cameras.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotational force is supplied by a motor assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the motor assembly includes a shaft position encoder configured to determine an angular position of the shaft during the rotation of the shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a slip ring assembly configured to bring power and control signals to the cameras and to transfer video signals from the cameras to a next destination.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface finish of the rotor comprises an anti-reflective black surface.

10. A method, comprising:

capturing image data using first and second cameras;

rendering at least a portion of the image data at a display during a video session, wherein the display displays an image extending in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

providing a rotational force to a shaft coupled to a rotor mounted on a member protruding above the display in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, wherein the cameras are secured to the shaft such that, during a rotation of the shaft, the cameras rotate about the member in a plane extending in the first direction and the second direction to capture particular image data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a video frame is captured as a particular one of the cameras rotates into a position coincident with an eye of a displayed face on the display.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate at a rate such that one of the cameras rotates to a shutter trigger position at a frequency equal to a frame rate of an associated video system to which the cameras are associated.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

synchronizing illumination elements, which are disposed on a perimeter of the display, to shutter times associated with at least one of the cameras.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the rotational force is supplied by a motor assembly, which includes a shaft position encoder configured to determine an angular position of the shaft during the rotation of the shaft.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing power and control signals to the cameras using a slip ring assembly, the slip ring assembly being further configured to transfer video signals from the cameras to a next destination.

16. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and, when executed by a processor, operable to perform operations comprising:

capturing image data using first and second cameras;

rendering at least a portion of the image data at a display during a video session, wherein the display displays an image extending in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and

providing a rotational force to a shaft coupled to a rotor mounted on a member protruding above the display in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, wherein the cameras are secured to the shaft such that, during a rotation of the shaft, the cameras rotate about the member in a plane extending in the first direction and the second direction to capture particular image data.

17. The logic of claim 16, wherein a video frame is captured as a particular one of the cameras rotates into a position coincident with an eye of a displayed face on the display.

18. The logic of claim 16, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate at a rate such that one of the cameras rotates to a shutter trigger position at a frequency equal to a frame rate of an associated video system to which the cameras are associated.

19. The logic of claim 16, the operations further comprising:

synchronizing illumination elements, which are disposed on a perimeter of the display, to shutter times associated with at least one of the cameras.

20. The logic of claim 16, wherein the rotational force is supplied by a motor assembly, which includes a shaft position encoder configured to determine an angular position of the shaft during the rotation of the shaft.