3-D displays and telepresence systems and methods therefore

• US 8,860,778 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telepresence Technologies LLC (Buffalo Pacific LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telepresence Technologies LLC (Buffalo Pacific LLC)
• Inventors: White, Peter McDuffie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US13/481,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 359/479
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A telepresence system enhances the perception of presence of a remote person involved in a video conference. The system preferably has a two-way mirror, which is between the observer and the display device, positioned at an angle to reflect a backdrop surface. The backdrop surface, which is further away from the two-way mirror than the image plane of the image display device, appears superimposed in a position behind the image of a person from the remote location. The system preferably minimizes image distortion via an optical path for the camera line of sight that is substantially longer than the physical distance between the user and the camera. The system may be asymmetrical, in that one camera is on axis with the user'"'"'s line of sight while the other camera is off axis with the user'"'"'s line of sight.

Claims

1. A telepresence workstation comprising:

a two-way mirror;

a display device positioned to be viewable from an observation zone, the display device being in a predetermined spatial relationship with the two-way mirror; and

a camera positioned a physical distance from the observation zone and further wherein a line of sight of the camera follows an optical path that defines an optical distance from the observation zone, the optical distance being greater than the physical distance and being sufficient to reduce distortion of an image of a user occupying the observation zone captured by the camera; and

a backdrop positioned such that a reflection of the backdrop is reflected off the two-way mirror and is superimposed upon an image displayed upon the display device.

2. The telepresence workstation of claim 1 wherein the predetermined spatial relationship is selected from the display device being positioned behind the two-way mirror, relative the observation zone, and the camera being positioned to reflect off the two-way mirror, relative the observation zone.

3. The telepresence workstation of claim 1 further comprising an observer in the observation zone.

4. The telepresence workstation of claim 1 wherein the optical path comprises the two-way mirror being optically between the observation zone and a second mirror, the second mirror being optically between the two-way mirror and the camera.

5. The telepresence workstation of claim 1 wherein the optical distance of the camera is twice the physical distance.

6. A telepresence communications system comprising:

a first telepresence station having;

a first observation zone;

a first camera having a first line of sight impinging upon the first observation zone, the first camera being positioned such that the first line of sight of the first camera is on axis with a second line of sight of a first user when the first user is occupying the first observation zone;

a first image display device being within the second line of sight of the first user when the first user is occupying the first observation zone;

a second telepresence station having;

a second observation zone;

a second camera having a third line of sight impinging upon the second observation zone, the second camera being positioned such that the third line of sight of the second camera is off axis with a fourth line of sight of a second user when the second user is occupying the second observation zone;

a two-way mirror within the fourth line of sight of the second user when the second user is occupying the second observation zone;

a second image display device being within the fourth line of sight of the second user when the second user is occupying the second observation zone; and

a backdrop positioned such that a reflection of the backdrop is reflected off the two-way mirror and is superimposed upon an image displayed upon the second image display device.

7. The telepresence communications system of claim 6 wherein the reflection of the backdrop provides depth cues to the second user occupying the second observation zone.

8. The telepresence communications system of claim 6 wherein the first camera is positioned a physical distance of a first length from the first observation zone and further wherein the first line of sight of the first camera follows an optical path that is a second length from the first observation zone, the second length being sufficient to reduce distortion of an image of the first user occupying the observation zone captured by the first camera.

9. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the first camera is positioned above the first image display device.

10. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second camera is positioned such that the third line of sight of the camera is through the two-way mirror.

11. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second camera is positioned above the two-way mirror such that the third line of sight of the camera is not through the two-way mirror.

12. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the backdrop is positioned above the two-way mirror.

13. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the first telepresence station further comprises a first secondary display device, and the second telepresence station further comprises a second secondary display device, a communications link being between the first secondary display device and the second secondary display device configured to share information.

14. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station comprises an interface device, the interface device comprising a touch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, or a combination thereof.

15. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station is an automatic teller machine comprising an interface device to control a computer on a network and comprising a card reader and cash dispenser.

16. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station comprises business transaction devices in networked communication with the first telepresence station, the business transaction devices comprising a card reader, a document scanner, a document printer, a cashier'"'"'s check printer, or a combination thereof.

17. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station comprises medical equipment in networked communication with the first telepresence station, the medical equipment comprising a blood pressure monitor, a cholesterol level monitor, a temperature gauge, a blood sugar level monitor, a medical camera device, or a combination thereof.

18. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station comprises remotely controlled security equipment in networked communication with the first telepresence station, the security equipment comprising a security sensor, an alarm, lighting, a door lock, or a combination thereof.

19. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station comprises a retail product promotion and sales station in networked communication with the first telepresence station, the retail product promotion and sales station comprising a promotional video display, a credit card reader, a cash payment device, a product dispenser, or a combination thereof.

20. The telepresence communications system of claim 6, wherein the second telepresence station comprises a language translation and speech-to-text device in networked communication with the first telepresence station, the language translation and speech-to-text device comprising voice recognition with speech-to-text display, voice recognition with signing for a deaf person, voice recognition with translation to a different language in audio, voice recognition with translation to a different language to text, or a combination thereof.