Polarized enhanced confidentiality in mobile camera applications

• US 9,044,863 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Mead, Matthew, Noll, Paul, Mead, Lisa, Stanfield, Joel, Casal, Rmi Marcel Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/173,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/258, 700/259, 700/264, 318/568.12, 901/1, 901/47, 382/293, 382/294, 382/253, 382/254
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0015 characterised by the lens design
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/281 used for attenuating light intensity, e.g. comprising rotatable polarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• 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 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A system for selectively controlling visibility of information and for reducing or eliminating light energy in a robotic telepresence environment is provided. The system includes a robotic device in a work environment that is occupied or operated by a pilot at a station in a workspace remote from location of the robot in the work environment, a camera operably attached to the robotic device, a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera, a viewing area, at least one light source remote from the camera, and at least one secondary polarizing filter. The primary and at least one secondary polarizing filter can be adjusted to vary the lighting and artifacts seen by the pilot.

Claims

1. A system for controlling visibility of information in a work environment, the system comprising:

a robotic device connected to a network and configured to operate and interact in the work environment, the robotic device including a camera;

a pilot at a workspace remote from the work environment, wherein the interaction of the pilot in the work environment is through the robotic device, and wherein the pilot and the robotic device share privileges and permissions for interactions in the work environment;

a user interface presented to the pilot through a station configured to allow the pilot at the remote workspace to operate the robotic device;

a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera;

at least one light source remote from the robotic device; and

at least one secondary polarizing filter positioned between the at least one light source and the camera;

wherein the primary polarizing filter can be adjusted to selectively prevent transmission of images in the work environment to the pilot.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a database connected to the network where privileges and permissions of the pilot are stored and can be accessed for the robotic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises an electrically-generated light.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrically-generated light comprises a display screen.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises an infrared radiation source.

7. A system for selectively preventing visibility of information in a work environment, the system comprising:

a robotic device connected to a network and configured to operate and interact in the work environment, the robotic device including a camera;

a pilot at a workspace remote from the work environment, wherein the interaction of the pilot in the work environment is through the robotic device, and wherein the pilot and the robotic device share privileges and permissions for interactions in the work environment;

a station providing a user interface configured to allow the pilot to operate the robotic device from the remote workspace;

a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera;

at least one light source remote from the robotic device; and

at least one secondary polarizing filter positioned between the at least one light source and the camera;

wherein information in the work environment is proximate the at least one light source and at least one secondary polarizing filter;

wherein the network is configured to store the physical location of information in the work environment;

wherein the primary polarizing filter can be adjusted to selectively prevent transmission of information in the work environment to the pilot.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a database connected to the network where privileges and permissions of the pilot are stored and can be accessed for the robotic device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one light source comprises an electrically-generated light.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrically-generated light comprises a display screen.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the physical location of the display screen is identified by barcode or RFID.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one light source comprises reflected light off a vertical surface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vertical surface comprises a whiteboard.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the physical location of the whiteboard is identified by barcode or RFID.

16. A system for controlling visibility of information in a work environment, the system comprising:

a robotic device connected to a network and configured to operate and interact in the work environment, the robotic device including a camera;

a pilot at a workspace remote from the work environment, wherein the interaction of the pilot in the work environment is through the robotic device, and wherein the pilot and the robotic device share privileges and permissions for interactions in the work environment;

a user interface presented to the pilot through a station configured to allow the pilot at the remote workspace to operate the robotic device;

a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera;

at least one light source remote from the robotic device; and

at least one secondary polarizing filter positioned between the at least one light source and the camera;

at least one person co-located with the robotic device in the work environment;

wherein the at least one person co-located with the robotic device in the work environment can adjust the primary polarizing filter to selectively prevent transmission of images of information in the work environment to the pilot.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a database connected to the network where privileges and permissions of the pilot are stored and can be accessed for the robotic device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one light source comprises an electrically-generated light.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrically-generated light comprises a display screen.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.

21. A system for controlling visibility of information in an environment, the system comprising:

a mobile device connected to a network and configured to operate and interact in the environment, the mobile device including a camera;

a primary polarizing filter attached to the camera;

at least one light source remote from the mobile device; and

at least one secondary polarizing filter positioned between the at least one light source and the camera;

wherein the primary polarizing filter can be adjusted to selectively prevent transmission of images in the environment.