Telepresence systems and methods therefore

• US 9,065,966 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• 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:
  US14/067,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• 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 may or may not appear 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. An image display system comprising:

an image display device having an image area positioned within a first plane, said first plane positioned for viewing by a user in an observation zone;

a two-way mirror positioned between said observation zone and said image display device; and

a backdrop positioned so that a reflection of said backdrop in said two-way mirror appears within a reflected second plane positioned for viewing by said user, said reflected second plane being parallel with said first plane and positioned further away from said two-way mirror than said first plane.

2. A telepresence system comprising:

an image display device having an image area, said image area being in an image plane positioned for viewing from an observation zone;

a two-way mirror between said observation zone and said image display device, said two-way mirror being in a mirror plane, wherein said mirror plane and said image plane form an angle;

a backdrop positioned to cause a reflected image off said two-way mirror, said reflected image visually extending to a depth beyond said image plane when viewed from said observation zone;

a camera proximate said image display device and configured to directly view said observation zone through said two-way mirror; and

a light-absorbing panel proximate said two-way mirror, said light-absorbing panel being located in a position such that said camera is configured to view a reflected view of said light-absorbing panel off said two-way mirror.

3. The telepresence system of claim 2, wherein said backdrop extends from a first lateral edge of said image display device to a second lateral edge of said image display device, and extends from an upper horizontal edge of said image display device a distance above said upper horizontal edge.

4. The telepresence system of claim 2, wherein said backdrop is curved.

5. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising a light integrated with said backdrop and configured to illuminate said backdrop.

6. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising a light configured to backlight said backdrop.

7. The telepresence system of claim 2, wherein said backdrop has an undulation of color from a first lateral edge of said backdrop to a second lateral edge of said backdrop, a center of said undulation of color between said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge being black, said undulation of color causing said reflected image.

8. The telepresence system of claim 2, wherein said backdrop has a pattern, said pattern causing said reflected image.

9. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising a touch sensitive screen proximate said two-way mirror.

10. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising an interactive panel configured for interaction.

11. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising a cash dispenser configured to dispense cash.

12. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising a card reader configured to accept a payment.

13. The telepresence system of claim 2 further comprising a scanner configured to scan a document.

14. A telepresence system comprising:

an image display device having an image area, said image area being in an image plane positioned for viewing from an observation zone;

a two-way mirror between said observation zone and said image display device, said two-way mirror being in a mirror plane, wherein said mirror plane and said image plane form an angle, said two-way mirror being positioned to reflect a reflected image of said observation zone;

a camera positioned to view said reflected image from said two-way mirror; and

a light-absorbing panel proximate said two-way mirror, said light-absorbing panel being located in a position such that said camera is configured to view said light-absorbing panel through said two-way mirror.

15. The telepresence system of claim 14, wherein said camera is positioned above said image display device.

16. The telepresence system of claim 14, wherein said camera is positioned below said image display device.

17. The telepresence system of claim 14, wherein said mirror plane intersects said image plane at an upper horizontal edge of said image display device.

18. The telepresence system of claim 14, wherein said mirror plane intersects said image plane at a lower horizontal edge of said image display device.

19. A telepresence technologies architecture comprising:

a first image display system comprising;

a first image display device having a first image area positioned within a first plane, said first image area positioned for viewing from a first observation zone,

a first two-way mirror positioned between said first observation zone and said first image display device,

a backdrop positioned so that a reflection of said backdrop in said first two-way mirror appears within a reflected region positioned for viewing from said observation zone, said reflected region extending further away from said first two-way mirror than said first plane,

a first camera positioned to view said first observation zone as a reflection off of said first two-way mirror, and

a first codec configured to receive a first video feed and output a second video feed, said first video feed causing at least in part a first image to be displayed in said first image area, said second video feed being generated at least in party by said first camera;

a second image display system comprising;

a second image display device having a second image area positioned for viewing from a second observation zone,

a second two-way mirror positioned between said second observation zone and said second image display device,

a second camera positioned to view said second observation zone as a reflection off of said second two-way mirror, and

a second codec configured to receive said second video feed and output said first video feed, said second video feed causing at least in part a second image to be displayed in said second image area, said first video feed being generated at least in party by said second camera; and

a network communicatively bi-directionally coupling said first image display system and said second image display system, said network being configured to carry said first video feed and said second video feed.

20. The telepresence technologies architecture of claim 19, wherein said network comprises an Internet Protocol-based network.

21. The telepresence technologies architecture of claim 19, wherein said network comprises a dedicated telepresence operation center.