Patent · US Expired

Video conferencing apparatus

US6784916B2 · kind B2 · utility

123Cited by
8References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 2002
Grant dateAug 31, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N7/142
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and system for improving the projection of a remote conferee's presence and improving eye contact between the remote video conferee and proximate conferee during a videoconference is disclosed. The image of the remote conferee's face is shown on a video monitor with a camera located along the eye level of the image of the remote conferee's face, and within the interocular distance of about 1.5 inches to 3 inches. A feedback screen showing the image of the proximate video conferee is also located near the camera and preferably within the interocular distance. Because the camera is within the interocular distance the proximate conferee will appear, to the remote conferee, to be looking at the eyes of the remote conferee when looking at the monitor, because the camera is within the interocular distance. This will be accentuated when the proximate conferee uses the feedback image, which is near the camera. A rotation member can be provided to rotate the screen and camera from a regular position to a portrait position. The camera may be rotated about a ball joint to increase the remote conferee's view. The camera apparatus can also be in a form of a camera/monitor unit that…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.