Abstract: A telepresence communication system for group meeting rooms and personal home and office systems provides improved human factor experience through substantially life size images with eye level camera placement. The system provides switched presence interfaces so that conferees can select when to transmit their images during a conference and optionally provides individual microphones for each of conferee. Switched presence between presets of conferees are viewed on multipoint windows overlaying life-size images upon eye contact camera regions and eliminate seeing camera image movement during pan, tilt and zoom operations. An ambient light rejecting filter system enables an eye level camera to be hidden behind a projection screen and provides bright, high contrast images under normal meeting room and office environments.

Abstract: A telepresence communication system for group meeting rooms and personal home and office systems provides improved human factor experience through substantially life size images with eye level camera placement. The system provides switched presence interfaces so that conferees can select when to transmit their images during a conference and optionally provides individual microphones for each of conferee. Switched presence between presets of conferees are viewed on multipoint windows overlaying life-size images upon eye contact camera regions and eliminate seeing camera image movement during pan, tilt and zoom operations. An ambient light rejecting filter system enables an eye level camera to be hidden behind a projection screen and provides bright, high contrast images under normal meeting room and office environments.

Abstract: A telepresence communication system for group meeting rooms and personal home and office systems provides improved human factor experience through substantially life size images with eye level camera placement. The system provides switched presence interfaces so that conferees can select when to transmit their images during a conference and optionally provides individual microphones for each of conferee. Switched presence between presets of conferees are viewed on multipoint windows overlaying life-size images upon eye contact camera regions and eliminate seeing camera image movement during pan, tilt and zoom operations. An ambient light rejecting filter system enables an eye level camera to be hidden behind a projection screen and provides bright, high contrast images under normal meeting room and office environments.

Abstract: The present invention enables eye contact between conferees during a teleconference using a terminal equipped with a beamsplitter for reflecting an image of a conferee. In one embodiment the image of the conferee appears to be in a backdrop. The display is positioned behind the viewing side of the beam-splitter so that the conferee views the display through the beamsplitter. The invention can be configured to create the appearance that a life-size teleconference image of a remote conferee appears in the same room as the local conferee apparently sitting on the other side of the desk or table—creating the experience of telepresence with eye contact. Additional embodiments include adaptable features of the present invention which enable it to be configured into many specific types of eye contact display products. The invention further teaches the design of a telepresence network, linking numerous terminals sharing a commonality in configuration.

Abstract: A telepresence communication system for group meeting rooms and personal home and office systems provides improved human factor experience through substantially life size images with eye level camera placement. The system provides switched presence interfaces so that conferees can select when to transmit their images during a conference and optionally provides individual microphones for each of conferee. Switched presence between presets of conferees are viewed on multipoint windows overlaying life-size images upon eye contact camera regions and eliminate seeing camera image movement during pan, tilt and zoom operations. An ambient light rejecting filter system enables an eye level camera to be hidden behind a projection screen and provides bright, high contrast images under normal meeting room and office environments.

Abstract: The present invention enables eye contact between conferees during a teleconference using a terminal equipped with a beam-splitter. The camera is positioned behind the viewing side of the beam-splitter to capture the conferee's image through the beam-splitter. The reflection of the video display appears to be positioned in a room environment with common room objects, serving to associate the position of the reflection in the room environment. The transparent quality of the beamsplitter is used not only for capturing eye contact images from one direction, but also revealing the room environment by enabling the conferee to see-through the beamsplitter. The invention can be configured to create the appearance that a life-size teleconference image of a remote conferee appears in the same room as the local conferee viewing the reflection and appears to be sitting on the other side of the desk or table.

Abstract: A transparent-reflective display constructed to be alterable so that reflected images are viewed upon a transparent surface that can alter to a darkened surface, thereby changing contrast of the reflection. An assembly consisting of a beamsplitter and an electronically adjustable contrast layer is constructed as a thin sheet and positioned to reflect an image source. The electronically adjustable contrast layer consists of a shuttering capable material, such as liquid crystal shutters and suspended particle devices, that can be electronically engaged to be in a transparent state and also a darkened (opaque) state. The electronically adjustable contrast layer enables images to been seen in a mode that best suits its video content as to the degree of contrast selected among the transparent to darkened states. An embodiment of the present invention synchronizes events in video content to one of the states of transparent, darkened and the increments between.

Abstract: The present invention permits a dual mode use of a display screen of which in one mode the display screen is accessible and in the second mode has placed in front of the display screen videoconferencing eye contact components. The invention utilizes a uniquely hinged folded eye contact component apparatus which permits in the major embodiment of the present invention all of the eye contact components including the partially silvered mirror to fold with more than a one-half rotational turn entirely over to the back side of the flat panel display completely out of view. The folded eye contact components are attachable to existing flat panel displays and also are illustrated built in as a part of the flat panel housing. The same hinged folding function is also demonstrated as being suspended separate from the monitor so that no attaching to the display is required.

Abstract: An improved transmissive spatial object display provides a background image that appears to observers to have 3-D depth and includes the added advantages of permitting several viewers to observe the display simultaneously so that the background image appears on an accessible screen like that of televisions and computer monitors. A background image display is observed directly through a first Fresnel lens of a two Fresnel lens transmissive spatial object display which lens magnifies the background image display and also provides the front screen of the device. A first partially transparent mirror at 45 degrees separates the two Fresnel lenses permitting the background image display to be viewed solely through the first Fresnel lens. The first Fresnel lens serves the dual function of creating a first spatial object (in combination with the second Fresnel lens) and magnifying the background image.

Abstract: The present invention enables eye contact between conferees during a teleconference using a terminal equipped with a beamsplitter for reflecting an image of a video display so that only the reflection and not a direct view of the display is seen by the conferee. The camera is positioned behind the viewing side of the beamsplitter to capture the conferee's image through the beamsplitter. The direct view of the display is blocked by an image blocking film applied between the beamsplitter and the display. Blocking the direct view of the video display greatly improves teleconferencing by eliminating the distraction of simultaneously viewing both the video display and the reflection of the display. The present invention also substantially improves available desktop space, functional options by providing a direct view and a reflected view of the display, and portability.

Abstract: An improved rear projection screen for projecting a three-dimensional head or face is designed to accurately match the apparent movement of a imaged person eyes to movements of an observer, thereby maintaining eye contact between the imaged person and the observer as the observer moves relative to the image. This unique effect called "visualactivity" enables either a recorded or a live image of a person to engage observers with eye contact in a natural and interpersonal way despite movement of the observers relative to the image. This effect is achieved by projecting an image onto the convex side of a rear projection screen that roughly has the shape of a human head and face but is configured with proportions that are different from the natural proportions of the imaged person's face. When viewed from the concave side, this combination produces a realistic human face that appears to turn to accurately track an observer's movements.

Abstract: An improved desktop projection display system which effectively utilizes desktop space by producing a large image that appears to be at the rear edge of the desk. The display is compact because it uses a transparent-reflective panel (i.e., beamsplitter) to reflect a screen image through the same space occupied by the projection beam. This is achieved by projecting through a transparent-reflective panel onto a front projection screen located on the desk surface. An image formed on the front projection screen is then reflected by the transparent-reflective panel creating the appearance, to the observer, that the reflected front projection screen is positioned toward the rear of the desk surface. This invention greatly improves desktop display ergonomics for large display viewing by providing a sufficient distance between the observer seated at a desk and the display image.

Abstract: An improved transmissive spatial object display provides a background image that appears to observers to have 3-D depth and includes the added advantages of permitting several viewers to observe the display simultaneously so that the background image appears on an accessible screen like that of televisions and computer monitors. A background image display is observed directly through a first Fresnel lens of a two Fresnel lens transmissive spatial object display which lens magnifies the background image display and also provides the front screen of the device. A first partially transparent mirror at 45 degrees separates the two Fresnel lenses permitting the background image display to be viewed solely through the first Fresnel lens. The first Fresnel lens serves the dual function of creating a first spatial object (in combination with the second Fresnel lens) and magnifying the background image.

Abstract: The present invention enables eye contact between conferees during a teleconference using a terminal equipped with a beamsplitter for reflecting an image of a video display so that only the reflection and not a direct view of the display is seen by the conferee. The camera is positioned behind the viewing side of the beamsplitter to capture the conferee's image through the beamsplitter. The direct view of the display is blocked by an image blocking film applied between the beamsplitter and the display. Blocking the direct view of the video display greatly improves teleconferencing by eliminating the distraction of simultaneously viewing both the video display and the reflection of the display.