Abstract: An audio-visual telecommunications system comprises a videophone terminal including a videophone communication interface for making a connection to a telecommunications network. A picture processing unit receives audio-visual signals from the videophone terminal which it process in order to compose a picture with sound. The picture processing unit transmits signals representing the composite picture to a television set. The picture processing unit includes an image memory which stores visual signals in a digital form as they are received from the videophone communication interface. A time base receives a composite video signal from the television set and extracts the line and frame synchronized signals. The time base controls a read-out which is synchronized with the extracted synchronization signals and formed responsive to the signals stored in the memory.

Abstract: The audiovisual telecommunication terminal makes it possible to orient the flat screen relative to the position of the face of the operator in front of the same. The terminal comprises means for the flexible driving of the mobile part (20) carrying the flat screen relative to the fixed part (10). The transmission is of the "pulley block" type and uses a motor (12) driving a belt (8) fixed on the one hand to a drive shaft (18) and on the other to the fixed part (10) in order to exert tension on the mobile part (20). The reverse movement can be brought about by helical springs (19).

Abstract: An audio and video communications terminal, of the type comprising a housing, a camera provided with an optical system, a display screen, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a central unit including a sound and image information encoder and decoder, and an interface in association with the elements for communication with another terminal of the same type via a digital transmission network, the terminal further comprising electric motors and clutches for adjusting at least one camera parameter; a manual control suitable for generating control information for adjusting the parameter(s); and a switch for switching between a local adjustment mode in which the control information is applied to the electric motors and clutches, and a remote adjustment mode in which the control information is sent to the other terminal over the digital network in parallel with the sound and image information, and in which control information received from the other terminal, likewise over the digital network and in parallel with sound

Abstract: A table-top terminal for sound and vision communications, of the type associated, in particular, with a telephone set, and comprising a case (100) containing: a display screen monitor (128), a camera (132) having a lens system (130), manual control means, and an electronic assembly for the purposes of control, coding/decoding, and interfacing with a transmission line, wherein, for the purpose of compensating the illumination of a speaker in an environment having overhead ambient lighting and thereby enabling the camera to obtain a balanced image of said speaker, the terminal further includes an auxiliary lighting device (160) having a general emission direction (C) which is essentially upwardly inclined towards the speaker, together with a mechanism for adjusting the light flux emitted by the device as a function of the ambient lighting.