Abstract: A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.

Abstract: An autonomous snowbank deconstructing system includes an autonomous vehicle, one or more boom arms coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a dulled shovel component coupled to the one or more boom arms. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously gather loose debris to form one or more debris piles with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the loose debris, and autonomously deconstruct accumulated debris with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the accumulated debris.

Abstract: A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.

Abstract: An autonomous snowbank deconstructing system includes an autonomous vehicle, one or more boom arms coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a dulled shovel component coupled to the one or more boom arms. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously gather loose debris to form one or more debris piles with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the loose debris, and autonomously deconstruct accumulated debris with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the accumulated debris.

Abstract: An autonomous snowbank deconstructing system includes an autonomous vehicle, one or more boom arms coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a dulled shovel component coupled to the one or more boom arms. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously gather loose debris to form one or more debris piles with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the loose debris, and autonomously deconstruct accumulated debris with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the accumulated debris.

Abstract: A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.

Abstract: A microphone bar for obtaining audio input for a video conferencing system includes a master module and one or more slave modules. The master module houses a first pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar, and each of the slave modules houses a second pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar. Extensions connect the modules together, and at least one bus conducts audio signals through the extension from the microphones to the video conferencing system. The microphones are operable according to a broadside mode of stereo operation when a central axis of the bar is substantially orthogonal to a view angle of the conferencing system. Furthermore, the microphones are operable according to an end-fire mode of stereo operation when the central axis of the bar is substantially parallel to the view angle of the conferencing system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing system that has been integrated into a flat panel display or computer monitor. The integration provides an improved form factor for the videoconferencing system. In addition, the integration offers the dual use as a computer monitor and as a videoconferencing system. The system includes a videoconferencing module attaching to a back of the flat panel display. The videoconferencing module has videoconferencing electronics that electronically connect to integral electronics of the display. The system also includes a microphone/camera module attaching to a top of the flat panel display. The microphone/camera module has a camera and microphone that both electronically connect to the videoconferencing electronics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a videoconferencing system that has been integrated into a flat panel display or computer monitor. The integration provides an improved form factor for the videoconferencing system. In addition, the integration offers the dual use as a computer monitor and as a videoconferencing system. The system includes a videoconferencing module attaching to a back of the flat panel display. The videoconferencing module has videoconferencing electronics that electronically connect to integral electronics of the display. The system also includes a microphone/camera module attaching to a top of the flat panel display. The microphone/camera module has a camera and microphone that both electronically connect to the videoconferencing electronics.

Abstract: A camera positioning system for rotating a video camera about a rotation axis. The system includes a camera platform to which the camera is rotatably attached; a motor mounted to a base for driving the camera platform to effect rotation of the platform about the axis and relative to the base; a drive for coupling the motor to the camera platform; an electrically driven capacitive sensor assembly for generating electrical position signals for determining a rotational position of the camera platform relative to the base; and a feedback control circuit for using the position signals from the capacitive sensor assembly to control rotational positioning of the motor, resulting in rotating the camera to a desired camera position. The capacitive sensor has a conductive guard plate which helps immunize the capacitive sensor assembly from noise and from ground potentials. The rotation axis can be horizontal or vertical with the camera rotated to effect pan or tilt respectively.

Abstract: A camera stand for directing a video camera at, alternately, a room scene and a document scene, where the document in the document scene is oriented to be read by a person seated in the room scene, featuring a supporting arm and a rotatable connection connecting the video camera to, and supporting the video camera at a supporting end of, the arm. The rotatable connection allows the video camera to be alternately rotated between a position directed substantially vertically down at the document scene and a position directed substantially horizontally at the room scene. The rotatable connection has a rotation axis inclined at substantially a forty-five degree angle to the vertical, and is connected to the arm so that the video camera rotates from viewing the room scene right-side-up to viewing the document scene right-side-up.