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: 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: 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: A combination portable recording video camera and video-conferencing terminal is described, wherein a video camera and lens is adjustable so that it can either produce images of an operator's surroundings for recording on a medium such as video tape, as in normal recording video cameras, or of the operator as in video conferencing terminals. The device is preferably provided with a video display screen that functions as a viewfinder in video-graphing the surroundings. The device is equipped with communication electronics that establish a connection over a network, and then transmits video and audio signals from the device while displaying video signals and reproducing audio signals that arrive over the network. Attempts by the network to establish a connection with the device result in the device automatically establishing the connection. Then the device activates its internal recording systems to play the prerecorded video message and transmit it over the network.