Abstract: A display device has a white point light source, a condenser lens, a liquid crystal display, and an imaging lens. The white point light source has a substantial conjugate relationship with a user's pupil that is located on the front surface of the user's eyeball. The liquid crystal display has a substantial conjugate relationship with the user's retina. The scattering plate is further provided to broaden the bundle width of the light at a location in the vicinity of the user's pupil.

Abstract: The image of a local user is captured from a beam splitter disposed in front of a video display. By canting the beam-splitter away from the surface of the video display, the bore-sight of the video camera is made to coincide with the line of sight from the local user to the center of the video display. This enables the arrangement to convey eye-contact from one user to another user using the same type of apparatus at a remote location.

Abstract: A system and method for producing and receiving electronically-mediated collaboration is presented. The electronically-mediated collaboration system and method include a high-fidelity audio system as well as application and cursor sharing, and a session manager module to synchronize among participants. In one embodiment, the system includes an eye contact collaboratory that manipulates video and eye position input to synthesize virtual camera images which simulate ordinary gaze behavior in a collaboratory system. An audio component optionally spatializes the voices of the participants to appear to coincide with their images.

Abstract: A digital miniature, flip-open pocketable camera for video teleconferencing in which the camera lens is positionable on a computer display level with the user's eyes. The camera includes a first housing and a second housing pivotally mounted to the first housing. The first housing comprises a rear lens enclosure and a front lens enclosure which together enclose a lens and a first printed circuit board. The second housing comprises a top base enclosure and a bottom base enclosure which together enclose a second printed circuit board. A flat ribbon cable is further provided for electrically connecting the first and second printed circuit boards contained in the respective housings. The pivotal interconnection permits the first and second housings to open to an angle of 90 degrees with respect to one another.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a video teleconferencing camera including a base member having a flat metal base portion and a vertically depending metal arm, the base portion and arm being covered with an elastomeric material, the elastomeric material being shaped to form a socket on the arm which receives a ball member extending from in camera body to form a ball-and-socket connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus selectively displays a processor generated image in accordance with user instructions detected by a processor from a processor viewing device disposed to view a real reference item controlled by the user. The real item, preferably a page of paper, is disposed as a reference frame for an electronic image to be displayed. The orientation of the page is identified by the system. A sensing device, such as a video camera, identifies the position of the page. A display device, goggles, displays the image as a virtual display upon the page wherein the image is transformed in accordance with the identified positioning of the page. The user interaction with the displayed image as detected by the video camera manipulates the page, the contents thereon or can execute hyperlinks to other documents or sites.

Abstract: A communication including a camera adapted to capture a picture, a transceiver adapted to receive a picture from a remote device and to transmit the picture captured by the camera, a processor adapted to recognize an object in the local picture and generate a position indicator of the object, and a video display adapted to display both the received remote picture and the position indicator, the position indicator being displayed on the video display to indicate the location of the local picture object. The captured picture has a boundary about its object, and the position indicator is a frame for the captured picture corresponding to the boundary. The video display displays the captured picture frame in a position corresponding to the location of the object with the video display.

Abstract: An interaction configuration is specified which has a projection surface which is disposed in such a way that it is visible to a user. Furthermore, a camera is provided which is disposed in the projection surface. In this case, the user and the addressee can be projected at each other in a more natural manner, in particular, the interaction configuration provides eye-to-eye contact.

Abstract: The invention provides an imaging system including a camera with an image sensor sensitive to light and a light emitter with the camera to transmit image data from the camera. It includes a controller to control the light emitter to illuminate a subject in the field of view of the camera.

Abstract: A display and camera device for a videophone comprises a liquid crystal display for displaying a picture, a camera such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, a free-form surface prism, and a prism for guiding light to the camera. The free-form surface prism has a concave reflector for optically enlarging a picture displayed on the display. A beam splitter is provided on a bonded surface between the free-form surface prism and the prism. The beam splitter is designed to reflect some of light beams from the display toward the reflector and transmit some of light beams from the reflector. A camera-system optical path extending from the camera is aligned with a display-system optical path extending from the display within the free-form surface prism and the outside space.

Abstract: A telephony system and method provide for the establishment of telephonic communications through use of a television and a set top box. The set top box is connected both to the television and a telephone network. Incorporated into a set top box is a microphone and a command signal input device. A viewer of the television may, through use of a user interface device such as a hand-held remote control or a keyboard, enter command signals which when processed within the set top box provide for the display of a number of interactive display graphics. Through interaction with these display graphics, the viewer may go off hook and dial phone numbers in order to establish a telephonic connection. Through use of a microphone and speakers incorporated into the television, a speaker phone is provided which allows for two-way audio conversations.

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: A combined image is made up of a static image and a motion image. An area of the static image is replaced by the motion image to form the combined image. The combined image is then coded and transmitted from one communication partner to another communication partner by way of a network.

Abstract: A video camera apparatus for a video conference is arranged to detect the zoom level of a zoom lens by a zoom level detecting circuit and to control a motor control circuit according to the result of detection in such a way as to lower the speed of a panning or tilting operation on a video camera accordingly as the position of the zoom lens shifts from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position. In panning or tilting the video camera in a zoom-in state, this arrangement makes the panning or tilting speed lower than the speed of panning or tilting performed in a zoom-back state, so that the movement of objects on a picture displayed on a monitor can be effectively moderated to make the details of the display easily discernible without any unpleasant impression. The arrangement thus facilitates the operation on the video camera.

Abstract: A teleconference system including a plurality of personal presence cells positioned at a local communication site and at a remote communication site. The plurality of personal presence cells are characterized as either sensor cells or display cells. The sensor cells include at least one video camera positioned to sense and transmit an image of the local participant, and an image screen positioned to reflect an image of the local participant toward the at least one video camera and for viewing of an image through the screen. The display cells each include at least one projection display positioned to display a multi-dimensional image of a remote participant on a display screen. A transmission link interfaces the plurality of personal presence cells positioned at the local communication site and the plurality of presence cells positioned at the remote communication site.

Abstract: A video telephone headset device includes a foundation which supports an image capture device, a support arm, and a convex mirror. When the foundation is held adjacent to a user's head, the support arm positions the convex mirror in a fixed position in front of the user's face. The mirror reflects the full facial image to the image capture device. This arrangement makes it possible to construct a video telephone headset which is simple and small in size yet able to capture the full face and facial expressions using very little bandwidth.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, the present invention is directed to a video communication system having a user-friendly, intuitive-like control for altering the video camera view at a remote terminal. The local terminal includes a display and a movement-responsive sensor arranged to generate a direction signal in response to corresponding movement at the display. At least one of the first and second computer arrangements is configured and arranged to alter data being sent to the display in response to the direction signal from the movement-responsive sensor.

Abstract: A system for avoiding lost look in video conferencing utilizes multiple cameras outside a monitor screen at a conferencing station for capturing images of a participant and a processor system enabled to utilize video streams from the cameras and software including a field graph to create a stream presenting the participant as though the created stream were captured from a virtual video camera positioned within the monitor screen. In some embodiments the processor takes into account data pertaining to an active window to position the virtual camera in the active window. In other embodiments moveable cameras are employed with an audio system having directional input, which the processor can use to train cameras on a current active participant.