JPS63180283A - Television telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optimize the illuminating state of a caller himself who is a subject and to transmit a clear picture to an opposite side by laying in a telephone set mainbody an illuminating device which can adjust an illuminating direction and the quantity of light. CONSTITUTION:A camera 2, a receiver 3 and operation keys 4 are given to the mainbody 1 of a television telephone set and furthermore, two illuminating light beams 5 are provided. The lights 5 are disposed on both right and left sides of the camera 2, and they are fitted to the mainbody 1 by flexible arms. The lights 5 can be adjusted in such a way that they illuminate the caller in front of the camera 2. A light-adjusting handle and an opening and closing switch are provided on the side of the mainbody 1, and the caller can adjust the direction of the lights 5 and the quantity of light while he views a self-video in the receiver 3. With projecting the lights beams 5, the part of the keys 4 comes to be easily viewed. With transmitting the clear picture to the opposite side, calling is attainable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video telephone used in a video telephone system, a video conference system, and the like.

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 shows a typical external appearance of a conventional video telephone. The main body (1) of the videophone includes a camera (2) for photographing a subject (8), and a receiver (2) for displaying received images.
3) and an operation key (4) for manually inputting a telephone number, various instruction signals, etc. are provided integrally.

When a call is made by making a call using the operation keys (4), the caller who is facing the front of the main unit (1) to view the image on the image receiver (3) becomes the subject (8), and this becomes the subject (8) of the camera (2). The image is then transmitted to the other party.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] In order to transmit a clear image to the other party, basically,
The subject (8) photographed by the camera (2) must be properly illuminated. However, conventional videophones themselves do not have a lighting function, and lighting must be considered separately.

In other words, tedious work was required to adjust the surrounding lighting environment, such as turning on the surrounding lighting when the videophone was installed in a dark environment, or preventing it from backlighting. Another problem was that when the installation environment was dark, the operation keys (4) were also difficult to see and difficult to operate.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.The purpose of this invention is to provide a video telephone with a lighting function that allows easy adjustment of the lighting environment at the installation location centered on the subject. Our goal is to provide the following.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Accordingly, in the present invention, an illumination device for illuminating a subject whose illumination direction and light amount can be adjusted is attached to the main body of a video telephone having a camera and an image receiver.

[Function] In the videophone of the present invention, the person making the call assumes a conversation posture facing the front of the videophone main body, and in that state adjusts the lighting device to appropriately illuminate himself, the subject. .

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the appearance of a video telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The main body (1) of the videophone has a camera (2) and a receiver (
3) In addition to the operation keys (4), etc., two illumination lights (5)
is provided. The illumination lights (5) are arranged on both the left and right sides of the camera (2), and are attached to the main body (1) via flexible arms (6).

The illumination light (5) is the subject (caller) in front of the camera (2).
However, the illumination direction is not completely fixed, and when force is applied to the illumination lamp (5), the flexible arm (6) bends and its direction changes. In other words, the person making the call who is facing the front of the main body (1) can extend his/her hand to appropriately adjust the direction of the illumination light (5).

In addition, as shown in Figure 2, a lighting lamp (
There is a dimmer knob (7) in 5), and the person making the call facing the front of the main unit (1) can adjust the amount of illumination as desired by extending their hand and sliding the dimmer knob (7). .

By the way, the image taken with the camera (2) is transferred to its main body (1).
), so you can easily obtain the best image by adjusting the direction and amount of light of the illumination lamp (5) while looking at your own image. Of course, you can also adjust the lighting during a call. Furthermore, if the illumination light (5) is turned on, the operation keys (4) can be easily seen.

Note that the switch function for turning on and turning off the illuminating light (5) may be added to the dimming knob (7), or may be provided to the operation key (4).

[Effects of the Invention] As explained in detail above, in the videophone according to the present invention, the person making the call can easily optimize the lighting condition of himself/herself as the subject while facing the front of the videophone main body. It is possible to send a clear image to the other party.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a video phone according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the video phone, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional video phone. In the figure, (1) is the main body of the videophone, (2) is the camera, (3) is the image receiver, (4) is the operation key, (5) is the illumination light, (6) is the flexible arm, and (7) is the adjustment. The light knob (8) is the subject. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent Patent Attorney Masuo Oiwa (and 2 others) Figure 1 1: Video phone body 2: Camera 3: Receiver 4: Operation keys 5: Lighting lamp Figure 2 6: Arm 7: Dimming knob Figure 3 4: Operation key 8: Subject

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A videophone characterized in that the main body of the videophone has a camera for capturing an image of a subject and a receiver for displaying a received image, and a lighting device for illuminating the subject whose illumination direction and amount of light are adjustable is attached to the main body of the videophone.