Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/14—Systems for two-way working
  • H04N7/141—Systems for two-way working between two video terminals, e.g. videophone
  • H04N7/142—Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V33/00—Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
  • F21V33/0004—Personal or domestic articles
  • F21V33/0052—Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor

Definitions

• the object of the invention is a video telephone terminal or similar, which includes an equipment case, and located in it a display device, a camera, and a light.
• a video telephone terminal also means a video conference terminal.
• video conference devices are generally built into a separate room, in which the monitor and camera are located in a fixed series of cases, and the lights are fixed to the ceiling.
• the e-guipment often includes a larger main monitor and two auxilliary monitors. Lighting is a problem, as the light must not come from directly from the direction of the screen, because in that case the user of the equipment experiences unpleasant dazzle when viewing.
• the camera is located close to the monitor, because it is preferred to convey to the receiver a picture of the user that has been taken from straight in front.
• lighting is arranged in such a way that the lights are located close to the ceiling, and that the light comes, from the point of view of the user, from above the monitor.
• a light is located in the desk surface, when the light comes, from the point of view of the user, from beneath the monitor.
• the background lighting of the room has been improved by means of special fixed lights directed at the users.
• the horizontal lighting is insuffi ⁇ cient, in which case the contrast of the picture, for example in faces, increases considerably.
• the user generally sits behind a desk, but in certain cases the user may stand in front of the equipment.
• the distance of viewing is consi ⁇ derably smaller than in the aforementioned video conference situation.
• the lighting is then arranged with the aid of a separate light.
• the intention of this invention is to create such a video telephone terminal or similar, in which the lighting of the user is arranged as comfortably as possible from his point of view. It is wished, by means of the invention, to connect the light to the device itself, so that the light is moved with the equipment and is always ready for use and correctly aimed, and so that it would be possible to use the equipment independent of circumstances.
• the characteristic features of the invention are presented in Patent Claim 1. Generally the room and the nearest wall reflect sufficient light onto the user from a light that is aimed essentially upwards, but most advantageously the apparatus is equipped, in accordance with Patent Claim 2, with a separate reflector, which can be brought into the operating position as required.
• Figure 1 shows the video conference equipment seen from in r front
• Figure 2 shows the e-quipment in Figure 1 in cross-section and its use
• Figure 3 shows a video telephone terminal and its use
• the video conference terminal is constructed inside case 1, which is further equipped with wheels 5 in order to move the device to a more suitable position.
• the principal components of the equipment are the monitor 2 and camera 3 and the so-called codec (coder-decoder) to pack the information onto the transfer line and to differentiate the information that comes from it.
• the codec is advantageously located inside the equipment case (not shown) .
• the user In a video conference, the user generally sits behind desk 9, and is at a distance of about 2-3 metres from the monitor 2.
• Video camera 3 is placed above monitor 2.
• the equipment includes a light 4, which is aimed upwards.
• the light is a so-called low-luminance fluorescent tube light, which strongly limits the angle of lighting. Typically two 36W fluorescent tubes are used in the light.
• the wall and ceiling of the room have a light tone they suitably reflect the light developed by the light fixture onto the user.
• the light is located advantageously close to the rear wall of the case, in which case by positioning the device close to a pale wall effective indirect lighting is projected on the user.
• a rear raisable reflector 6 is used, the surface area of which is sufficiently large, in which case the lighting no longer comes from a point. With the aid of a separate reflec ⁇ tor the equipment no longer demands any special room but can be located in any room at all, independently of the distance from walls and ceiling and of the existing lighting.
• Figure 2 also shows a standing person, who is also able to watch the monitor, without the light 4, which is located behind the equipment, disturbing him.
• the limit of effective lighting 7, beneath which the user no longer experiences the lighting as strong, is drawn on the Figure.
• the reflector is attached to the rear wall of the equipment and raised.
• Another possibility is to construct the reflector to be carried on the cover of the equipment, in which case it angle can be adjusted.
• Figure 3 differs to some extent from the previous video conference event.
• the video telephone 11 is located on a suitable table 10, immediately in front of which the user sits, and thus the viewing distance is considerably, shorter compared to the pre ⁇ vious case.
• corresponding reference numbers are used for the components of the video telephone as in Figures 1 and 2.
• the video telephone is constructed inside case 1, which contains the monitor or other display device 2, a camera, and light 4, and a codec (not shown).
• the reflector 6 which provides indirect lighting on the face of the user, is hinged to the rear wall of the case.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
• Endoscopes (AREA)
• Instruments For Viewing The Inside Of Hollow Bodies (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8528816

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Citations (4)

• 1989
  • 1989-08-04 FI FI893690A patent/FI86130C/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1990
  • 1990-08-02 AU AU60691/90A patent/AU6069190A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-08-02 WO PCT/FI1990/000188 patent/WO1991002194A1/en unknown
  • 1990-08-02 JP JP90510874A patent/JPH05506337A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

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