US2125006A - Television communicator - Google Patents

Description

July ze, 193s,

A. Mci.. moLsON TELEVISION COMMUNICATOR Filed July l0, 3.934

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atA/` A TTOR N EYV Patented July 2d, 1938' unirono 4s"rmii l2,125,006 A retevision commissarissen- Alexander McLean Nicolson, 4New York, N. Y., as-

sig-nor to Communication Patents, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 1o, 193i, serial No. 734,471

s cnam.

This invention relates to communicating systems and particularly to a two-Way combination system of television and telephony especially suitable for intenoiiice intercourse.

Au object of Athe inventionis to enable tWo parties at separated points to see and hear each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-Way communicator, both visual and audilo ble, which is simple and eicient.

Still another object of the invention is to combine visual and audible reception and transmission in a desk or' table device suitable for instant use.

Audible communicators for use over long disstances, and also for inter-'cince service, are well knovfn, such systems comprising audible loud speakers and a sensitive piclznlp device with their associated .n.nipliiiers and transmission lines. A system on these principles combining botn visual and audible edects is contemplated in the present invention, the entire terminal equipment being housed within a bell-shaped horn or like housing suitable for use on a desk or table. The circuit design and apparatus used to accomplish two-way television is similar and based upon a system disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 733, G5 led July 5, 1934. That is,l the entire circuit will be practically identical to the one shown in Fig. 8 of that dis closure, the present disclosure. showing solely thisV circuit diagrammatically with the design for the terminal equipment. i

The advantages and spccic aspects of the invent-ion, both as to its method of operation and its fundamental principles, will best be urb derstood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a terminal device with the transmitting and receiving cincuits shown diagrammatically, and

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view 0f the terminal device shown'in Fig. 1.'

In Fig. 1 a bell-shaped or open-faced housing 5 with a narrow portion 6, base l, and bell portion B, has included therein a light channel translator 9, the terminals of which form a surface i2 and two rings at I3. The transmitting channels which are substantially one-half of the total number and uniformly intermingled with the receiver channels at the surface i2 are capped with lenses I4 for projecting light on the object being scanned. This translator is del scribed in detail and is being claimed in my (Cl. 13B-5.3)

copending application mentioned above. n brief, it consists of a plurality of light paths of unit area size formed by internally reflecting tubes of various shapes or channels made in a casting. This translator thus reduces line or 5 one-dimensional motionl to a surface or two-i dimensional motion so that a line of light generates a luminous field. Although there is light in only one transmitting or receiving channel at any instant the change from one channel to 10 another is sufcently rapid to generate this light eld.

An arc system l0 comprises vtwo setsV of electrodes IS and i9 surrounded by a magnetic field i5, energy being supplied thereto through a 15 plurality of conductors il which terminate in the outwardly extending cable i8. This system is also fully described in the abcve-mentioned application. It consists of independent electrodes to create two independent Varcs but with 20 a common magnetic iield. The arcs provide the movinglight beams which may be of different wave lengths to reduce glare and increase' the efficiency of the system, while the cell 28 may be shielded by a ilter to eliminate substantially 25 all light except the scanning rays.

An elongated photosensitive device 2f), such as a photo-cell attached to the translator il and positioned in a portion of t e space between the casing 5 and the translator 9, translates the 30 light and shade densities of an object scanned into corresponding electrical currents which are transmitted over conductors 22 to an am pliiier 23 and a television transmitter 26. The output of the transmitter may be broadcast over 35 an antenna 25 or impressed cn wire lines connected at 2B. Incoming television signals are received'on antenna 3U or et Wire terminals 3l and detected by receiver 32, aniplied in amplier 33 and conducted to cable i8 over conduce 40 tors 313, these conductors leading to one set of arc electrodes of system. It is to be understood that the transmitter and receiver circuits are unnecessary for interoice communication, the amplifiers 23 and 33 being suicient for this 45 type of transmission.

For the audible portion of the system. a microphone 35 attached to translator 9 is placed in the bell portion il of the housing i5 similar to photo-electric cell 29, the output of which is fed 50 over conductors 3l to an axnplier 38 and sound transmitter 39, Where it may be broadcast over antenna lli! or Wires connected at terminals 4l. The incoming sound portion of the system includes an antenna i3, wire termials M, sound 55 unitjtl placed in the narrow portion E oi the housing"5. It Vis vto be understood that the .picture and sound transmitters may becorn`- rbined asV Vvrell asthe picture -and sound re' ceivers in any well known manner Also, the amplifiers may be enclosed within the housing which is particularly desirable for interoiiice service.

As shown in the drawing, the housing is in two main sections lap-jcinedso that vthe upper portion 5 may be separated for the installation of the arc equipment, the arc system being' mounted on brackets 49 and 5U. The bottom may' also be removed for access to the internal apparatus. There is space surrounding trans'- lator -9 which provides ahorn for the loud speaker unit 41. It is to be noted that the device is telescopic at the narrow portion 6 to provide for an elevational adjustment as well as a rotational adjustment, a 'setscrew 2i holding the two sections in position. Y

The system operates in the same manner as that disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 733,765, filed July 5, 1934, mentioned above, but will be briefly described at this point. The person using this device places his face in front of and partly in the bell in a position which is cont-rolled by the size of the bell portion 8. That is, there is an optimum distance between the screen l? andthe persons face and the open portion of the device permits this optimum distance to be obtained readily as a natural act. n

Exterior light is thus substantially shut out producing a brighter image with less light and in creasing the efficiency of the transmission scan'- ning system. The sound portion is also incl-osed thus permitting the operation of the coinniunicator without disturbingr others.

The transmission scanning light is obtained from the rotating arc of constant intensity, this light being projected through the light channels and from the lenses I4. The reiiected light from the object characterized by the light and 1 shade densities of the persons face is picked up by photo-electric cell 2o and transmitted through i conductors 22 to the transmitter 2d for transmission. The incoming 'signals are impressed on the other electro-dynamic arc modulating it in accordance with the light and shade densities of the person at the other station. This modulated light is transmitted through the receiving channels and is diffused from the surface ter minals which are intermingled among the lenses M. Sound such as voice will be picked up by detector 36 and transmitted in the usual manner, Whilethe incoming sound signals will be projected from the unit il? to the observer. There is thus provided a simple tWo-Way communicator, both visual and audible, which utilizes the same screen for picture reception and transmission scanning and utilizes the same casing for sound and picture.

It is to be understood, of course, that other designs are contemplated, the one just described being for the purpose of illustration and the invention is not to be limited ,by the horn-type disclosed. It is also to be understood that the narrow portion 6 may be made flexible as well as telescopic so as to be extended or positioned as desired, the casing 5 being decorated to harmonize or conform with the oice or room decorations in which it is intended to be used.

What is claimed is: i y

1. In a television and telephone communicator,

a. housing having a base and bell portion, a sound reproducer located in said base, a television translator located in said bell portion for projecting light of constant intensities in unit tion a sound reproducer and in 'its bell portion' a snirrrdrdcirmup device, and a television scanner and receiver located in said bell portion sullcient space being provided between said housing and said television scanner and receiver for passing sound from its throat portion to its bell portion, said bell portion positioning the face of an observer at the optimum position with re spect to said television scanner and receiver.

3. A telephone and `television communicator for interoillce communication comprising a horn shaped device suitable for table and desir use, said device having a narrow portion enclosing a sound reproducer unit and an adjustable bell portion enclosing a sound picl up device, a cornposite television. screen located in the bell portion of said device, said screen including a plu= of said channels being adapted to project diffused light varying in intensity in accordance With an object scanned at a distant point, said channels being curved so that the projecting terminals thereof are in a substantially vertical plane and the receiving terminals are in a sub stantially horizontal plane, a photoelectric cell located in the bell portion o said device for detecting projected light from an object scanned, and means for producing a plurality of moving light beams for supplying light to the receiving terminals of said channels.

4. A communicator in accordance with claim 3 in which said last mentioned means comprises a plurality of moving electrical discharges along stationary electrode rails positioned in a. stationary magnetic field.

5. In a system of sound and picture transmission, stationary means for projecting a light beam of constant intensity over an object to be scanned, stationary means for diiusing light over said object, stationary means for producing moving light beams, for supplying light to said projecting and diffusing means, one of said beams emitting light of constant intensity and the other of said light beams emitting light of varying intensity in accordance with the light and shade vdensities of an object, means for detecting sound waves, means for detecting light waves, said light and sound detecting means being positioned adjacent said first mentioned means, means for reproducing sound waves, and means for enclosing all of said above mentioned means in a compact unitary arrangement, said mingled with said iii-st meanbswfor diffusing over the same ares, light modulated in accordance i with `the light and shade densities ,of an object eatla distant point, stationary means for production system, an adjustable horn shaped housing suitable for desi; use having'a open' end in a substantially vertical plane and a, closed end in a substantially horizontal plane. a television scanning and receiving screenlocated within the open and of said `housing and in a substantially vertical plane, Va light detector and a sound detector, both of said detectors beingr located adjacent said screen, a-telephone receiver located at the closed end of said housing and means having solely stationary parts for obtaining a moving beam Vof light also located at the closed .end of said housingl said elements above mem tioned being4 so positioned within said housing as to provide av space between sai-d housing and said elements for confining and directing sound to an observer.

8. A television and telephone communication system in accordance with claim '7, in`whlch the open portion of said housing may be rotated,

`raised and lowered and is shaped-to position the face oil an observer at the optimum pointwith respect to said television scanning and receiving screen, said screen lia-ving an area comparable to the size of the face.

ALEXANDER MCLEAN NICOLSON.

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