JP2012039195A - Table system for television conference - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a table system for a television conference, which rapidly and reliably performs preparation for a television conference with minimum necessary equipment and work and also easily changes an environment of the television conference in accordance with the number of persons.SOLUTION: A table system for a television conference includes: a table 1 available for one or multiple persons by seating along marginal parts 11a-11d of a top plate 11; a movable carriage 2 having base plates 26, 29, etc., being support parts to support a camera C and a monitor M; and a coupling member structurally associating the movable carriage 2 with the top plate 11, so as to allow the movable carriage 2 to keep a relative distance in a univocal way with respect to the top plate 11 when being moved to at least a first movement position and a second movement position in the circumference of the top plate 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a videoconferencing table system that can take a plurality of forms quickly and reliably using a minimum number of fixtures.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, video conference systems that can hold a conference while being in a remote place have become widespread.

  This type of video conference system includes an imaging device and an image display device at two or more distant locations, and displays images captured by the image capturing device at each location on the image display device of the other party, thereby realizing a pseudo In this way, a meeting with the other party is created so that the meeting can proceed.

  As such a video conference system, conventionally, an independent space such as a conference room has been secured, but assuming such a case where such an independent space cannot be secured, for example, what is disclosed in Patent Document 1, etc. By installing fixtures such as a shooting display unit, background panel, and table at predetermined intervals in a room where a video conference is held, an environment where audio and video noise can be eliminated as much as possible even in open spaces is prepared. ing.

JP-A-6-141318

  However, in this document, in order to lay out each fixture at a predetermined interval, for example, the door opening angle provided in the photographing display unit is used as a guide for the angle of view, and a person only gives an index. It can only be realized by understanding the meaning of the indicators and using them as a guide to properly arrange each fixture. Therefore, it is assumed that readjustment will be necessary if there is a sensory shift even if you intend to lay out or adjust the layout in a casual manner. There is no effect.

  In addition, since a large background panel body is used, it is expensive and time for preparation of the layout is also required. Therefore, the video conference cannot be started immediately.

  Furthermore, it is considered that the managers who are extremely busy are particularly in need of video conferencing in order to save time, but the equipment such as the patent literature is large-scale to use alone, and the television alone It would be desirable to have facilities that can be used for both conferences and team video conferences, and the environment can be switched immediately.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful videoconferencing table system which is well-treated for such a situation.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention takes the following measures.

  That is, the video conference table system of the present invention includes a table that can be used by one or more people sitting along the edge of the top board, and a movable table having a support unit that supports the imaging device and the image display device. And when the movable table is moved to at least the first movement position and the second movement position around the top plate, the movable table and the top plate are respectively maintained so as to keep a relative distance with respect to the top plate uniquely. And associated means for structurally relating.

  In this way, even if the moving table is moved at random, the relative distance to the table is determined automatically by the structural association at the first moving position and the second moving position. The device and the image display device can be quickly and accurately arranged at the optimum positions with a simple operation.

  In order to easily prepare an appropriate environment for each moving position including the azimuth, the related means has a predetermined edge of the table positioned almost in front of the moving table at the first moving position, and the second moving It is desirable that the moving table is structurally related to the table in a state in which the posture can be changed according to the moving destination so that the top plate center line of the table is positioned substantially in front of the moving table.

  In order to perform preparations for video conferencing to the minimum necessary, the related means is a connecting member that connects a part of the top plate and a part of the moving table, and the connecting member is vertically oriented on one end side. Attached rotatably to a part of the top plate around the axis and attached to the part of the moving table around the vertical axis so that the other end can be rotated, the connecting member restricts the moving table from tilting from the standing posture. It is preferable that it also serves as a regulating means.

  In order to enable switching of the usage pattern in a more automatic form, it is advantageous for the connecting member to include a posture changing mechanism that causes a posture change to the moving table in conjunction with the movement of the moving table. .

  In order to accurately perform the wiring process in such a configuration, it is desirable that the connecting member includes a wiring accommodating portion that accommodates a wiring routed between the table and the movable table.

  In particular, using the above configuration, it is preferable to configure as follows.

  Relevant so that a person seated at a predetermined position at the first movement position can enter the field of view range of the imaging apparatus and all persons seated around the table at the second movement position can enter the field angle range of the imaging apparatus. A teleconferencing table system in which the means associates the relative distance between the moving table and the table, and the attitude of the moving table relative to the table can be changed according to the destination.

  A person seated at a predetermined position at the first movement position is positioned almost in front of the image display apparatus, and a person who is seated around the table at the second movement position reduces both the angles facing the image display apparatus. The video conference table system in which the associated means associates the relative distance between the moving table and the table and can change the attitude of the moving table with respect to the table in accordance with the moving destination.

  Since the present invention has the configuration described above, preparation for a video conference can be performed quickly and reliably with a minimum amount of equipment and operations, and the video conference environment can be easily switched according to the number of people. As described above, it is possible to provide a new and useful video conference table system that is suitable for a team or a department in which work is performed mainly by a specific person such as an administrator.

The perspective view which shows the table system for video conferences concerning one Embodiment of this invention in the state which has a moving stand in a 1st movement position. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the video conference table system together with a state in which a moving table is movable between a first movement position and a second movement position. The figure which shows the mobile stand which comprises the table system for the video conferences. The figure which shows typically the connection part of the mobile stand and top plate in the table system for video conferences. The perspective view which shows typically the connection member used for the connection part. The figure which shows the modification of a connection member.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the video conference table system of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a movable table 2 is arranged around a table 1 so that the position can be changed, and a specific person such as an administrator sits on a chair 3a used as his seat. It is possible to easily switch between an environment where the system can be used and an environment where other members can gather and sit on the chair 3b so that other members surround the table 1 as shown in FIG. It is a thing.

  Specifically, the table 1 of this embodiment is a horizontally long or vertically long table 11 having a longitudinal direction (X direction) and a short direction (Y direction), and extends in the longitudinal direction (X direction). Edge portions (hereinafter referred to as long edge portions) 11a and 11b and edge portions (hereinafter referred to as short edge portions) 11c and 11d extending in the short side direction (Y direction) are gently curved to form an ellipse or an ellipse. The outer shape of the top plate 11 is formed. And the lower surface of the vicinity of corner part c1-c4 is each supported by the rod-shaped leg 12, and leg space S is open | released between the legs 12, 12 in the front-back, left-right.

  One long edge portion 11a of the pair of long edge portions 11a and 11b is set as a seat for a specific person, and a first edge in which a speaker is built in the upper surface of the top plate 11 in a certain region along the long edge portion 11a. The member 13a is arranged, and the top edge of the long edge portion 11a is used as a base point in a region along the edge portion from the left and right corner portions c1 and c4 to the long edge portion 11b on the facing side through the short edge portions 11c and 11d. A second edge member 13b having a built-in speaker is disposed on the upper surface of the plate 11. That is, the speaker built in the first edge member 13a is a dedicated one for a specific person to obtain the audio of the video conference, and the speaker built in the second edge member 13b is gathered in this table 1. Is used by the members of to acquire the audio of the video conference. Below one long edge portion 11a of the top plate 11, a switch 14 is provided for turning on and off the speakers and switching the volume. Since the audio of the video conference can be obtained from the speaker at each sitting position, it is sufficient to set the minimum necessary level that can be heard at a close distance with respect to the volume.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable table 2 is configured such that a pair of left and right side plates 22 supported on the front and rear by a caster 21 are connected by a pair of upper and lower frames 23 and 24, and can move independently. Brackets 23a and 24a for bringing the support surface forward are fitted to the frames 23 and 24, respectively, and the first base plate 25 and the first base plate 26 are attached via the brackets 23a and 24a. In addition, a support plate 27 having base ends attached to the upper and lower frames 23 and 24 protrudes upward. The support plate 27 can be moved up and down while being fitted to the front surface of the support plate 27 and can be positioned intermittently. A movable column 28 is attached, and a third base plate 29 is attached to the upper end of the movable column 28. The first base plate 25 and the second base plate 26 are provided with notches (not shown) for avoiding the support plate 27 on the rear edge side, and the first base plate 25 located at the lowest level is the top of the table 1. It is set at a height position at which the upper surface of the plate 11 is superposed via a required gap.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the second base plate 26 is set as a support unit that supports the monitor M that is an image display device, and the third base plate supports the camera C that is an imaging device. The second base plate 26 is arranged at a position where the center of the monitor M is at the height of the average eye line of the seated person or slightly higher than that, and the third base plate 26 is the monitor M. It is arrange | positioned through some clearance gaps on the upper part of. The camera C is provided with a normal mechanism that can swing up and down. The first base plate 25 is used as a support unit for relay equipment (not shown) that relays between the camera C or the monitor M and an external communication device.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of moving positions are set at two places around the top plate 11 as places where the moving table 2 is to be moved, and the top plate 11 is simply moved to each moving position. The movable table 2 and the table 1 are associated with each other by a connecting member 4 as a related means so that the relative distance with respect to is properly determined. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connecting member 4 is configured to include a rigid body extending linearly, for example, a metal channel material 41 in this embodiment, and at both ends of the channel material 41. The mounting plates 44 and 45 are arranged so as to be rotatable around the vertical axes m and n via the support shafts 42 and 43, and the mounting plate 44 on one end side is one short edge portion which is a part of the top plate 11. A first base that is attached to a lower surface near 11c (specifically, a position on the top plate center line t and close to the edge 11c), and a mounting plate 45 on the other end side is a part of the movable base 2 By attaching to the lower surface (specifically, on the center line of the base plate 25 and near the center of the base plate 25) near the tip edge 25a of the plate 25, the connecting member 4 is rotated around the vertical axis m. The movable table 2 can be moved along the outer periphery of the top plate 11. Since the connecting member 4 prohibits the movement of the center of gravity of the movable table 2 in the vertical direction, the connecting member 4 also serves as a regulating unit that regulates the movable table 2 from being tilted from the standing posture.

  And as shown in FIG. 2, the 2nd movement position Q is set to the short edge part 11c side of the top plate 1, and it is first toward the long edge part 11b side in the facing position of the specific long edge part 11a from there. The position approaching the corner portion c2 is set as the first movement position P, and the relative distance of the movable table 2 with respect to the top plate 11 is uniquely maintained at the first movement position P and the second movement position Q, respectively. I am doing so.

  At this time, since the movable table 2 can rotate around the vertical axis n with respect to the other end of the connecting member 4, the table 1 is positioned almost in front of the movable table 2 at the first movement position P. A predetermined edge portion, that is, one long edge portion 11a in this embodiment is located, and in the second movement position Q, the top plate center line extending in the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the table 1 substantially in front of the moving table 2 The relative orientation with respect to the table 1 can be changed by shaking the head of the movable table 2 so that t is located. The relative distance between the moving table 2 and the table 1 is that the person sitting on the chair 3a at the predetermined position at the first moving position P enters the angle of view range V1 of the camera C, and at the second moving position Q, the relative distance between the table 1 and the table 1 is as follows. It is set so that all persons seated in the surrounding chairs 3a and 3b can enter the angle-of-view range V2 of the camera C, and the person seated in the chair 3a in the predetermined position at the first movement position P can monitor Are set so that the angles θ1 and θ2 at which the person sitting on the chairs 3a and 3b around the table 1 at the second movement position faces the monitor M are both small (equal). Is done. An appropriate design is made so that the connecting member 4 and the leg 12 of the table 1 do not interfere with each other while the movable table 2 moves, and the connecting member 4 and the bracket 23a supporting the base plate 23 do not interfere with each other. ing.

  The connecting member 4 is set as a wiring accommodating portion SS for accommodating the wiring L routed between the table 1 and the movable table 2 in the inner space S, and the monitor M and the camera C described above. Wiring from LAN or LAN cable is accommodated. At both ends of the channel material 41, end caps 46 are mounted in a state where a through hole 46a is secured between the channel material 41, and a cover 47 can be attached to and detached from the upper opening of the channel material 41.

  As described above, the video conference table system of the present embodiment supports the table 1 that can be used by one or more people sitting along the edges 11a to 11d of the top board 11, the camera C, and the monitor M. When the movable table 2 having the base plates 26 and 29 and the like serving as supporting parts and the movable table 2 are moved to at least the first movement position P and the second movement position Q around the top plate 11 Each of them is configured to include a connecting member 4 as a related means for structurally associating the movable table 2 and the top plate 11 so as to keep the relative distance to the top plate 11 unambiguously.

  In this way, even if the moving table 2 is moved randomly, the relative distance to the table 1 is determined by structural association at the first moving position P and the second moving position Q. Accordingly, the camera C and the monitor M can be quickly and accurately arranged at the optimum positions by a simple operation.

  Further, the connecting member 4 as a related means has a predetermined edge portion 11a of the table 1 positioned substantially in front of the moving table 2 at the first moving position P, and the moving table 2 at the second moving position Q. The moving table 2 is structurally related to the table 1 so that the posture can be changed according to the moving destination so that the top plate center line t of the table 1 is located almost in front. At the position P, the camera C and the monitor M are arranged so as to target a person seated on a predetermined edge 11 a of the top plate 11. At the second movement position Q, the camera C and the monitor M are arranged on the top plate 11. Since it can be arranged in a direction targeting a plurality of persons including persons seated at positions sandwiching the top plate center line t along the edges 11a, 11b, and 11d, it is appropriate for each moving position including the direction. Easy environment preparation It is possible.

  Further, as a related means, a connecting member 4 that connects a part of the top plate 11 and a part of the movable table 2 is employed, and the connecting member 4 is connected to one end of the top plate 11 around the vertical axis m. Since it is rotatably attached and the other end is rotatably attached to a part of the movable table 2 around the vertical axis n, and the movable table 2 is always attached to the top plate 11 via the connecting member 4, a video conference This eliminates the need to put in and out the necessary fixtures each time. In addition, since the connecting member 4 also serves as a restricting means for restricting the movable base 2 from being tilted from the standing posture, even if the center of gravity position becomes high by supporting a heavy object such as the monitor M, the fall is surely made. Therefore, the position change operation can be made simple and accurate.

  Furthermore, since the connecting member 4 includes the wiring accommodating portion SS that accommodates the wiring L routed between the table 1 and the movable table 2, and the wiring is not routed on the floor, the movable table Even if 2 is moved, it does not interfere with the wiring L, the appearance is good, and a configuration in which the camera C and the monitor M are collectively controlled on the table 1 side can be easily and easily adopted. It becomes.

  Then, by the related means embodied in the connecting member 4, a person seated at a predetermined position at the first movement position P enters the field angle range V 1 of the camera and sits around the table 1 at the second movement position Q. The relative distance between the movable table 2 and the table 1 can be associated and the posture of the movable table 2 with respect to the table 1 can be appropriately changed according to the movement destination so that all the persons who have entered can enter the field angle range V2 of the camera. .

  Further, by the related means embodied in the connecting member 4, a person seated at a predetermined position at the first movement position P is positioned almost in front of the monitor M and is seated around the table at the second movement position Q. Associating the relative distance between the moving table 2 and the table 1 and appropriately changing the posture of the moving table 2 with respect to the table 1 so that both the angles θ1 and θ2 facing the monitor M are reduced. Is possible.

  The specific configuration of each unit is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the related means is not limited to connecting the moving table and the table. For example, the relative distance and the direction are unambiguous by forming a structural fitting portion between the moving table and the table at each movement destination. You may comprise so that it may be decided.

In the above embodiment, a connecting member including a linear rigid body is used as the related means. However, a link mechanism is used as the related means so that the shape of the top plate, the attachment position of the link mechanism, etc. A more preferable movement trajectory can also be given in relation.

  Further, the connecting member may include a posture changing mechanism that causes a posture change of the moving table in conjunction with the movement of the moving table. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, rotating members 51 and 52 such as pulleys and sprockets are attached to both rotating shafts m and n, and a gap between them is connected by a transmission member 53 such as a belt and a chain. By decelerating, a desired rotational motion can be caused in the movable table 2 according to the rotation of the connecting member 4. Then, it is possible to uniquely determine not only the relative distance of the moving table 2 to the table 1 shown in FIG. 1 but also the posture, and to switch the usage mode in a more automatic manner. it can.

  Furthermore, the setting of the movement position is not limited to the above embodiment, and the movement position can be set to three or more destinations.

  Other configurations can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Table 2 ... Moving stand 4 ... Related means (connection member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Top plate 11a-11d ... Edge part 26, 29 ... Support part (base plate)
C ... Imaging device (camera)
L ... Wiring M ... Image display device (monitor)
m, n ... vertical axis P ... first use position Q ... second use position SS ... wiring housing part t ... top plate centerlines V1, V2 ... angle of view range θ1, θ2 ... angle

Claims (7)

A table that can be used by one or more people sitting along the edge of the top plate, a moving table having a support unit that supports the imaging device and the image display device, and the moving table around the top plate And a related means for structurally associating the movable table with the top plate so as to keep the relative distance to the top plate unambiguously when moved to at least the first movement position and the second movement position, respectively. A video conference table system characterized by the above. The related means is such that the predetermined edge of the table is positioned substantially in front of the moving table at the first moving position, and the top plate center line of the table is positioned approximately in front of the moving table at the second moving position. The video conference table system according to claim 1, wherein the moving table is structurally related to the table in a state in which the posture can be changed according to the moving destination. The related means is a connecting member that connects a part of the top plate and a part of the movable table, and the connecting member is attached to one part of the top plate so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis and the other end side is vertically connected. 3. The video conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is attached to a part of the moving table so as to be rotatable around an axis, and the connecting member also serves as a restricting unit that restricts the moving table from being tilted from a standing posture. Table system. The video conferencing table system according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member includes a posture changing mechanism that causes a posture change of the moving table in conjunction with the movement of the moving table. 5. The video conference table system according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member includes a wiring accommodating portion that accommodates a wiring routed between the table and the moving table. The related means is that a person seated at a predetermined position at the first movement position may enter the field angle range of the imaging apparatus, and all persons seated around the table at the second movement position may enter the field angle range of the imaging apparatus. As described above, the video conference table system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the relative distance between the moving table and the table is associated, and the posture of the moving table with respect to the table can be changed according to the moving destination. The related means is such that a person seated at a predetermined position at the first movement position is positioned substantially in front of the image display apparatus, and a person seated around the table at the second movement position faces the image display apparatus together. The video conference table system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a relative distance between the moving table and the table is associated with each other and the posture of the moving table with respect to the table can be changed according to a moving destination so as to be small.

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