JPH09205629A - Video conference equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the video conference equipment with excellent operability and realizing a small space by drawing out a monitor, a turnable television camera mounted on the monitor integrally, a handset and a writing and picture board contained in the equipment main body when a video conference is held. SOLUTION: A liquid crystal display monitor 6, a small sized TV camera 7 supported turnably with a television camera arm 15 fitted onto the liquid crystal display monitor 6 integrally, a handset 2 and a picture and writing board 12 are stored in the equipment main body 1 when no video conference is held, and drawn out at the outside of the equipment main body 1 when video conference is held. When a picture and writing is entered, the small sized TV camera 7 is directed toward the picture and writing board 12 with the television camera arm 15 and a camera drive shaft 17. Thus, when no video conference is held, the installation space is reduced to avoid trouble and when a video conference is held, the video conference equipment with excellent operability is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference apparatus capable of bidirectionally talking with video.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional video conference apparatus, for example,
There is one described in JP-A-3-201690. The content is to rotate a television camera attached to the apparatus main body so that a person other than the operator can take a picture toward not only the operator. As a result, the image of the original document on the writing table installed at the rear of the main body can be taken by turning the camera backward. In addition to the above, a handset, operation keys, and a TV monitor are installed on the top of the main unit to improve operability, reduce overall cost, and save space.

[0003]

However, although a rotatable camera or a TV monitor or the like which has two roles is mounted on the upper surface of the main body of the apparatus on which the handset is installed, only that much is provided on the surface of the main body. If you try to combine functions into smaller ones, you will have to make the monitor smaller, and you will not be able to make the writing stand too big.If you make it small, it will be a fine and hard-to-see original, which is a negative factor. Therefore, if the requirements are met, the size becomes large and the operability and space are impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video conference apparatus which is excellent in operability and saves space.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a video conference apparatus equipped with a monitor, a video camera and a handset, and is stored in the apparatus main body when a video conference is held. Pull out the monitor,
The video conferencing device is configured so that a rotatable TV camera integrally mounted on the monitor can be set and used.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a video conference apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a non-use state of the video conference apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a stored TV monitor can be taken out to hold a video conference. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a mechanism for taking out the television monitor housed in the main body, FIG. 4 is a side view of the state of FIG. 3 seen from the side, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial explanatory views for explaining a movable part. Is. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the connection of the connector. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of a conference system using a writing stand.

The system of the present invention typically takes the form of a desk phone, as seen in FIG. 1, and is adapted to function as a phone. A handset 2, operation keys 3, a monitor eject lever 4, and a movable plate 5 are attached to the apparatus body 1.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the liquid crystal monitor 6 stored in the apparatus main body 1 is pulled out to the outside by an operation of pulling in the direction of arrow B, and is set by a rotating operation in the direction of arrow C. 7 is a small TV camera. If this happens, the video conference can start immediately. It should be noted that the apparatus main body 1 has a built-in circuit section of the video conference apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an internal mechanism for taking out the liquid crystal television monitor 6 from the apparatus main body 1. In order to take out the monitor 6, first, the monitor 6 is slid in the direction D in the figure by operating the monitor eject lever 4 also shown in FIG. The guide pins 8 fixed to both lower ends of the monitor 6 are L-shaped guide grooves 1 formed in guide plates 9 attached to both sides of the apparatus body.
Since the structure is movable along 0, the upper part of the monitor 6 is pushed out of the apparatus main body 1 by the sliding movement of the monitor 6. The eject lever 4 is biased in the arrow E direction by a spring (not shown), and has a mechanism that returns to its original position by operating the eject lever 4 in the arrow E direction.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the state of FIG. 3 seen from the side. The rear wall of the main body of the apparatus is a movable plate 11 that can be opened, and the monitor 6 and the television camera 7 are pulled out by the eject lever 4. Reference numeral 12 is a writing table that can be pulled out in a direction orthogonal to the direction of pulling out the monitor 6, and is stored in the main body 1 when not in use.

The monitor 6 pulled out of the apparatus main body 1
5, grasp the upper part of the monitor 6 and pull out the guide pin 8 until it comes to the corner of the guide groove 10, and rotate it at the corner to vertically stand the monitor 6 and form an L-shaped guide groove 10. Slide to the bottom of the device. The monitor 6 is stored in the opposite way. At this time, the movable plates 5 and 11 attached to the top and back of the rear part of the device are both biased by springs (not shown) so as to cover the top and back, so that when the monitor 6 is set, Movable plates 5 and 11
The mechanism is such that the lid is closed (see FIG. 6).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the connecting portion for inputting / outputting signals between the apparatus main body 1 and the monitor 6 or the small television camera 7 is a connector type, and when the monitor 6 is set vertically. The monitor lower part 13 and the connection part 14 at the bottom of the device are connected by a connector. Switching between telephone and video conferencing is usually done by connector connection or by a switch on the operating key.

In FIG. 8, the writing table 12 stored in the bottom of the apparatus is pulled out, the television camera arm 15 above the monitor 6 is rotated by the camera arm rotating shaft 18, and the tip 16 of the camera unit is rotated by the camera rotating shaft 17. Since it is rotatable, you can make it face down to the writing stand 12
2 shows a state in which a document or the like can be taken.

The writing table 12 is almost in contact with the bottom surface of the apparatus, and can be easily pulled out while sliding by the hole on the back side of the bottom surface.

The television camera 7 is mounted on the upper surface of the monitor 6 via the arm 15 so that one end of the arm 15 can rotate. In addition, the camera tip 1
Since 6 is also a mechanism that can be rotated, the camera 7 facing the front can be directed downward. Due to its structure, the writing table 12 can be pulled out on either the left or right side of the device depending on the application.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the TV monitor and the TV camera are housed in the apparatus except when the TV conference is used, the installation space can be reduced. No hassle.

A space for accommodating the monitor is ensured in the apparatus, and the operation for taking in and out is easy, and the guide mechanism functions smoothly for the monitor.

Further, the monitor to be stored can be made large by using a thin liquid crystal monitor or the like, and a screen that is easy to see can be provided in a video conference or the like. Since the connector type is used for the signal input / output connection when the monitor is taken in and out, no problems or reliability problems due to the forming of the lead wire of the flexible substrate or the like occur.

The drawing stand is also housed in the apparatus, and it is possible to take pictures of drawers and drawings, depending on the application, without taking up space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a non-use state of a video conference device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a TV conference can be performed by taking out a stored TV monitor.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a mechanism for taking out a television monitor stored in the main body.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the state of FIG. 3 viewed from the side.

FIG. 5 is a partial explanatory view for explaining a movable portion.

FIG. 6 is a partial explanatory view for explaining a movable portion.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of connection of a connector.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of a conference system using a writing stand.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 2 Handset 3 Operation Key 4 Monitor Eject Lever 5 Movable Plate 6 Liquid Crystal Monitor 7 Television Camera 8 Guide Pin 9 Guide Plate 10 Guide Groove 11 Movable Plate 12 Book Stand 13 Monitor Lower 14 Connection 15 TV Camera Arm 16 Tip of Camera 17 Camera rotation axis

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video conferencing apparatus equipped with a monitor, a video camera, and a handset, when conducting a video conference, pulling out a monitor stored in the main body of the apparatus and rotating integrally attached to the upper part of the monitor. A video conferencing device that can be used by setting a compatible video camera. 2. The video conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein signals can be input and output between the apparatus body, the monitor and the television camera by connecting the monitor to a connector attached to the bottom of the apparatus body.