WO1994016520A1

WO1994016520A1 - Flexible head video camera

Info

Publication number: WO1994016520A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/012470
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus K. Allmendinger
Original assignee: Workstation Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 1992-12-30
Filing date: 1993-12-22
Publication date: 1994-07-21
Also published as: AU5873894A

Abstract

A video camera for use in teleconferencing sessions between users of computers has conventional video camera electronics mounted in the body (20) of the camera. The lens assembly (230) is separated from the body and mounted in a camera head (200). The camera head (200) is pivotably connected to the body so that the lens assembly (230) can be moved with respect to the body (20) so that when the camera body is positioned on the top of a monitor (260), for example, the camera head (200) can be moved to aim the lens assembly at the face of a user looking at the video monitor (260). The pivotable adjustment thus accommodates many different positions of the user and of the monitor (260) on which the camera is resting.

Description

FLEXIBLE HEAD VIDEO CAMERA

Background of the Invention Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to providing a flexible head video camera to be used in connection with¹ a personal computer to enable remote users of personal computers to visually communicate with each other.

Description of the Related Art

Computers are increasingly being used to solve complex problems such as designing mechanical devices and electrical circuits. It is often useful for remote users of linked computer monitors to simultaneously work on a single design problem. For example, a model of a complex mechanical device may be input into a computer aided design system on one computer and communicated via communications lines to another remotely located computer for simultaneous display on the monitor associated with the remote computer. Often, when two users work on the same project, it is advantageous for the remote users to also be in both visual and audio communication as they work on the project. Video cameras and associated video communications electronics have been provided for such visual communications . A video camera at each computer is directed toward the face of the user to enable the two users to mutually observe each other as they are communicating. For example, in preferred implementations of the present invention, the user's faces appear in respective video windows of the computer monitors.

Typically, the head of a video camera containing the lens has been permanently affixed to the body of the video camera. Therefore, the entire video camera must be maneuvered so that the lens points directly toward the object to be transmitted. Usually, a tripod is used to provide flexible positioning of the video camera; however, in the field of teleconferencing via computer communication, this implementation has drawbacks. For example, the two users generally are facing toward the respective computer monitors to observe the information on the monitors and to observe the other user appearing in the video window. If the camera is mounted on a tripod, it would have to be between the user and the monitor to provide a full frontal image of the user's face. This, of course, would interfere with the user's view of the monitor and would also be aesthetically unpleasant. However, the angle between the video camera, a user's eye and the image of a remote user on the computer monitor should be kept as small as possible to facilitate eye contact between remote users.

If the tripod is mounted to one side, then the image of the user would be a partial profile view which does not provide the desired face-to-face communications between the two users. In either case, the amount of space required for the tripod is usually not readily available on a typical computer user's work surface. Some cameras have been placed on top of the computer monitor; however, because of variations in the positioning of computer monitors and because of variations in the contour of the top of computer monitors, the camera may not be directed at the user such that the user sitting in front of the monitor may not be fully within the viewing range of the lens of the video camera. Without the tripod, it is awkward to attempt to adjust the angle of the video camera when it is located on top of the computer monitor because an adjustment that provides the correct video image may not be acceptable for viewing the images on the computer monitor.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for a video camera that can be used in connection with teleconferencing via computer systems. Such a need is met by the present invention described herein.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the present invention is a video camera for facilitating video communication between users of computer systems. The video camera comprises a body that houses the electronic components of the camera. The video camera also comprises a head that houses a lens and a photosensitive electronic circuit onto which images are focused by the lens. The photosensitive electronic circuit converts the images focused thereon into electrical signals representing the images . The head is pivotably mounted with respect to the body such that the lens can be positioned without moving ttie body. A flexible cable electrically connects the photosensitive electronic circuit to the electronic components in the body of the camera. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the photosensitive electronic circuit comprises a CCD array. Also preferably, the lens is a fixed focus lens. The electronics components convert the electrical signals from the photosensitive electronic circuit to NTSC compatible composite video signals which are provided as outputs from the camera.

Other video standards, such as PAL or SECAM, can also be used.

Preferably, the camera head is pivotably mounted to the body by a hinge. The hinge has sufficient friction such that the head maintains any position to which it is moved with respect to the body. In the embodiment described herein, the friction is provided by at least one pliable cylindrical ring positioned in the hinge.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for generating video signals representing images of a user of a computer. The method comprises the steps of placing a video camera having a body portion and a pivotably attached head portion on top of a computer monitor, and moving the head portion of the camera so that a lens in the head portion is directed toward the user without moving the body portion of the camera.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention. Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention. Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the invention positioned on top of a computer monitor (shown in phantom) , with three of the various possible positions of the head of the video camera shown in solid and phantom lines.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the invention.

Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the invention positioned on top of a computer monitor (shown in phantom) .

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the components of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a block diagram of the electronics of an embodiment of the present invention for generating electronic signals for communicating black and white video images.

Figure 10 is a block diagram of the electronics of an embodiment of the present invention for generating electronic signals for communicating color video images.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The invention will now be described in detail by referring to the aforementioned drawings. Identical components shown in different figures will be referred to by consistent identifying numbers throughout.

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the flexible head video camera 10. The video camera 10 preferably comprises two major components, namely, a body portion (hereinafter "body") 20 and a head portion (hereinafter "head") 200. Preferably, the head 200 is pivotably attached to the body 20 so that it may be moved with respect to the body 20, as will be discussed in more detail below.

Detailed Description of the Body of the Camera As shown in Figure 1, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body 20 comprises a cover 50 and a base 30. The body 20 is advantageously constructed of a heavy plastic or other suitable material commonly used for housing electronic components. Other configurations of the body 20 may also be used to encase the electronic components of the video camera of the present invention.

Preferably, the cover 50 is attached to the base 30 by a plurality of male locking protrusions 56. Preferably, the male locking protrusions 56 fit within respective fema-le locking slots 36 formed within the base 30 in order to tightly secure the cover 50 to the base 30. In addition, a plurality of cylindrical screw posts 62 are preferably provided on the lower surface of the cover 50. The screw posts 62 are preferably internally threaded to receive a corresponding plurality of screws 41. The base 30 is preferably provided with screw apertures 40 aligned with the ends of the screw posts 62 such that the screws 41 may removably secure the base 30 to the cover 50 once the male locking protrusions 56 of the cover 50 are engaged with the female locking slots 36 of the base 30. Other methods of securing the base 30 and the cover 50 may also be used.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 8, the cover 50 is preferably provided with a pair of projections 58 that serve as head receiving arms 58 that form a part of a hinge assembly between the head 200 and the body 20, as discussed below. As shown more clearly in Figure 8, the head receiving arms 58 are provided with head receiving slots 59 in order to receive a pair of hinge pins 221 on the head 200. The base 30 includes a pair of hinge supports 60 onto which the hinge pins 221 rest when the hinge pins 221 are inserted in the slots 59 and the base 30 and the cover 50 are secured to each other. The hinge pins 221, the slots 59 and the hinge supports 60 together provide a hinge assembly which permits the head 200 to pivot with respect to the body 20, as illustrated in Figure 5.

Preferably, the cover 50 contains a flexible cable aperture 52 to permit a flexible cable 72 extending from the head 200 to enter the body 20 to provide electrical communication between a lens assembly 230 located within the head 200 and an electronic circuit board 74 located within the body 20. The cover 50 may advantageously be provided with a plurality of ventilation slots 54 to allow heat generated by electronic components within the body 20 to escape the video camera 10 during operation. Referring to Figure 5, the body 20 is constructed to rest on top of a computer monitor 260 (shown in phantom) . Preferably, the video camera 10 rests on top of the computer monitor 260 with the head 200 extending in front of the screen of the monitor in such a fashion that the head 200 may be pivoted with respect to the stationary body 20 so as to direct

(i.e., aim) the face of the lens assembly 230 toward the face of a computer user (not shown) . The pivoting of the head 200 thus accommodates various monitor styles and various viewing positions of the monitor that may be selected by the user. The present invention thus permits a full range of adjustment so that the head 200 can be positioned to provide the remote computer user with a full frontal view of the local user's face on the remote monitor. This facilitates eye contact between the two users through the use of multiple video cameras of the present invention. It should be understood, of course, that the present invention may be used in a unidirectional setting with a camera 20 only at one end of the teleconferencing link, directed at, for example, an instructor lecturing to a number of remote users. In the preferred embodiment, the body 20 is sufficiently weighted so that it may rest on top of the video monitor 260

(see Figures 5 and 7) and provide cantilevered support for the head 200 without causing the video camera 10 to tip and fall off of the computer monitor 260. For example, the body 20 of the camera may _. be longer than necessary to enclose the electronics components to provide weight and a sufficiently long lever arm to support the head 200. Referring to Figures 3 and 7, the base 30 may be provided with a plurality of base pads 32 to prevent slippage of the body 20 when the video camera 10 is placed on top of the computer monitor 260.

Although the camera 10 of the present invention is intended to rest on top of a video monitor in most teleconferencing applications, the camera may also be used as a conventional video camera in some applications . For this purpose, the base 30 is advantageously provided with a receptacle 34 into which a conventional threaded insert 35 may be inserted. The female threads of the insert 35 are selected to matingly engage with the male threads of a conventional camera tripod (not shown) so that the camera 10 can be secured to such a tripod for other applications.

Referring to Figure 8, the base 30 is advantageously provided with a plurality of screw posts 42 and 44 for removably attaching electronic boards 74 and 76, described below, to the base 30.

Referring to Figure 8, the base 30 is preferably provided with circular apertures 255, 256 and 257 to allow for power input, video output, and audio output, respectively, of the video camera 10, as will be discussed in more detail below.

Detailed Description of the Head of the Camera

Referring to Figure 1, the housing of the head 200 preferably comprises a cover 210 and a base plate 220. As shown in Figure 7, the head 200 houses a lens assembly 230 that comprises a conventional fixed focus lens 232 and a conventional CCD array 234.

The lens assembly 230 is preferably removably secured to the base plate 220. The lens 230 is preferably provided with a plurality of screw apertures 231 and the base plate 220 is preferably provided with a corresponding plurality of screw posts 224 so that the lens 230 may be secured to the base plate 220 by screws 240 inserted through screw apertures 231 to engage threads on the interior of the screw posts 224. In the preferred embodiment, the base plate 220 is preferably provided with screw apertures 227 and the head cover 210 is provided with screw posts (not shown) , the interior of which are threaded to removably receive screws 212. The head cover 210 is preferably provided with a circular aperture 211 to allow the lens 232 of the lens assembly 230 to receive light from the exterior of the head 200.

Advantageously, the head 200 of the video camera 10 overhangs the computer monitor 260 so that the lens 232 is as close as possible to the image of a remote user on the computer monitor 260. As illustrated in Figure 5, a portion of the head 200 is extendable below a plane defined by the bottom of the body 20, and thus is extendable below the surface on which the body 20 rests (e.g., the top of the monitor 260 in Figure 5) . By overhanging the head 200, the video camera 10 obtains the highest possible level of eye contact between the user and the video camera 10. Therefore, a user looking at the computer^" monitor would also have strong eye contact with the video camera 10 because there is a very small angle between the video camera 260, the eye of the user and the image of a remote user on the computer monitor 260.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 7, the base plate 220 may be removably secured to the head cover 210 through the use of a snap or friction fit or any other securing means known to those skilled in the¹ art.

The base plate 220 is preferably provided with a slot 223, as shown in Figure 7, to allow the flexible cable 72 to exit the head 200 and connect to the circuit board 74 within the body 20.

Referring to Figure 7, the base plate 220 may advantageously be provided with extensions 225 which engage the inside of the cover 50 of the body 20 in order to inhibit the head 200 from being directed at an undesirably low angle. Detailed Description of the Pivotable Engagement Between the

Head and the Body of the Camera

Referring to Figure 5 it is an important aspect of the present invention that the head 200 be pivotably attached to the body 20 so that a computer user viewing the computer monitor may pivot the head 200 with respect to the body 20 so as to direct the lens 230 toward the user's face. This allows for maximum eye contact between the computer user and a remote user, advantageously maximizing communication between remote computer users. Advantageously, the head 200 of the present invention may be adjusted depending upon the height of the user and the position the user utilizes while using the computer in addition to accommodate different orientations*of the monitor 260. Thus, during lengthy sessions, a computer user may adjust positions and flexibly rotate the head 200 accordingly to maintain an optimal level of eye contact with a remote user. Hence, remote users may work on an individual project simultaneously while being able to see and hear the remote user through use of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 8, the pliable cylindrical rings 222 are preferably placed on the cylindrical hinge pins 221 located on either side of the base plate 220 of the head 200. Thereafter, the cylindrical posts 221 are inserted within the head receiving slots 59 located on each head receiving arm 58 of the cover 50 of the body 20. When the base 30 is attached to the cover 50, the hinge supports 60 provide a support for the pins 221. The width of the base plate 220 between the hinge pins 221 is selected to provide a tight fit between the head receiving arms 58 so that the pliable rings 222 are squeezed between the base plate 220 and the arms. The tight fit between the head receiving arms 58, the cylindrical rings 222, the cylindrical posts 221, and the base plate 220 creates sufficient friction force to cause the head 200 to remain in a position to which it is pivoted by the user. Three such positions are illustrated in Figure 5. Other methods of flexibly securing the head 200 to the base 20 will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art and are contemplated by the present invention.

Description of the Electronics of the Preferred Embodiments

The video camera 10 may be constructed to provide video signals to communicate either black and white images or color images. The color version of the preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 1-8; however, the description is likewise applicable to the black and white version as described below. Figure 9 illustrates a block diagram of the electronic components of black and white version of the present invention. The camera lens assembly 230 and the associated electronics are advantageously purchased as a single unit fr*om Goldbeam Electronics as Part No. ASC-100M. The Goldbeam Electronics version is factory assembled with the lens assembly 230 mounted on a board along with the conversion circuitry 300. The board is pre-perforated so that the portion of the board comprising the lens assembly 230 is separable from the conversion circuitry 300. The board comprising the conversion circuitry 300 corresponds to the board 74 in Figure 8. As manufactured by Goldbeam Electronics, a relatively stiff cable interconnects the two board portions. After the two boards are separated, the stiff cable is preferably replaced with the flexible cable 72 to provide greater flexibility so as to reduce the strain on the connections between the two boards and to make it easier to move the head 200 with respect to the body 20.

The CCD array 234 in the camera head 200 operates in a conventional manner, as described in the manufacturer's specification, to generate electrical output signals responsive to the light passing through the lens 232 and incident on the CCD array 234. The electrical output signals from the CCD array 234 are communicated to the conversion circuitry 300, which operates in a conventional manner to generate conventional NTSC composite video signals via a connector 251, also shown in Figure 6. The composite video output signals are provided to conventional electronic circuit to communicate the signals to a remote location in accordance with any number of conventional methods. The conversion circuitry 300 and the lens assembly 230 are powered by a conventional AC-to-DC wall adapter 310 via a power jack 249. The power to the CCD array 234 in the lens assembly 230 is communicated from the conversion circuitry 300 via the flexible cable 72. An optional microphone 320 within the camera head operates in a conventional manner to receive sound from a person in front of the camera head and convert the sound to electronic audio signals which are also communicated to conventional electronic circuits via an audio output connector 253 for communication to the remote user. In some applications, a separate lapel microphone or the like may used in combination with the video camera 10.

In the black and white version of the present invention, the second circuit board 76 in Figure 8 is not used. The electronics circuitry for the color version of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 10. The circuitry for the color version is available from Sony as Part No. CCB-C35T. The electronics from Sony includes the CCD array 234 mounted on a circuit board along with conversion electronics 350 necessary to convert the output of the CCD array to YUV color video signals. In the preferred embodiment, the CCD array 234 is removed from the conventional circuit board and mounted on the lens assembly to receive light focused by the lens 230. The lens 230 in the color embodiment is preferably has a 5 millimeter diameter fixed focus lens having a 2.8 aperture and is commercially available from Chugai of Japan. The CCD array is electrically connected to the conversion electronics 350 using the flexible cable 72 as discussed above, with the same connections being provided through the cable 72 as were originally provided by direct connection on the circuit board 74. Thus, the CCD array 234 and the conversion electronics 350 operate in a conventional manner, as specified by Sony, to provide the YUV color signal outputs . For use in accordance with the NTSC standards in the

United States, the YUV signals from the conversion circuitry 350 are converted to NTSC signals by a conventional YUV to NTSC converter 352. Such converters are well-known in the video camera art and will not be described in detail herein. The converter is mounted on the second printed circuit board 76 shown in Figure 8. In addition, the second printed circuit board includes conventional DC-to-DC power conversion circuitiy 354 to convert the conventional 12 volt DC voltage from the AC/DC adapter to -9 volts, +15 volts and +5 volts required by the conversion circuitry 350, the YUV to NTSC convsrter 352 and the CCD array 234. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, when the camera 10 is in use, a power cable 250 from the AC-to-DC adapter 310 (riot shown) , video output cable 252 and an audio output cable 254 are attached to the power input connector 249, the video output connector 251 and audio output connector 253, respectively, in order to provide power to the video camera 10 and transmit video and audio signals from the video camera 10 to the video communication circuitry.

Claims

WHAT In LAIMED IS:

1. A video camera for facilitating video communication, said camera comprising: a body containing electronic components of said camera; a head containing a lens and a photosensitive electronic circuit that converts images focused thereon by said lens into electrical signals representing said images, said head being pivotably mounted with respect to said body such that said lens can be positioned without moving said body; and a flexible cable electrically connecting said photosensitive electronic circuit to said electronic components .

2. The video camera as defined in Claim 1, wherein said photosensitive electronic circuit comprises a CCD array.

3. The video camera as defined in Claim 1, wherein said lens is a fixed focus lens.

4. The video camera as defined in Claim 1, wherein said electronics components convert said electrical signals from said photosensitive electronic circuit to NTSC compatible composite video signals.

5. The video camera as defined in Claim 1, wherein said head is pivotably mounted to said body by a hinge, said hinge having sufficient friction such that said head maintains any position to which it is moved with respect to said body.

6. The video camera as defined in Claim 5, further including at least one pliable cylindrical ring positioned in said hinge to provide said friction.

7. The video camera as defined in Claim 1, wherein said body of said camera has a bottom surface, and wherein at least a portion of said head of said camera extends below a plane defined by said bottom surface. _c . A method for generating video signals representing images of a user of a computer, said method comprising the steps of : placing a video camera having a body portion and a pivotably attached head portion on top of a computer monitor; and moving said head portion of said camera so that a lens in said head portion is directed toward said user without moving said body portion of said camera.