Apparatus for correcting gaze, a method of videoconferencing and a system therefor
View Patent ↗An apparatus, a method of videoconferencing and a videoconferencing system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a monitor configured to switch between a display mode and a reflecting mode and (2) a camera located in front of the monitor, the camera positioned to face the monitor and synchronized with the monitor to capture a local image reflected therefrom during the reflecting mode.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a monitor configured to switch between a display mode and a reflecting mode; and
a camera located in front of said monitor, said camera positioned to face said monitor and synchronized with said monitor to capture a local image reflected therefrom during said reflecting mode.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising an exposure controller configured to provide a timing signal that synchronizes said capture with said reflecting mode.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said exposure controller is associated with said monitor.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said monitor switches between said display mode and said reflecting mode at a frequency of 120 Hertz.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said monitor is a LCD monitor having a light source and said light source is activated during said display mode and said light source is deactivated during said reflecting mode.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a timing signal is employed to control switching between said display mode and said reflecting mode and employed to control operation of environmental effects associated with said monitor or said camera.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said environmental effects include ambient lighting for said apparatus and said ambient lighting is turned off during said reflecting mode.
8. A method of videoconferencing, comprising:
switching a monitor between a display mode and reflecting mode; and
capturing a local image reflected from said monitor during said reflecting mode employing a camera, said camera located in front of said monitor and positioned to face said monitor.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising providing a timing signal to synchronize said capturing with said reflecting mode.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said timing signal is generated by an exposure controller associated with said monitor.
11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said switching between said display mode and said reflecting mode occurs at a frequency of 120 Hertz.
12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said monitor is a LCD monitor having a light source and said switching includes activating said light source during said display mode and deactivating said light source during said reflecting mode.
13. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising employing a timing signal to control switching between said display mode and said reflecting mode and employing said timing signal to control operation of environmental effects associated with said monitor or said camera.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said environmental effects include ambient lighting for said apparatus, said method further comprising deactivating said ambient lighting during said reflecting mode.
15. A videoconferencing system, comprising:
a first videoconferencing terminal connectable to support a videoconferencing session video with a second videoconferencing terminal via a telecommunications network, wherein said first terminal includes:
a microphone configured to generate an audio signal based on acoustic energy received thereby,
a speaker configured to generate acoustic energy based on an audio signal received thereby,
a monitor configured to switch between a display mode and a reflecting mode; and
a camera located in front of said monitor, said camera positioned to face said monitor and synchronized with said monitor to capture a local image reflected therefrom during said reflecting mode.
16. The videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 further comprising an exposure controller configured to provide a timing signal that synchronizes said capture with said reflecting mode.
17. The videoconferencing system as recited in claim 16 wherein said exposure controller is integrated with said monitor.
18. The videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein said monitor switches between said display mode and said reflecting mode at a frequency of 120 Hertz.
19. The videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein said monitor is a LCD having a light source and said light source is activated during said display mode and said light source is deactivated during said reflecting mode.
20. The videoconferencing system as recited in claim 15 wherein a timing signal is employed to control switching between said display mode and said reflecting mode and employed to control operation of environmental effects associated with said monitor or said camera.