Steelcase Inc.

Joel D Stanfield

Joseph R Branc

William L Miller

Mark A Baloga

Matthew Mead

Thomas G Feldpausch

Paul Noll

Lisa Mead

Carl V Forslund, Iii

Mitchell Niewiadomski

Rémi Marcel Louis Casal

Jonathan Jay King

Remi Marcel Louis Casal

Robert G Krestakos

Michell Niewiadomski

A system for selectively controlling visibility of information in a work environment is provided. The system includes one or more polarized emissive screens located within the work environment. The screens have a first direction of polarization. Information displayed on the screens is visible from inside the work environment. The work environment includes at least one window which permits viewing of the polarized emissive screens from outside of the work environment. A polarizing filter having a second direction of polarization arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization is positioned proximate to the window. From outside the work environment, the inside of the environment can be seen through the window, but with an altered view of the information on the displays.

Polarized enhanced confidentiality

A system for selectively controlling visibility of information in a work environment is provided. The system includes one or more polarized emissive screens located within the work environment. The screens have a first direction of polarization. Information displayed on the screens are visible to a person inside the work environment. The work environment includes at least one window which permits viewing of the polarized emissive screens from outside of the work environment. A polarizing filter having a second direction of polarization arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization is positioned proximate to the window. A person outside the work environment can see inside the environment through the window, but has an altered view of the information on the displays.

A system for selectively controlling visibility of information in an environment is provided. The system includes one or more polarized emissive screens and polarized non-emissive surfaces located within the work environment. The screens have a first direction of polarization and the surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization. Information displayed on the screens and surfaces are visible to a person inside the work environment. The work environment includes at least one window which permits viewing of the polarized emissive screens and non-emissive surfaces from outside of the work environment. A polarizing filter having a second direction of polarization arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization is positioned proximate to the window. A person outside the work environment can see inside the environment through the window, but has an altered view of the information on the displays and surfaces.

A system for selectively controlling visibility of information and for reducing or eliminating light energy in a robotic telepresence environment is provided. The system includes a robotic device in a work environment that is occupied or operated by a pilot at a station in a workspace remote from location of the robot in the work environment, a camera operably attached to the robotic device, a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera, a viewing area, at least one light source remote from the camera, and at least one secondary polarizing filter. The primary and at least one secondary polarizing filter can be adjusted to vary the lighting and artifacts seen by the pilot.

Polarized enhanced confidentiality in mobile camera applications

A system for lighting at least one individual positioned about a piece of furniture during a video recording process includes a piece of furniture having a work surface and at least one non-work surface. A lighting source is arranged along either the work surface or the non-work surface of the piece of furniture to project non-visible light away from the piece of furniture toward an individual positioned proximate to the piece of furniture to light the individual or recording during a video recording process.

Video conferencing lighting system

A file tracking system including a processor, which maintains and interfaces with a database, a plurality of file folder retainers, and a plurality of file folders. The file tracking system actively maintains and updates the database, which includes file information, file location, and unique file address for the plurality of files, by providing interactive communication between the processor, the folder retainers, and the file folders. Each file folder may include an indicator light, such as an LED, which a user may cause to blink when trying to locate the file folder at a location accessed from the database.

Electronic system, components and method for tracking files

A workstation is disclosed that defines a work space and provides at least one display device. The workstation includes a base providing a guide. The workstation also includes at least one upstanding structure having a wheel assembly adapted for movement along a path defined by the guide about the work space to selectively deliver utilities to at least one portion of the work space and a worksurface coupled to the structure and providing a display support assembly adapted for pivotably coupling of the display device. The structure and worksurface and display support assembly are movable relative to the base so that a display device coupled to the display support assembly may be selectively positioned for use in a variety of locations in the work space.

Workstation with a moveable apparatus

A workspace display for open plan spaces includes a partition with a plurality of freestanding partition walls configured to divide a building space into at least one workspace. The workspace has an opening permitting user ingress and egress, and the partition has a height lower than a ceiling height to form a gap between a top edge of the partition and a ceiling. The workspace display includes a dry erasable whiteboard secured to the partition, and a video device is mounted to the partition in a generally overhead position in optical communication with the whiteboard, such that an occupant of the workspace can electronically manipulate images on the whiteboard.

Workspace display

A workspace display comprises a sidewall partition defining a workspace with a portal opening and a door partition to selectively close the portal. A first display screen is disposed on the interior side of the door partition for individual viewing from inside the workspace. A second display screen is disposed exterior of the sidewall partition and positioned a spaced apart distance in general alignment therewith, without substantial interference with user ingress and egress through the portal opening. A video device is positioned overhead in optical communication with the first display screen when the door partition is in its fully closed position to support individual activities. The video device is in optical communication through the portal opening with the second display screen when the door partition is in its fully open position to support group activities. An image on the second display screen can be viewed on either the interior or exterior screen surfaces. The first display screen and the interior and exterior screen surfaces of the second display screen form dry erasable markerboards.

An optical access system is shown for use in an office setting including a workstation providing for communication between a network and a computing device, the workstation having a worksurface and at least one network access point coupled to an optical network port. The computing device has a device access point coupled to an optical device port for direct optical communication with the optical network port. The optical access system includes an access station containing the optical network port so that the optical network port is selectively adjustable in a vertical direction by manually repositioning with respect to the computing device and the worksurface. Direct optical communication between the optical network port and the optical device port can be maintained notwithstanding the presence of objects that may obstruct direct optical communication. The optical access system may include a portable computer having a base and a covering lid to which the optical device port is mounted. A workstation providing for direct optical communication between a network and a computing device having a remote port is also disclosed. The workstation includes an article of furniture and an access station installed within the article of furniture providing at least one network access point and including a plurality of optical network ports. At least one network access point is coupled to the network and to each of the plurality of optical network port. The computing device is selectively adjustable in position relative to the article of furniture to establish a network connection within the workstation between the computing device and the network through the network access point by establishing direct optical communication between the remote port and at least one of the plurality of optical network ports.

Integrated optical ports

A file tracking system including a processor, which maintains and interfaces with a database, a plurality of file folder retainers, and a plurality of file folders. The file tracking system actively maintains and updates the database, which includes file information, file location, and unique file address for the plurality of files, by providing interactive communication between the processor, the folder retainers, and the file folders. Each file folder may include an indicator light, such as an LED, which a user may cause to blink when trying to locating the file folder at a location accessed from the database.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Joel D Stanfield