The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1994
Robert L Beecher, II, Fishers, IN (US);
Michael R Groesch, Fishers, IN (US);
Daniel M Iaria, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Ellen A Keen, Indianapolis, IN (US);
AT&T Corp., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A two-way video telephone station includes a television screen for displaying an image transmitted by a distant party to a telephone conversation, a video camera for electronically photographing a human subject and periodically transmitting his picture to the distant party, and position-indicating apparatus for keeping the subject within the camera's field of view. The position-indicating apparatus includes a pair of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)--one on each side of the camera. The LEDs are visible to the subject when he is out, or almost out, of the camera's field of view. Because the LEDs can only be seen when the subject needs to take corrective action, they act as passive restraints that are completely unnoticed when the subject is properly positioned. Red LEDs are used to indicate that movement should stop if the subject wishes to be centered in the picture transmitted to the distant party. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a third LED is added which is green in color and is only visible to the subject when he is within the camera's field of view. Advantageously, the subject sees yellow light when he is at the edge of the camera's field of view.