Patent ID: 6104424
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A non-retracting dual position eye contact apparatus for mounting to an existing display monitor which permits in a first position the capturing of eye contact images of a conferee for transmission to a distant terminal and in a second position permits the conferee to have direct access to a viewing screen, the apparatus comprising:a display having a viewing screen;a housing containing the display;a transparent-reflective panel mounted to the housing and utilized in a first position creating a reflection of a conferee for image capturing by a camera while that conferee observes the viewing screen through the transparent-reflective panel and in a second position permitting the conferee to observe the viewing screen directly without having to look through the transparent-reflective panel; anda transparent-reflective panel repositioning means which repositions the panel from the first position to the second position by one of flipping a bottom of the panel over a top of the panel so the panel may rest behind the viewing screen, by swiveling the panel to a side of the viewing screen, and rolling the panel upon itself away from the viewing screen being constructed of a flexible substrate.