Conference table

Picture-screen apparatus are integrated into a conference table to be viewed by conference participants. The conference table is suited both for video conferences with conference participants who are at different locations and also for normal conferences with participants who are all present at the table. Television cameras needed for video conferences can be removed from the surface of the table, if the table is to be used for normal conferences. The picture-screen apparatus arranged below the table top do not interfere during normal conferences and can also be utilized for bringing visual information of any kind to the participants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a conference table comprising at least two opposed 
(oppositely lying) table elements, which are separated by a space, whereby 
each table element has an inner side defining the space and an outer side 
opposite the inner side, on which outer side is provided at least one work 
place for a conference participant. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Conference tables are typically designed such that conference participants 
sit across one another. Such a seating arrangement is favorable for 
communication purposes, since the discussion partners can see one another, 
so that mimic and gesture can come into play. Increasingly audiovisual 
apparatus also have an important role in conferences, with which apparatus 
information can be transmitted by picture and also by sound. Today, 
conferences between participants which are at various locations are also 
possible with the help of television techniques. Such type of conferences 
are also identified as video conferences. 
Known is a media vehicle (Brochure AVE 4421.1, Edition 1/84 of the Firm 
Weyel), in which a monitor and a videorecorder are stored advantageously. 
Cable running between the apparatus stored in the media vehicle are laid 
in the vehicle. A media vehicle already makes it possible to transmit 
during a conference also information with moving pictures. However, during 
use in conferences, aside from the conference table and the associated 
seating a still further piece of equipment is needed, namely, the media 
vehicle, which needs a certain amount of space and to which also a cable 
must lead. The design of the media vehicle does not always fit the design 
of a conference table, which in particular in representative conference 
rooms is not desired. A projection wall cannot be used on a media vehicle, 
so that for example overhead projectors must project onto a wall. 
Also known is a wall for audiovisual media (Brochure AVE 4430, Edition 1/84 
of the Firm Weyel), which has both monitors and videorecorders and also 
projection walls for illuminated pictures. Projection surfaces are also 
provided, on the back side of which pictures can be projected. The wall is 
fixedly installed, so that during its use all conference participants must 
look toward the wall. A room with such a wall is not well suited for 
smaller groups. 
Also known are video conference rooms (Brochure AVE 3001 of the Firm Weyel, 
German OS No. 33 17 414). Picturescreen apparatus are provided on a fixed 
wall, on which apparatus can be seen conference participants from a 
different place. A conference table is positioned in front of the wall. 
Work places for the conference participants are provided only on one side 
of the table. These present conference participants sit in the field of 
vision of television cameras which monitor and have transmitted pictures 
to be viewed on the picture-screen apparatus by the nonpresent conference 
participants. A conference room of this type can only be used for video 
conferences and not also for normal conferences during which all 
participants are at the same place. The conference room thus generally is 
utilized only very little. The present conference participants must 
constantly look toward a wall during a video conference. 
Also known is a conference table of the abovementioned type (German OS No. 
34 03 345, FIG. 1), in which rectangular and quarter-ring-shaped table 
elements and attachment units are assembled between the table elements to 
form a C-shaped complete table. The attachment units contain technical 
devices, namely a microphone, a speaker and lights. Visual aids are not 
provided. 
The basic purpose of the invention is to provide a conference table such 
that, if needed, audiovisual information can also be monitored. 
The conference table created to attain this purpose is characterized by at 
least one picture-screen apparatus arranged on the inner side of a table 
element below the table top and the picture screen of which lies in the 
range of view of the conference participant, whose work place is at the 
opposite table element. 
A so constructed conference table can be used for the usual conferences, 
namely also if no audiovisual information is to be monitored. This is 
possible because the picture-screen apparatus lies constantly below the 
plane of the table top. Whereas, if needed, audiovisual information can be 
brought into the discussion. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one picture-screen 
apparatus is arranged on the inner side of each table element, so that a 
picture-screen apparatus can be seen from each work place. Possibly 
excluded may be a control table element. The conference participant 
sitting across from the table element may then view pictures on the 
picture-screen apparatus provided on the table elements arranged laterally 
from the control table element. The storing of a picture-screen apparatus 
on a control table element may possibly not work since the space below the 
table top is taken up by other apparatus. 
Particularly preferable is a ring-shaped construction of the conference 
table. Such a ring-shaped table can be formed particularly preferably of 
eight trapezoidal table elements, which form together a regular octagon. 
Up to sixteen conference participants can be seated at such a table, which 
is sufficient in most cases. An octagon table can be easily manufactured 
of such a size that the picture-screen apparatus are spaced favorably from 
the seats of the conference participants, who sit at the diametrically 
opposite table elements. 
It is also possible to provide four table elements. In order to obtain a 
closed ring also with four table elements, it is possible to provide fill 
elements. A preferable size is provided when three work places for 
conference participants are arranged at each table element. In the case of 
a video conference, six persons can then sit at the conference table, 
namely preferably at table elements positioned perpendicularly to one 
another. Further, conference participants can find space at the other 
table elements. These participants are then, however, not visible at the 
other place, thus participate only indirectly in the video conference. 
Further embodiments for the design of the table are possible. In the 
simplest case, the table consists of two separate table elements which are 
opposite one another. Possible is also a U-shaped table construction, 
whereby the table elements are formed by the legs of the U. 
The preferable distances between picture-screen apparatus and the 
diametrically opposed outer side of a table element is 2 m. to 5 m., 
preferably in the range of 2.55 m. to 3.25 m., preferably approximately 
2.90 m. A general rule is, that the distance can be larger with an 
increase in size of the picture-screen apparatus. Since, however, the 
picture-screen apparatus cannot project above the table top, the 
picture-screen size is limited. 
As has already been mentioned above, two work places per table element are 
particularly advantageous if the table is an octagon. Particular table 
element dimensions are advisable in this case, such as the length of an 
outer side being in the range of 0.8 m. to 2.4 m. (preferably 1.6 m.) and 
the depth being in the range of 0.6 m. to 1.5 m. (preferably 1 m.). 
The picture-screen apparatus lie advantageously at least partly below the 
table top of the associated table element. The table tops of the table 
elements can be constructed easily sufficiently deep that even if the 
picture-screen apparatus are stored in this manner there remains still 
sufficient leg freedom for the conference participants. Each 
picture-screen apparatus is advantageously surrounded by a frame, which 
also brings about optical advantages, since reflections are prevented. 
The inclination of the picture screens of the picture-screen apparatus can 
preferably be adjusted. This permits an optimum orientation of the 
apparatus and thus an optimum monitoring of information. 
The picture-screen apparatus are preferably electronbeam picture-screen 
apparatus. Electron-beam picture-screen apparatus are in today's state of 
technical development needed, for example, for video conferences. However, 
conceivable is also the use of picture-screen apparatus onto which 
pictures are optically projected from the back side. Also picture-screen 
apparatus can be used, the image points of which can be projected onto the 
screen with the help of photoconductors. 
According to a further preferable development of the invention, at least 
one reading camera is provided, which is directed onto the table surface 
of a table element. Originals, onto which the reading camera is directed, 
can in this manner be transmitted onto the picture-screen apparatus. For 
an optimum adjustment of the reading camera, same is held preferably on a 
liftable and lowerable tripod. The tripod can be moved by means of an 
electric motor. The reading camera is preferably also pivotal. 
All installations for the operation of the diverse apparatus are preferably 
stored in the conference table. This has the advantage that exposed cable 
does not exist and "cable bundles" are avoided. A control desk can also be 
provided on the conference table, so that a control of all functions by 
the conference participant is possible. 
The conference table is preferably also equipped with a picture scanner for 
transmission of pictures onto the picture-screen apparatus. Thus, the 
picture-screen apparatus can also be utilized for illustration of pictures 
which are not stored electronically, but for example are available only in 
the form of diapositives or the like. 
A control mechanism with a distributor is preferably provided, at the input 
side of which diverse apparatus are connected and at the output side of 
which the picture-screen apparatus are connected. The picture-screen 
apparatus can hereby be divided into two groups. It is particularly 
preferable when the distributor and the apparatus connected thereto are 
stored in the table itself, preferably in a control table element on which 
is also provided the control desk. 
Further developments of the invention make the conference table in 
particular also suited for video conferences, thus for conferences where 
for example two groups of conference participants are in different 
locations. At least one television camera is provided which is directed 
toward the conference participant or participants. This has made it 
possible to use a conference room, which is being used for the usual 
conferences, also for video conferences. This permits a substantially 
better utilization of the conference room than has been the case for a 
purely video conference room, which heretofore would only be used 
occasionally. The television camera would for reasons of the angle of view 
be arranged relatively high and is therefore preferably removable from the 
table top or can be positioned below the plane of the table top. 
A control monitor is also advantageously provided. The conference table is 
thus optimized for use during video conferences. The close arrangement of 
the control monitor to the conference participant is particularly 
advantageous and permits in particular a small construction of the control 
monitor. When the control monitor is arranged near the conference 
participant, an upwardly angled position of the picture screen is 
particularly advantageous. The control monitor is preferably embedded into 
the table top, which has the advantage that the field of vision of the 
conference participant is not blocked by the control monitor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The conference table K.sub.1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is of a ring-like 
construction. The ring is formed by four table elements 1 to 4 and four 
filler elements 5 to 8. A space 9 exists within the ring-like arrangement 
of the table elements and the filler elements. The table elements 3, 4 are 
identified hereinafter as "monitor table elements", since picture-screen 
apparatus are arranged on the elements. 
Two electron beam picture-screen apparatus 10, 11 are arranged on the back 
(inner) side of the monitor table element 3. Each of the picture-screen 
apparatus can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 12 and a vertical axis 13 
or 14, so that the picture-screen apparatus can be moved into an optimum 
viewing position. Each picture-screen apparatus is surrounded by a frame 
15 or 16. 
A television camera 18 is arranged above the plane of the table top 17, 
which camera is carried by a column 19. The lens 18a of the television 
camera 18 is directed toward the diametrically opposite table element 1. 
The picture screens 10a, 11a are also facing the opposite table element 1 
and are oriented such, namely are turned slightly upwardly, that the 
picture screens 10, 11 can be seen comfortably by the conference 
participants 20, 21, 22, which sit in front of the table element 1. On the 
other hand, the television camera 18 can pick up or monitor the conference 
participants 20, 21, 22. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 by showing the 
respective angle of view. 
A necessary angle of view .alpha..sub.1, as viewed from the side, occurs 
during a picking up or viewing of the entire height of the picture screens 
10a, 11a by the participant. The arrangement of the table elements 1, 2 
and their dimensions are such that the comfortably seated conference 
participant 21 can completely see the picture screens 10a, 11a. The angle 
of view of the television camera 18 must, as viewed from the side, have 
the angle of view .beta..sub.1, in order to completely pick up or monitor 
the upper body of the conference participant 21. 
A control monitor 32 is also provided in the table element 1, which control 
monitor is arranged near the conference participants 20, 21, 22. In 
particular, the conference participant 21 sitting in the middle can look 
perpendicularly onto the face of the picture screen 32a of the control 
monitor 32, as this can best be seen in FIG. 3. The angle of view needed 
for the complete picking up or viewing of the picture screen 32a is, seen 
in the side view, .alpha..sub.2. 
A control desk 33 is also provided on the table element 1, with which 
control desk the conference participant 20 or the conference participant 
21 can control the various devices present at the conference table. 
An acoustic communication device embodying a microphone and a speaker 
system 50 is furthermore provided on the table element 1. Of course, it is 
also possible to provide headphones in place of a speaker system. 
The slightly enlarged side view according to FIG. 4 shows that the table 
element (it is assumed that FIG. 4 shows the table element 3) has a cavity 
34 in which are contained cables 35 and other possible installations. The 
cables 35 connect the diverse picture-screen apparatus and cameras to the 
control desks 33. By storing cables and other installations directly in 
the conference table, exposed cable and other installation devices which 
could interfere with the use of the conference table and with its 
appearance are avoided. 
The design of the conference table was discussed above using the example of 
the table elements 1 and 3. The table element 1 is constructed like the 
table element 2 and the table element 3 is constructed like the table 
element 4. The relative position between the table elements 2 and 4 is the 
same as between the table elements 1 and 2. In the arrangement according 
to FIG. 1, it is possible to have six conference participants 20 to 25 
participate directly in a video conference, that is, they can be seen at a 
remote location whereat other participants of the video conference are 
located. An indirect participation is possible for the conference 
participants 26 to 31. They can, however, neither see the nonpresent 
conference participants nor are they picked up or monitored by the 
television cameras. However, they can participate in the conference by 
observing or also engage actively in the conference. 
The conference table can also be used for common conferences. The cameras 
18 are in this case either removed from the table or are recessed into the 
table, so that they do not interfere with eye contact with the oppositely 
sitting conference participants. It is possible to use the picture-screen 
apparatus 10, 11 also for those conferences, for example, to show data 
needed in connection with the subject matter of the conference. In order 
to show on the picture-screen apparatus 10, 11 illustrations which are not 
recorded electronically, as for example diapositives, a picture-scanning 
apparatus 36 is provided, with which pictures can be scanned 
electronically and are then shown on the picture-screen apparatus 10, 11. 
FIG. 5 shows a table element modification 38 with the table element having 
a depth t.sub.1, which is less than the depth t.sub.2 of the table element 
according to FIG. 4. The picture-screen apparatus 10 is in this case moved 
farther in direction of the edge of the table at which sits the conference 
participant. To make this possible, the cavity 37 is constructed shallower 
than in the embodiment according to FIG. 4. 
The table element 39 according to FIG. 6 has a shorter depth t.sub.1 than 
the table element 38 has. A cavity 40 has the same cross-sectional form as 
the cavity 34 in the table element 3 according to FIG. 4. A control 
monitor 32 is partially received in the cavity 40. Its picture screen 32a 
is turned so that it is inclined upwardly such that the picture screen 32 
defines an angle .theta.135.degree. with the table top surface 41. 
The conference table K.sub.2 according to FIGS. 7 and 8 has the shape of a 
regular octagon, which is composed of table elements 42 and 42'. Each 
table element has a trapezoidal table top with an inner side 43 and an 
outer side 44. A picture-screen apparatus 45 is provided on each table 
element 42, the arrangement of which picture-screen apparatus 45 within 
the table element can be seen in FIG. 8. Whereas, no picture-screen 
apparatus is provided on the table element 42', since the space below this 
table is occupied by other apparatus. 
A reading camera 46, which is secured by an arm 48 to a tripod 47, is 
provided on the table element 42', which will be identified as a control 
table element. The tripod 47 can be lifted and lowered by means of a 
device having an electric motor, which device is not illustrated in the 
drawings. This structure makes it possible to change the distance of the 
reading camera from the table top of the table element 42'. The tripod 47 
can also be swivelled. One swivelled position is illustrated in full lines 
and one in broken lines in FIG. 7. Thus a proper alignment and spacing of 
the reading camera with and from an original document 49 which is to be 
reproduced is possible. 
A control monitor 50 is also provided on the table element 42', which 
monitor is supported similarly as already discussed earlier with reference 
to FIG. 6. A switchboard 51 for controlling the various installations at 
the conference table is provided on the control table element and will be 
discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 9. 
The conference table K.sub.2 is particularly well suited for internal 
conferences. FIG. 8 demonstrates that each conference participant 52 can 
look comfortably at a picture-screen apparatus 45. Only the conference 
participant 52 who sits at the table element 42 opposite the control table 
element 42' must be satisfied with viewing the picture in one of the 
picture-screen apparatus 45 provided in the table elements 42 arranged on 
both sides of the control table element 42'. If the available space in the 
control table element 42' permits it, it is of course also possible to 
arrange a picture-screen apparatus there. This is, for example, the case 
if supplementary apparatus like a picture scanner or a videorecorder are 
not arranged within the table element 42'. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a conference participant 52 at each table element 42, 
42'. Eight conference participants can participate in the conference in 
this case. However, it is also possible for two conference participants to 
find space at each table element, so that all together sixteen conference 
participants are possible. This is for example possible, if the width B of 
the regular octagon lies in the range of approximately 3.55 m. to 4.25 m., 
for example at 3.90 m. A favorable distance a from one outer table edge to 
the opposite picture screen 45 is in the range of approximately 2.55 m. to 
approximately 3.25 m., preferably approximately 2.90 m. From this results 
a length 1 of a table element outer side 44 of approximately 1.60 m. A 
measurement of approximately 1 m. is particularly well suited for the 
depth t of a table top. 
FIG. 9 shows schematically which installations can be arranged at the 
conference table. It is assumed that we are dealing with the installations 
at the conference table K.sub.2 according to FIGS. 7 and 8. 
A videorecorder, a picture-scanning apparatus 53, the already mentioned 
reading camera 46 and a television camera 54 are arranged in the control 
table element 42'. The circle 55 symbolizes the drive motor and associated 
drive for the lifting and lowering of the tripod 47. The supply of current 
to the apparatus is also schematically illustrated by the box 56 which 
indicates the electric circuit. 
The diverse apparatus are arranged at the input (IN) side of a distributor 
57, which can be controlled by means of control keys 58. The control 
monitor 50 and the picture-screen apparatus 45 are connected to the output 
(OUT) side. Four picture-screen apparatus 45 are combined to one group I 
and three picture-screen apparatus 45 to one group II. Which 
picture-screen apparatus belonging to the group I and which to the group 
II is shown in FIG. 7. The dividing of the picture-screen apparatus into 
groups makes it possible for different pictures to appear on 
picture-screen apparatus which lie side-by-side. Conference participants 
sitting opposite one another are able to view selectively the one or the 
other picture. 
Part of the installation of the conference table involves also at least one 
microphone 59, one speaker system 60 and one sound amplifier 61. Keyboards 
for the diverse installed elements are also shown in FIG. 9 and are 
identified by the reference numeral 62 for the videorecorder 52, by the 
reference numeral 63 for the tripod, by the reference numeral 64 for the 
picture-scanning apparatus and by the reference numeral 65 for the sound 
system. All of these keyboards are combined in the switchboard 51 (see 
FIG. 7). 
A telephone 66 is also provided at the table, and a switch unit 67 with 
associated keyboard 68 for controlling the equipment in the room where the 
conference table is. For example, the arrow 69 symbolizes the control of 
the lighting, the arrow 70 the control of the intensity of the lighting, 
the arrow 71 the control of the ventilation and the arrow 72 the control 
of any further desired function. The keyboard 68 can also be integrated 
into the switchboard 51. 
Devices are illustrated within the box 73 shown in broken lines, which 
devices are not directly integrated into the conference table, but which 
for example are stored in an outer chamber. A microcomputer 74 with 
associated keyboard 75, a monitor 76 for information received through 
telephone lines (so called Btx-monitor) with associated keyboard 77 and a 
Btx-telephone 78, which communicates through telephone modems 79 with the 
system, are illustrated. It is possible to connect through the telephone 
66 provided on the conference table the apparatus in the box 73 through 
the distributor 57 to the picture screens 45. 
Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been 
disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that 
variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the 
rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.