Abstract:
The invention provides a prompting apparatus comprising a foldable prompting box which includes two symmetrical opposite walls which can be open and closed, a bottom board which can be folded up and released, and a rear wall, which jointly define a space for housing a two-way see-through mirror and the lens of the camera. The cover defines a space for a user to slide in a tablet device which runs a prompting software application. The pre-designed text is displayed on the tablet device&#39;s screen at a speed that the speaker feels comfortable to read. When the apparatus is not in use, the prompting box can be easily folded into a flat compact for the user&#39;s convenience to carry.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of priority to, the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/934,231 entitled “PROMPTING APPARATUS” filed on Jul. 3, 2013, the content of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to an autocue displaying device that prompts a person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. In particular, this invention relates to a prompting apparatus including a foldable box which allows a user to use a tablet device as the apparatus&#39; display, and a mounting assembly which allows the user to couple the box with a video camera or a camcorder by steps which are as simple as loosening and fastening few fasteners. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A teleprompter is an assembly which enables on-camera talent to look directly into the lens of the camera and read a prepared script text that is generated by a computer software application that allows scrolling up of the text so the reader can keep up with the up-coming text as she reads aloud. The reader sees the text reflected from a two-way mirror and the audience can only sees the scene being shot by the camera through the two-way mirror. 
     Such type of prompters evolved from the days of cathode ray TV tube displays. As a result, they were heavy off-camera devices that had to be mounted below the front of the camera on a “sled” between the camera and the camera pan and tilt head, which is then mounted on a tripod. Typically these prompters were heavy and time-consuming to mount and operate. Usually it takes a professional about 30 minutes to set-up, align, balance and trim and connect to a personal computer. 
     With the availability of small size, low-cost and lightweight LCD displays and tablet devices, it is now possible to design and build a prompter that is lightweight, mounts in a more industry standard manner and is very quick to mount, set-up and use. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, lightweight, compact yet effective prompting apparatus that enables a speaker to look directing into a camera&#39;s lens which is hidden behind a prompting mirror and invisible to the speaker, and at the same time read the textual or other information shown on the prompting mirror, and that can be easily coupled with a video camera or a camcorder which has an accessory adapter shoe on its top. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a prompting apparatus with a shrouded chamber immediately behind an inclined prompting mirror and the camera&#39;s lens is positioned in the chamber and behind the mirror such that unwanted light is blocked from entering the camera&#39;s lens and the best quality of the recorded images by the camera can be reached. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a prompting apparatus using a tablet device facing down to the prompting mirror, which is positioned at a 45 degree angle to the display screen of the tablet device, such that unwanted light from the light sources above the apparatus can be blocked from directly shining on the display screen. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a prompting apparatus with a foldable housing, which can be conveniently pop-up for use and can be conveniently folded into a package when not in use. When the housing is popped-up, the tablet can be conveniently positioned as a ceiling facing down to the prompting mirror, which is positioned at a 45 degree angle to the tablet device&#39;s display screen, such that the interference on the display screen and the prompting mirror caused by unwanted light is minimized and the clarity of the images on the prompting mirror viewed by the speaker is maximized. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mounting and adjustment assembly which enables a user to couple the prompting apparatus to a video camera or a camcorder which has an accessory adapter shoe on its top. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foldable apparatus according to this invention includes a foldable prompter unit and a mounting and adjusting assembly for coupling the prompter unit to a video camera or a camcorder, herein after referred to as a camera, which has an accessory adapter shoe, usually called accessory shoe, on its top. 
     The prompter unit, also called prompting box, includes a housing, an inclined two-way see-through mirror which is placed in the inner space of the housing, and a tablet device which is placed at the top of the box with its display screen facing toward the mirror. The housing includes an open front, two opposite shrouding walls, a shrouding bottom, a rear shrouding wall and a member for holding a tablet device facing down to the mirror. The rear shrouding wall has a round opening, or called through-hole, for placing the camera&#39;s lens. 
     The tablet device&#39;s display screen is preferably at 45 degree angle to the two-way see-through mirror. The see-through mirror, which is approximately 40-60% reflective and 30-40% transparent, is held in position at a 45 degree angle to the screen surface of the tablet device. The optical image on the tablet device&#39;s display screen is reflected to the two-way see-through mirror and then reflected to the eyes of a speaker who looks into the mirror. The lens of the camera is placed in the space behind the mirror. Because of reflection, only the images from the speaker&#39;s direction may enter the lens, and the images from the tablet&#39;s screen cannot be captured by the lens. 
     The see-through mirror is detachable. When it is detached from the housing, the two opposite shrouding walls can be folded inwardly one after another and the bottom can be folded up, such that the box is folded into a flat compact for carrying convenience. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view of a typical embodiment of the prompting apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view of the prompting apparatus according to  FIG. 1  when the cover is partially opened so that a tablet can be slid in; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view of the housing of the prompting apparatus according to  FIG. 1  when the see-through mirror is detached from the housing; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view of the housing of the prompting box according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating the side walls of the housing being folded inwardly; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating another perspective of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the side walls of the housing having been fully folded; 
         FIG. 7   a  is a schematic diagram illustrating another perspective of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7   b  is a schematic diagram illustrating the bottom of the housing being folded up; 
         FIG. 7   c  is a schematic diagram illustrating the bottom of the housing having been fully folded up; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a smaller size tablet being coupled with the apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating a bigger size tablet being coupled with the apparatus; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating the prompting apparatus with an alternative cover adaptive to the bigger size tablet for prompting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention may be embodied in many different shapes, forms, designs or configurations, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further implementations of the principle, the essence or the spirit of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     The present invention discloses and teaches a prompting apparatus for coupling with a camera for video recording which has an accessory adapter shoe on its top. The apparatus includes (1) a rectangular housing with an open front defined by a pair of symmetrical opposite side walls which are parallel to each other, a bottom which is typically a flat board, and a rear wall with a round opening for positioning and aligning the camera&#39;s lens; (2) a flat see-through mirror being fittingly placed in the housing with its upper edge being operably coupled to the top edge of the rear wall or the upper portions of the side walls, its lower edge being placed against the front edge of the bottom such that the see-through mirror, the side walls, the bottom and the rear wall forming a chamber wherein the lens is positioned and aligned behind the see-through mirror; (3) a cover operably coupled to the side walls through two pairs of fastening means such as bolts, the cover and the side walls defining a space for holding a tablet device with its screen facing down at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the see-through mirror and in operation, image on the screen being reflected by the see-through mirror to a speaker&#39;s eyes seeing into the see-through mirror while light from the speaker passing through the see-through mirror into the lens; and (4) a mounting and adjusting hardware assembly for coupling the housing with the camera through the accessory adapter shoe. In operation, the speaker can only see the text reflected by the mirror but cannot see the lens hiding behind the mirror. Similarly, the camera can only capture the images in front of the mirror but cannot capture the text reflected from the tablet device&#39;s screen. 
     The left side wall is operably coupled to the rear wall&#39;s left side via a first hinging means such as one or a pair of small hinges and the right side wall is operably coupled to the rear wall&#39;s right side via a second hinging means, such as one or a pair of small hinges. Each of the opposite side walls has a narrow shoulder toward inside for supporting the tablet device. The narrow shoulder is a strip bent from the side wall. The purpose of the narrow shoulders is to support the tablet device, or optionally support a piece of flat glass which supports the tablet device. 
     The bottom includes two coupling means located at the rear end. The coupling means such as a bold and nut enables the bottom board to be folded up after the two side walls are folded inward. In a typical embodiment, the bottom includes a pair of symmetrical opposite wings, and each wing has a coupling means, such as a bolt, at its rear end for coupling the bottom to the rear wall&#39;s vertical side or a frame. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a typical preferred embodiment of the prompting box according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating the prompting apparatus according to  FIG. 1  when the cover is partially opened so that a tablet device can be slid in. The apparatus includes two symmetrical opposite side walls  124  and  124   a  which are parallel to each other, a bottom board with front edge  123 , a see-through mirror  100 , and a cover  110 . 
     The cover  110  includes an adapting groove or slot  111  for coupling the box with a camera through a mounting and adjusting assembly. The cover  110  is coupled to the side walls  124  and  124   a  by two pairs of bolts such as  114 ,  115  and  119  shown in  FIG. 1 . The cover  110  may also include a slot such as the opening  113  on each side for the user&#39;s convenience to operate the tablet device which is placed under the cover  110 . 
     The bottom board&#39;s side wing  120  is adapted to the rear wall&#39;s side frame  200  through a pair of coupling means such as a bolt  121 . 
     The inclined two-way mirror  100  is a see-through mirror with an optical grade of approximately 60-70% reflective and approximately 30-40% transparent. It is held in position at a 45 degree angle to the display screen of the tablet which is placed inside the space defined by the cover  110  and the two symmetrical side walls&#39; shoulders  131  and  132  shown in  FIG. 3  which is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view of the housing of the prompting box according to  FIG. 1  when the see-through mirror  100  is detached from the housing. The shoulder can a strip bent from the same piece of material of the side wall or a strip of different material vertically welded to the side wall. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a perspective view of the housing of the prompting box according to  FIG. 1 . The side wall  124  can be folded inward through a pair of bolts and nuts such as bolt  144  on the upper portion. The bottom board  130  has a pair of symmetrical opposite wings such as the right wing  120 , which is a strip of metal or plastic or other solid material vertical to the bottom board. The right wing  120  has a female member  122  in its front portion. The side wall can be coupled to the wing by coupling a male member located at the lower front portion of the side wall to the female member on the wing. The right wing  120  is coupled to the support frame  200  of the rear wall  140  through a hinging means such as a bolt and nut  121 . 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are schematic diagrams illustrating the side walls of the housing being folded inwardly. When the right side wall  124  is turned inward by the hinging means  144  and  150   a , the male member  122   a  on the lower front portion of the right side wall  124  is separated from the female member  122 . As mentioned above, the left side wall  124   a  is symmetrical to the right side wall  124 . 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 7   a  are schematic diagrams illustrating the side walls of the housing having been fully folded. When both right and left side walls  124  and  124   a  are folded, bottom board  130  can be folded up by the hinging means such as the bolt and nut  121  on the right wing  120  and the corresponding member on the left wing. 
       FIG. 7   b  is a schematic diagram illustrating the bottom of the housing being folded up.  FIG. 7   c  is a schematic diagram illustrating the bottom of the housing having been fully folded up. The side walls  124 / 124   a  and the bottom board  130  are fittingly integrated as a flat compact. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3-FIG .  7 , the right wall  124  has a shoulder  131  which is vertical to the right wall  124 . On the shoulder  131 , there is a female member  143  which is for fastening a glass connector, such as a rubber sucker. The right wall  124   a  has a shoulder  132  which is vertical to the left wall  124   a . On the shoulder  132 , there is a female member  141  which is for fastening a glass connector, such as a rubber sucker. When the box is fully spread as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , i.e. when the bottom board  130  is released to the position vertical to the real wall  140 , the right side wall  124  is released to the position vertical to the rear wall  140 , the left side wall  124   a  is released to the position vertical to the rear wall  140 , a piece of flat glass can be placed in the plane defined by the connectors  141 / 143  and the members  142 / 144 . 
     In operation, the piece of glass is optional. If the longest measurement of a tablet such as mobile phone is narrower than the distance between the side walls  124 / 124   a , the flat glass is needed. In that case, the mobile phone is placed on the flat glass, facing down to the bottom board  130 , and then it is fastened after the cover  110  (referring to  FIG. 1-FIG .  2 ) is closed. However, if the two-dimensional measurement of the tablet is approximately same as the two-dimensional measurement of the top view of the box as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the flat glass is not necessary. In that case, the tablet  300  is placed facing down to the bottom board  130 . It was supported by the side walls&#39; shoulders. After the cover  110  (referring to  FIG. 1-FIG .  2 ) is closed, the tablet is fastened. 
     The prompting box according to this invention may include an alternative cover for using bigger size tablet. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a bigger size tablet  400  can be used in the apparatus. The tablet&#39;s width is approximately same as, or slightly narrower than, the distance between the side walls. But its length is longer than depth of the box. The tablet  400  is placed facing down to the mirror  100 . It can be fastened using the alternative cover  500  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Similar to the smaller cover  110  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the alternative cover  500  includes an adaptive slot  510  for coupling the box to a camera, an opening  513  for the user&#39;s to operate the tablet, and two pairs of fastening means such as bolts  512  and  514 . 
     The prominent advantage of the present invention is that when apparatus is not in use, the prompting box can be easily folded into a flat compact for the user&#39;s carrying convenience. 
     While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated above, the skilled artisan will appreciate that modifications and adoptions to the embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.