Patent Publication Number: US-2007109410-A1

Title: Apparatus for audio reproduction and image capturing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to an apparatus for audio reproduction and image capturing and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to a loud speaker apparatus which includes a web camera.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      A web camera (“webcam”) is a peripheral device for use with computers to enable images to the captured by the computer and, if required, for those images to be transmitted over the Internet, saved on the computer, or otherwise used, sent or printed. Computer includes, but is not limited to, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, and personal digital assistants.  
      In many cases the computer will also require speakers to be able to reproduce audio. This therefore requires two peripheral devices, with two connections. If a microphone is required for Internet telephony, for example, a third peripheral and third connection is required. While there are hubs that allow the connection of numerous add-on peripherals to a computer, the mass of wires that is a direct consequence of adding on too many peripherals becomes a bother. It becomes particularly bothersome and inconvenient especially when traveling. Having to carry several peripheral components during travel may be cumbersome and the peripheral components will also be prone to damage during travel.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with a first preferred aspect there is provided apparatus for audio reproduction and image capture, the apparatus comprising a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being moveable relative to the second portion between a first position and a second position; at least one loudspeaker driver mounted in the second portion for audio reproduction; a web camera mounted to the first portion and being moveable at least laterally relative to the first portion; the first portion being adjustable when in the second position for aiming of the web camera.  
      The first portion may be pivotally attached to the second portion, and may have an outer surface and a front surface for enclosing the outer surface, the web camera being mounted to the front surface.  
      Alternatively, the first portion may have an arm pivotally attached to the second portion at an inner end of the arm a body at an outer end of the arm, the web camera being mounted to the body. The arm may be telescopic.  
      The second portion may have a shaped recess in which the first portion is releasably received when the first portion is in the first position. Alternatively, when the first portion is in the first position the first portion may be a cover for the second portion.  
      The second portion may have a base, a peripheral side wall, and a top surface; the base, peripheral side wall and top surface forming a hollow interior. The at least one loudspeaker driver may be mounted to the top surface. The shaped recess may be formed in the top surface.  
      The apparatus may further comprise at least one of: a built-in microphone, a line-out socket, a line-in socket, a mute button for the built-in microphone, a connector to digital devices and a switch for switching off the apparatus when the first portion is moved to the first position.  
      The hollow interior may be acoustically matched to the at least one loudspeaker driver.  
      When the first portion is in the first position, there may be a small gap between the front surface and the top surface; the first portion protecting the at least one loudspeaker driver and the second portion protecting the web camera.  
      There may be two spaced-apart loudspeaker drivers.  
      The apparatus may preferably be able to super-impose captured audio and images onto existing media content such as, for example, movies, music videos and filmlets. The captured audio and images may either be presented in a sub-window of a main display of the existing media content or on a main display with existing media content being presented in a sub-window. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In order that the present invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.  
      In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a computer installation utilizing a first embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a view of first embodiment in a first configuration;  
       FIG. 3  is a view of the first embodiment in a second configuration;  
       FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows  4 - 4  on  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  on  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 2  of a second embodiment;  
       FIG. 7  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 3  of the second embodiment; and  
       FIG. 8  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 3  of the a third embodiment; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the present invention may be implemented. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, and the like.  
      To refer to  FIG. 1  there is shown a typical personal computer system comprising a central processor unit (“CPU”)  10 , monitor  12 , keyboard  14 , mouse  16 , and a web camera (“webcam”) speaker  20 . Although shown connected to a personal computer system, the webcam speaker  20  may be used with any computer.  
      Computer includes, but is not limited to, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, and personal digital assistants.  
      A first embodiment of the webcam speaker  20  is shown in more detail in FIGS.  2  to  5 . The webcam speaker  20  has a housing  22  that has a first portion  24  and a second portion  26 . The first portion  24  is shown as being pivotally connected to the second portion  26  by a hinge  44 . However, any form of connection that allows the first portion  24  to move relative to the second portion  26  from a first position ( FIG. 2 ) to a second position ( FIG. 3 ) is satisfactory.  
      The second portion  26  has a hollow interior  27  defined by a base  28 , peripheral wall or walls  30  and top  33 . Base  28  may rest on feet  32 .  
      Mounted in top  33  is at least one loudspeaker driver  34  for audio reproduction. The driver.  33  is operatively connected to electronic circuits  38  that provide the analog input to driver  33 . Circuits  38  may be operatively connected to a power source  36  such as, for example, a battery, batteries, a battery pack or an external power source. Operatively connected to circuits  38  are functional controls  40  located in peripheral wall  30  and/or top  33 . The controls  40  may be mounted on or connected to a printed circuit board  42 .  
      A cable  62  is also operatively connected to the circuits  38  for operative connection to CPU  10 . It is preferable that the cable  62  has at its end a connector  64  such as, for example, a USB or IEEE 1394 connector so that power can be supplied to the circuits  38  over cable  62  and thus power source  36  may not be required. Alternatively, the supplied power can also be used to recharge the power source  36 .  
      Further alternatively a wireless connection may be used in place of cable  62 . The wireless connection may be enabled by a wireless protocol such as, for example, Bluetooth, UWB, RF or IR. In this alternative embodiment, the power source  36  is mandatory to enable the webcam speaker  20  to function normally.  
      A catch  60  of a suitable construction and operation is also provided to releasably retain the first portion  24  in the first position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 .  
      The first portion  24  may have a somewhat domed shaped formed by an outer surface  46 . Preferably, the outer surface  46  has a central portion  48 . A front surface  56  encloses the outer surface  46  to form a hollow interior  50 . The front surface  56  is spaced from the central portion  48  by a distance sufficient to accommodate a lens  52  of a webcam mounted in a mounting  54  for at least lateral (side-to-side) movement relative to front surface  56 . However, the mounting may be a ball joint to enable lateral and vertical adjustment of the lens  52  relative to mounting  54 .  
      When the first portion  24  is in the first position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the front surface  56  is spaced from the top surface  33  by a small gap  58 . In his way the first portion  24  acts a cover for the second portion  26  and the lens  52  and driver  34  are protected—the first portion  24  providing protection for driver  34  from external damage, the second portion  26  providing protection for lens  52  from external damage, and the gap  58  providing protection for both driver  34  and lens  52  from damage due to components of the webcam speaker  20 .  
      The second portion  26  is preferably acoustically matched to driver  34  for optimal acoustic performance.  
      When the webcam speaker  20  is in the second position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the position of the first portion  24  relative to the second portion can be adjusted, to facilitate vertical and lateral adjustment of the lens  52 , for correct aiming of the lens  52 .  
      In this way the webcam speaker  10  may be used for one or more of: 
          (a) Internet telephony;     (b) audio reproduction;     (c) image capturing; and     (d) audio/visual conferencing        

      A second embodiment of the webcam speaker  20  is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Here, there is a shaped recess  68  formed in top surface  33  for releasably receiving therein a first portion in the form of an arm  70  having mounted at the outer end  72  thereof a body  74  in which is mounted a lens  76  of a webcam. The lens  76  is preferably mounted to body  74  in a ball joint (not shown) to allow for lateral and possibly vertical adjustment for correct aiming of the lens  76 . Lateral and vertical movement of the lens  76  may also be automated such as in the instance of face tracking. The inner end of arm  70  is pivotally attached to the second portion  26  for pivotal movement between a first position as shown in  FIG. 6 , and a second position as shown in  FIG. 7 . The arm  70  may be telescopic, if required or desired, to assist in vertical adjustment of the lens  76 .  
       FIG. 8  shows a third embodiment that is a variation of the embodiment of FIGS.  2  to  5 . The embodiment of  FIG. 8  has a number of extra features, over that of FIGS.  2  to  5 . Any one or more of the extra features, or any combination of them, may be utilized. The extra features are: 
          (a) a second driver  86  spaced from the driver  34  to enable stereophonic audio reproduction rather than monaural audio reproduction (mono);     (b) a built-in microphone  80  to enhance the use of the webcam speaker  20  for Internet telephony and audio/visual conferencing;     (c) a line-out socket  82  for headphones or a remote speaker (a connection to socket  82  may disable drivers  34 ,  86 );     (d) a line-in socket  84  for enabling audio input directly to the webcam speaker  20 ;     (e) a mute button  88  for the built-in microphone  80 ;     (f) an automatic-off switch to switch off the webcam speaker  20  when first portion  24  is moved to the first position; and     (g) a connector  100  (that may be retractable) for enabling audio input directly to the webcam speaker  20 .        
      The connector  100  may be a USB connector, a IEEE 1394 connector, a customised connector, or a jack that enables interfacing and functional connectivity with devices that provide video/audio output signals. Devices connected via the connector  100  may also be controllable by a remote control that controls the webcam speaker  20 .  
      Again, any one or more of these six extra features, or any combination of them, may be utilized with the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
      With the inclusion of the features mentioned above, the webcam speaker  20  may be able to allow the superposition of audio and images onto an existing series of moving pictures. It is thus possible to super-impose audio and images taken by the webcam speaker  20  onto scenes of a movie, music video or filmlet played-back from a DVD or from portable movie players like Creative Technology&#39;s Portable Media Centre or Zen Vision digital device. The superposition of audio and images may be done with scenes of a movie, music video or filmlet simply being a backdrop. Alternatively, the audio and images captured by the webcam speaker  20  may be merely a sub-window in the scenes of a movie, music video or filmlet or vice versa. Having this facility enables a user to feel like part of a movie, music video or filmlet and be able to transmit the super-imposed effect in real-time or it also enables the capturing of a user&#39;s reaction (in a sub-window or in a main display) to a scene of a movie, music video or filmlet and transmitting the super-imposed effect in real-time.  
      Although the webcam speaker  20  has been shown as being of an ellipsoid shape, it may be of any suitable shape including cuboid, spherical, and so forth.  
      Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will understood by those skilled in the art that many variations or modifications in details of design, construction and operation may be made without departing from the present invention as defined in the claims.