Method and system for multimedia communication control
Granted: December 17, 2002
Patent Number:
6496216
A multipoint control unit (MCU) or other digital video-processing apparatus operates to manipulate compressed digital video from several compressed digital video sources. The apparatus has a plurality of video input modules and a plurality of video output module. Each of the video input modules receives a compressed video signal from one of the sources and generally decodes the data into a primary data stream and a secondary data stream. The video output module receives the primary and…
Speech activity detector for use in noise reduction system, and methods therefor
Granted: September 17, 2002
Patent Number:
6453285
A system and method for removing noise from a signal containing speech (or a related, information carrying signal) and noise. A speech or voice activity detector (VAD) is provided for detecting whether speech signals are present in individual time frames of an input signal. The VAD comprises a speech detector that receives as input the input signal and examines the input signal in order to generate a plurality of statistics that represent characteristics indicative of the presence or…
Device for rotatably positioning a camera or similar article about two orthogonal axes
Granted: March 12, 2002
Patent Number:
6356308
A positioning device is provided for rotatably positioning a camera or other article about orthogonal rotational axes. The positioning device includes a carriage supported for rotation about a horizontal axis by a yoke. The yoke is in turn rotatably coupled to a base assembly for rotation of the yoke about a vertical axis. Rotation of the camera about the horizontal and vertical axes is respectively effected by first and second voice coil actuators, each comprising a pair of magnets and…
Adaptive filter featuring spectral gain smoothing and variable noise multiplier for noise reduction, and method therefor
Granted: February 26, 2002
Patent Number:
6351731
An adaptive filter is provided featuring a speech spectrum estimator receiving as input an estimated spectral magnitude signal for a time frame of the input signal and generating an estimated speech spectral magnitude signal representing estimated spectral magnitude values for speech in a time frame. A spectral gain generator receives as input the estimated spectral magnitude signal and the estimated speech spectral magnitude signal and generates as output an initial spectral gain signal…
Speakerphone
Granted: October 16, 2001
Patent Number:
D449285
Speakerphone
Granted: October 16, 2001
Patent Number:
D449286
Personal videoconferencing device
Granted: April 24, 2001
Patent Number:
D441000
High efficiency homogeneous polarization converter
Granted: June 27, 2000
Patent Number:
6081378
A polarization converter polarizes an incident light beam having a first component with a first plane of polarization and a second component with a second plane of polarization orthogonal to the first plane. The polarization converter comprises a planar matrix for concentrating and collimating the incident light beam; a polarizer parallel to the planar matrix for refracting the first component and reflecting the second component; quarter-wave retarding means, parallel to the planar…
Speakerphone with handset
Granted: March 14, 2000
Patent Number:
D421606
System and method for measuring the angular position of a rotatably positionable object
Granted: February 29, 2000
Patent Number:
6031613
A system and method for measuring the angular position of a rotatably positionable object are disclosed. The system includes a rotating polarizing filter coupled to the rotatably positionable object so that the rotating polarizing filter co-rotates with the rotatably positionable object. Light generated by a light source is directed along a path through the rotating polarizing filter and through a stationary polarizing filter. In this configuration, the intensity of the light passed…
Speakerphone
Granted: February 1, 2000
Patent Number:
D419997
Remote interactive projector with image enhancement
Granted: August 17, 1999
Patent Number:
5940049
The projector of the present invention provides a means for interactively displaying and annotating a document image at two separate locations. The projector consists of an image plate having an array of picture elements for displaying the image; a projection mechanism for projecting the image displayed by the image plate onto a projection screen; and a digitizer having a coordinate input array which corresponds to the array of picture elements of the image plate, wherein the image…
Integrated videoconferencing unit
Granted: May 4, 1999
Patent Number:
5900907
A videoconferencing unit is provided which integrates several components of a videoconferencing system to facilitate system setup and operation. The videoconferencing unit comprises a generally planar base structure adapted to be removably supported on a top surface of a video display monitor, such as a television monitor. The base structure terminates forwardly in a lip member which engages a front surface of the video display monitor. A first set of microphones is located at the lower…
Flashlamp pulse shaper and method
Granted: March 16, 1999
Patent Number:
5883471
A circuit and method for energizing a discharge device, such as a flashlamp. A discharge device is electrically coupled to a pair of capacitors which are both charged to a desired potential level. One of the capacitors discharges through the discharge device to initially energize the discharge device until its potential level falls below the potential level of the other capacitor whereupon the other capacitor commences to discharge through the discharge device to sustain the energization…
Mirror assembly and method
Granted: March 16, 1999
Patent Number:
5883745
A condenser or aspheric lens comprising a condenser body having an aspheric section with a dome-shaped surface terminating in a circumferential perimeter and a sloping condenser surface extending from the circumferential perimeter outwardly and away from the aspheric section. A mirror assembly having a housing, an outer mirror assembly supported by the housing, and an inner mirror engaged to the outer mirror assembly. A method for capturing peripheral light rays from a light source.…
Remote control unit
Granted: March 2, 1999
Patent Number:
D406266
Microphone pod
Granted: December 29, 1998
Patent Number:
D403328
Video conferencing unit
Granted: November 3, 1998
Patent Number:
D400549
High efficiency homogeneous polarization converter
Granted: May 26, 1998
Patent Number:
5757547
A polarization converter for polarizing a light beam by converting all light waves to the same orientation comprises 1) a first beam dividing matrix of refractory material for dividing a single, large light beam into smaller sub-beam 2) a second beam focusing matrix for polarizing select portions of the sub-beams, and 3) a series of narrow and shallow polarizing cells. The second beam focusing matrix further comprises a plurality of concave lenses for redirecting each sub-beam and…
Speakerphone
Granted: August 12, 1997
Patent Number:
D382265
