Video conferencing devices that offer diverse field of view

Abstract

The video conferencing device (1300) may include a long housing (1302) having two ends, a microphone array (104), one or more loudspeakers (110), and a plurality of cameras (1330, 1332), where at least one of the cameras is located at one end of the housing and at least another is located at the opposite end of the housing. The video conferencing device may also include a microphone array located within an acoustic cavity (106), with the cameras and loudspeakers located outside the acoustic cavity. The video conferencing device may provide a variety of camera field-of-view angles to better capture images and / or video of video conferencing participants, and may also provide optimized audio capture of participants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 506,065, filed on June 3, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 506,174, filed on June 5, 2023, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application generally relates to video conferencing technology. More specifically, this application relates to video conferencing devices including a camera or imaging device, a microphone array, and a loudspeaker.

Background Art

[0003] Video conferencing devices have conventionally included a single camera or group of cameras in a single location. However, this approach can result in sub - optimal capture and display of the images and / or videos of video conferencing participants at the far - end during a video conference. For example, the camera may not be able to ideally capture a particular participant in the environment due to a non - optimal angle from the camera to their location and / or due to that participant being obscured by other participants or objects. Additionally, the microphones of typical video conferencing devices may not optimally capture the voices of video conferencing participants, for example, due to the use of a non - ideal microphone type, a non - ideal location or acoustic cavity of the microphone, and / or an undesirable acoustic coupling with the loudspeaker.

[0004] Therefore, there is an opportunity for video conferencing devices that address these concerns. More specifically, there is an opportunity for systems and methods that can more optimally capture the images, videos, and / or voices of video conferencing participants in an environment.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems by, in particular, providing a video conferencing system and method designed as follows: (1) providing a variety of camera field of view to better capture images and / or videos of participants; and (2) providing optimized audio capture of participants by a microphone array in an acoustic cavity.

[0006] In one embodiment, the video conferencing device may include a long housing having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, a microphone array, one or more loudspeakers, and a plurality of cameras. At least one of the plurality of cameras may be located at the first end of the housing, and at least another of the plurality of cameras may be located at the second end of the housing.

[0007] In another embodiment, the video conferencing device may include a microphone array disposed within an acoustic cavity, at least one camera disposed outside the acoustic cavity, and at least one loudspeaker disposed outside the acoustic cavity.

[0008] These and other embodiments, as well as various substitutions and aspects, will become clearer and more understandable from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, which detail illustrative embodiments illustrating various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an isometric view of an example of the present disclosure having four cameras. [Figure 2] This is an isometric view of an example of the present disclosure having four cameras. [Figure 3] This is an isometric view of an example of the present disclosure having three cameras. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram of an example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. [Figure 5]This is a block diagram of an example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram of an example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. [Figure 7] This diagram shows a conventional video bar with a centrally mounted camera in an exemplary video conferencing environment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment and illustrates some of the advantages of having a camera at the end of the video bar. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment and illustrates some of the advantages of having a camera at the end of the video bar. [Figure 11] Another example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment is illustrated. [Figure 12] Another example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment is illustrated. [Figure 13] This is a front view of an example of the present disclosure having four cameras. [Figure 14] This is an isometric view of an example of the present disclosure having four cameras. [Figure 15] This is a block diagram of an example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. [Figure 16] This is a block diagram of an example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. [Figure 17] This is a block diagram of an example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. [Figure 18] This figure shows an example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment. [Figure 19]This figure shows an example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment and illustrates some of the advantages of having a camera at the end of the video bar. [Figure 20] This figure shows an example of a disclosed video bar in an exemplary video conferencing environment and illustrates some of the advantages of having a camera at the end of the video bar. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] To facilitate understanding of the principles and features of the disclosed technology, illustrative examples are provided below. The components described below, as constituting various elements of the disclosed technology, are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Many preferred components performing the same or similar functions as those described herein are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosed electronic devices and methods. Other such components not described herein may include, but are not limited to, components developed after the development of the disclosed technology.

[0011] Herein, various embodiments of computing devices and methods are disclosed in detail with reference to figures in which similar reference numerals represent similar parts.

[0012] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an example of the present disclosure, which includes a video bar 100 having a long housing 102. The video bar 100 may also include a microphone array 104 positioned within a cavity 106 which may have an inclined rear interface 108. The microphone array 104 may be positioned in the center of the video bar 100. In this example, the video bar 100 may also include two loudspeakers 110 and four cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126. In this example, two cameras 120 and 124 may be located at one end of the video bar 100, and two cameras 122 and 126 may be located at the opposite end of the video bar 100. In one example, cameras 120 and 122 may be of a first type, and cameras 124 and 126 may be of a second type. In another example, all of the cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126 may be of the same type but oriented in different directions. In another example, cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126 are of different types and may be oriented in different directions.

[0013] In an embodiment, the microphone array 104 can be a linear array. More specifically, the microphone array 104 can be a one-dimensional array microphone with improved directivity as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0337946 and U.S. Patent No. 11,750,972, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. As described in those publications, the microphone array 104 can provide a one-dimensional form factor with added directivity at dimensions that have, conventionally, if not all, at least for most frequencies, equal sensitivity in all directions, (2) achieve added directivity by arranging a first row of microphones along a first axis and, for each of the first microphones, arranging one or more additional microphones along a second axis orthogonal to the first microphone so as to form a plurality of microphone sets, and configuring each microphone set to cover one or more of the desired octaves for a one-dimensional array microphone, (3) provide an audio output that utilizes a selected beamforming pattern that is selected based on the direction of arrival of sound waves captured by the microphones in the array, the selected beamforming pattern providing increased rear rejection and steering control, (4) have high-performance characteristics suitable for a conferencing environment, including consistent directivity, a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and broadband voice coverage, at different frequency ranges.

[0014] In some examples, it may be desirable to have a clear air path across the surface of a one-dimensional array microphone with improved directivity to maintain optimal performance. In certain mounting configurations of a video bar having a particular positioning of a microphone array including, but not limited to, the following, this can be difficult to achieve: (1) a microphone array positioned at the top of the video bar when the video bar is mounted under a monitor, (2) a microphone array positioned at the bottom of the video bar when the video bar is mounted above a monitor, and (3) a microphone array positioned at the bottom of the video bar when the video bar is mounted on top of furniture (e.g., a credenza or table).

[0015] In an embodiment, disposing the microphone array 104 in the fixed cavity 106 can enable control such that the acoustic path is maintained regardless of how the video bar 100 is mounted. FIG. 1 shows a cavity 106 with an upward opening, but it is possible and contemplated that the cavity 106 and the opening of the cavity 106 can be in any suitable orientation (e.g., downward). Further, FIG. 1 shows that the cavity 106 and the opening of the cavity 106 are generally the same size as the microphone array 104, but it is also possible and contemplated that the cavity 106 and the opening of the cavity 106 can be of any suitable size. For example, the size of the cavity 106 and / or the opening of the cavity 106 can be scaled to the size of the microphone array 104 in some embodiments. Controlling the acoustic environment in these ways can enable proper adaptation of the beamformer to the acoustic conditions and can enable consistent operation of the microphone array 104 in any mounting scheme of the video bar 100.

[0016] In some examples, it may be advantageous for the cavity 106 to have a rear cavity wall 108 that is angled to minimize the reflective effect of the cavity 106 on certain frequencies. In addition, mounting the microphone array 104 behind the front interface of the video bar 100 may minimize coupling with the loudspeaker 110.

[0017] Figure 2 is an isometric view of another example of the present disclosure. In this example, the video bar 200 may include a long housing 102 and an acoustically transparent cover 210 that conceals and protects a microphone array 104 and a cavity 106 for the microphone array 104, as well as a loudspeaker 110. The video bar 200 may have four cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126, of which two cameras 120 and 124 are located at one end and two cameras 122 and 126 are located at the other end. Figure 3 is an isometric view of a further example of the present disclosure. The video bar 300 may include a long housing 102 and an acoustically transparent cover 210 that conceals and protects a microphone array 104 and a cavity 106 for the microphone array 104, as well as a loudspeaker 110. The video bar 300 may have three cameras 124, 126, and 310, with camera 124 located at one end, camera 126 at the other end, and camera 310 in the center of the video bar 300. In one example, the central camera 310 may have a wider field of view than the end cameras 124 and 126 to capture the entire room, while the end cameras 124 and 126 may have a narrower and / or directed field of view. In other examples, cameras 124, 126, and 310 may be of the same type and, for example, have the same field of view.

[0018] Figures 13 and 14 are a front view and an isometric view of another example of the present disclosure, respectively. In these examples, the video bar 1300 may include a long housing 1302, a microphone array 104 and a cavity 106 for the microphone array 104, and an acoustically transparent cover 1310 that conceals and protects a loudspeaker 110. The video bar 1300 may have four cameras 1320, 1322, 1330, and 1332, with camera 1320 located at one end, camera 1322 at the other end, and cameras 1330 and 1332 located in the center of the video bar 1300. The cameras 1320, 1322, 1330, and 1332 may be located on the bezel 1350 of the video bar 1300, as shown in Figures 13 and 14. In this embodiment, the cameras 1320, 1322 at the ends of the video bar 1300 and the central camera 1330 may have telephoto lenses, and the central camera 1332 may have a wide-angle lens. In addition, the cameras 1320, 1322 at the ends of the video bar 1300 may be mounted, for example, at a 30-degree inward angle toward the center of the video bar 1300.

[0019] The video bar 1300 may also include indicators such as a status light 1340 (for example, to indicate that the video bar 1300 is connected to a video conference), a camera on / off indicator 1342, and a microphone muting indicator 1344. The video bar 1300 may also include various control devices 1350, such as buttons for controlling power, loudspeaker volume, microphone muting, camera status, device pairing, etc. Although not shown in Figures 13 and 14, the microphone array 104 of the video bar 1300 may be located below the bezel 1350 such that the cavity 106 and the opening of the cavity 106 are oriented downwards.

[0020] Many types of cameras can be used with the disclosed video bars 100, 200, 300, and 1300. In various embodiments, video bars 100, 200, 300, and 1300 may have the same or multiple types of cameras. Cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1322, 1330, and 1332 may have the same or different field of view, the same or different pixel density, the same or different focal length, optical and / or digital zoom capabilities, and / or may be electromechanically operated to change the viewing direction of these cameras. Furthermore, it should be understood that the specific number of cameras (e.g., end cameras and / or center cameras), loudspeakers, and array microphones illustrated and described in the disclosed video bars are merely illustrative, and any number of cameras, loudspeakers, and array microphones are possible and conceivable. As used herein, “camera” may refer to any component used to capture image data, whether static or dynamic (e.g., video), including any type of digital imager, with or without one or more optical lenses of any kind.

[0021] Video bars 100, 200, 300, and 1300 may be configured to perform a variety of image processing functions. These functions may include digitally focusing on and / or zooming in on participants in a video conference, “stitching” together views from different cameras, and / or generating multiple video and / or image feeds from a single camera. These functions may be achieved using commercially available techniques or may require novel techniques in light of the novel features of this disclosure.

[0022] Depending on the type of camera used, the pixel density and frame rate of the camera's imager, and the corresponding data rate of the video data and / or image data generated by the camera, may impose physical limitations on the size of video bars 100, 200, 300, and 1300 due to the fact that commonly available data bus types cannot support the required bandwidth over the required distance. Cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332 may generate video data and / or image data in any preferred format or standard, including, for example, Camera Serial Interface (CSI) (e.g., CSI-1, CSI-2, and / or CSI-3), Display Serial Interface (DSI), and / or D-PHY, as specified by the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance.

[0023] In embodiments such as those shown in Figures 4-6, one or more image signal processors (ISPs) may be located in close proximity to one or more of the cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332 to convert raw data (e.g., video data and / or image data feeds) from the cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332 into a format suitable for longer transmission distances, such as the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) format or another preferred format. For example, video bars 100, 200, 300, and 1300 may have a central chipset 402 that performs functions such as input / output and processing of audio, video, and / or image signals. It may be desirable for such a chipset to be located near the center of the video bars 100, 200, 300, and 1300. However, while incorporating a longer linear microphone array (e.g., microphone array 104) between cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332 may produce better quality audio, the distance from cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332 to the central chipset 402 may be too great for timely transmission of raw data (e.g., CSI, DSI, and / or D-PHY) to the central chipset 402 when using a conventional data bus.

[0024] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an example image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. In this example, the video bar may have four cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126, two of which are located at each end of the video bar. As described above, the central chipset 402 may be located in the center, and two ISPs 404 and 406 may be located adjacent to the cameras at each end of the video bar. In particular, ISP 404 may be located at one end of the video bar adjacent to cameras 120 and 124, and ISP 406 may be located at the opposite end of the video bar adjacent to cameras 122 and 126. Cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126 may transmit raw data 410 to ISPs 404 and 406, which may convert the raw data 410 into different image data formats 420, and the image data formats 420 may be transmitted to the central chipset 402. The central chipset 402 can perform additional video and / or image processing as needed and provide the final output 430.

[0025] Figure 5 is a block diagram of another example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a video bar. In this example, the video bar may have a camera 124 located at one end, a camera 126 located at the opposite end, and a camera 310 located in the center. The end cameras 124 and 126 may each have a proximal ISP 404 and 406, respectively. However, the center camera 310 may be physically close enough to the central chipset 402 so as to avoid the need for a separate ISP. Thus, the center camera 310 can transmit its raw data 510 directly to the central chipset 402. In this example, the raw data 510 from the center camera 310 may be processed by the central chipset 402's internal ISP 502, which may be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both. The central chipset 402 may perform additional video and / or image processing as needed and provide the final output 530.

[0026] Figure 6 is a block diagram of another example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a video bar. In this example, the video bar may have a camera 124 located at one end and a camera 126 located at the opposite end. The end cameras 124 and 126 may each have a proximal ISP 404 and 406, respectively. The central chipset 402 may perform additional video and / or image processing as needed and provide the final output 630.

[0027] In other embodiments, as shown in Figures 15-17, raw data from cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332 (e.g., video data and / or image data feeds) can be converted to a format more suitable for longer transmission distances, such as serial data, by, for example, using a serializer paired with a deserializer, or by using any other suitable processor or SerDes (serializer / deserializer) mechanism. In some examples, the serial data can be transmitted over one or more differential pairs (e.g., lanes). The serializer may be located in close proximity to one or more of the cameras 120, 122, 124, 126, 310, 1320, 1330, and 1332, and the serializer may convert the raw data from the cameras into serial data that is transmitted to a deserializer located in close proximity to the central chipset 402. Serial data from the serializer can be transmitted to the deserializer, for example, via a printed circuit board trace or via another suitable conductor. The deserializer can convert the serial data generated by the serializer into video data and / or image data for use by the central chipset 402. The video data and / or image data generated by the deserializer may be in the same format as or different from the video data and / or image data generated by the camera. For example, the serializer may be a THCV241A serializer and the deserializer may be a THCV242A deserializer, both manufactured by THine Electronics, Inc. in Tokyo, Japan.

[0028] Figure 15 is a block diagram of an example image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a disclosed video bar. In this example, the video bar may have four cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126, two of which are located at each end of the video bar. A central chipset 402 may be located in the center, serializers 1504 and 1506 may be located close to the cameras at each end of the video bar, and deserializers 1505 and 1507 may be located close to the central chipset 402. In particular, serializer 1504 may be located at one end of the video bar close to cameras 120 and 124, and serializer 1506 may be located at the opposite end of the video bar close to cameras 122 and 126. Cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126 can transmit raw data 1510 to serializers 1504 and 1506, which can convert the raw data 1510 into serial data 1520, and the serial data 1520 can be transmitted to deserializers 1505 and 1507. Deserializers 1505 and 1507 can convert the serial data 1520 into data 1521. The central chipset 402 can perform additional video and / or image processing on the data 1521 as needed, and provide the final output 1530.

[0029] Figure 16 is a block diagram of another example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a video bar. In this example, the video bar may have a camera 124 located at one end, a camera 126 located at the opposite end, and a camera 310 located in the center. The end cameras 124 and 126 may each have proximal serializers 1504 and 1506, respectively. However, the center camera 310 may be physically close enough to the central chipset 402 to avoid the need for a separate ISP. Thus, the center camera 310 can transmit raw data 510 from the camera 310 directly to the central chipset 402. In this example, the raw data 510 from the center camera 310 may be processed by the internal ISP 502 of the central chipset 402, which may be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both. The central chipset 402 may perform additional video and / or image processing as needed and provide the final output 1630.

[0030] Figure 17 is a block diagram of another example of an image acquisition, processing, and transmission system for a video bar. In this example, the video bar may have a camera 124 located at one end and a camera 126 located at the opposite end. The end cameras 124 and 126 may each have a serializer 1504 and 1506 located proximal to them, respectively. A central chipset 402 may perform additional video and / or image processing as needed and provide a final output 1730.

[0031] Figure 7 shows a conventional video bar 700 with a centrally located camera in an exemplary video conferencing environment. The environment may include four local participants 702, 704, 706, and 708 seated around a table 710. The camera in the video bar 700 may have a field of view 720 having an extent shown by a dotted line in Figure 7. The image of participant 706 from the centrally located camera may be partially obscured by participant 708, as indicated by the shaded portion 730 within the field of view 720. The view of participants from a single camera may also be obscured by other obstacles in the environment, such as pillars or furniture.

[0032] Figure 8 shows an example of a disclosed video bar 400 in an exemplary video conferencing environment. The environment may include four local participants 702, 704, 706, and 708 seated around a table 710. In this example, the video bar 400 may have a camera 124 located at one end and a camera 126 located at the opposite end. Cameras 124 and 126 may each have independent fields of view 800 and 810, respectively, with ranges indicated by dotted lines in Figures 8-10. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate one of the advantages of having cameras at both ends of the video bar 400. As shown in Figure 9 by the shaded portion 900 in the field of view 800 of the left camera, the view of participant 706 from the left camera 126 may be partially obscured by participant 708. However, as shown in Figure 10 by the shaded portion 1000 in the field of view 810 of the right camera, the view of participant 706 from the right camera 124 may not be obscured.

[0033] Figure 11 illustrates another exemplary video bar 300 in an exemplary video conferencing environment. The environment may include four local participants 702, 704, 706, and 708 seated around a table 710. In this example, the video bar 300 may have three cameras 124, 126, and 310, with camera 124 located at one end, camera 126 at the other end, and camera 310 in the center. Cameras 124, 126, and 310 may each have independent fields of view 800, 810, and 1100, respectively, with ranges indicated by dotted lines in Figure 11. In one example, the central camera 310 may have a wider field of view 1100 to capture the entire room, while the end cameras 124 and 126 may have more narrowed fields of view 800 and 810.

[0034] Figure 12 illustrates another exemplary video bar 200 in an exemplary video conferencing environment. The environment may include four local participants 702, 704, 706, and 708 seated around a table 710. In this example, the video bar 200 may have four cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126, with two cameras 120 and 124 located at one end and two cameras 122 and 126 located at the opposite end. Cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126 may each have independent fields of view 1200, 1202, 1204, and 1206, respectively, with ranges indicated by dotted lines in Figure 12. In one example, cameras 120, 122, 124, and 126 may have the same field of view but be positioned along different axes to capture different parts of the room. Two cameras 120, 122 may be positioned so that their fields of view 1200, 1202 capture the perimeter of the room, while the other two cameras 124, 126 may be positioned so that their fields of view 1204, 1206 capture a more focused view of the room. In other examples, cameras 120, 122, 124, 126 may have the same or different field of view angles, the same or different pixel densities, the same or different focal lengths, optical and / or digital zoom capabilities, and / or may be electromechanically operated to change the viewing direction of these cameras.

[0035] Figure 18 illustrates a further exemplary video bar 1300 in an exemplary video conferencing environment. The environment may include 11 local participants 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812, 1814, 1816, 1818, 1820, and 1822 seated around a table 1801. In this example, the video bar 1300 may have four cameras 1320, 1322, 1330, and 1332, with camera 1320 located at one end, camera 1322 at the other end, and cameras 1330 and 1332 located in the center of the video bar 1300. Cameras 1320, 1322, 1330, and 1332 may each have independent fields of view 1850, 1852, 1860, and 1862, respectively, with ranges indicated by dotted lines in Figure 18. For example, the central camera 1332 may have a wide-angle lens with a relatively wide field of view 1860 to capture the entire room, while the central camera 1330 may have a telephoto lens with a more narrow field of view 1862 to capture participants 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812, 1814, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822 and the table 1801. In addition, the end cameras 1320, 1322 may have more narrow fields of view 1850, 1852, directed inward toward the central side of the video bar 1300, for example, 30 degrees inward.

[0036] Figures 19 and 20 illustrate one of the advantages of having cameras 1320 and 1322 at the ends of the video bar 1300. As shown in Figure 19 by the shaded portion 1900 within the field of view 1850 of the right camera 1320, the views of participants 1806, 1808, and 1810 may be partially obscured by participants 1802 and 1804. However, as shown in Figure 20 by the shaded portion 2000 within the field of view 1852 of the left camera 1322, the views of participants 1806, 1808, and 1810 from the left camera 1322 may not be obscured.

[0037] The designs and functionalities described in this application are intended to be illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the disclosure in any way. Those skilled in the art will understand that the teachings of this disclosure can be implemented in a variety of suitable forms, including those forms disclosed herein and additional forms known to those skilled in the art.

[0038] Furthermore, it should be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" refer to plural nouns unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise.

[0039] "Comprising," "containing," or "including" means that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition, article, or method, but does not preclude the presence of other such compounds, materials, particles, or method steps, even if those compounds, materials, particles, or method steps have the same function as the named one.

[0040] Furthermore, it should be understood that the mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the existence of additional or intervening method steps between those explicitly identified steps. Similarly, the mention of one or more components within a device or system does not preclude the existence of additional or intervening components between those explicitly identified components.

[0041] As used in this application, terms such as “component,” “module,” and “system” are intended to include, but are not limited to, computer-related entities such as hardware, firmware, hardware-software combinations, software, or running software. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program, and / or a computer. As an example, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device itself may be components. One or more components may exist within a process and / or execution thread, and components may reside locally on one computer and / or be distributed across two or more computers. In addition, these components may be executed from various computer-readable media having various data structures stored thereon. Components may communicate with other systems by local and / or remote processes via signals, such as by following signals having one or more data packets, such as data from one component interacting with another component, in a local system, in a distributed system, and / or via a network such as the Internet.

[0042] Specific embodiments of the Technology described above are referenced to block diagrams and flow diagrams of computing devices and methods and / or computer program products, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments of the Disclosure. It will be understood that one or more blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, can each be implemented by computer executable program instructions. Similarly, some blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams may not need to be implemented in the order presented, or may not need to be implemented in accordance with some embodiments of the Disclosure in the first place.

[0043] These computer executable program instructions may be loaded onto a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a processor, or other programmable data processing device to generate a specific machine, and as a result, the instructions executed on the computer, processor, or other programmable data processing device create means for implementing one or more functions specified in one or more flow diagram blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in computer-readable memory, which can cause a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner so that the instructions stored in computer-readable memory can generate a product that includes instruction means for implementing one or more functions specified in one or more flow diagram blocks.

[0044] As an example, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium in which computer-readable program code or program instructions are internally embodied, the computer-readable program code being adapted to be executed to implement one or more functions specified in one or more flow diagram blocks. Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a set of operating elements or steps to be executed on the computer or other programmable device to generate a computer implementation process, the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device providing elements or steps to implement one or more functions specified in one or more flow diagram blocks.

[0045] Therefore, the blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts support combinations of means for performing a specified function, combinations of elements or steps for performing a specified function, and means of program instructions for performing a specified function. It should also be understood that each block in block diagrams and flowcharts, as well as combinations of blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts, can be implemented by a special-purpose hardware-based computer system that performs a specified function, element or step, or combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0046] While the specific embodiments described herein are described in relation to what is considered to be the most practical and diverse embodiments currently available, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather is intended to encompass a variety of modifications and equivalent configurations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Certain terms are used herein, but these terms are used in a general and descriptive sense only and not for restrictive purposes.

[0047] This written specification, using examples, discloses specific embodiments of the technology and enables a person skilled in the art to practice these specific embodiments of the technology, including creating and using any device or system and carrying out any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of these specific embodiments of the technology may include other embodiments defined in the claims and that are conceivable to a person skilled in the art. Such other embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that are not different from the literal wording of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that are not substantially different from the literal wording of the claims.

Claims

1. A video conferencing device, A long housing having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, Microphone array and One or more loudspeakers, A video conferencing device comprising a plurality of cameras, wherein at least one of the plurality of cameras is disposed at the first end of the housing, and at least another of the plurality of cameras is disposed at the second end of the housing.

2. The plurality of cameras include a first pair of substantially identical cameras, The first camera of the first pair of cameras is disposed at the first end of the housing, and the second camera of the first pair of cameras is disposed at the second end of the housing. The video conferencing device according to claim 1, wherein the first camera and the second camera of the first pair of cameras are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other and with respect to a plane positioned substantially equidistant from the first and second ends of the housing.

3. The plurality of cameras further include a second pair of substantially identical cameras, The first camera of the second pair of cameras is disposed at the first end of the housing, and the second camera of the second pair of cameras is disposed at the second end of the housing. The first and second cameras of the second pair of cameras are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other and to the plane which is substantially equidistant from the first and second ends of the housing. The video conferencing device according to claim 2, wherein the second pair of cameras differs from the first pair of cameras in at least one of the following: field of view, viewing direction, pixel density, focal length, optical zoom capability, and electromechanical operation.

4. The video conferencing device according to claim 2, wherein the viewing direction of the first camera of the first pair of cameras intersects with the viewing direction of the second camera of the first pair of cameras.

5. The video conferencing device according to claim 4, wherein the viewing direction of the first camera of the first pair of cameras and the viewing direction of the second camera of the first pair of cameras intersect in front of the video conferencing device and between the first camera and the second camera of the first pair of cameras.

6. The video conferencing device according to claim 3, wherein the viewing direction of the first camera of the first pair of cameras intersects with the viewing direction of the second camera of the first pair of cameras.

7. The video conferencing device according to claim 6, wherein the viewing direction of the first camera of the first pair of cameras and the viewing direction of the second camera of the first pair of cameras intersect in front of the video conferencing device and between the first camera and the second camera of the first pair of cameras.

8. The video conferencing device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera disposed near the center of the housing.

9. The microphone array includes a plurality of microphone sets, which are arranged in a linear pattern with respect to a first axis and configured to cover a plurality of frequency bands, and each microphone set includes a first microphone arranged along the first axis and a second microphone arranged along a second axis perpendicular to the first microphone. The video conferencing device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent microphones along the first axis is selected from a first group consisting of integer multiples of a first value, and within each microphone set, the distance between the first microphone and the second microphone along the second axis is selected from a second group consisting of integer multiples of a second value.

10. The video conferencing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of processors, wherein at least one of the plurality of processors communicates with the at least one camera and is disposed in close proximity to the at least one camera, and at least another of the plurality of processors communicates with the at least another camera and is disposed in close proximity to the at least another camera.

11. The video conferencing device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one processor or the at least other processor includes at least one of a serializer or a deserializer.

12. A video conferencing device, A microphone array installed inside the acoustic cavity, At least one camera is disposed on the outside of the acoustic cavity, A video conferencing device comprising: at least one loudspeaker disposed outside the acoustic cavity.

13. The video conferencing device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one camera includes a camera disposed at the first end of the microphone array.

14. The video conferencing device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one loudspeaker includes a loudspeaker disposed at the first end of the microphone array.

15. The video conferencing device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one camera includes a camera positioned centrally relative to the microphone array.

16. The video conferencing device according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the at least one camera and at least one of the at least one loudspeaker are both disposed at the first end of the microphone array.

17. The at least one camera includes a first pair of cameras and a second pair of cameras, The first camera of the first pair of cameras is located at the first end of the microphone array, and the second camera of the first pair of cameras is located at the second end of the microphone array. The video conferencing device according to claim 12, wherein the first camera of the second pair of cameras is disposed at the first end of the microphone array, and the second camera of the second pair of cameras is disposed at the second end of the microphone array.

18. The video conferencing device according to claim 17, wherein the viewing direction of the first camera of the first pair of cameras intersects with the viewing direction of the second camera of the first pair of cameras.

19. The video conferencing device according to claim 18, wherein the viewing direction of the first camera of the first pair of cameras and the viewing direction of the second camera of the first pair of cameras intersect in front of the video conferencing device and between the first camera and the second camera of the first pair of cameras.

20. The video conferencing device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one loudspeaker includes a first loudspeaker disposed at the first end of the microphone array and a second loudspeaker disposed at the second end of the microphone array.

21. The video conferencing device according to claim 12, wherein the acoustic cavity has an inclined rear interface surface.

Images