Transparent Display Camera Nesting for Eye Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In video conferencing, maintaining proper eye contact is challenging due to the camera's location, which is often not aligned with the user's natural gaze direction, leading to an unnatural communication experience.
Innovation Solution
A transparent display apparatus with a camera positioned behind it, using an OLED display to allow light carrying the image of a person to pass through while also projecting an image, and an image processor to differentiate and subtract the reflected light from the camera's signal, ensuring a clear image of the person is captured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the camera is mounted above or next to the video conference display, then the camera can be positioned in a standard location for image capture, but the participant's image will not appear to be looking directly at the remote participant, breaking eye contact
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned behind the transparent display, nesting the camera within the display structure itself. This allows the camera to capture images while the transparent display projects the image in front of it, creating the eye contact effect without requiring separate mounting locations for camera and display
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent display acts as an intermediary between the camera and the viewer. It allows light from the camera to pass through while simultaneously projecting the image in front of the display, mediating the visual path to create proper eye contact alignment
2Ease of operation
If the participant looks directly at the display, then they can see the remote participant, but their image captured by the camera will not appear to be looking directly at the remote participant
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent display creates a visual copy of the camera's view by projecting the captured image in front of the display. This allows the participant to look at the display and see the remote participant's image positioned exactly where their gaze would naturally go, creating the perception of eye contact without requiring the participant to adjust their viewing angle
3Ease of operation
If a transparent display is used to allow light to pass through, then eye contact alignment can be achieved, but the reflected light from the display will interfere with the camera's ability to capture a clear image
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing system extracts the reflected light component from the total light captured by the camera sensor. By separating and removing the reflected light signal from the displayed image, the system recovers the clear image of the participant behind the transparent display, eliminating the interference that would otherwise degrade image quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates more natural communication by allowing the image of participants to appear as if they are making direct eye contact, enhancing the video conferencing experience by providing an acceptably clear and aligned image.
Implementation Method 1
using an OLED display to allow light carrying the image of a person to pass through while also projecting an image
Implementation Method 2
an image processor to differentiate and subtract the reflected light from the camera's signal, ensuring a clear image of the person is captured
Data Source
AI summary
An image is displayed from a transparent display according to a first signal. Light passing through the display is received, and a second signal is generated from the received light. A third signal is generated from the first signal and the second signal by eliminating data in the second signal corresponding to the image.