Videoconference Workstation Assembly With Privacy Shroud and Display Mount

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hotdesks in open floor plan environments often lack large display screens, provide inadequate privacy, and offer suboptimal videoconferencing quality, leading to reduced worker efficiency and effectiveness in both personal and collaborative tasks.

Innovation Solution

A workstation configuration featuring a tabletop with a display screen support structure that includes a height adjustment mechanism, a core assembly housing audio and camera components, and a panel assembly with wire management channels, designed to optimize videoconferencing and collaboration by ensuring eye-to-eye contact and directional audio, while maintaining a clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If hotdesks are configured with basic table or bench spaces, then real estate costs are reduced, but display screen size and videoconferencing quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal estate costsVSAvoidvideoconferencing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates camera, microphone, speaker, and display components into a nested hierarchical structure where smaller components are housed within larger assemblies. The camera and microphone are embedded in the worksurface, speakers are integrated into the partition structure, and the display is mounted on the partition, creating a compact nested arrangement that delivers conference room quality without requiring a full conference room footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple previously separate functions into a single integrated hotdesk unit: the display screen, camera, microphone, speakers, and wire management system are merged into one cohesive structure. This integration allows the hotdesk to provide videoconferencing capabilities that previously required dedicated conference rooms, thereby reducing real estate needs while maintaining high videoconferencing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If hotdesks are configured with basic table spaces, then space utilization is improved, but privacy and enclosure deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidprivacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements privacy enclosures selectively at the hotdesk level rather than throughout the entire office space. The partition structure with integrated components creates a localized private zone around the worksurface and display, providing privacy where needed for videoconferencing and focused work while leaving the rest of the open floor plan accessible and collaborative.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hotdesks provide enclosed spaces, then privacy is improved, but dyadic communication effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprivacyVSAvoiddyadic communication
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic spatial arrangement where the partition structure provides enclosure for privacy during individual work or videoconferencing, but the configuration allows two people to comfortably position themselves at the worksurface for dyadic communication. The integrated display and camera system adapts to different usage scenarios, providing eye-to-eye contact during videoconferencing while allowing face-to-face interaction when two employees collaborate at the hotdesk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If laptops are used at hotdesks, then device simplicity is maintained, but display screen size and videoconferencing quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoiddisplay screen size
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the hotdesk with universal interfaces and integrated components that work with various devices including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The worksurface includes embedded camera and microphone that automatically detect and connect to any device, the display can be mounted at adjustable heights to accommodate different device types, and the system provides a unified videoconferencing experience regardless of which personal device the employee brings, thereby eliminating the need to choose between device simplicity and display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10786074B2Work and videoconference assembly
Publication Date: 2020.09.29 BARCO NV
  • US10786074B2 patent drawing
  • US10786074B2 patent drawing
  • US10786074B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A monitor support assembly includes a base and an upright frame structure i-s spaced forward to the rear of the base that extends vertically upward from the base. The frame structure includes first and second vertical members and a top frame member that extends horizontally between the first and second vertical members. A shroud assembly is mounted to the upright frame structure and includes a first central wall member and first and second additional wall member extending from the first and second lateral edges in the same direction. The first central wall member and the additional wall members form a receiving space. A mounting plate mountable to the rear surface of a displays screen is releasably supported by the upright frame structure within the receiving space. A depth dimension of the receiving space is sufficient to accommodate a display screen mounted via the mounting plate.