JPH05268688A - Microphone for television conference - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a large sized image pickup device needing a turning device and a zoom lens or the like for the television conference system and to display a video image of plural attendees or the like onto a display device as required. CONSTITUTION:A small sized image pickup element 8 such as a CCD is integrated to a conventional microphone T picking up a sound and the microphone 1 is arranged in front of each attendee or the like. The image pickup element 8 and the microphone 7 are much made small and the size of the microphone 1 incorporated with the image pickup element 8 is made small.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device and a microphone in a video conference system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video conference system, an image pickup device (camera) for catching the face of an attendee (speaker) and a microphone for picking up voice are arranged independently. That is, a camera having a turning device and a zoom lens is installed at a predetermined position in each conference hall, while a microphone for picking up a voice is placed in front of each attendee at each conference hall. When the face of the speaker is imaged, the turning device is operated to direct the camera toward the speaker, and the zoom lens is adjusted in accordance with the distance between the camera and the speaker. I was picking up the video.

[0003]

Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a large-scale device such as a turning device is required. In particular, when a large number of attendees, such as 10 or more people, are present at one conference hall, it is not possible to image all the attendees with one camera having a turning device and a zoom lens. , Multiple cameras that have a turning device and a zoom lens must be mounted at various positions such as walls and ceilings of the conference hall, and when installing the system of the video conference, consult with a building company or the like. However, system design and construction must be performed, and there is a problem that a great deal of labor and time are required for installation.

Further, since the turning device turns the camera to image the faces of the attendees at the conference hall,
There is a problem in that only one person's face can be imaged, that is, one camera cannot simultaneously capture the faces of a plurality of attendees in charge, and only the image of a predetermined person can be displayed on the display.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a video conference microphone that does not require a large-scale device, is easy to install, and is capable of simultaneously capturing the images of the faces of the attendees and displaying them on a display. To do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the video conference microphone of the present invention is provided with an image pickup element for picking up an image in the microphone for picking up a voice.

[0007]

The video conference microphone is placed in front of each attendee of the video conference, and the video and audio of each attendee is picked up by each video conference microphone. By placing the video conference microphones in front of each attendee, the video conference system can be configured, so that a large-scale device is not necessary and the video conference system can be easily installed.

Further, since a video conference microphone can be installed for each attendee, it is possible to simultaneously display images of arbitrary attendees on the display.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the microphone housing 2 of the video conference microphone 1 of the present invention is formed in a cylindrical shape, and various housings 2 are formed on the rear portion thereof, like a conventional flexible microphone. A flexible bending member 3 is connected, which can be maintained in the position and the angle. The flexible bending member 3 is hollow inside. A support base 5 is connected to the end of the flexible bending member 3.

Next, in the lower part of the microphone housing 2,
Microphone 7 for picking up sound, as in the past
Is provided.

Next, an image pickup device 8 is arranged above the microphone 7. That is, the sound collecting surface 10 of the microphone 7 is provided with an optical block (optical lens) 8a for collecting light having a predetermined angle of view (see FIG. 1) and sending the light backward, and behind the optical block 8a, A small CCD image pickup device 8b is arranged.

In recent years, the image pickup device 8b and the microphone device 7 for picking up sound have been remarkably miniaturized. Therefore, even if they are arranged in the microphone housing 2, the microphone housing 2 has a large volume. It is possible to design without.

Next, the microphone 7 and the image pickup device 8b.
Are connected to the wiring cords 11 and 12, and the wiring cords 11 and 12 are housed in one cover from the middle to form one wiring cord 14. Then, the wiring cord 14 passes through the flexible bending member 3 and goes out from the support base 5, and thereafter, the wiring cord 14 is connected to a control device (not shown) provided at a predetermined position.

Next, a pickup switch 16 is provided on the support base 5. When the pickup switch 16 is turned on, the video and audio from the front of the video conference microphone 1 is picked up.

As shown in FIG. 1, the video conference microphone 1 configured as described above is arranged on the conference desk 18 in front of each conference attendee 17 at each conference site. All of these wiring cords 14 are connected to the above-mentioned control device (not shown).

Each conference hall is provided with one large display device and speaker for displaying the video and audio of the speaker, and these are also connected to the above-mentioned control device (not shown) by a wiring cord. (Not shown).

The control device at each conference hall is connected to a central control device such as a host computer (not shown) by a communication satellite or ISDN. The central control unit is provided with a circuit for flowing the video and audio of the video conference microphone 1 with the pickup switch turned on to the display device and the speaker at each conference hall, and the video conference with the pickup switch turned on. Circuit for selectively transmitting the video and audio of the video conference microphone 1 that is switched on first to the display device and the speaker when there are a plurality of video microphones 1, and a plurality of video conferences for which pickup switches are turned on There is provided a circuit for simultaneously sending the image and sound of the microphone 1 to the display device and the speaker. A selection switch for selecting which of these circuits is provided, for example, in the host conference hall or the like, and any circuit is selected by the chairperson or the like selecting the selection switch or the like.

With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, each attendee sits in front of the video conference microphone. Then, the position and the angle of the video conference microphone 1 are adjusted by moving the flexible bending member so that the image of the person's face or the like falls within the angle of view of the video conference microphone 1. This completes the preparation for the video conference.

In each conference room, only the video conference microphone 1 in front of each attendee, a display device and a speaker at a predetermined position are arranged, and the wiring is a wiring cord 1 from each video conference microphone 1 to the control device.
4 and the display device, and the wiring cord for connecting the speaker and the control device, the wiring is simplified, and the system layout and wiring in each conference room is simplified. Further, since the video conference microphone 1 is placed on a conference desk or the like and can be moved freely, it is possible to move the position according to the position where the attendees sit, and according to the number of attendees. Since the number of the video conference microphones 1 can be increased or decreased, the attendees can be located only at the turning position determined by the turning device in advance, and therefore the number of people who can attend is not fixed in advance. .. Further, since the video conference microphone 1 is movable, it can be carried together with the display device and the speaker and installed in an arbitrary room to make this room a conference room. As a result, the operation of the video conference system can be made more flexible and the video conference can be made easier to use.

When the conference starts, for example, when a circuit for selectively transmitting the video and audio of the video conference microphone 1 whose switch is turned on to the display device and the speaker is selected first, the pickup switch is selected first. The video and audio of the attendee who turned on is played on the display device and speaker,
It is possible to state one's opinion while the one's facial expression and the like are displayed on the display device. Next, the attendee, after giving his / her opinion, turns off the pickup switch, and another attendee then turns on the pickup switch of the video conference microphone 1 placed in front of him / herself. While the image of is displayed on the display device, one's opinion can be expressed.

When a circuit for simultaneously sending the video and audio of the plurality of video conference microphones 1 whose pickup switches are turned on to the display device and the speaker is selected, the display device is divided,
All the images of the attendees seated in front of the video conference microphone 1 in which the pickup switch is turned on are displayed, and in this state, the opinions of the attendees who turn on the pickup switch are described.

After the video conference, the video conference microphone 1, the display device, the speaker, the control device, and the like can be collected and stored in a predetermined storage room or the like, and the room in which the video conference is held can be used for other purposes. Can be used.

In the above embodiment, the video and audio are picked up at the same time by the pickup switch. However, the video is always picked up. For example, the peripheral portion of the display device is divided, and each block is The video from each video conference microphone 1 is displayed, and when the pickup switch is turned on, the audio is picked up from the video conference microphone 1 and at the same time, the video conference microphone is displayed at the center of the display device. The image from No. 1 may be enlarged and displayed. As a result, each attendee can hold a meeting while looking at the faces of all the participants, and can zoom in and see the face of the speaker. Similarly to the above, the peripheral portion of the display device is divided so that the video from each video conference microphone 1 is displayed in each block, and the audio from each video conference microphone 1 is also displayed. Is not selected and all is allowed to flow from the speaker, and for example, a selection switch of the video conference microphone 1 to be enlarged and displayed in the central part of the display device is provided at the chairperson's hand, and one of the attendees Then, when the chairman raises his / her hand to extend his / her opinion, the chairperson may operate the selection switch to enlarge and display the image of the attendees in the central portion.

The display device to which the video conference microphone 1 of the present invention is applied is not limited to a television, and may be a rear projector, a front projector, or another display device device. It is included in the meaning of "TV". The display device may be provided not only for each conference hall but also for each attendee.

[0026]

According to the present invention, since the image pickup device is incorporated in the conventional microphone for picking up voice, by placing this video conference microphone in front of each attendee, a large-scale device such as a turning device is unnecessary. Become. Also,
Since the video conference microphone is freely movable, it is possible to arrange the video conference microphone according to the positions of the attendees, which facilitates installation of the system.

Further, since it is possible to arrange a video conference microphone for each attendee, it is possible to display images of a plurality of attendees on the display device, if necessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a video conference microphone of the present invention is placed in front of an attendee.

2 (a) is a side sectional view of the video conference microphone of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (b) is a front view of an image pickup / sound collecting unit of the microphone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Microphone for video conference 7 Microphone for picking up sound 8b Image pickup element for picking up video

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A microphone for video conferencing, wherein a microphone for picking up a voice is provided with an image pickup device for picking up an image.