111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007148911Bl
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Mitsui et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`(54) VIDEOPHONE DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Kenichi Mitsui, Yokohama (JP);
`Toshiyuki Toda, Yokohama (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
`Ltd., Osaka (JP)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/807,143
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Aug. 8, 2000
`
`(86) PCTNo.:
`
`PCT/JP00/05313
`
`§ 371 (c)(l),
`(2), ( 4) Date: Apr. 6, 2001
`
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: WOOl/11881
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Feb. 15, 2001
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Aug. 9, 1999
`
`(JP)
`
`................................. 11-225542
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04N 7114
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 348/14.01; 348/14.02;
`348/14.07; 455/556.1
`(58) Field of Classification Search .. 348/14.01-14.03,
`348/14.05, 14.07-14.1, 14.14-14.16; 379/93.17,
`379/93.21, 93.23; 345/753; 370/260-263;
`709/204; 455/556, 566, 575, 90, 420.01,
`455/550.1, 569.1, 556.1, 420.1, 558.1, 568;
`715/753
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,438,436 A * 8/1995 Harris ........................ 358/500
`5,786,846 A
`7/1998 Hiroaki eta!. ........... 348/14.16
`
`5,900,909 A *
`6,009,336 A *
`6,334,063 B1 *
`6,377,818 B1 *
`
`5/1999 Parulski eta!. .......... 348/231.6
`12/1999 Harris et a!. ................ 455/566
`12/2001 Charlier eta!. ............. 455/566
`................. 455/556
`4/2002 Irube et a!.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`0 738 075 B1
`
`10/2000
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`W098/39906, Communication Terminal, Sep. 1998, (English
`abstract).
`
`Primary Examiner-Melur Ramakrishnaiah
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Peame & Gordon LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Providing video telephone apparatus where the orientation
`of a picked-up image or a received image can be changed
`according to the orientation of the image pick-up section or
`the display, thus allowing transmission or display of a proper
`image at any time.
`
`In video telephone apparatus according to the invention, an
`image pick-up section outputs the image data on the target
`object to a transmit image rotating section. The transmit
`image rotating section performs rotation processing on a
`picked-up image so that the upper side of an image pick-up
`section in the vertical direction coincides with the upper side
`of an image to transmit to the distant party, based on the
`orientation of the image pick-up section detected by an
`image pick-up vertical direction detector. A picture signal
`received from the distant party is demodulated and output to
`a receive image rotating section. The receive image rotating
`section performs rotation processing so that the upper side of
`the receive image is at the upper side of a display in the
`vertical direction, based on the vertical direction of the
`image pick-up section of the an image pick-up vertical
`direction detector, that is, the orientation of the display.
`
`15 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 1 of 21
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`

`

`US 7,148,911 Bl
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,411,828 B1 * 6/2002 Lands et al .............. 455/569.1
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`2 261 576
`8-28085
`4-238475
`05-037887
`5-56424
`5-136865
`06253295
`6-315108
`7-104889
`08-065647
`8-65647
`8-139788
`8-321863
`08-336069
`9-27939
`
`5/1993
`8/1973
`8/1992
`2/1993
`3/1993
`6/1993
`9/1994
`1111994
`4/1995
`3/1996
`3/1996
`5/1996
`12/1996
`12/1996
`111997
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`wo
`
`2/1997
`9-44143
`3/1997
`09/083853
`3/1997
`09-083981
`3/1997
`9-83981
`111998
`10-13722
`3/1998
`10-065780
`3/1998
`10-075287
`4/1998
`10-108152
`6/1998
`10-164401
`6/1998
`10-164426
`9/1998
`10-233993
`1111998
`10-313452
`12/1998
`10-336311
`3/1999
`11-088758
`5/1999
`11-136655
`7/1999
`11-196397
`11196397 A * 7/1999
`W098/39906
`9/1998
`
`* cited by examiner
`
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`Page 2 of 21
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`FIG.l
`
`IMAGE
`PICKUP
`SECT.
`
`TRANSMIT
`IMAGE
`1---~ ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`3
`
`1
`
`IMAGE
`PICKUP
`VERTICAL t - - - - - - - - '
`DIRECTION t - - - - - - - - ,
`DETECTOR
`
`2
`
`COMMUNICATION
`SECT.
`
`4
`
`RECEIVE
`IMAGE
`1 4 - - - - - - - - 1 ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`5
`
`LINE
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 3 of 21
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`FIG.2
`
`9C
`.--------.. ----- -~
`
`I
`\
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`I
`:
`I
`I
`
`90
`
`I
`\
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`•--- ----- --r-- --~
`9A
`
`\
`I
`
`98
`
`VERTICAL
`DIRECTION
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 4 of 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`12
`\
`
`•
`~
`
`oooo
`oooo
`oooo
`
`FIG.3A
`
`12
`\
`•
`~
`
`FIG.3B
`
`FIG.3C
`
`•
`11~
`
`10
`
`12
`\
`
`•
`~
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 5 of 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`~1b
`
`2b u
`
`I
`I
`
`FIG.4A
`
`FIG.4B
`
`FIG.4C
`
`12
`\
`
`•
`w
`
`2b
`
`2b
`
`12
`\
`
`•
`w
`
`6b
`
`12
`\
`
`•
`w
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 6 of 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`FIG.5
`
`IMAGE
`PICKUP
`SECT.
`
`3
`
`TRANSMIT
`IMAGE
`ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`1
`
`13
`
`DISPLAY
`VERTICAL
`DIRECTION
`DETECTOR
`
`COMMUNICATION
`SECT.
`
`4
`
`5
`
`RECEIVE
`IMAGE
`ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`t
`LINE
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 7 of 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`6c
`
`• I
`~13a
`
`'L-----rr
`
`._ _ __,
`
`12
`
`FIG.6A
`
`6c
`
`12
`\
`
`FIG.6B
`
`FIG.6C
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 8 of 21
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`FIG.7
`
`14
`
`15
`
`17
`
`18
`
`FIRST
`RECEIVER
`
`SECOND
`RECEIVER
`
`SECOND
`FIRST
`TRANSMITTER TRANSMITTER
`
`16 PICKUP IMAGE
`RECEIVER
`._._____,
`SELECTOR
`
`19 PICKUP IMAGE
`TRANSMITTER
`SELECTOR
`
`IMAGE
`PICKUP
`SECT.
`
`TRANSMIT
`IMAGE
`t---t-~oo-t ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`3
`
`IMAGE
`PICKUP
`VERTICAL t---L-----...L....------'
`DIRECTION t - - - - - - - - - ,
`DETECTOR
`
`2
`
`COMMUNICATION
`SECT.
`
`4
`
`RECEIVE
`IMAGE
`~------1 ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`5
`
`LINE
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 9 of 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`FIG.8
`
`14
`
`15
`
`17
`
`18
`
`FIRST
`RECEIVER
`
`SECOND
`RECEIVER
`
`SECOND
`FIRST
`TRANSMITTER TRANSMITTER
`
`20
`
`DISPLAY
`RECEIVER
`SELECTOR
`
`21 DISPLAY
`TRANSMITTER
`SELECTOR
`
`IMAGE
`PICKUP
`SECT.
`
`3
`
`TRANSMIT
`IMAGE
`ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`1
`
`13
`DISPLAY
`VERTICAL
`DIRECTION
`DETECTOR
`
`6
`
`COMMUNICATION
`SECT.
`
`4
`
`5
`
`RECEIVE
`IMAGE
`ROTATING
`SECT.
`
`LINE
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 10 of 21
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`FIG.9
`
`22
`
`LCD PANEL
`
`23
`
`SELECTOR
`CIRCUIT
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 11 of 21
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`

`

`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`1
`VIDEOPHONE DEVICE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to video telephone apparatus
`that transmits/receives image information and audio infor(cid:173)
`mation.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In recent years, digital lines that can transmit/receive
`audio information and video information via a multichannel
`system such as the ISDN (integrated services digital net(cid:173)
`work) have been in commercial use. In line with such a
`trend, the video telephone apparatus has come into wide(cid:173)
`spread use. The video telephone apparatus is composed of at
`least transmitter means for transmitting images picket up via
`image pick-up means and associated voice data from the
`local party or user of the video telephone apparatus to the
`distant party, receiver means for receiving images and
`associated voice data from the distant party, and display
`means for displaying the images on a display and so on.
`While a liquid crystal panel is used as the display means
`based on the advantages of lightweight and low-profile
`design, the liquid crystal panel has a nature that it has a 25
`narrower angle of visibility than that of the CRT tube and
`that the angle of visibility differs between vertical direction
`and horizontal direction due to the properties of the liquid
`crystal material thus the angle on one side is further nar(cid:173)
`rowed. As a result, there occurred such a problem as viewers 30
`in the center among a plurality of viewers could view a crisp
`image but the remaining viewers could not.
`To solve such a problem, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open
`No. 56424/1993 disclosed video telephone apparatus com(cid:173)
`prising a selector circuit and a rotary plate. In this disclosure, 35
`the selector circuit was used to invert the inputs of picture
`signals to a horizontal side and a vertical side of the liquid
`crystal panel and the rotary plate was used to change the
`vertical-horizontal physical relationship of the liquid crystal
`display with the video telephone apparatus in order to 40
`conveniently view the images displayed on the crystal
`display panel formed in a rectangle whose vertical length
`differs from the horizontal length.
`FIG. 9 shows the configuration of conventional video
`telephone apparatus. The conventional video telephone 45
`apparatus is composed of a crystal display panel 22 used as
`a monitor for displaying image information, a selector
`circuit 23 for switching between the horizontal direction and
`the vertical direction of an image displayed on the liquid
`crystal panel 22, and a rotary plate mounting the liquid 50
`crystal panel 22. The selector circuit 23 inverts the inputs of
`picture signals to a horizontal side and a vertical side of the
`liquid crystal panel 22 and switches between the horizontal
`direction and the vertical direction of an image displayed on
`the liquid crystal panel 22. The rotary plate 24 changes the 55
`vertical-horizontal physical relationship of the liquid crystal
`display 22 with the video telephone apparatus by rotating the
`liquid crystal panel mounted thereon.
`Via such a configuration, it is possible for liquid crystal
`display such as a liquid crystal panel whose directivity of 60
`angle of visibility is inevitable to provide image display that
`efficiently uses the nature of the angle of visibility, by
`changing the vertical-horizontal relationship while properly
`maintaining the horizontal-vertical display relationship of an
`image.
`When placing a call by using such video telephone
`apparatus, in particular a video telephone apparatus that can
`
`2
`be transported, the user makes conversation with the
`receiver of the video telephone apparatus applied to his/her
`ear (hereinafter referred to as close-talking) or with the
`video telephone apparatus main unit placed on a desk, etc.,
`without holding it in order to use the apparatus mainly as a
`video telephone set (hereinafter referred to as hands-free
`talking). The shape of portable video telephone apparatus is
`mostly a rod-like rectangular parallelepiped. In case the user
`makes conversation for example via hands-free talking,
`10 he/she often places video telephone apparatus in a fixed,
`stable state, that is, with the longitudinal direction of the
`enclosure placed horizontally or vertically with the mount(cid:173)
`ing surface.
`As mentioned earlier, the orientation of the video tele-
`15 phone apparatus main unit differs with the form of talking
`and the orientation of the image pick-up means and the
`display means provided on the video telephone apparatus
`main unit also differs accordingly. Thus, it is necessary to
`process and transmit an image picked up by image pick-up
`20 means so that the image may be in a normal orientation and
`the image may be displayed in a normal orientation on the
`display means.
`However, via the aforementioned video telephone appa(cid:173)
`ratus, it is impossible to change the orientation of an image
`picked up by image pick-up means (hereinafter simply
`referred to as a picked-up image) and change the orientation
`of an image received from the distant party (hereinafter
`referred to as a received image) on display means, according
`to the form of talking. Thus, problems arise that a picked-up
`image is transmitted to the distant party with the orientation
`of the image left unnatural and that the image is displayed
`in an unnatural orientation.
`The invention solves the problems and aims at providing
`video telephone apparatus where the orientation of a picked(cid:173)
`up image or a received image can be changed via the
`orientation of image pick-up means or display means so that
`a proper image can be always transmitted or displayed.
`Another object of the invention is to provide video
`telephone apparatus that allows selection of proper receiver
`means and transmitter means appropriate according to the
`orientation of image pick-up means or display means, that is,
`selection between close-talking as a talking form where
`received voice data is regenerated by a receiver used in the
`close proximity of the user's ear and transmitted voice data
`is collected by a microphone used in the close proximity of
`the user's mouth, and hands-free talking where received
`voice data is regenerated by a received used away from the
`user's ears and transmitted voice data is collected by a
`microphone used away from the user's mouth.
`
`Disclosure of the Invention
`
`In order to attain the aforementioned objects, the inven-
`tion has the following aspects:
`(1) video telephone apparatus comprising image pick-up
`means for picking up the image of an object and generating
`a transmit picture signal according to the image of the
`object, communication means for transmitting and receiving
`said transmit picture signal and a receive picture signal, and
`display means for displaying video information based on the
`receive picture signal received from said communication
`means, characterized in that said video telephone apparatus
`comprises detector means for detecting the orientation of
`65 said video telephone apparatus and a rotating means for
`rotating the orientation of an image in at least either of said
`transmit picture signal and said receive picture signal.
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 12 of 21
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`

`

`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`3
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(1), an image picked up by the image pick-up means and/or
`an image transmitted from the distant party is rotated
`according to the direction of the video telephone apparatus.
`Thus, a picked-up image is transmitted in a normal orien(cid:173)
`tation and an image transmitted from the distant party is
`displayed in a normal orientation, even in case the video
`telephone apparatus is used in a variety of orientations
`according to the form of communications.
`(2) video telephone apparatus according to the aspect (1),
`characterized in that detector means for detecting the ori(cid:173)
`entation of said video telephone apparatus has image pick-
`up direction detector means for detecting the vertical direc(cid:173)
`tion of said iii.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(2), the orientation of the video telephone apparatus main
`unit and the orientation of the display means are determined
`by detecting the vertical direction of image pick-up means
`via image pick-up direction detector means. The video 20
`telephone apparatus rotates an picked-up image according to
`the orientation of the image pick-up means and rotates a
`received image transmitted from the distant party according
`to the orientation of the display means. Thus, a picked-up
`image is transmitted in a normal orientation and a received 25
`image transmitted from the distant party is displayed in a
`normal orientation.
`(3) video telephone apparatus according to the aspect (1),
`characterized in that detector means for detecting the ori(cid:173)
`entation of said video telephone apparatus has display
`direction detector means for detecting the vertical direction
`of said display means.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(3), the orientation of the video telephone apparatus main
`unit and the orientation of the image pick-up means are
`determined by detecting the vertical direction of the display
`means via display direction detector means. The display
`direction detector means rotates an picked-up image accord(cid:173)
`ing to the orientation of the image pick-up means and rotates
`a received image transmitted from the distant party accord(cid:173)
`ing to the orientation of the display means. Thus, a picked(cid:173)
`up image is transmitted in a normal orientation and a
`received image transmitted from the distant party is dis(cid:173)
`played in a normal orientation.
`(4) video telephone apparatus according to any of the 45
`aspects (1) through (3 ), characterized in that said rotating
`means has transmit image rotating means for performing
`rotation processing on said transmit picture signal based on
`the orientation of said video telephone apparatus.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`( 4), the orientation of the transmit picture signal that is based
`on the picked-up image is rotated based on the orientation of
`the video telephone apparatus. Thus, a picked-up image is
`transmitted in a normal orientation even in case the video
`telephone apparatus is used in a variety of orientations
`according to the positioning for talking.
`(5) video telephone apparatus according to any of the
`aspects (1) through (4), characterized in that said rotating
`means has receive image rotating means for performing 60
`rotation processing on said receive picture signal based on
`the orientation of said video telephone apparatus.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(5), the orientation of the receive picture signal that is based
`on the received image is rotated based on the orientation of
`the video telephone apparatus. Thus, a received image
`transmitted from the distant party is displayed in a normal
`
`4
`orientation even in case the video telephone apparatus is
`used in a variety of orientations according to the form of
`talking.
`(6) video telephone apparatus according to any of the
`aspects (1) through (5), characterized in that said video
`telephone apparatus comprises a first receiver means for
`regenerating a receive audio signal received from said
`communication means, a second receiver means for regen-
`erating the receive audio signal received from said commu(cid:173)
`nication means to a signal level different from that of the first
`receiver means, and a receiver selector means for switching
`between said first receiver means and said second receiver
`means based on the orientation of said video telephone
`apparatus.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(6), switching is made between the first receiver means and
`the second receiver means based on the orientation of the
`video telephone apparatus. Thus, the user can make proper
`-conversation according to the current situation via talking
`form of the video telephone apparatus.
`Another configuration is possible where said first receiver
`means and said second receiver means are realized via single
`receiver means and the use form of the video telephone
`apparatus is detected based on the orientation of the video
`telephone apparatus to switch the signal level of an audio
`signal received via the receiver selector means. Thus, it is
`possible for the user to make conversation fit for the talking
`form of the video telephone apparatus via single receiver
`30 means.
`(7) video telephone apparatus according to any of the
`aspects (1) through (6), characterized in that said video
`telephone apparatus comprises a first transmitter means for
`converting voice data into an electric signal to generate a
`35 transmit audio signal, a second transmitter means for con(cid:173)
`verting voice data into an electric signal to generate a
`transmit audio signal whose signal level differs from that of
`the first receiver means, and a transmitter selector means for
`switching between said first transmitter means and said
`40 second transmitter means based on the orientation of said
`video telephone apparatus.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(7), switching is made between the first transmitter means
`and the second transmitter means based on the orientation of
`the video telephone apparatus. Thus, the user can make
`proper conversation according to the current situation via
`talking form of the video telephone apparatus.
`Another configuration is possible where said first trans-
`50 mitter means and said second transmitter means are realized
`via single transmitter means and the use form of the video
`telephone apparatus is detected based on the orientation of
`the video telephone apparatus to switch the signal level of an
`audio signal transmitted via the transmitter selector means.
`Thus, it is possible for the user to make conversation fit for
`the talking form of the video telephone apparatus via single
`transmitter means.
`(8) video telephone apparatus according to the aspect (6),
`characterized in that said receiver selector means has
`picked-up image receiver means for switching between said
`first receiver means and said second receiver means based
`on the vertical direction of image pick-up means detected by
`image pick-up means detector means.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`65 (8), the use form of the video telephone apparatus is detected
`based on the orientation of the iii, that is, the orientation of
`the video telephone apparatus main unit to switch between
`
`55
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 13 of 21
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`

`

`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`6
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
`video telephone apparatus according to the fourth embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
`conventional video telephone apparatus.
`In the figures are shown an image pick-up section 1, an
`image pick-up vertical direction detector 2, a transmit image
`rotating section 3, a communication section 4, a receive
`image rotating section 5, a display 6, a display vertical
`10 direction detector 13, a first receiver 14, a second receiver
`15, a picked-up image transmitter selector 19, a display
`receiver selector 20, and a display transmitter selector 21.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`Embodiment of the invention will be described referring
`to the drawings.
`Video telephone apparatus according to embodiments of
`the invention is used as mobile communications apparatus
`such as a personal handy phone and a portable telephone set
`and in particular preferable to portable apparatus.
`
`FIRST EMBODIMENT
`
`5
`the first rece1ver means and the second receiver means.
`Thus, the user can make proper conversation fit for the
`current situation.
`(9) video telephone apparatus according to the aspect (6),
`characterized in that said receiver selector means is display
`receiver selector means and switches between said first
`receiver means and said second receiver means based on the
`vertical direction or horizontal direction of the display
`means detected by display means detector means.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(9), the use form of the video telephone apparatus is detected
`based on the orientation of the display means, that is, the
`orientation of the video telephone apparatus main unit to
`switch between the first receiver means and the second
`receiver means. Thus, the user can make proper conversa- 15
`tion according to the current situation via talking form of the
`video telephone apparatus.
`(1 0) video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(7), characterized in that said transmitter selector means has
`picked-up image transmitter means for switching between 20
`said first transmitter means and said second transmitter
`means based on the vertical direction of image pick-up
`means detected by image pick-up means detector means.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(10), the use form of the video telephone apparatus is 25
`detected based on the orientation of the iii, that is, the
`orientation of the video telephone apparatus main unit to
`switch between the first transmitter means and the second
`transmitter means. Thus, the user can make proper conver(cid:173)
`sation fit for the current situation.
`(11) video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(7), characterized in that said transmitter selector means has
`display transmitter selector means for switching between
`said first transmitter means and said second transmitter
`means based on the vertical direction of display means
`detected by display means detector means.
`In the video telephone apparatus according to the aspect
`(11), the use form of the video telephone apparatus is
`detected based on the orientation of the display means, that
`is, the orientation of the video telephone apparatus main unit
`to switch between the first transmitter means and the second
`transmitter means. Thus, the user can make proper conver(cid:173)
`sation according to the current situation via talking form of
`the video telephone apparatus.
`
`Video telephone apparatus according to the first embodi(cid:173)
`ment can transmit and display a picked-up image and a
`received image in a normal state by rotating the picked-up
`image and the received image based on the vertical direction
`30 of iii, irrespective of the form of talking of the video
`telephone apparatus.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
`video telephone apparatus according to the first embodiment
`of the invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing a
`35 configuration of the image pick-up vertical direction detec(cid:173)
`tor. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a positioning
`example of video telephone apparatus main unit 10. FIG. 4
`is a perspective view showing a positioning example of
`video telephone apparatus main unit 10 having a detachable
`40 image pick-up section lb.
`As shown in FIG. 1, video telephone apparatus according
`to the first embodiment has an image pick-up section 1
`corresponding to image pick-up means for picking up the
`image of an object and generating a picture signal according
`45 to the image of the object, an image pick-up vertical
`direction detector 2 corresponding to image pick-up direc(cid:173)
`tion detector means for detecting the vertical direction of the
`image pick-up section 1 and determining the orientation of
`the video telephone apparatus, a transmit image rotating
`section 3 corresponding to transmit image rotating means for
`receiving a picture signal from the image pick-up section 1
`and performing rotation processing on the signal based on
`the vertical direction of the image pick-up section 1 detected
`by the image pick-up vertical direction detector 2, and a
`55 communication section 4 corresponding to communication
`means for modulating and transmitting a picture signal
`(transmit picture signal) to send from the local party via a
`communication circuit that is a radio link or a wired circuit.
`The video telephone apparatus according to the first
`60 embodiment also has a communication section 4 for receiv(cid:173)
`ing and demodulating a picture signal (receive picture
`signal) sent from the distant party via a communication
`circuit that is a radio link or a wired circuit, and a receive
`image rotating section 5 corresponding to receive image
`65 rotating means for receiving the demodulated picture signal
`and performing rotation processing on the signal, a display
`6 corresponding to display means for displaying as an image
`
`50
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
`video telephone apparatus according to the first embodiment
`of the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing a configuration of
`the image pick-up vertical direction detector.
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a positioning
`example of video telephone apparatus main unit.
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a positioning
`example of video telephone apparatus main unit having a
`detachable image pick-up section.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
`video telephone apparatus according to the second embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of
`video telephone apparatus main unit having a detachable
`display.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
`video telephone apparatus according to the third embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention.
`
`AVER EXHIBIT 1005
`Page 14 of 21
`
`

`

`US 7,148,911 B1
`
`7
`the picture signal that has undergone rotation processing. It
`is assumed that the orientation of the video telephone
`apparatus main unit, the image pick-up section and the
`display is the same as the orientation of the video telephone
`apparatus.
`Receiving operation and transmitting operation of the
`video telephone apparatus will be described below.
`
`8
`the vertical direction. However, the vertical direction detect(cid:173)
`ing means using the Haugh transform gives the same results
`when rotated by 180 degrees. Thus, the positioning angle of
`the video telephone apparatus is limited within 90 degrees
`from the vertical orientation to the position where the right
`side is at the bottom. Detailed description of the Haugh
`transform is omitted because it is a well known technology.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`(Transmitting Operation)
`When an image is transmitted, the image of an object is
`picked up by an image pick-up section 1 in the first place.
`The image pick-up section 1 further converts image data on
`the target object to an electric signal to generate a picture
`signal and output the picture signal to the transmit image
`rotating section 3. In this practice, the image pick-up vertical
`direction detector 2 detects the vertical direction of the
`image pick-up section 1 and outputs the results to the
`transmit image rotating section 3 and the receive image
`rotating section 5. The image pick-up vertical direction
`detector 2 detects the vertical direction by using a contact of
`mercury and an electrode. As shown in FIG. 2, the image
`pick-up vertical direction detector 2 is composed of an
`enclosure 7 composed of glass, etc., mercury 8 encapsulated
`within this enclosure 7, electrode pairs 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D
`provided on upper and lower left/right sections to penetrate 25
`the walls of the enclosure 7.
`By the gravity of the mercury 8, the mercury 8 is placed
`in the lower section of the enclosure 7 and serves to
`short-circuit the electrode pair 9A as shown in the figure.
`The same applies to the other electrode pairs and the
`electrode pairs in the lower section of the enclosure are
`short-circuited by mercury. As a result, by detecting the
`short-circuit, it is possible to detect for example an electrode
`pair 9A in FIG. 2. The section short-circuited by mercury
`indicates the lower section of the enclosure in the vertical
`direction thus allowing detection of the vertical direction.
`Referring to FIG. 1 again, the transmit image rotating
`section 3, on receiving information on the image pick-up
`section in the vertical direction thus detected and a picture
`signal of a picked-up image picked up by the image pick-up
`section, performs rotation processing on the picture signal so
`that the upper side of the picked-up image in the vertical
`direction of the image pick-up section 1, that is, the upper
`side of the object in the vertical direction may coincide with
`the upper side of the image to be transmitted to the distant
`party. The picture signal processed by the transmit image
`rotating section is modulated by the communication section
`4 and transmitted to the distant party via a communication
`circuit.
`The image pick-up vertical direction detector 2 is not
`limited to one that uses mercury shown in FIG. 2. Another
`method of detecting the vertical direction is for example an
`approach whereby the Haugh transform is used to draw the
`edge of the image obtained via the image pick-up section 1
`and straight line appearing over a predetermined frequency
`are extracted to obtain statistics of the angles of the straight
`lines, with the straight line most frequently detected is
`assumed as the vertical direction.
`When the image of an object is picked via the image
`pick-up section, buildings are a selected as a background or
`an object itself. These buildings generally stand in vertical
`direction so that the picked-up image contains a great
`number of straight line in the vertical direction. Thus, it is
`possible to use the Haugh transform and to extract straight
`lines having a variety of angles included in the pi