Optics orienting arrangement for videoconferencing system

Claim 1

In a video camera adapted for use with, and for retrofit mounting on a computer monitor for a personal computer (PC) workstation, said video camera comprising a first housing, an optical window with an optical axis and an optical video sensor arranged to receive an optical image passed through said window, said window and said sensor being mounted in said first housing and arranged to view the face of a computer operator at said PC workstation, said video camera being connectable and operable as a single camera unit in a videoconferencing system for said PC workstation, said monitor comprising a second housing and a display screen mounted in the second housing and arranged to be viewed by the computer operator, said display screen having an image display surface with a central point and a central axis extending outward from said central point perpendicular to said display surface, said second housing including a frame portion disposed adjacent to and surrounding said display surface, said frame portion having a top surface and two lateral side surfaces; the improvement wherein said first housing is so configured, when mounted on said top surface of said second housing with said optical axis parallel to said central axis, as to position said optical window between said frame portion and the computer operator, with its optical axis intersecting said frame portion at a position below said top surface and between said lateral side surfaces of said frame portion; whereby the optical window is arranged at substantially eye level of the computer operator such that eyes of the operator's face in the image formed by the video sensor appear to be looking directly into the optical window when the computer operator is gazing at the display screen.