Voice input apparatus

A voice input apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a panel in which a voice input hole is formed; a circuit board which is disposed below the panel and has a voice passing hole formed in a position corresponding to the voice input hole; a first sealer having a cylindrical shape which is disposed between the panel and the circuit board, an upper end of which is in contact with a bottom surface of the panel while surrounding the voice input hole, and a lower end of which is in contact with an upper surface of the circuit board while surrounding the voice passing hole; a microphone which is disposed below the circuit board and has a sound receiving hole provided in a position corresponding to the sound passing hole; and a second sealer in which an accommodation space having an opening in an upper surface thereof is formed, and the microphone is disposed in the accommodation space, and which is in contact with a bottom surface of the circuit board in a state where the upper surface surrounds the voice passing hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2019/008649, filed on Jul. 12, 2019, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a voice input apparatus that receives a voice for controlling an appliance.

BACKGROUND ART

There are various appliances, such as TV, air conditioner, audio, cleaner, washing machine, air purifier, clothing manager, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, water purifier, and dryer, in the home. The appliances are controlled by a wireless communication-based remote control apparatus. In general, a single control apparatus controls a single appliance, but there is an integrated control apparatus that manages and controls several appliances together.

With the development of voice recognition technology, recently, a control apparatus for recognizing a user's voice command and controlling an appliance based on the voice command has been widely used. Such a control apparatus is interoperable with a voice input apparatus that provides a voice-based user interface. The voice input apparatus includes a microphone and a speaker.

The user interface is configured to provide a user with various information such as guidance, response, and notification through the speaker, and to receive various instructions such as selection, execution, inquiry, and control of a menu from the user through the microphone.

In order for the voice recognition-based two-way user interface to operate accurately, the user's voice must be accurately inputted to the microphone, and the sound outputted from the speaker must be accurately transmitted to the user.

However, in the voice input apparatus, in some cases, the sound outputted from the speaker is unintentionally recognized as a control command. For example, when a specific command is inputted through the microphone, the controller activates a voice control mode, and then operates according to a series of voice control commands inputted through the microphone. However, if the sound outputted through the speaker is similar to the specific command, there is a problem that the voice control mode is activated.

In addition, when the output of the speaker and the input through the microphone need to proceed simultaneously—e.g., when it is necessary to recognize the voice through the microphone while music is being played through the speaker—there is a problem that the sound outputted from the speaker interferes with voice recognition.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present disclosure is to provide a voice input apparatus that prevents the sound from entering a microphone through a path other than a voice input hole formed in a panel.

A second object of the present disclosure is to provide a voice input apparatus that prevents the sound transmitted from a speaker room in which a speaker is accommodated from entering a microphone.

A third object of the present disclosure is to provide a voice input apparatus that prevents the sound outputted from the speaker from being unintentionally recognized as a control command.

The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Technical Solution

In an aspect, there is provided a voice input apparatus including: a panel in which a voice input hole is formed; a circuit board which is disposed below the panel and has a voice passing hole formed in a position corresponding to the voice input hole; a first sealer having a cylindrical shape which is disposed between the panel and the circuit board, an upper end of which is in contact with a bottom surface of the panel while surrounding the voice input hole, and a lower end of which is in contact with an upper surface of the circuit board while surrounding the voice passing hole; a microphone which is disposed below the circuit board and has a sound receiving hole provided in a position corresponding to the sound passing hole; and a second sealer in which an accommodation space having an opening in an upper surface thereof is formed, and the microphone is disposed in the accommodation space, and which is in contact with a bottom surface of the circuit board in a state where the upper surface surrounds the voice passing hole.

The voice input apparatus further includes: a casing which is provided with a speaker room below the microphone; a speaker which is disposed inside the speaker room; a partition which is disposed above the speaker room inside the casing and partitions the inside of the casing vertically; and a third sealer which seals between the partition and an inner surface of the casing.

The second sealer has an opening formed in a lower surface, and the lower surface is in contact with an upper surface of the partition.

The voice input apparatus further includes: a power supply unit which supplies power to the speaker, and is fixed to the partition; and a third sealer which seals between the partition and the inner surface of the casing.

The voice input apparatus further includes: a sound insulation board which is fixed between the speaker room and the partition; and a fourth sealer which seals between the sound insulation board and the inner surface of the casing.

The speaker room includes: a room base which is disposed below the speaker; and a room sidewall which has an opened upper surface, is extended upward from a circumference of the room base to surround the speaker, and has a sound discharge port communicating the inside and the outside of the speaker room.

The room side wall has an opened upper surface, and the speaker room further comprises a room ceiling covering the opened upper surface of the room sidewall.

The speaker comprises a diaphragm that emits sound downward, and the room base is disposed below the diaphragm.

The voice input apparatus further includes: a sound guide which is protruded upward from the room base, positioned below the diaphragm, and reflects the sound outputted from the diaphragm outward in a radial direction.

The sound guide has a cone shape which protrudes from the room base.

The speaker room further includes an inclined surface which is disposed in an upper side of the diaphragm and, when viewed from above, is extended in a circumferential direction while surrounding a circumference of the speaker, and is gradually lowered as it progresses toward the outside in a radial direction.

Advantageous Effects

A voice input apparatus according to the present disclosure has the following effects.

First, a transmission path of voice is formed in such a manner that a voice command of a user passes through a voice input hole formed in a panel and a voice passing hole formed in a circuit board sequentially to reach a microphone, and the transmission path is sealed by a first sealer disposed between the panel and the circuit board and a second sealer disposed below the circuit board, so that noise can be prevented from penetrating into the transmission path, thereby a correct voice command can be entered to the microphone.

Second, the sound transmitted from the speaker room in which the speaker is accommodated is blocked by at least one sealer disposed in the casing, thereby preventing the sound from being transmitted to the microphone. Accordingly, the problem that the sound outputted from the speaker is unintentionally recognized as a control command does not occur.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

MODE FOR DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present embodiment, the same designations and the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and further description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1is a conceptual diagram of an appliance control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1, the appliance control system may include an appliance control apparatus10, at least one voice input apparatus20, and at least one appliance30. The appliance30is not limited to a home appliance used at home, and may be an office appliance used in a work space.

The appliance control apparatus10may receive various types of control commands from the voice input apparatus20, and transmit a control signal based on the received control command to the appliance30.

The appliance30may include a communication module for communication connection with the appliance control apparatus10. For example, the appliance30may include a wireless internet module such as Wi-Fi.

The appliance control apparatus10may receive information on an event generated in the appliance30, and notify the received information to the user through the voice input apparatus20. That is, the appliance control apparatus10may serve as a hub or a server. Specific configuration and operation of the appliance control apparatus10will be described in more detail later.

The voice input apparatus20may receive a control command for controlling the appliance30from the user, and transmit the received control command to the appliance control apparatus10. The control command may be in the form of a voice, and the voice input apparatus20may include a microphone221(seeFIG. 4) for receiving a voice. The voice input apparatus20may receive a control command through a touch or a button in addition to voice.

In addition, the voice input apparatus20may include an output means such as a speaker231, a display232, or the like. Accordingly, the voice input apparatus20may output a processing result or response according to the inputted control command, or may output information or data received from the appliance control apparatus10. The information or data may be related to various events generated in the appliance30.

The voice input apparatus20may be a mobile terminal such as smartphone and tablet PC, an audio output device (e.g., an artificial intelligence speaker) having a built-in input means such as a microphone, and an appliance (e.g., air conditioner, washing machine, or the like that are equipped with a microphone) having the built-in input means.

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram of an appliance control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 2, the appliance control apparatus10amay include a voice processing unit11and a control unit13. Each of the voice processing unit11and the control unit13may be implemented in a separate server form or may be integrated in a single server.

A user's voice (or voice command) inputted through the voice input apparatus20may be transmitted to the voice processing unit11. The voice may include a control command for a specific appliance.

The voice processing unit11may process the received voice, convert the received voice into text, and acquire a control command for a specific appliance from the converted text. The voice processing unit11may transmit the acquired control command to the control unit13.

Furthermore, the voice processing unit11may convert a message or various information in the form of text or code transmitted from the control unit13into a voice form, and transmit the converted voice form guide message or various information to the voice input apparatus20.

In detail, the voice processing unit11may include an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module111, a natural language processing (NLP) module113, and a text to speech (TTS) module115. The ASR module111, the NLP module113, and the TTS module115may be implemented in a single server, or may be implemented in separate servers respectively.

The ASR module111may convert a voice transmitted from the voice input apparatus20into text by using a known automatic speech recognition technology.

The NLP module113may check (analyze) whether a control command that can be processed by the control unit13or the appliance30is contained from the converted text. For example, the NLP module113may acquire a keyword for identifying the appliance30and/or a keyword related to the function or operation of the appliance30from the natural language corresponding to the converted text. The NLP module113may check the control command based on the acquired keyword.

Alternatively, the NLP module113may generate text in a natural language form containing the message or information based on the message or information transmitted from the control unit13, and transmit the generated text to the TTS module115.

The TTS module115may convert the text transmitted from the NLP module113into voice, and transmit the converted voice to the voice input apparatus20.

The control unit13may receive a control command for the appliance30from the voice processing unit11, and generate a control signal corresponding to the received control command. The control unit13may transmit the generated control signal to the appliance30.

Meanwhile, the control unit13may generate the control signal based on a user profile UP and an appliance profile AP.

The user profile UP may include information related to appliances possessed by the user of the voice input apparatus20. According to an embodiment, the user profile UP may further include various information such as product information (model information) of the appliances possessed by the user, a driving history, a usage pattern, an error history, a repair history, and the like for each of the possessed appliances.

According to an embodiment, the appliances possessed by the user are grouped based on a reference such as space or function, and only a representative appliance of each group may be directly connected to the control unit13. For example, when an air cleaner among the appliances located in the living room is provided with only a short range communication module and cannot be directly connected to the control unit13, the air cleaner may be connected to the control unit13through an air conditioner. In this case, among the appliances located in the living room, the air conditioner may correspond to the representative appliance.

The control unit13may control the remaining appliances through the representative appliance. To this end, the user profile UP may further include group information of the appliances, representative appliance information, and/or connection information between the appliances.

The appliance profile (AP) may include information related to the functions (modes) supported by each of the products (models) of the appliance, a data format (e.g., code information) for each of the functions, and the like.

The control unit13may generate the control signal based on the control command, the user profile UP, and the appliance profile AP. For example, when the control command includes a command for driving the air conditioner in a dehumidification mode, the control unit13may acquire product information (model information) of the air conditioner possessed by the user from the user profile UP. In addition, the control unit13may acquire code information related to the dehumidification mode of the model of the air conditioner possessed by the user from the appliance profile AP. The control unit13may generate a control signal for driving the dehumidification mode of the air conditioner by using the acquired code information. The control unit13transmits the generated control signal to the air conditioner, and the air conditioner may activate the dehumidification mode in response to the received control signal.

Meanwhile, in the appliance30, the code information for a specific function may be different according to a detailed model. That is, the code information may be fragmented according to the model. In this case, in order for the control unit13to generate a control signal based on the control command, an additional process of acquiring code information for each of the models may be necessary. Since the control unit13generates a control signal by processing each of a plurality of control commands received from each of the plurality of users, the additional process may cause an increase in load of the control unit13and a delay in processing speed.

Accordingly, the appliance control apparatus10may further include a data conversion module15that performs an operation of generating a control signal having code information related to the model of a target appliance (or a control target appliance). The data conversion module15may be implemented as a separate server from the control unit13, or may be implemented as a server together with the control unit13. Alternatively, the data conversion module15may be implemented in a separate configuration from the appliance control apparatus10. According to an embodiment, a plurality of data conversion modules15may be implemented, and each data conversion module15may be connected to the control unit13.

When the data conversion module15exists, the control unit13may generate a control signal including integrated code information on a function to be controlled in the appliance based on the control command. The integrated code information may mean code information that is commonly set for a specific appliance product group.

The data conversion module15may convert the integrated code information included in the control signal into code information related to a model of the target appliance. To this end, the appliance profile AP may be provided in the data conversion module15. In this case, the control unit13may transmit the model information of the target appliance along with the control signal to the data conversion module15. The data conversion module15may convert the code information of the control signal based on the model information received from the control unit13.

The data conversion module15may be implemented as a platform such as a kind of cloudlet assisting the control server13. The data conversion module15may distribute the load of the control unit13through the above-described operation. Accordingly, the load of the control unit13may be effectively reduced, and the delay of the processing speed may be minimized.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the control unit13according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 3.

FIG. 3is a schematic block diagram of the control apparatus shown inFIG. 2. Referring toFIG. 3, the control unit13may include a processor131, a communication unit132, a memory133, and a control signal generation module134.

The processor131may control the overall operation of the control unit13. The processor131may receive a control command for the appliance30from the voice processing unit11through the communication unit132. The processor131may control the control signal generation module134to generate a control signal based on the received control command. The processor131may transmit the generated control signal to the appliance30through the communication unit132. To this end, the communication unit132may include at least one communication module such as an internet module, a mobile communication module, and the like.

According to an embodiment, the processor131may receive a response according to the control signal from the appliance30through the communication unit132, or receive operation information or state information of the appliance30. The processor131may transmit the received response, operation information, or state information to the voice processing unit11or the voice input apparatus20. Alternatively, the processor131may control the control signal generation module134to generate a control signal based on the received response, operation information, or state information. The processor131may transmit the generated control signal to the appliance30through the communication unit132.

The processor131may include at least one central processing unit (CPU), application processor (AP), integrated circuit, microcontroller, electrical unit for performing other functions, or the like.

The memory133may store various information, data, and algorithm for the operation of the control unit13. The memory133may include a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may store the various information, data, and algorithm, and the volatile memory may temporarily store data acquired during the operation of the control unit13or information, data, algorithm, or the like loaded from the nonvolatile memory.

In particular, the memory133may store a user profile UP and an appliance profile AP. The user profile UP and the appliance profile AP may include information necessary for the control signal generation module134to generate a control signal for the target appliance.

As described above with reference toFIG. 2, the user profile UP may include information related to appliances possessed by a user of the voice input apparatus20. According to an embodiment, the user profile UP may further include various information such as product information (model information) of appliances possessed by the user, a driving history, a usage pattern, an error history, a repair history, and the like for each of the possessed appliances.

The appliance profile (AP) may include information on the functions (modes) supported by each of the products (models) of the appliance, a data format (e.g., code information) for each of the functions, and the like.

According to an embodiment, when the control unit13is connected to a separate database device, the user profile UP and the appliance profile AP may be provided in the database device. The processor131may receive at least a portion of the user profile UP or at least a portion of the appliance profile AP from the database device and store it in the memory133.

The control signal generation module134may generate a control signal corresponding to the control command received from the voice processing server11or the voice input apparatus20. InFIG. 3, it is illustrated that the control signal generation module134is a separate configuration from the processor131, but according to an embodiment, the control signal generation module134may be a configuration included in the processor131.

The control signal generation module134may acquire model information of the appliance to be controlled according to the control command among the appliances possessed by the user from the user profile UP. In addition, the control signal generation module134may acquire data (e.g., code information) corresponding to a function to be performed according to the control command, from among data related to the model of the appliance to be controlled, from the appliance profile AP. The control signal generation module134may generate a control signal including the acquired data (code information).

According to an embodiment, when the appliance control apparatus10includes the data conversion module15, the control signal generation module134may generate a control signal including integrated code information related to a function to be performed according to the control command. The data conversion module15may convert the integrated code information into code information corresponding to the model of the appliance to be controlled.

Hereinafter, a voice input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 5.

FIG. 4is a schematic block diagram of a voice input apparatus shown inFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 4, the voice input apparatus20may include a communication unit210, an input unit220, an output unit230, a memory241, a control unit243, a power supply unit242, and an interface unit235.

The communication unit210may include at least one communication module for connecting the voice input apparatus20to the appliance control apparatus10, the voice processing unit11, the control unit13, the appliance30, and/or a user terminal through a network. For example, the communication unit210may include a short range communication module such as a Bluetooth and a near field communication (NFC), a wireless Internet module such as Wi-Fi, or a mobile communication module. The controller243may transmit a control command to the appliance control apparatus10, particularly, the voice processing unit11or the control unit13, or transmit a control signal to the appliance30through the communication unit210. In addition, the controller243may receive information or data related to the appliance30from the voice processing unit11or the control unit13, or may receive information or data from the appliance30through the communication unit210.

The input unit220may include input means for inputting a certain signal, information, and/or data to the voice input apparatus20by an action such as a user's operation. The input unit220may include a microphone221. In some embodiments, the input unit220may include a touch input unit222through which a command is inputted through a user's touch operation and/or a button input unit223through which a command is inputted through a button manipulation.

The user may control the operation of the voice input apparatus20through the button input unit223. The button input unit223may be a button for acquiring a voice including a control command of the appliance30from the user. In other words, the button input unit223may correspond to a button for activating/deactivating the microphone221.

For example, after the user presses the button input unit223or during pressing, the controller243may activate the microphone221to acquire a voice uttered by the user. After completing the uttering of the voice, the user may press the button input unit223again, or terminate the pressing operation. In this case, the controller243may deactivate the microphone221, and transmit the received voice to the voice processing unit11.

The user may input a control command for controlling the target appliance through the input unit220. The user may input a control command in the form of a voice through the microphone221. Alternatively, the user may input a control command in a text form through the touch input unit222or the button input unit223, or by selecting a menu or icon outputted through the display232.

The output unit230may output information related to an operation or a state of the voice input apparatus20. According to an embodiment, the output unit230may output information or data received from the appliance control apparatus10. For example, the information or data received from the appliance control apparatus10may include information related to the operation or state of the appliance30, a response or a processing result for the control command inputted through the input unit220, and the like.

The output unit230may include at least one of a speaker231for outputting various information or data in the form of voice or sound, a display232for outputting the various information or data in the form of text or graphic, and a light output unit233for outputting the various information or data through the color or brightness of light, a light emitting pattern, or the like.

The memory241may store various data such as control data for controlling operations of components included in the voice input apparatus20and data for performing an operation corresponding to an input acquired through the input unit220.

The controller243may control the overall operation of the voice input apparatus20. In particular, the controller243may control the input unit220to acquire a control command for the appliance30from the user. The controller243may transmit the acquired control command to the appliance control apparatus10through the communication unit210. In addition, the controller243may receive various information or data from the appliance control apparatus10through the communication unit210, and control the output unit230to output the received information or data.

The controller243may include hardware such as at least one CPU, microcomputer, AP, or the like.

The power supply unit242may supply power required for the operation of each of the components included in the voice input apparatus20. For example, the power supply unit242may correspond to an apparatus which is connected to an external power source and supplies power provided from the power source to the components.

According to an embodiment, the power supply unit242may include a battery. The battery may be provided in the voice input apparatus20, and may be connected to an external power source through a power connection terminal included in the voice input apparatus20to be charged. The voice input apparatus20equipped with the battery may be implemented as a portable type device that is movable by a user in a specific space.

The power supply unit242may further include a wireless power receiver (e.g., a coil) for wirelessly receiving power from the outside. In this case, the voice input apparatus20may be seated, attached, or mounted in close proximity to the appliance30having a wireless power transmitter or a wireless power charging device, and may receive power from the wireless power transmitter. According to an embodiment, depending on a wireless power transmission method implemented in the power supply unit242, the voice input apparatus20may receive power even in a state of being spaced apart from the wireless power transmitter. The power supply unit242may charge the battery by using the supplied power.

The interface unit235may provide an interface for connecting the voice input apparatus20to other device. The interface unit235may provide an interface for a wired connection such as a universal serial bus USB.

The voice input apparatus20may be connected to the appliance30through the interface unit235. The appliance30may be an appliance having no communication module, but is not limited thereto. That is, the appliance30having no communication module may transmit/receive a signal or data with the appliance control apparatus10through the voice input apparatus20.

According to an embodiment, the voice input apparatus20may receive power from the appliance30through the interface unit235.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of a voice input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 6is a plan view of the voice input apparatus shown inFIG. 5.FIG. 7is an exploded perspective view of a voice input apparatus.FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 6.FIG. 9is an exploded view of components in the cross-sectional view shown inFIG. 8.FIG. 10is an enlarged view of a portion denoted by B inFIG. 8.

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 10, the voice input apparatus20may be disposed in a position desired by a user in a specific space (e.g., a home), and receive a control command in the form of a voice from the user. In other words, the disposition position of the voice input apparatus20may be freely changed by the user.

The voice input apparatus20includes a speaker231, a speaker room260in which the speaker231is accommodated, and at least one microphone221disposed outside the speaker room260.

The speaker231outputs sound downward. The speaker231includes a diaphragm231athat vibrates according to an electric signal and emits sound, and the sound by the diaphragm231ais outputted downward.

The speaker room260receives at least a portion of the speaker231. Preferably, the diaphragm231ais disposed in the speaker room260so that the sound emitted from the diaphragm231ais transmitted into the speaker room260. The speaker room260may serve as a soundbox to resonate sound.

The voice input apparatus20may include a casing250forming an outer shape. At least a portion of the casing250may constitute the speaker room260. The casing250may include a casing body251, a casing cover252, a side panel253, and/or an upper panel254.

The casing body251may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the upper surface may be opened and the lower surface may be closed. At least a portion of the speaker room260may be formed in the casing body251.

The speaker room260may include a room base251a, a sound guide270, and a room sidewall251b. The room base251ais disposed below the diaphragm231and may be substantially horizontal. The room base251amay constitute the bottom of the casing body251.

The sound guide270reflects the sound emitted from the speaker231to the outside along the lateral direction or the radial direction. The sound reflected by the sound guide270may be emitted to the outside of the voice input apparatus20through a sound discharge port251hpositioned around the sound guide270.

The sound guide270may protrude upward from the room base251aand be positioned below the diaphragm231a. The sound outputted from the diaphragm231amay be reflected outward along the radial direction by the sound guide270. The sound guide270may have a conical shape (e.g., a cone or a truncated cone) whose cross-sectional area becomes narrower as it progresses toward the upper side. Preferably, the sound guide270may be implemented in the form of a cone or a truncated cone so that the sound is uniformly reflected by 360 degrees.

In an embodiment, the sound guide270is configured separately from the room base251aand is coupled with the room base251a, but not necessarily limited thereto, and can be formed integrally with the room base251a(or a single component).

Meanwhile, the room sidewall251bis extended upward from the circumference of the room base251aand surrounds the sound guide270. The room sidewall251bis provided with the sound discharge port251hfor emitting the sound reflected by the sound guide270to the outside of the speaker room260. The inside and the outside of the speaker room260communicate with each other through the sound discharge port251h.

The room sidewall251bmay be extended from the room base251ato a height higher than the diaphragm231a. The room sidewall251bmay be a cylindrical shape having an upper surface and a lower surface that are opened, the opened lower surface may be closed by the room base251a, and the upper surface may be covered by a room ceiling262described later. The speaker231may be fixed to the room ceiling262.

The sound discharge port251hmay be formed long in the circumferential direction. In other words, the sound discharge port251hmay have a length longer than the width in the vertical direction. A plurality of sound discharge ports251hformed in parallel with each other may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The plurality of sound discharge ports251hmay be spaced apart along the circumferential direction.

Meanwhile, the speaker room260may include an inclined surface262adisposed above the diaphragm231a. The inclined surface262ais extended in the circumferential direction while surrounding the circumference of the speaker231(or the diaphragm231a) when viewed vertically downward from above, and may be gradually lowered as it progresses toward the outside along the radial direction.

When viewed from above (hereinafter, ‘when viewed from above’ means a case of viewing downward vertically), the inclined surface262amay have a shape of surrounding the sound guide270. The inclined surface262aroughly faces the truncated cone. The sound that is emitted from the diaphragm231aand is reflected by the room base251aor the sound guide270and then reached the inclined surface262amay be reflected by the inclined surface262ato reach the sound discharge port251h.

In particular, in a structure in which the sound discharge port251his spaced apart from the inclined surface262adownward by a certain distance d in the radial direction from the outside of the inclined surface262a, the inclined surface262afaces the inner side in the radial direction, thereby reducing the sound waves that are reflected by the inclined surface262aand incident into the spaced section d. For reference, the arrow indicated by a two-dot chain line inFIG. 8shows that the sound reflected from the room base251ais incident into the spaced section d when reflected by a virtual horizontal plane, the arrow indicated by a dashed dotted line shows that the sound reflected by the inclined surface262ais incident into the sound discharge port251h, and the arrow indicated by the dotted line shows the sound which is reflected by the sound guide270and proceeds directly to the sound discharge port251h.

Meanwhile, the speaker room260may further include a room ceiling that covers the opened upper surface of the room sidewall251b. The room ceiling262may close at least a portion of the opened upper surface of the room sidewall251b. The inclined surface262amay be formed in the bottom surface of the room ceiling262.

An opening262hmay be formed in the room ceiling262. The inclined surface262amay be extended along the circumference of the opening262hto form an annular shape. The speaker231may be disposed inside the opening262h, and in this case, the room ceiling262may be a sound insulation board or a soundproof board that blocks sound from leaking upward from the speaker room260.

Meanwhile, the microphone221may be disposed above the speaker room260. The casing cover252may be disposed above the casing body251. The casing cover252is formed in a cylindrical shape having an upper surface and a lower surface that are opened respectively such that the microphone221, the power supply unit242, the circuit board280, and/or a partition247may be disposed inside the casing cover252.

A control command in the form of a voice may be received through the microphone221. A plurality of microphones221may be provided. Preferably, as in the embodiment, two microphones221aand221bare spaced apart from each other at a certain interval.

At least one voice passing hole281is formed in the circuit board280. Two voice passing holes281aand281bmay be formed to correspond to the two microphones221aand221b, respectively.

Each of the microphones221aand22bmay be disposed in the bottom surface of the circuit board280. Here, the bottom surface of the circuit board280may be a surface facing the speaker room260. The microphone221may be disposed in an area where a voice receiving hole (not shown) for receiving a sound is overlapped with the voice passing hole281. That is, when viewed from above, at least a portion of the voice receiving hole may be overlapped with the voice passing hole281.

A second sealer291having an accommodation space in which the microphone221is accommodated may be further provided. Two second sealers291aand291bmay be provided to correspond to the two microphones221aand221b, respectively.

The second sealer291has an opening for opening the accommodation space formed in an upper surface thereof. The microphone221is accommodated in the accommodation space through the opening. The opened upper surface of the second sealer291may be in contact with the bottom surface of the circuit board280in a state of surrounding the voice passing hole281. The second sealer291may be formed of a soft material.

An opening is formed in a lower surface of the second sealer291, and the lower surface may contact the upper surface of the partition247. The partition247may serve to support and fix the second sealer291as well as to seal the accommodation space.

In the embodiment, the second sealer291is formed in a cylindrical shape in which both the upper and lower surfaces thereof are opened. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto, and may have a structure where the lower surface is closed.

At least a portion of the casing cover252may cover the upper side of the circuit board280. In the casing cover252, a voice input hole252hmay be formed in an area overlapping with the voice passing hole281when viewed from the above. Two voice input holes252hmay be formed to correspond to the two voice passing holes281, respectively.

In detail, the casing cover252may include a cylindrical cover sidewall252aand a cover upper surface portion252bformed in an upper end of the cover sidewall252a. The two voice input holes252hmay be formed in the cover upper surface portion252b.

A pair of first sealers249forming a path may be provided between the cover upper surface portion252band the circuit board280so that the sound inputted through the voice input hole252his not leaked but guided to the voice passing hole281. The first sealer249may be made of a soft material.

Each of the first sealers249aand249bis formed in a cylindrical shape having a hollow through which sound passes, and an upper end may be in close contact with the bottom surface of the cover upper surface portion252b, and a lower end may be in close contact with the upper surface of the circuit board280. The opened upper end of the first sealer249amay surround the voice input hole252h, and the opened lower end of the first sealer249a,249bmay surround the circumference of the voice passing hole281a,281b.

The partition247may be disposed above the speaker room260and may partition the inside of the casing250vertically. The partition247may be disposed inside the casing cover252. The partition247may be disposed below the circuit board280.

A third sealer292may be provided to seal between the partition247and the inner surface of the casing250(or the inner surface of the casing cover252). The third sealer292may have an annular shape and be made of soft material to surround the partition247. At least a portion of the third sealer292may be interposed between the partition247and the inner surface of the casing cover252. The sound transmitted from the speaker room260may be blocked by the third sealer292, so that it can be prevented from being transmitted to the microphone221.

The power supply unit242may be fixed to the partition247. In the embodiment, the power supply unit242is fixed to the partition247while being suspended in the partition247, but is not necessarily limited thereto. In some embodiments, the power supply unit242may be mounted on an upper surface of the partition247.

An inclined surface247amay be formed in the bottom surface of the partition247. The inclined surface247amay have a structure substantially the same as the inclined surface262aformed in the above-described room ceiling262. The partition27may have a ring shape that is extended in the circumferential direction while surrounding the circumference of the power supply unit242when viewed vertically downward, and the inclined surface247amay have a shape that becomes gradually lowered as it progresses toward the outside in the radial direction while being formed in the bottom surface of the partition247.

The sound leaked through between the speaker231and the room ceiling262from the speaker room260may be blocked by the partition247so that it can be prevented from entering the microphone221.

Meanwhile, the side panel253is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is fitted to the outside of the casing cover252and the casing body251in the state where the casing cover252is positioned above the casing body251. The upper end of the side panel253may be positioned at substantially the same height as the upper surface of the cover upper surface portion252b, and the lower end of the side panel253may be positioned above the sound discharge port251h.

In addition, an opening may be formed in the cover upper surface portion252b, and a panel254may be disposed inside the opening. The panel254may be provided with a button input unit223.

FIG. 11is a cross-sectional view illustrating a voice input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 11, hereinafter, the same components as in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted herein.

A voice input apparatus20′ according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a sound insulation board293fixed between the speaker room260and the partition247. The sound insulation board293may be disposed outside the speaker room260, and preferably, above the room ceiling262.

A fourth sealer294may be provided to seal between the sound insulation board293and the inner surface of the casing250(or the inner surface of the room sidewall251b). The fourth sealer294may have an annular shape and be made of soft material to surround the circumference of the sound insulation board293. At least a portion of the fourth sealer294may be interposed between the sound insulation board243and the inner surface of the room sidewall251b. The sound transmitted from the speaker room260is blocked by the fourth sealer294.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not construed as being limited to the described embodiments but is defined by the appended claims as well as equivalents thereto.