Patent Publication Number: US-11399226-B2

Title: Voice input apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2019/008651, filed on Jul. 12, 2019, the contents of which are all incorporated by reference herein in their 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&#39;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&#39;s voice must be accurately inputted to the microphone, and in this respect, there is a need to find an optimal sealing structure that allows the user&#39;s voice to reach the microphone without leaking. 
     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 allows the voice inputted through a voice input hole formed in a panel to reach a microphone without a loss. 
     A second object of the present disclosure is to provide a voice input apparatus that prevents unnecessary noise other than the user&#39;s voice inputted through the voice input hole from entering the microphone. 
     A third object of the present disclosure is to provide a voice input apparatus that simply achieves the assembly of mechanism for sound sealing. 
     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 and a binding hole formed in a position corresponding to the voice input hole; a microphone which is disposed below the circuit board, and provided with a voice receiving hole in a position corresponding to the voice passing hole; and a sealer which guides a voice inputted through the voice input hole to the voice passing hole. 
     The sealer includes: a guide pipe which is formed in a cylindrical shape having a hollow and disposed between the panel and the circuit board, has an upper surface defining an upper end of the hollow is in contact with a bottom surface of the panel while surrounding the voice input hole, and has a lower surface defining a lower end of the hollow is in contact with an upper surface of the circuit board while surrounding the voice passing hole; and a hook which protrudes from the lower surface of the guide pipe and passes through the binding hole to be caught by a bottom surface of the circuit board. 
     The guide pipe is made of a compressible soft material. The voice input apparatus further includes a speaker room provided below the microphone; and a speaker disposed inside the speaker room. The circuit board is spaced apart from an upper surface portion of the speaker room by a set distance, and the voice input apparatus further includes a bridge which connects the speaker room and the panel to maintain a distance between the panel and the circuit board to be smaller than a length of the guide pipe when not compressed. The voice input apparatus further includes a board supporter which is extended upward from the upper surface portion of the speaker room by the set distance and supports the circuit board. An upper end of the bridge and the panel are screwed together. The sealer is made of silicon. When viewed from above, the hollow is positioned inside the voice input hole. When viewed from above, the voice passing hole is positioned inside the hollow. 
     In another 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 and a first binding hole formed in a position corresponding to the voice input hole; a microphone which is disposed below the circuit board, and provided with a voice receiving hole in a position corresponding to the voice passing hole; a hook fixing member which is disposed below the circuit board to accommodate the microphone, and has a second binding hole: and a sealer which guides a voice inputted through the voice input hole to the voice passing hole, wherein the sealer includes: a guide pipe which is formed in a cylindrical shape having a hollow and disposed between the panel and the circuit board, has an upper surface defining an upper end of the hollow is in contact with a bottom surface of the panel while surrounding the voice input hole, and has a lower surface defining a lower end of the hollow is in contact with an upper surface of the circuit board while surrounding the voice passing hole; and a hook which protrudes from the lower surface, and passes through the first binding hole and the second binding hole sequentially to be caught by a bottom surface of the hook fixing member. 
     The hook fixing member comprises a receiving portion having an opening formed on an upper surface, and the microphone is accommodated into the receiving portion through the opening. In the hook fixing member, a circumference of the opening is in close contact with the bottom of the circuit board, in a state where the hook is caught by the bottom surface of the hook fixing member. The hook fixing member is made of a soft material. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The voice input apparatus according to the present disclosure has the following effects. 
     First, the voice is guided by the hollow formed in the sealer from the voice input hole formed in the panel to the voice passing hole formed in the circuit board, thereby preventing the leakage of voice and the penetrating of noise into the sealer. 
     Second, the workability in the manufacturing process is improved by fixing the sealer by a mechanical coupling between the hook and the binding hole, and the sealer can be firmly fixed with no stiffness change in comparison with the method of fixing the sealer using the adhesiveness of a double-sided tape. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram of an appliance control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an appliance control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the control apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an internal structure by cutting a casing of a voice input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a partially exploded perspective view of the voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an assembly view of the voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial view of a voice input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     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. 1  is a conceptual diagram of an appliance control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the appliance control system may include an appliance control apparatus  10 , at least one voice input apparatus  20 , and at least one appliance  30 . The appliance  30  is not limited to a home appliance used at home, and may be an office appliance used in a work space. 
     The appliance control apparatus  10  may receive various types of control commands from the voice input apparatus  20 , and transmit a control signal based on the received control command to the appliance  30 . 
     The appliance  30  may include a communication module for communication connection with the appliance control apparatus  10 . For example, the appliance  30  may include a wireless internet module such as Wi-Fi. 
     The appliance control apparatus  10  may receive information on an event generated in the appliance  30 , and notify the received information to the user through the voice input apparatus  20 . That is, the appliance control apparatus  10  may serve as a hub or a server. Specific configuration and operation of the appliance control apparatus  10  will be described in more detail later. 
     The voice input apparatus  20  may receive a control command for controlling the appliance  30  from the user, and transmit the received control command to the appliance control apparatus  10 . The control command may be in the form of a voice, and the voice input apparatus  20  may include a microphone  221  (see  FIG. 4 ) for receiving a voice. The voice input apparatus  20  may receive a control command through a touch or a button in addition to voice. 
     In addition, the voice input apparatus  20  may include an output means such as a speaker  231 , a display  232 , or the like. Accordingly, the voice input apparatus  20  may output a processing result or response according to the inputted control command, or may output information or data received from the appliance control apparatus  10 . The information or data may be related to various events generated in the appliance  30 . 
     The voice input apparatus  20  may 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. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an appliance control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the appliance control apparatus  10   a  may include a voice processing unit  11  and a control unit  13 . Each of the voice processing unit  11  and the control unit  13  may be implemented in a separate server form or may be integrated in a single server. 
     A user&#39;s voice (or voice command) inputted through the voice input apparatus  20  may be transmitted to the voice processing unit  11 . The voice may include a control command for a specific appliance. 
     The voice processing unit  11  may 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 unit  11  may transmit the acquired control command to the control unit  13 . 
     Furthermore, the voice processing unit  11  may convert a message or various information in the form of text or code transmitted from the control unit  13  into a voice form, and transmit the converted voice form guide message or various information to the voice input apparatus  20 . 
     In detail, the voice processing unit  11  may include an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module  111 , a natural language processing (NLP) module  113 , and a text to speech (TTS) module  115 . The ASR module  111 , the NLP module  113 , and the TTS module  115  may be implemented in a single server, or may be implemented in separate servers respectively. 
     The ASR module  111  may convert a voice transmitted from the voice input apparatus  20  into text by using a known automatic speech recognition technology. 
     The NLP module  113  may check (analyze) whether a control command that can be processed by the control unit  13  or the appliance  30  is contained from the converted text. For example, the NLP module  113  may acquire a keyword for identifying the appliance  30  and/or a keyword related to the function or operation of the appliance  30  from the natural language corresponding to the converted text. The NLP module  113  may check the control command based on the acquired keyword. 
     Alternatively, the NLP module  113  may generate text in a natural language form containing the message or information based on the message or information transmitted from the control unit  13 , and transmit the generated text to the TTS module  115 . 
     The TTS module  115  may convert the text transmitted from the NLP module  113  into voice, and transmit the converted voice to the voice input apparatus  20 . 
     The control unit  13  may receive a control command for the appliance  30  from the voice processing unit  11 , and generate a control signal corresponding to the received control command. The control unit  13  may transmit the generated control signal to the appliance  30 . 
     Meanwhile, the control unit  13  may 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 apparatus  20 . 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 unit  13 . 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 unit  13 , the air cleaner may be connected to the control unit  13  through 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 unit  13  may 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 unit  13  may 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 unit  13  may acquire product information (model information) of the air conditioner possessed by the user from the user profile UP. In addition, the control unit  13  may 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 unit  13  may generate a control signal for driving the dehumidification mode of the air conditioner by using the acquired code information. The control unit  13  transmits 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 appliance  30 , 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 unit  13  to 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 unit  13  generates 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 unit  13  and a delay in processing speed. 
     Accordingly, the appliance control apparatus  10  may further include a data conversion module  15  that 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 module  15  may be implemented as a separate server from the control unit  13 , or may be implemented as a server together with the control unit  13 . Alternatively, the data conversion module  15  may be implemented in a separate configuration from the appliance control apparatus  10 . According to an embodiment, a plurality of data conversion modules  15  may be implemented, and each data conversion module  15  may be connected to the control unit  13 . 
     When the data conversion module  15  exists, the control unit  13  may 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 module  15  may 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 module  15 . In this case, the control unit  13  may transmit the model information of the target appliance along with the control signal to the data conversion module  15 . The data conversion module  15  may convert the code information of the control signal based on the model information received from the control unit  13 . 
     The data conversion module  15  may be implemented as a platform such as a kind of cloudlet assisting the control server  13 . The data conversion module  15  may distribute the load of the control unit  13  through the above-described operation. Accordingly, the load of the control unit  13  may be effectively reduced, and the delay of the processing speed may be minimized. 
     Hereinafter, the configuration of the control unit  13  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the control apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the control unit  13  may include a processor  131 , a communication unit  132 , a memory  133 , and a control signal generation module  134 . 
     The processor  131  may control the overall operation of the control unit  13 . The processor  131  may receive a control command for the appliance  30  from the voice processing unit  11  through the communication unit  132 . The processor  131  may control the control signal generation module  134  to generate a control signal based on the received control command. The processor  131  may transmit the generated control signal to the appliance  30  through the communication unit  132 . To this end, the communication unit  132  may include at least one communication module such as an internet module, a mobile communication module, and the like. 
     According to an embodiment, the processor  131  may receive a response according to the control signal from the appliance  30  through the communication unit  132 , or receive operation information or state information of the appliance  30 . The processor  131  may transmit the received response, operation information, or state information to the voice processing unit  11  or the voice input apparatus  20 . Alternatively, the processor  131  may control the control signal generation module  134  to generate a control signal based on the received response, operation information, or state information. The processor  131  may transmit the generated control signal to the appliance  30  through the communication unit  132 . 
     The processor  131  may include at least one central processing unit (CPU), application processor (AP), integrated circuit, microcontroller, electrical unit for performing other functions, or the like. 
     The memory  133  may store various information, data, and algorithm for the operation of the control unit  13 . The memory  133  may 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 unit  13  or information, data, algorithm, or the like loaded from the nonvolatile memory. 
     In particular, the memory  133  may 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 module  134  to generate a control signal for the target appliance. 
     As described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , the user profile UP may include information related to appliances possessed by a user of the voice input apparatus  20 . 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 unit  13  is connected to a separate database device, the user profile UP and the appliance profile AP may be provided in the database device. The processor  131  may 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 memory  133 . 
     The control signal generation module  134  may generate a control signal corresponding to the control command received from the voice processing server  11  or the voice input apparatus  20 . In  FIG. 3 , it is illustrated that the control signal generation module  134  is a separate configuration from the processor  131 , but according to an embodiment, the control signal generation module  134  may be a configuration included in the processor  131 . 
     The control signal generation module  134  may 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 module  134  may 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 module  134  may generate a control signal including the acquired data (code information). 
     According to an embodiment, when the appliance control apparatus  10  includes the data conversion module  15 , the control signal generation module  134  may generate a control signal including integrated code information related to a function to be performed according to the control command. The data conversion module  15  may 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 to  FIGS. 4 to 5 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the voice input apparatus  20  may include a communication unit  210 , an input unit  220 , an output unit  230 , a memory  241 , a control unit  243 , a power supply unit  242 , and an interface unit  235 . 
     The communication unit  210  may include at least one communication module for connecting the voice input apparatus  20  to the appliance control apparatus  10 , the voice processing unit  11 , the control unit  13 , the appliance  30 , and/or a user terminal through a network. For example, the communication unit  210  may 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 controller  243  may transmit a control command to the appliance control apparatus  10 , particularly, the voice processing unit  11  or the control unit  13 , or transmit a control signal to the appliance  30  through the communication unit  210 . In addition, the controller  243  may receive information or data related to the appliance  30  from the voice processing unit  11  or the control unit  13 , or may receive information or data from the appliance  30  through the communication unit  210 . 
     The input unit  220  may include input means for inputting a certain signal, information, and/or data to the voice input apparatus  20  by an action such as a user&#39;s operation. The input unit  220  may include a microphone  221 . In some embodiments, the input unit  220  may include a touch input unit  222  through which a command is inputted through a user&#39;s touch operation and/or a button input unit  223  through which a command is inputted through a button manipulation. 
     The user may control the operation of the voice input apparatus  20  through the button input unit  223 . The button input unit  223  may be a button for acquiring a voice including a control command of the appliance  30  from the user. In other words, the button input unit  223  may correspond to a button for activating/deactivating the microphone  221 . 
     For example, after the user presses the button input unit  223  or during pressing, the controller  243  may activate the microphone  221  to acquire a voice uttered by the user. After completing the uttering of the voice, the user may press the button input unit  223  again, or terminate the pressing operation. In this case, the controller  243  may deactivate the microphone  221 , and transmit the received voice to the voice processing unit  11 . 
     The user may input a control command for controlling the target appliance through the input unit  220 . The user may input a control command in the form of a voice through the microphone  221 . Alternatively, the user may input a control command in a text form through the touch input unit  222  or the button input unit  223 , or by selecting a menu or icon outputted through the display  232 . 
     The output unit  230  may output information related to an operation or a state of the voice input apparatus  20 . According to an embodiment, the output unit  230  may output information or data received from the appliance control apparatus  10 . For example, the information or data received from the appliance control apparatus  10  may include information related to the operation or state of the appliance  30 , a response or a processing result for the control command inputted through the input unit  220 , and the like. 
     The output unit  230  may include at least one of a speaker  231  for outputting various information or data in the form of voice or sound, a display  232  for outputting the various information or data in the form of text or graphic, and a light output unit  233  for outputting the various information or data through the color or brightness of light, a light emitting pattern, or the like. 
     The memory  241  may store various data such as control data for controlling operations of components included in the voice input apparatus  20  and data for performing an operation corresponding to an input acquired through the input unit  220 . 
     The controller  243  may control the overall operation of the voice input apparatus  20 . In particular, the controller  243  may control the input unit  220  to acquire a control command for the appliance  30  from the user. The controller  243  may transmit the acquired control command to the appliance control apparatus  10  through the communication unit  210 . In addition, the controller  243  may receive various information or data from the appliance control apparatus  10  through the communication unit  210 , and control the output unit  230  to output the received information or data. 
     The controller  243  may include hardware such as at least one CPU, microcomputer, AP, or the like. 
     The power supply unit  242  may supply power required for the operation of each of the components included in the voice input apparatus  20 . For example, the power supply unit  242  may 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 unit  242  may include a battery. The battery may be provided in the voice input apparatus  20 , and may be connected to an external power source through a power connection terminal included in the voice input apparatus  20  to be charged. The voice input apparatus  20  equipped with the battery may be implemented as a portable type device that is movable by a user in a specific space. 
     The power supply unit  242  may further include a wireless power receiver (e.g., a coil) for wirelessly receiving power from the outside. In this case, the voice input apparatus  20  may be seated, attached, or mounted in close proximity to the appliance  30  having 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 unit  242 , the voice input apparatus  20  may receive power even in a state of being spaced apart from the wireless power transmitter. The power supply unit  242  may charge the battery by using the supplied power. 
     The interface unit  235  may provide an interface for connecting the voice input apparatus  20  to other device. The interface unit  235  may provide an interface for a wired connection such as a universal serial bus USB. 
     The voice input apparatus  20  may be connected to the appliance  30  through the interface unit  235 . The appliance  30  may be an appliance having no communication module, but is not limited thereto. That is, the appliance  30  having no communication module may transmit/receive a signal or data with the appliance control apparatus  10  through the voice input apparatus  20 . 
     According to an embodiment, the voice input apparatus  20  may receive power from the appliance  30  through the interface unit  235 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing an internal structure by cutting a casing of a voice input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 6  is a partially exploded perspective view of the voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  is a side view of the voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is an assembly view of the voice input apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the voice input apparatus  20  may be disposed in a location desired by a user in a specific space (e.g., a home) to receive a control command in the form of a voice from the user. In other words, the disposition position of the voice input apparatus  20  may be freely changed by the user. 
     The voice input apparatus  20  may include a speaker  231  and a speaker room  260  in which the speaker  231  is accommodated. The microphone  221  may be disposed outside the speaker room  260 . The microphone  221  may be configured of an integrated circuit (IC) based on micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). 
     The speaker  231  may be disposed to output sound downward. The speaker  231  may include a diaphragm (not shown) that vibrates according to an electric signal and emits sound, and the sound by the diaphragm may be outputted downward. 
     The speaker room  260  may receive at least a portion of speaker  231 . The speaker room  260  may serve as a soundbox to resonate sound. 
     The voice input apparatus  20  may include a casing  250  forming an outer shape. The speaker room  260  may be provided in the casing  250 . The casing  250  may include a substantially horizontal base  251 , a sidewall  252  extended upwardly from a circumference of the base  251 , and a panel  253  closing the opened upper surface of the sidewall  252 . In an embodiment, the base  251 , the sidewall  252  and the panel  253  are integrally formed to form the casing  250 , but are not necessarily limited thereto. That is, in some embodiments, the base  251 , the sidewalls  252 , and/or the panel  253  may be formed as separate components to configure the casing  250  as an assembly in which they are coupled to each other. 
     In the speaker room  260 , a sound discharge port  261  may be formed to emit sound outputted from the speaker  231 . The casing  250  may be provided with a sound output port  254  that communicates with the sound discharge port  261 . The output sound of the speaker  231  emitted through the sound discharge port  261  may be outputted to the outside of the casing  250  through the sound output port  254 . A plurality of sound output ports  254  may be formed. 
     The microphone  221  may be disposed outside the speaker room  260 . Preferably, the microphone  221  is disposed above the speaker room  260 , but is not necessarily limited thereto. 
     Meanwhile, a voice input hole  253   h  is formed in the casing  250 . The voice input hole  253   h  may be formed in the panel  253 . A pair of voice input holes  253   h  may be spaced apart at a certain interval. The circuit board  280  is disposed inside the casing  250 . The circuit board  280  may be disposed below the panel  253 . 
     The circuit board  280  may be disposed above the speaker room  260 . The circuit board  280  may be fixedly disposed in a position spaced apart by a set distance from an upper surface portion of the room (hereinafter, referred to as a room upper surface portion  262 ) defining the ceiling of the speaker room  260 . A board supporter  266  may be extended upward from the room upper surface portion  262  by the set distance to support the circuit board  280 . A plurality of board supporters  266  may be provided. 
     The board supporter  266  may be a boss having a fastening hole, to which a screw  269  is fastened, formed in an upper end. In the circuit board  280 , a screw passing hole  286  may be formed in positions corresponding to the board supporters  266 , respectively. The screw  269  may be fastened to the fastening hole through the screw passing hole  286  from the upper side. 
     At least one voice passing hole  281  is formed in the circuit board  280 . Two voice passing holes  281  are spaced apart from each other at a certain interval so as to correspond to the two voice input holes  253   h , respectively. 
     A microphone  221  may be provided to receive a control command in the form of a voice. The microphone  221  may be disposed below the circuit board  280 . Two microphones  221  may be spaced apart from each other at a certain interval so as to correspond to the two voice passing holes  281 , respectively. 
     Each microphone  221  may be disposed in the bottom surface of the circuit board  280 . Here, the bottom surface of the circuit board  280  may be a surface facing the speaker room  260 . The microphone  221  may be disposed in an area where a voice receiving hole (not shown) which receives a sound (or voice) is overlapped with the voice passing hole  281 . That is, when viewed from above, at least a portion of the voice receiving hole may be overlapped with the voice passing hole  281  and is preferably positioned inside the voice passing hole  281 . 
     A sealer  270  is provided to guide the voice inputted through the voice input hole  253   h  to the voice passing hole  281 . The sealer  270  may be made of a flexible, deformable, soft or compressible material. For example, the sealer  270  may be made of silicon. 
     The sealer  270  may include a guide pipe  271  and a hook  272 . The guide pipe  271  may be formed in a cylindrical shape having a hollow  271   h  and disposed between the panel  253  and the circuit board  280 . 
     The guide pipe  271  has an upper surface  271   a , which defines an upper end of the hollow  271   h , that is in contact with a bottom surface of the panel  253  while surrounding the voice input hole  253   h , and has a lower surface  271   b , which defines a lower end of the hollow  271   h , that is in contact with an upper surface of the circuit board  280  while surrounding the voice passing hole  281 . 
     Specifically, the hollow  271   h  of the guide pipe  271  may be overlapped with the voice input hole  253   h . The diameter W 1  of the voice input hole  253   h  may be larger than the diameter W 2  of the hollow  271   h  (W 1 &gt;W 2 ). When viewed from above, the hollow  271   h  may be positioned inside the voice input hole  253   h.    
     The diameter W 2  of the hollow  271   h  may be larger than the diameter W 3  of the voice passing hole  281  (W 2 &gt;W 3 ). When viewed from above, the voice passing hole  281  may be positioned inside the hollow  271   h.    
     The hook  272  may protrude from the lower surface of the guide pipe  271 . A pair of hooks  272  may be provided in both sides of the hollow  271   h  interposed therebetween. A binding hole  282  is formed in the circuit board  280 , and the hook  272  may pass through the binding hole  282  to be caught by the bottom surface of the circuit board  280 . A pair of binding holes  282  may also be provided to correspond to the pair of hooks  272 . 
     Even when the binding hole  282  is formed to have a relatively small size in comparison with the hook  272 , the hook  272  made of soft material can pass through the binding hole  282  as it is deformable, and after passing through, it is restored to an original shape and is not separated from the binding hole  282 . 
     It may be considered that the sealer  270  is only provided with the guide pipe  271  without the hook  272 , and the guide pipe  271  is attached to the upper surface of the circuit board  280  by using double-sided tape. However, in this case, when the double-sided tape is adhered, air may enter the adhesive surface, or the double-sided tape may be folded, torn, sagged, etc., thereby causing quality problems. In addition, it is not easy to attach the double-sided tape in a correct place manually, and there are various problems such as difficulty in work due to thin thickness, and change in adhesiveness due to changes in ambient temperature. 
     On the other hand, since the present disclosure is implemented to fix the sealer  270  by a mechanical coupling between the hook  272  and the binding hole  282 , there is an advantage that can solve the above-described various problems. 
     Meanwhile, a bridge  264  connecting between the casing  250  and the speaker room  260  may be provided. The bridge  264  may further include the bridge  264  for maintaining the distance L 2  between the panel  253  and the circuit board  280  to be smaller than the length L 1  of the guide pipe  271  at the time of non-compression (L 2 &lt;L 1 ). Since the guide pipe  271  is maintained in a compressed state, the upper surface of the guide pipe  271  is in close contact with the bottom surface of the panel  253 , and the lower surface of the guide pipe  271  is in close contact with the circuit board  280 , so that leakage of sound may be prevented. 
     One end of the bridge  264  may be connected to the speaker room  260 , and the other end thereof may be connected to the panel  253 . The length of the bridge  264 , i.e., the length from the one end to the other end is constant. 
     The bridge  264  may be a boss that protrudes from the speaker room  260  and has a fastening hole formed in an upper end thereof. In this case, the panel  253  may have a screw passing hole  255  formed in a position corresponding to the fastening hole. The screw  268  may be fastened to the fastening hole through the screw passing hole  255  from the upper side. A plurality of bridges  264  may be provided, and correspondingly, a plurality of screw passing holes  255  may be provided. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial view of a voice input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the voice input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is different from the above-described embodiment in that a hook fixing member  290  for fixing the sealer  270  is provided in the lower side of the circuit board  280 . Hereinafter, the same reference numeral is assigned to the same configuration as the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
     The hook fixing member  290  is disposed below the circuit board to accommodate the microphone  221 . The hook fixing member  290  may have a receiving portion  291  having an opening formed on an upper surface thereof, and the microphone  221  may be accommodated into the receiving portion  291  through the opening. The hook fixing member  290  is preferably made of a soft material, but is not necessarily limited thereto. 
     A first binding hole  282  is provided in the circuit board  280 , and a second binding hole  292  is formed in the hook fixing member  290 . The pair of second binding holes  292  may be formed in a position corresponding to a pair of first binding holes  282 . The hook  272  may pass through the first binding hole  282  and the second binding hole  292  to be caught by the bottom surface of the hook fixing member  290 . In particular, in a state where the hook  272  is caught by the bottom surface of the hook fixing member  290 , the upper surface of the hook fixing member  290  may be in close contact (sealing) with the bottom surface of the circuit board  280 . 
     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.