Patent Publication Number: US-10761408-B2

Title: Magnetically mounted camera assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,740, titled “Heat Sink of a Camera,” filed Jul. 13, 2016, which is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to the following: U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,401, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “Casing,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D845,373, issued on Apr. 9, 2019, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,406, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “Magnet Mount,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D831,595, issued on Oct. 23, 2018, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,409, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “Casing with Mount,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D838,304, issued on Jan. 15, 2019, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,412, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “AC/DC Adapter,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D806,644, issued on Jan. 2, 2018, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,414, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “Adapter Mount,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D838,274, issued on Jan. 15, 2019, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,417, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “AC/DC Adapter with Mount,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D831,565, issued on Oct. 23, 2018, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/570,403, filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “Slanted Power Plug Head,” now U.S. Design Pat. No. D805,480, issued on Dec. 19, 2017, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     This application is related to the following applications, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety:
         U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/372,333, filed Apr. 1, 2019, entitled “Magnetic Mount Assembly of a Camera”;   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,735, filed Jul. 13, 2016, entitled “Magnetic Mount Assembly of a Camera”;   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,744, filed Jul. 13, 2016, entitled “Mounting Mechanism for Outdoor Power Converter”;   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,746, filed Jul. 13, 2016, entitled “Waterproof Electrical Connector”; and   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,749, filed Jul. 13, 2016, entitled “Clip for Securing Outdoor Cable.”       

    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This relates generally to an outdoor electronic system, including but not limited to methods and systems for mechanically supporting an electronic device and protecting the electronic device from severe weather conditions in an outdoor environment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A smart home environment is created at a venue by integrating a plurality of smart devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, seamlessly with each other in a local area network and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide a variety of useful smart home functions. Sometimes, one or more of the smart devices is located in an outdoor environment (e.g., in a porch or a backyard of a house). For example, one or more network-connected cameras are often installed on an outer wall of a house, and configured to provide video monitoring and security in the outdoor environment. These smart devices (e.g., the network-connected outdoor cameras) are normally placed on surfaces or mounted on walls at different outdoor locations of the smart home environment, and exposed to severe weather conditions (e.g., a rainfall, a snowstorm and direct sun exposure). Each outdoor smart device must be configured to attach firmly to different types of rough surfaces/walls in various possible outdoor environments, function reliably under various severe weather conditions that could happen, and last for a long duration in the possible outdoor environments. As such, there is a need to mechanically mount a smart device to an outdoor surface in a compact and robust manner, while incorporating into the smart device some resistance mechanisms against potential severe weather conditions. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, there is a need for both an electronic device that incorporates some resistance mechanisms against severe weather conditions and a compact and robust supporting assembly that can support the electronic device in an outdoor environment. The electronic device is configured to attach to a mounting surface via a magnet mount that provides an adjustable union with the electronic device, thereby permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the electronic device with respect to the magnet mount. Both the electronic device and its supporting assembly (e.g., the magnet mount) could be covered with material that is substantially resistant to ultraviolet radiation caused by sun exposure. The electronic device could also include waterproof features (e.g., waterproof housing, microphone, speaker, power adapter and connectors) to deter the impact of a rainfall or a snowstorm. The electronic device is optionally a smart sensor device or a camera that is disposed in a smart home environment. 
     In accordance with one aspect of this application, a physical assembly includes a magnet mount for physically receiving a physical module that further includes a housing having a rear surface of a first shape. The magnet mount further includes a first surface, a second surface and a magnetic material. The first surface is configured to attach to a mounting surface directly or indirectly. In an example, the assembly further includes a magnetic mounting structure configured to be attached and fixed onto the mounting surface, and the first surface of the magnet mount is configured to attach to the mounting surface indirectly via the magnetic mounting structure. The second surface opposes the first surface and has a second shape that is substantially complementary to the first shape of the rear surface of the housing of the physical module. The second surface is configured to engage the rear surface of the housing of the physical module. The magnetic material is disposed between the first and second surfaces and is configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic material of the physical module. When the physical module is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount, an adjustable union between the magnet mount and the physical module is formed that permits adjustment of an angle of orientation of the physical module with respect to the magnet mount. The angle of orientation is limited by a stopping structure of the physical module. In some implementations, the first shape of the rear surface of the housing of the physical module is substantially convex, and the second shape of the second surface of the magnet mount is substantially concave. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this application, a waterproof electronic device includes a housing, a first transducer, a first hydrophobic membrane and a first sound transmission channel. The housing includes a first opening, and is sealed against water intrusion apart from the first opening. The first transducer is disposed inside the housing, and has a sound input region offset from the first opening. The first hydrophobic membrane is affixed to the first interior surface of the housing and covers the first opening thereon. The first hydrophobic membrane is configured to allow transmission of sound waves and block water intrusion from the first opening. The first sound transmission channel that couples the sound input region of the first transducer to the first opening of the housing. The first sound transmission channel is configured to allow sound waves transmitted through the first opening and the first hydrophobic membrane to be coupled to the sound input region of the first transducer without exposing the sound input region to damaging pressures due to environmental impacts on the waterproof electronic device. In some implementations, the first transducer is one of a microphone and a speaker. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the application, a camera includes a housing, a lens assembly and a plurality of electronic components. The lens assembly is arranged at a front portion of the housing and configured for focusing light received from outside of the camera. The plurality of electronic components is arranged at the front portion of the housing, and further includes an image sensor coupled to receive light through the lens assembly, a memory for storing information, a processor for processing information from the image sensor, and a wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with an electronic device. The camera further includes a heat dissipation element arranged at a rear portion of the housing and located between the plurality of electronic components and a rear surface of the housing. The heat dissipation element is configured to transfer heat from the plurality of electronic components to the rear portion of the housing. In some implementations, the heat dissipation element includes a plate and a heat sink. The heat sink is made of thermally conductive material and coupled to the plurality of electronic components to absorb the heat generated by the plurality of electronic components. The heat sink is also mechanically and thermally coupled to the plate to further transfer at least part of the generated heat to the plate. The plate is coupled between the heat sink and an interior surface of the rear portion of the housing, and configured to at least partially dissipate heat generated by the plurality of electronic components, such that the heat is directed away from the front portion of the camera where sensitive optical or electrical components are located. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the application, a mounting plate for attaching an electronic device to a mounting surface includes an opening in a center of the mounting plate, the opening configured to receive a mounting fastener for securing the mounting plate to the mounting surface; and a first polygonal fastener structure configured to mate with a complementary second polygonal fastener structure of the electronic device. When the first and second fastener structures are mechanically mated to each other, the electronic device is fixed to the mounting plate; and when the mounting fastener is secured to the mounting surface through the opening of the mounting plate, the mounting plate is rotatable with respect to the mounting surface such that when the electronic device is fixed onto the mounting plate and the mounting plate is secured to the mounting surface by the mounting fastener, the electronic device and the mounting plate have an unlimited range of rotation with respect to the mounting surface and substantially consistent resistance through the unlimited range of rotation. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the application, a waterproof power adapter includes a waterproof housing enclosing an AC to DC converter having an AC power supply input and a DC power supply output; a fixed, waterproof AC power connection for coupling an external power supply to the AC power supply input; a female connector, a sealing structure, and a locking mechanism. A portion of the female connector is coupled within the housing to the DC power supply output. An exposed portion of the female connector is configured to couple a DC power supply voltage provided at the DC power supply output to a complementary and separate male connector, the exposed portion being exposed to environmental conditions when not coupled to the male connector. The sealing structure is configured to engage with a cover of the male connector in a sealed position to provide a waterproof environment around an electrical connection formed when the female connector is coupled to the male connector. The locking mechanism is configured to releasably tighten and lock the cover of the male connector in the sealed position when the female and the male connectors are coupled to one another. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the application, a system for securing an electronic device to a surface includes a plurality of clips. Each clip includes a first finger and a second finger made from a single piece of flexible material. Each of the first and second fingers includes a peripheral portion and an inner portion contiguous with the peripheral portion, the inner portions of the first and second fingers being connected at a flexion point. The first and second fingers are configured to be held in an open position when not under tension and in a closed position wherein they touch each other at their peripheral portions when under sufficient tension, where the peripheral portion of each of the first and second fingers includes a respective through hole, and when the first and second fingers of the clip are held in the closed position, the inner portions of the first and second fingers form an opening to accommodate a contour of a cable of predetermined thickness and cross-sectional profile, and the through holes of the first and second fingers are aligned and configured to receive a fixing fastener configured to fix the clip onto the surface. Each clip is configured to wrap around the cable and couple to the surface on either side of the cable, the cable extending from the electronic device. The plurality of clips are arranged along the length of the cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the various described implementations, reference should be made to the Description of Implementations below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an example smart home environment in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 2  is a representative operating environment in which a video server system provides data processing for monitoring and facilitating review of video streams captured by video cameras in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a representative camera in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a representative power adapter configured to convert an alternating current (AC) power supply input to a direct current (DC) power supply output in accordance with some implementations in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a camera assembly shown in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 5B-5E  illustrate a front view, a rear view, and two distinct side views of a camera assembly that has been mounted onto a mounting surface via a magnet mount, a mounting structure and a cable clip in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 5F-5H  illustrate a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of a standalone camera module in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a camera assembly in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are two perspective views of a magnet mount viewed from a first surface and a second surface of the magnet mount in accordance with some implementations, respectively, and  FIGS. 7C-7E  illustrate a top view, a rear view, and a side view of a magnet mount in accordance with some implementations. The first surface is substantially flat. 
         FIGS. 7F-7H  illustrate an angle of orientation of a camera module with respect to a magnet mount in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are two perspective views of a mounting structure viewed from a front side and a backside of the mounting structure in accordance with some implementations, respectively, and  FIGS. 8C-8F  illustrate a top view, a rear view, and two side views of a magnet mount in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are two perspective views of a mounting assembly including a magnet mount that is attached to a mounting structure in accordance with some implementations, and  FIGS. 9C-9F  illustrate a top view, a rear view, and two side views of the mounting assembly in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are two perspective views of a mounting assembly including a magnet mount and a mounting structure presented in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are another two perspective views of a mounting assembly including a magnet mount and a mounting structure presented in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 12A-12D  are a perspective view, a front view, a side view and a rear view of a magnetic plate that adheres to an interior surface of a rear portion of a camera module in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 13A-13D  are four perspective views of a heat sink that is mounted on a backside of a board in accordance with some implementations, and  FIGS. 13E-13H  are a top view and three side views of a heat sink that is mounted on a backside of a board in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are two perspective views of a microphone mounted on a front enclosure structure of a camera module and presented in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 14C-14F  illustrate a process of assembling a microphone onto a front enclosure structure of a camera module in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are cross sectional views of two example waterproof microphones that are assembled in a front portion of a camera module in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 16A-16C  illustrate a process of assembling a speaker onto a side surface of a camera module in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 16D-16F  are a perspective view, a front view and a side view of a speaker in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 17A and 17B  are cross sectional views of two example waterproof speakers that are assembled onto a side surface of a camera module in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are a perspective view and a side view of a front portion of a camera module including an access path  1804  leading to a reset pin in accordance with some implementations, respectively. The perspective view in  FIG. 18A  is presented in an exploded manner.  FIGS. 18C and 18D  illustrate a process of sealing the access to the reset pin during the course of assembling a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 19A-19H  illustrate multiple views of a male connector of a waterproof electrical connector, showing a cover of the male connector in an open state, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 20A-20E  illustrate further multiple views of the male connector of a waterproof electrical connector, showing the cover of the male connector in open and closed states, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 20F-20M  illustrate further multiple views of the male connector of a waterproof electrical connector, showing the cover of the male connector in a closed state, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 21A-21E  illustrate multiple perspective exploded views of the male connector of a waterproof electrical connector, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 21F  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cover of a male connector, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 22A-22C and 23A-23B  illustrates multiple views of a female connector of the waterproof electrical connector, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 24A-24B  illustrate multiple perspective views of the male and female components of the waterproof electrical connector connected together and with the cover in the locked state, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a diagonal cross-sectional view of the male connector and the female connector of the waterproof electrical connector connected together, with the cover in the locked state, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 26A-26B and 27A-27D  illustrate multiple views of an outdoor AC/DC power converter or adapter, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 28A-28E  illustrate multiple views of a mounting plate for mounting an outdoor AC/DC power converter, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 29A-29B and 30A-30D  illustrate multiple views of the outdoor AC/DC power converter coupled to a mounting plate and with male and female connectors connected, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 31  illustrates a portion of cross-sectional view of an outdoor AC/DC power converter coupled to a mounting plate, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 32A-32G  illustrate multiple views of a cable clip in the open position, in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 33A-33C  illustrate multiple views of the cable clip in the closed position, in accordance with some implementations. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATIONS 
     In accordance with various implementations of the present invention, a supporting assembly is applied to support an electronic device at different locations in a smart home environment (particularly in an outdoor environment). The electronic device includes, but is not limited to, a surveillance camera, a microphone, a speaker, a thermostat, a hazard detector, or other types of smart devices. The supporting assembly includes a magnet mount fixed with respect to a mounting surface for physically receiving the electronic device, and an optional mounting structure for supporting the magnet mount and the electronic device mounted thereon. The magnet mount of the supporting assembly is configured to provide an adjustable angle of orientation to the electronic device, such that the electronic device mounted thereon can be oriented differently with respect to the magnet mount and the mounting surface. The electronic device further includes an extended cable for connecting to a power adapter that is electrically coupled to a mains power system via a wall plug. The extended cable could be fixed onto the mounting surface via one or more cable clips, while the power adapter is fixed onto a mounting plate mounted on the mounting surface. In some implementations, one or more of the electronic device, the power adapter, the extended cable, the cable clips, the magnet mount and the mounting plate are coated with matte material that enhances contact between any two adjacent components and protects surfaces of the respective components from decoloring caused by ultraviolet light incident thereon. In some implementations, the electronic device is installed and applied in an outdoor environment. The electronic device and the power adapter are configured to adopt waterproof features (e.g., waterproof Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, waterproof microphone and speaker) to deter water permeation into electronic components to cause irreversible damages to the electronic components. As such, the electronic device is supported by a compact and robust supporting assembly in a smart home environment (particularly in an outdoor environment), and is configured to operate reliably under severe weather conditions. 
       FIG. 1  is an example smart home environment  100  in accordance with some implementations. Smart home environment  100  includes a structure  150  (e.g., a house, office building, garage, or mobile home) with various integrated devices. It will be appreciated that devices may also be integrated into a smart home environment  100  that does not include an entire structure  150 , such as an apartment, condominium, or office space. Further, the smart home environment  100  may control and/or be coupled to devices outside of the actual structure  150 . Indeed, one or more devices in the smart home environment  100  need not be physically within the structure  150 . For example, a device controlling a pool heater  114  or irrigation system  116  may be located outside of the structure  150 . The depicted structure  150  includes a plurality of rooms  152 , separated at least partly from each other via walls  154 . The walls  154  may include interior walls or exterior walls. Each room may further include a floor  156  and a ceiling  158 . Devices may be mounted on, integrated with and/or supported by a wall  154 , floor  156  or ceiling  158 . 
     In some implementations, the integrated devices of the smart home environment  100  include intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices that integrate seamlessly with each other in a smart home network and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system (e.g., a smart home provider server system  190 ) to provide a variety of useful smart home functions. The smart home environment  100  may include one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected thermostats  102  (hereinafter referred to as “smart thermostats  102 ”), one or more intelligent, network-connected, multi-sensing hazard detection units  104  (hereinafter referred to as “smart hazard detectors  104 ”), one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected entryway interface devices  106  and  120  (hereinafter referred to as “smart doorbells  106 ” and “smart door locks  120 ”), one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected alarm systems  122  (hereinafter referred to as “smart alarm systems  122 ”), one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wall switches  108  (hereinafter referred to as “smart wall switches  108 ”), and one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wall plug interfaces  110  (hereinafter referred to as “smart wall plugs  110 ”). In some implementations, the smart home environment  100  includes a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected appliances  112  (hereinafter referred to as “smart appliances  112 ”), such as refrigerators, stoves, ovens, televisions, washers, dryers, lights, stereos, intercom systems, garage-door openers, floor fans, ceiling fans, wall air conditioners, pool heaters, irrigation systems, security systems, space heaters, window AC units, motorized duct vents, and so forth. The smart home may also include a variety of non-communicating legacy appliances  140 , such as old conventional washer/dryers, refrigerators, and the like, which may be controlled by smart wall plugs  110 . The smart home environment  100  may further include a variety of partially communicating legacy appliances  142 , such as infrared (“IR”) controlled wall air conditioners or other IR-controlled devices, which may be controlled by IR signals provided by the smart hazard detectors  104  or the smart wall switches  108 . The smart home environment  100  may also include communication with devices outside of the physical home but within a proximate geographical range of the home. For example, the smart home environment  100  may include a pool heater monitor  114  and/or an irrigation monitor  116 . 
     In some implementations, the smart home environment  100  includes one or more network-connected cameras  118  that are configured to provide video monitoring and security in the smart home environment  100 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , cameras  118  are optionally mounted on an interior or exterior wall  154  of the structure  150 . In some implementations, cameras  118  also capture video when other conditions or hazards are detected, in order to provide visual monitoring of the smart home environment  100  when those conditions or hazards occur. The cameras  118  may be used to determine occupancy of the structure  150  and/or particular rooms  152  in or near the structure  150 , and thus may act as occupancy sensors. For example, video captured by the cameras  118  may be processed to identify the presence of an occupant in the structure  150  (e.g., in a particular room  152 ). Specific individuals may be identified based, for example, on their appearance (e.g., height, face) and/or movement (e.g., their walk/gait). For example, cameras  118  may additionally include one or more sensors (e.g., IR sensors, motion detectors), input devices (e.g., microphone for capturing audio), and output devices (e.g., speaker for outputting audio). 
     The smart home environment  100  may additionally or alternatively include one or more other occupancy sensors (e.g., the smart doorbell  106 , smart door locks  120 , touch screens, IR sensors, microphones, ambient light sensors, motion detectors, smart nightlights  170 , etc.). In some implementations, the smart home environment  100  includes radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers (e.g., in each room  152  or a portion thereof) that determine occupancy based on RFID tags located on or embedded in occupants. For example, RFID readers may be integrated into the smart hazard detectors  104 . The smart home environment  100  may include one or more sound and/or vibration sensors (e.g., microphone  124 ) for detecting sounds and/or vibrations. These sensors may stand alone or be integrated with any of the devices described above. Optionally, the sound sensors detect sound above a decibel threshold. Optionally, the vibration sensors detect vibration above a threshold directed at a particular area (e.g., vibration on a particular window when a force is applied to break the window). 
     By virtue of network connectivity, one or more of the smart home devices of  FIG. 1  may further allow a user to interact with the device even if the user is not proximate to the device. For example, a user may communicate with a device using a computer (e.g., a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet) or other portable electronic device  130  (e.g., a mobile phone, such as a smart phone). A webpage or application may be configured to receive communications from the user and control the device based on the communications and/or to present information about the device&#39;s operation to the user. For example, the user may view a current set point temperature for a device (e.g., a stove) and adjust it using a computer. The user may be in the structure during this remote communication or outside the structure. 
     As discussed above, users may control smart devices in the smart home environment  100  using a network-connected computer or portable electronic device  130 . In some examples, some or all of the occupants (e.g., individuals who live in the home) may register their device  130  with the smart home environment  100 . Such registration may be made at a central server (e.g., a smart home provider server system  190 ) to authenticate the occupant and/or the device as being associated with the home and to give permission to the occupant to use the device to control the smart devices in the home. An occupant may use their registered device  130  to remotely control the smart devices of the home, such as when the occupant is at work or on vacation. The occupant may also use their registered device to control the smart devices when the occupant is actually located inside the home, such as when the occupant is sitting on a couch inside the home. It should be appreciated that instead of or in addition to registering devices  130 , the smart home environment  100  may make inferences about which individuals live in the home and are therefore occupants and which devices  130  are associated with those individuals. As such, the smart home environment may “learn” who is an occupant and permit the devices  130  associated with those individuals to control the smart devices of the home. 
     In some implementations, in addition to containing processing and sensing capabilities, devices  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 , and/or  122  (collectively referred to as “the smart devices”) are capable of data communications and information sharing with other smart devices, a central server or cloud-computing system, and/or other devices that are network-connected. Data communications may be carried out using any of a variety of custom or standard wireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 402.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) and/or any of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. 
     In some implementations, the smart devices serve as wireless or wired repeaters. In some implementations, a first one of the smart devices communicates with a second one of the smart devices via a wireless router. The smart devices may further communicate with each other via a connection (e.g., network interface  160 ) to a network, such as the Internet  162 . Through the Internet  162 , the smart devices may communicate with a smart home provider server system  190  (also called a central server system and/or a cloud-computing system herein). The smart home provider server system  190  may be associated with a manufacturer, support entity, or service provider associated with the smart device(s). In some implementations, a user is able to contact customer support using a smart device itself rather than needing to use other communication means, such as a telephone or Internet-connected computer. In some implementations, software updates are automatically sent from the smart home provider server system  190  to smart devices (e.g., when available, when purchased, or at routine intervals). 
     In some implementations, the network interface  160  includes a conventional network device (e.g., a router), and the smart home environment  100  of  FIG. 1  includes a hub device  180  that is communicatively coupled to the network(s)  162  directly or via the network interface  160 . The hub device  180  is further communicatively coupled to one or more of the above intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices (e.g., smart devices of the smart home environment  100 ). Each of these smart devices optionally communicates with the hub device  180  using one or more radio communication networks available at least in the smart home environment  100  (e.g., ZigBee, Z-Wave, Insteon, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other radio communication networks). In some implementations, the hub device  180  and devices coupled with/to the hub device can be controlled and/or interacted with via an application running on a smart phone, household controller, laptop, tablet computer, game console or similar electronic device. In some implementations, a user of such controller application can view status of the hub device or coupled smart devices, configure the hub device to interoperate with smart devices newly introduced to the home network, commission new smart devices, and adjust or view settings of connected smart devices, etc. In some implementations the hub device extends capabilities of low capability smart devices to match capabilities of the highly capable smart devices of the same type, integrates functionality of multiple different device types—even across different communication protocols, and is configured to streamline adding of new devices and commissioning of the hub device. 
     It is to be appreciated that the term, “smart home environments,” may refer to smart environments for homes such as a single-family house, but the scope of the present teachings is not so limited. The present teachings are also applicable, without limitation, to duplexes, townhomes, multi-unit apartment buildings, hotels, retail stores, office buildings, industrial buildings, and more generally any living space or work space. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a representative operating environment  200  in which a video server system  208  provides data processing for monitoring and facilitating review of video streams (including motion events and alert events) captured by video cameras  118  in accordance with some implementations. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the video server system  208  receives video data from video sources  210  (including cameras  118 ) located at various physical locations (e.g., inside homes, backyards, restaurants, stores, streets, parking lots, and/or the smart home environments  100  of  FIG. 1 ). Each video source  210  may be bound to one or more user (e.g., reviewer) accounts, and the video server system  208  provides video monitoring data for the video sources  210  to client devices  204  associated with the reviewer accounts. For example, the portable electronic device  130  is an example of the client device  204 . 
     In some implementations, the smart home provider server system  190  or a component thereof serves as the video server system  208 , i.e., the video server system  208  is a part or component of the smart home provider server system  190 . In some implementations, the video server system  208  includes a dedicated video processing server that provides video processing services to video sources  210  and client devices  204  independent of other services provided by the video server system  208 . 
     In some implementations, each of the video sources  210  includes one or more video cameras  118  that capture video and send the captured video to the video server system  208  substantially in real-time. In some implementations, each of the video sources  210  optionally includes a controller device (not shown) that serves as an intermediary between the one or more cameras  118  and the video server system  208 . The controller device receives the video data from the one or more cameras  118 , optionally performs some preliminary processing on the video data, and sends the video data to the video server system  208  on behalf of the one or more cameras  118  substantially in real-time. In some implementations, each camera has its own on-board processing capabilities to perform some preliminary processing on the captured video data before sending the processed video data (along with metadata obtained through the preliminary processing) to the controller device and/or the video server system  208 . 
     In some implementations, a camera  118  of a video source  222  captures video at a first resolution (e.g., 720P and/or 1080P) and/or a first frame rate (24 frames per second), and sends the captured video to the video server system  208  at both the first resolution (e.g., the original capture resolution(s), the high-quality resolution(s) such as 1080P and/or 720P) and the first frame rate, and at a second, different resolution (e.g., 180P) and/or a second frame rate (e.g., 5 frames per second or 10 frames per second). For example, the camera  118  captures a video  223 - 1  at 720P and/or 1080P resolution (the camera  118  may capture a video at 1080P and create a downscaled 720P version, or capture at both 720P and 1080P). The video source  222  creates a second (or third), rescaled (and optionally at a different frame rate than the version  223 - 1 ) version  225 - 1  of the captured video at 180P resolution, and transmits both the original captured version  223 - 1  (i.e., 1080P and/or 720P) and the rescaled version  225 - 1  (i.e., the 180P version) to the video server system  208  for storage. In some implementations, the rescaled version has a lower resolution, and optionally a lower frame rate, than the original captured video. The video server system  208  transmits the original captured version or the rescaled version to a client  204 , depending on the context. For example, the video server system  208  transmits the rescaled version when transmitting multiple videos to the same client device  204  for concurrent monitoring by the user, and transmits the original captured version in other contexts. In some implementations, the video server system  208  downscales the original captured version to a lower resolution, and transmits the downscaled version. 
     In some other implementations, a camera  118  of a video source  222  captures video at a first resolution (e.g., 720P and/or 1080P) and/or a first frame rate, and sends the captured video to the video server system  208  at the first resolution (e.g., the original capture resolution(s); the high-quality resolution(s) such as 1080P and/or 720P) and first frame rate for storage. When the video server system  208  transmits the video to a client device  204 , the video server system  208  may downscale the video to a second, lower resolution (e.g., 180P) and/or second, lower frame rate for the transmission, depending on the context. For example, the video server system  208  transmits the downscaled version when transmitting multiple videos to the same client device  204  for concurrent monitoring by the user, and transmits the original captured version in other contexts. 
     In some implementations, the camera  118  operates in two modes, a Day mode in which there is enough ambient light to capture color video of a scene, and a Night mode in which the camera captures video of a scene using onboard LED illumination when there is not enough ambient light (e.g., as described in the cross-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/723,276, filed on May 27, 2015, entitled, “Multi-mode LED Illumination System.”). As described herein, in some implementations, the camera  118  includes a program module that decides when to switch from Night mode to Day mode using one or more of: illuminant detection (detecting the type of ambient light based on R/G and B/G component ratios of the ambient light), lux detection (detecting the ambient light level), and tiling (performing illuminant detection and/or lux detection for sub-regions of an image sensor array so as to detect localized/point light source that only impact a portion of the image sensor array). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with some implementations, each of the client devices  204  includes a client-side module  202 . The client-side module  202  communicates with a server-side module  206  executed on the video server system  208  through the one or more networks  162 . The client-side module  202  provides client-side functionalities for the event monitoring and review processing and communications with the server-side module  206 . The server-side module  206  provides server-side functionalities for event monitoring and review processing for any number of client-side modules  202  each residing on a respective client device  204 . The server-side module  206  also provides server-side functionalities for video processing and camera control for any number of the video sources  210 , including any number of control devices and the cameras  118 . 
     In some implementations, the server-side module  206  includes one or more processors  212 , a video storage database  214 , device and account databases  216 , an I/O interface to one or more client devices  218 , and an I/O interface to one or more video sources  220 . The I/O interface to one or more clients  218  facilitates the client-facing input and output processing for the server-side module  206 . In some implementations, the I/O interface to clients  218  or a transcoding proxy computer (not shown) rescales (e.g., downscales) and/or changes the frame rate of video for transmission to a client  204 . The databases  216  store a plurality of profiles for reviewer accounts registered with the video processing server, where a respective user profile includes account credentials for a respective reviewer account, and one or more video sources linked to the respective reviewer account. The I/O interface to one or more video sources  220  facilitates communications with one or more video sources  210  (e.g., groups of one or more cameras  118  and associated controller devices). The video storage database  214  stores raw video data received from the video sources  210 , as well as various types of metadata, such as motion events, event categories, event category models, event filters, and event masks, for use in data processing for event monitoring and review for each reviewer account. 
     In some implementations, the server-side module  206  receives information regarding alert events detected by other smart devices  204  (e.g., hazards, sound, vibration, motion). In accordance with the alert event information, the server-side module  206  instructs one or more video sources  210  in the smart home environment  100  where the alert event is detected to capture video and/or associate with the alert event video, received from the video sources  210  in the same smart home environment  100 , that is contemporaneous or proximate in time with the alert event. 
     Examples of a representative client device  204  include, but are not limited to, a handheld computer, a wearable computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, an enhanced general packet radio service (EGPRS) mobile phone, a media player, a navigation device, a game console, a television, a remote control, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, vehicle-mounted computer, an ebook reader, or a combination of any two or more of these data processing devices or other data processing devices. For example, client devices  204 - 1 ,  204 - 2 , and  204 - m  are a smart phone, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer, respectively. 
     Examples of the one or more networks  162  include local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN) such as the Internet. The one or more networks  162  are, optionally, implemented using any known network protocol, including various wired or wireless protocols, such as Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, voice over Internet Protocol (VoW), Wi-MAX, or any other suitable communication protocol. 
     In some implementations, the video server system  208  is implemented on one or more standalone data processing apparatuses or a distributed network of computers. In some implementations, the video server system  208  also employs various virtual devices and/or services of third party service providers (e.g., third-party cloud service providers) to provide the underlying computing resources and/or infrastructure resources of the video server system  208 . In some implementations, the video server system  208  includes, but is not limited to, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a combination of any two or more of these data processing devices or other data processing devices. 
     The server-client environment  200  shown in  FIG. 2  includes both a client-side portion (e.g., the client-side module  202 ) and a server-side portion (e.g., the server-side module  206 ). The division of functionalities between the client and server portions of operating environment  200  can vary in different implementations. Similarly, the division of functionalities between the video source  222  and the video server system  208  can vary in different implementations. For example, in some implementations, client-side module  202  is a thin-client that provides only user-facing input and output processing functions, and delegates all other data processing functionalities to a backend server (e.g., the video server system  208 ). Similarly, in some implementations, a respective one of the video sources  210  is a simple video capturing device that continuously captures and streams video data to the video server system  208  with no or limited local preliminary processing on the video data. Although many aspects of the present technology are described from the perspective of the video server system  208 , the corresponding actions performed by the client device  204  and/or the video sources  210  would be apparent to ones skilled in the art without any creative efforts. Similarly, some aspects of the present technology may be described from the perspective of the client device or the video source, and the corresponding actions performed by the video server would be apparent to ones skilled in the art without any creative efforts. Furthermore, some aspects of the present technology may be performed by the video server system  208 , the client device  204 , and the video sources  210  cooperatively. 
     The electronic devices, the client devices or the server system communicate with each other using the one or more communication networks  162 . In an example smart home environment, two or more devices (e.g., the network interface device  160 , the hub device  180 , and the client devices  204 - m ) are located in close proximity to each other, such that they could be communicatively coupled in the same sub-network  162 A via wired connections, a WLAN or a Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN). The Bluetooth PAN is optionally established based on classical Bluetooth technology or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. This smart home environment further includes one or more other radio communication networks  162 B through which at least some of the electronic devices of the video sources  210 - n  exchange data with the hub device  180 . Alternatively, in some situations, some of the electronic devices of the video sources  210 - n  communicate with the network interface device  160  directly via the same sub-network  162 A that couples devices  160 ,  180  and  204 - m . In some implementations (e.g., in the network  162 C), both the client device  204 - m  and the electronic devices of the video sources  210 - n  communicate directly via the network(s)  162  without passing the network interface device  160  or the hub device  180 . 
     In some implementations, during normal operation, the network interface device  160  and the hub device  180  communicate with each other to form a network gateway through which data are exchanged with the electronic device of the video sources  210 - n . As explained above, the network interface device  160  and the hub device  180  optionally communicate with each other via a sub-network  162 A. In some implementations, the hub device  180  is omitted, and the functionality of the hub device  180  is performed by the video server system  208 , video server system  252 , or smart home provider server system  190 . 
     In some implementations, the video server system  208  is, or includes, a dedicated video processing server configured to provide data processing for monitoring and facilitating review of alert events (e.g., motion events) in video streams captured by video cameras  118 . In this situation, the video server system  208  receives video data from video sources  210  (including cameras  118 ) located at various physical locations (e.g., inside homes, restaurants, stores, streets, parking lots, and/or the smart home environments  100  of  FIG. 1 ). Each video source  222  may be bound to one or more user (e.g., reviewer) accounts, and the video server system  252  provides video monitoring data for the video source  222  to client devices  204  associated with the reviewer accounts. For example, the portable electronic device  130  is an example of the client device  204 . 
     In accordance with various implementations of this application, a camera  118  includes a housing  222 , and a magnetic plate (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) coupled to a rear surface of housing  222 . The magnetic plate is formed from magnetic material, and has predetermined dimensions. A magnet mount  224  is applied for physically receiving camera  118 , and includes a first surface  224 A, a second surface  224 B and a magnetic material (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) disposed between the first and second surfaces  224 A and  224 B. First surface  224 A is configured to attach to a mounting surface directly or indirectly. Second surface  224 B is opposing first surface  224 A, and has a second shape that is substantially complementary to a first shape of the rear surface of housing  222  of camera  118 , such that the second surface  224 B could be configured to engage the rear surface of housing  222  of camera  118 . The magnet disposed between the first and second surfaces  224  A and  224 B is configured to magnetically couple to the magnetic plate of camera  118 , such that when camera  118  is magnetically coupled to magnet mount  224 , an adjustable union between magnet mount  224  and camera  118  is formed permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of camera  118  with respect to magnet mount  224 . In some implementations, a supporting assembly of camera  118  includes a magnetic mounting structure  226  in addition to magnet mount  224 . Mounting structure  226  is configured to be attached and fixed onto the mounting surface, and first surface  224 A of magnet mount  224  is configured to attach to the mounting surface indirectly via mounting structure  226 . 
     Camera  118  further includes a cable  228  that extends from a side surface of camera  118  and is configured to be fixed onto the mounting surface with one or more cable clips  230 . Optionally, cable clips  230  are arranged at substantially equal or different distance intervals along the length of cable  228 . Attachment of cable  228  to the mounting surface prevents camera  118  from falling when camera  118  is detached from the magnet mount  224 . In addition, attachment of cable  228  to the mounting surface could frustrate theft attempts, because a thief has to detach both camera  118  and the one or more cable clips  230  to remove camera  118 . 
     In some implementations, an open end of cable  228  is electrically coupled to a DC power supply output of a power adapter  232  that encloses an AC to DC converter and has an AC power supply input and the DC power supply output. More specifically, the open end of cable  228  includes a male connector  234  configured to mate with a female connector of power adapter  232 . The female connector (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) includes a sealing structure and a locking mechanism configured to engage with and lock a cover of male connector  234 , thereby providing a waterproof environment around an electrical connection formed when the male and female connectors are electrically and mechanically coupled to each other. It is understood that in some implementations, the open end of cable  228  could also be electrically coupled to a data port (not limited to power adapter  232 ) and configured to receive or send data to the data port. 
     Power adapter  232  further includes a cable  236  extended from a position located on power adapter  232  and opposing that of the female connector. Cable  236  is configured to connect to a wall plug  238  leading to a mains power system, and provide the AC power supply input to power adapter  232 . An open end of cable  236  further includes a power plug head  240  that matches wall plug  238 . In some implementations, a body of power plug head  240  is slanted, i.e., the plastic body of power plug head  240  is molded to create an obtuse angle between cable  236  (when straightened) and metal pins of power plug head  240 . When plugged onto wall plug  238  and enclosed in a plug cover  242 , power plug head  240  fits into a space between plug cover  242  and wall plug  238  in a substantially conformal manner. In some implementations, plug cover  242  and wall plug  238  are mechanically locked to each other to deter any attempt to tamper the connection between power plug head  240  and wall plug  238  and/or protect the connection from severe weather conditions. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a representative camera  118  in accordance with some implementations. In some implementations, the camera  118  includes one or more processing units or controllers (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, microprocessors, and the like)  302 , one or more communication interfaces  304 , memory  306 , one or more communication buses  308  for interconnecting these components (sometimes called a chipset). In some implementations, the camera  118  includes one or more input devices  310  such as one or more buttons for receiving input and one or more waterproof microphones  360 . In some implementations, the camera  118  includes one or more output devices  312 , such as one or more indicator lights, a sound card, a waterproof speaker  380 , and a small display for displaying textual information and error codes, playing audio, etc. 
     In some implementations, the camera  118  includes one or more of a lens assembly  330 , a heat sink  332 , a plate  334  (e.g., a magnetic plate), an image sensor array  336 , infrared illuminators  338  (e.g., infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs)) and filter  339 . In some implementations, the lens assembly  330  could further include a set of parallel lenses and a ring lens that is disposed surrounding the set of parallel lenses in a concentric manner. The set of parallel lens is configured to focus incident visible light on the image sensor array  334 , which captures respective color components (e.g., R, G and B components) of the incident light focused on respective sensor array locations. The ring lens is disposed in front of infrared illuminator  338  to diffuse infrared light generated therefrom to create uniform illumination in a field of view of camera  118 . In some implementations, when the camera is in Day mode, filter  339  is enabled for blocking a substantial portion of the IR components of the incident light. Alternatively, when the camera is in Night mode, filter  339  is disabled, allowing the image sensor array  334  to receive incident IR light from a scene illuminated by the camera&#39;s onboard IR illuminators  338  or external IR illuminators. 
     In some implementations, while the lens assembly  330  and electronic components (e.g., processor  302 ) are disposed in a front portion of camera  118 , plate  334  is attached to an interior surface of a rear portion of camera  118  that is opposite the front portion of camera  118 . The heat sink  332  is made of thermally conductive material, and coupled to electronic components of camera  118  (e.g., processor  302 ) to absorb the heat generated by the electronic components. Heat sink  332  is mechanically and thermally coupled to plate  334  to further transfer at least part of the generated heat to plate  334 , thereby directing the heat away from the front portion of camera  118  where sensitive optical or electrical components are located. In some implementations, plate  334  includes a magnetic plate that is also configured to be attracted to a magnet mount (e.g., magnet mount  224 ) for mounting camera  118  onto a mounting surface while at least partially dissipating heat generated by the electronic components of camera  118 . 
     Communication interfaces  304  include, for example, hardware capable of data communications using any of a variety of custom or standard wireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 402.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) and/or any of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. 
     Memory  306  includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random access solid state memory devices; and, optionally, includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one or more flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory  306 , or alternatively the non-volatile memory within memory  306 , includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some implementations, memory  306 , or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory  306 , stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:
         Operating system  316  including procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks;   Network communication module  318  for connecting the camera  118  to other computing devices (e.g., hub device server system  208 , video server system  252 , the client device  130 , network routing devices, one or more controller devices, and networked storage devices) connected to the one or more networks  162  via the one or more communication interfaces  304  (wired or wireless);   Video control module  320  for modifying the operation mode (e.g., zoom level, resolution, frame rate, recording and playback volume, lighting adjustment (e.g., performed by auto white balance (AWB) program module  320   a ), AE and IR modes, etc.) of the camera  118 , enabling/disabling the audio and/or video recording functions of the camera  118 , changing the pan and tilt angles of the camera  118 , resetting the camera  118 , enabling/disabling filter  339 , and/or the like; the video control module  320  includes a mode control program module  320   b  that determines when to switch from Night mode to Day mode and vice-versa in accordance with some implementations; the mode control module  320   b  also generates a control signal to enable or disable filter  339  in accordance with a determination to transition to Day mode or Night mode, respectively;   Video capturing module  324  for capturing and generating a video stream and sending the video stream to the video server system  208  as a continuous feed or in short bursts, and optionally generating a rescaled version of the video stream and sending the video stream at the original captured resolution and the rescaled resolution;   Video caching module  326  for storing some or all captured video data locally at one or more local storage devices (e.g., memory, flash drives, internal hard disks, portable disks, etc.);   Local video processing module  328  for performing preliminary processing of the captured video data locally at the camera  118 , including for example, compressing and encrypting the captured video data for network transmission, preliminary motion event detection, preliminary false positive suppression for motion event detection, preliminary motion vector generation, etc.; and   Camera data  340  storing data, including but not limited to:
           Camera settings  342 , including network settings, camera operation settings (such as frame rate  342   a , analog sensor gain  342   b , and Day/Night mode setting  342   c ), camera storage settings, etc.;   Video data  344 , including video segments and motion vectors for detected motion event candidates to be sent to the hub device server system  208  or video server system  252 ;   Raw sensor data  346  (e.g., R, G and B components) captured from sensor pixel locations in the sensor array  334  and saved as a raw image frame; in some implementations, the sensor is a “Bayer” sensor, where R, G and B pixels are captured from alternate sensor pixel locations in such a way that two times more G component values are captured than R or B component values; other implementations employ different types of sensors to provide the Raw sensor data  3460 , including sensors with other arrangements of R, G and B color filters (e.g., a sensor producing an equal number of R, G and B components), and sensors that employ different color filters (e.g., a sensor with cyan (C), yellow (Y) and magenta (M) color filters, which produces C, Y and M components);   Auto white balance (AWB) data  348 , including data derived from the raw sensor data  3460  used to identify and compensate for the color temperature of the ambient light condition (e.g., sunlight vs. incandescent light vs. fluorescent light, etc.); in some implementations, the AWB data  348  includes R/G and B/G ratios for respective pixel locations derived from the corresponding raw Bayer sensor data  346 ; in some implementations, these ratios are used directly to determine whether to switch from Night mode to Day mode; and   Mode control parameters  350  used to determine switching of a camera mode, including All_lights lookup table (LUT) used to determine whether to switch from Night mode to Day mode, and Sunlight lookup table (LUT) used to determine whether to switch from the Night mode to Day mode.   
               

     Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory  306 , optionally, stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  306 , optionally, stores additional modules and data structures not described above. 
     In some implementations, the camera  118  captures surveillance video using a digital imaging system. Digital images (frames) are captured as a sequence at a particular frame rate  342   a , compressed, and then sent to the “cloud” (e.g., the video server system  208 ) for storage and retrieval. The camera  118  operates in one of two modes (e.g., indicated by the Day/Night mode value  342   c ) depending on the ambient lighting conditions. Day mode is used when there is sufficient ambient light to adequately illuminate the scene. Night mode is used when there is not enough light to adequately illuminate the scene. In some implementations, when operating in Day mode, the camera  118  uses the ambient lighting sources to illuminate the scene and capture surveillance video. In some implementations, the minimum lux level at which the camera captures  118  video in Day mode is between 0.1 to 1 lux depending on the color temperature of the dominant illuminant. Once the minimum lux level is reached, the camera automatically switches to Night mode. Switching to Night mode includes disabling filter  339  and enabling a set of IR LEDs  338  to provide illumination for the scene. Night mode is maintained until the camera  118  detects an external illuminant. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a representative power adapter  232  configured to convert an alternating current (AC) power supply input to a direct current (DC) power supply output in accordance with some implementations. An input of the power adapter  232  is electrically coupled to a mains power system via a wall plug, and configured to receive the AC power supply input therefrom. The AC power supply input typically includes a 110V or 220V AC signal at a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. An output of the power adapter  232  is electrically coupled to the camera  118 , and configured to generate and provide to the camera  118  the DC power supply output. In an example, the DC power supply output includes an electrical signal of 5V, and could drive the camera  118  with a current up to 1.4 A. In some implementations, the power adapter  232  is mounted onto a mounting plate fixed on the mounting surface, and coated with matte material that enhances its contact with the mounting plate and protects its surfaces from decoloring caused by ultraviolet light incident thereon. In some implementations, the camera  118  and the corresponding power adapter  232  could be installed and applied in an outdoor environment, and the power adapter  232  is therefore configured to adopt waterproof features (e.g., waterproof USB connectors) for the purposes of deterring water permeation that could cause irreversible damages to power supply conversion electronics contained in the power adapter  232 . 
     The power adapter  232  includes input conditioning circuit  402 , a main converter  404 , output conditioning circuit  406 , a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller  408 , and PWM feedback circuit  410 . The input conditioning circuit  402  includes an input rectifier (e.g., a half-wave or full-wave rectification bridge) and an output filter (e.g., a capacitor) that are configured to rectify and smooth the AC power supply input. The output conditioning circuit  406  includes an output rectifier (e.g., a rectification diode) and an output filter (e.g., a capacitor) that are configured to rectify and smooth the DC power supply output before it is outputted to the camera  118 . In some implementations, the output rectifier includes a rectification transistor (e.g., a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) and a bipolar junction transistor (BJT)) and a rectification driver configured to control the rectification transistor. The rectification transistor has an equivalent resistance that is less than that of a conventional rectification diode, which effectively improves overall operational efficiency of the power adapter  232 . In some implementations, the power adapter  232  is configured to meet the requirements of Level VI Efficiency Standards for External Power Supplies that have been enforced in the United Stated. 
     The main converter  404  is coupled between the input and output conditioning circuit  402  and  406 . In some implementations, the main converter  404  includes a transformer having a primary side winding and a secondary side winding. The primary side winding is configured to receive the rectified and smoothed AC power supply input, and the secondary side winding is configured to provide an output which is then rectified and smoothed by the output conditioning circuit  406  for generating the DC power supply output. 
     In some implementations, the power adapter  232  is implemented as a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The main converter  404  is coupled to the PWM controller  408  that further includes a switching transistor coupled to the main converter  404  (e.g., connected in series with the primary side winding of the main converter  404 ). The PWM controller  408  is configured to control switching operation of the switching transistor and supply a prescribed operating frequency and duty cycle for the power adapter  232  for converting the AC power supply input to the DC power supply output. More specifically, the PWM controller  408  is coupled to the PWM feedback circuit  410  to receive output feedback from the output of the main converter  404  or the DC power supply output, and configured to control the prescribed operating frequency (i.e., an operational period) and/or the duty cycle of the power adapter  232 . For example, when the DC power supply output is measured by the PWM feedback circuit  410  to be lower than a target DC power supply voltage, the PWM controller  408  increases the operating frequency and/or duty cycle to increase the magnitude of the DC power supply output. Alternatively, when the DC power supply output is measured by the PWM feedback circuit  410  to be greater than the target DC power supply voltage, the PWM controller  408  reduces the operating frequency and/or duty cycle to increase the magnitude of the DC power supply output. As such, the PWM controller  408  stabilizes the DC power supply output at the target DC power supply output by adjusting its operating frequency and/or duty cycle, and the power adapter  232  is therefore configured to operate at the prescribed operating frequency and/or duty cycle when the DC power supply output is stabilized. 
     In some implementations, the power adapter  232  further includes protection circuit  412  that is configured to offer protections against one or more of over voltage (OVP), under voltage (UVP), over current (OCP), over power (OPP), over load (OLP), over temperature (OTP), and no-load operation (NLO). The protection circuit  412  is coupled to the PWM controller  408 , and configured to monitor the DC power supply output and control the PWM controller  408 . For example, in some implementations, the power adapter  232  is configured to provide a target DC power supply output of 5V, and the protection circuit  412  shuts down the power adapter  232  if the DC power supply outputs have a voltage below (UVP) a first predetermined voltage level (e.g., 6.3V) or above (OVP) a second predetermined voltage level (e.g., 3.5V). In some situations, when you first turn on the power adapter  232 , the DC power supply output is below the target DC power supply output for a fraction of second. The UVP is disabled, and a power good signal is outputted to indicate to the camera  118  that the DC power supply output is increasing to reach the target DC power supply level. Similarly, in some implementations, the protection circuit  412  shuts down a rail of the power adapter  232 , if the rail of the power adapter  232  pulls a current that is above (OCP) a predetermined current level or above (CPP) a predetermined power consumption level. In some implementations, the protection circuit  412  includes a temperature sensor, and shuts down the power adapter  232  if a temperature inside the power adapter  232  is measured above (OTP) a predetermined temperature level. In some implementations, the protection circuit  412  shuts down the power adapter  232 , if no load (i.e., the camera  118 ) is coupled at the DC power supply output or if the load coupled to the DC power supply output exceeds a predetermined load level. 
     In some implementations, the power adapter  232  further includes an auxiliary voltage (Vaux) supply  414 . The Vaux supply  414  is coupled to receive output feedback from the output of the main converter  404  or the DC power supply output. The Vaux supply  414  is configured to enable a low power mode based on the output of the main converter  404  or the DC power supply output, and function as a power rail of the power adapter  232  at the enabled low power mode. A current demand from the Vaux supply  414  could be limited to a predetermined current level (e.g., 100 μA) at the low power mode. The PWM controller  408  is coupled to the Vaux supply  414 , and configured to adjust its operating frequency and/or duty cycle according to the Vaux supply  414  at the low power mode, thereby controlling the current demand of the power adapter  232  from the Vaux supply  414 . 
     The output of the power adapter  232  is electrically coupled to the camera  118  via the extended cable  228  that has cable resistance and could cause a loss in the DC power supply voltage received at the camera  118 . In an example, the extended cable  228  is 3 meters long. The PWM controller  408  is configured to compensate the loss caused by the extended cable  228  by adjusting the operating frequency and/or the corresponding duty cycle for switching the main converter  404 . In some implementations, performance of the power adapter  232  is optimized to load an extended cable having a fixed cable length (e.g., 3 meters). The PWM feedback circuit  410  monitors the output of the main converter  404  or the output conditioning circuit  406 , and controls the PWM controller  408  to switch the main converter  404  according to an adjusted operating frequency and/or duty cycle, thereby compensating the loss of the DC power supply output that has been monitored at the output of the main converter  404  or the output conditioning circuit  406 . 
     Camera Assembly 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a camera assembly  500  shown in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations. The camera assembly  500  further includes a camera module  502  that is configured to be mounted to a mounting surface using at least one of a magnet mount  504  and a mounting structure  506 . The camera module  502  includes a housing  508 . Optionally, the housing  508  is made of non-magnetic material. Optionally, the body of the housing  508  is made of a single piece of material, includes a substantially smooth body surface and has a bullet head shape. An open end of the housing  502  is sealed by a front cover  510 , and the front cover  510  includes a transparent portion  510 A configured to permit ambient light incident on a lens of the camera module  502 . The camera module  502  further includes one or more of a lens assembly, image sensors, microphone and speaker, a plurality of electronic components, memory and a heat sink, and these optical, electronic and thermal components are fully contained and sealed within the housing  502 . 
     The magnet mount  504  is configured to receive the camera module  502 , and includes a first surface  504 A, a second surface  504 B and a magnetic material (not shown in  FIG. 5A ) disposed between the first and second surfaces. The first surface  504 A is configured to attach to a mounting surface directly or indirectly. For example, when the mounting surface (a surface of a refrigerator) is made of magnetic material that could be magnetized or be attracted to a magnet, the first surface  504 A could attach directly to the mounting surface. Alternatively, in some implementations, a magnetic mounting structure  506  is configured to be attached and fixed onto the mounting surface, and the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504  is configured to attach to the magnetic mounting structure  506  and further to the mounting surface. 
     The second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  opposes the first surface  504 A, and has a second shape that is substantially complementary to a first shape of a rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . The second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  is configured to engage the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . Specifically, in some implementations, the first shape of the rear surface of the housing  508  is substantially convex, and the second shape of the second surface  504 B is substantially concave. 
     The magnet disposed between the first and second surfaces provide the magnetic force to allow the magnet mount  504  to attach to a magnetic mounting surface or a magnetic mounting structure  506 , and to allow the housing  508  of the camera module  502  to attach to the magnet mount  504 . In some implementations, a magnetic plate is attached to an interior surface of the housing  508  opposing the rear surface of the housing  508 , and magnetically attracted to the magnet of the magnet mount  504  when the rear surface of the housing  508  is disposed in proximity to the magnet mount  504 . In addition, when the camera module  502  is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount  504 , an adjustable union between the magnet mount  504  and the camera module  502  is formed permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the camera module  502  with respect to the magnet mount  504 . The angle of orientation is limited by a stopping structure of the camera module  502  (e.g., the magnetic plate itself when the magnetic plate has predetermined geometry and dimensions for controlling the angle of orientation). Alternatively, in some implementations, the stopping structure of the camera module  502  includes one or more physical stops disposed on the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . When the magnet mount  504  hits the one or more physical stops, the camera module  502  reaches the limit of the angle of orientation. 
     In some implementations, the camera module  502  includes a cable  512  that extends from a side surface (or a bottom surface) of the camera module  502 . Optionally, a first end of the cable  512  is fixed and entirely sealed on the side surface of the camera module  502  to protect the interior of the camera module  502  from water intrusion. The cable  512  is configured to be fixed onto the mounting surface with one or more cable clips  514 . Attachment of the cable  512  to the mounting surface prevents the camera module  502  from falling and/or deters theft attempts when the camera module  502  is detached from the magnet mount  504 . The cable  512  further includes a second end opposing the first end, and the second end of the cable  512  is connected to a first connector  516  configured to mate with a second connector of an electronic hub (e.g., a power adapter  232  shown in  FIG. 2  or a data port). The second connector of the electronic hub is complementary to the first connector  516  of the cable  512  and configured to provide at least one a power supply and a data exchange path to the camera module  502  coupled to the cable  512 . In a specific example, the first connector  516  of the cable  512  includes a male USB connector, and the second connector of the electronic hub includes a female USB connector configured to, when mated with the female USB connector of the cable  512 , provides a power supply to the camera module  502 . 
       FIGS. 5B-5E  illustrate a front view, a rear view, and two distinct side views of a camera assembly  500  that has been mounted onto a mounting surface via a magnet mount  504 , a mounting structure  506  and a cable clip  514  in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 5F-5H  illustrate a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of a standalone camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations. Referring to  FIGS. 5B, 5D and 5F , the front cover  510  includes the transparent portion  510 A for receiving incident ambient light, an indicator window  518  for indicating a state of operation of the camera module  502 , and a first opening  520  for accessing a sound transmission channel leading to a microphone of the camera module  502 . Referring to  FIG. 5H , a bottom side of the housing  508  includes one or more second openings  524  for accessing a sound transmission channel leading to a speaker of the camera module  502 , and a third opening  522  from which the cable  512  is extended out of the housing  508 . In some implementations, the front cover  510  has a slightly convex shape. When the camera module  502  is mounted onto a mounting surface, it is so oriented such that the first opening  520  associated with the microphone is located on a lower portion of the front cover  510 , and is oriented slightly downward. Also, the camera module  510  is also oriented such that the one or more second openings  524  associated with the speaker is located on the bottom side of the housing and faces the ground. Orientations of the first opening  520  and the second openings  524  are configured to reduce or eliminate rain, snow or dust that could hit the microphone and the speaker when the camera module  502  is disposed in an outdoor environment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5C , the mounting structure  506  that is applied to support the magnet mount  504  further includes one or more fastener structures  526  (e.g., openings) configured to receive one or more fasteners. When the one or more fasteners are integrated with the one or more fastener structures  526 , the mounting structure  506  is securely fixed onto the mounting surface. For example, the one or more fastener structure  526  includes two holes on the mounting structure  506 , and configured to receive nails or screws that can fix the mounting structure  506  onto the mounting surface when the nails or screws are driven into the holes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5D , in some implementations, when the camera module  502  and the magnet mount  504  are mounted onto the mounting surface via the mounting structure  506 , the magnet mount  504  magnetically attaches onto the mounting structure  506  with first attraction force, and the camera module  502  magnetically couples to the magnet mount with second attraction force that is substantially smaller from the first attraction force. Further, in some implementations, the first and second attraction forces enable secure attachment of the camera module  502  onto the mounting surface, and the secure attachment satisfies one or more Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards that set forth at least safety requirements for mounting the camera module  502  onto a mounting surface. In some implementations, the magnet of the magnet mount  504  includes two magnetic parts that are respectively disposed in proximity to the first and second surfaces  504 A and  504 B and enable the first and second attraction forces. Each of the two magnetic parts could include a plurality of magnetic domains that have a respective size configured to enable the attraction force associated with the respective magnetic part. Alternatively, the locations of the two magnetic parts may be adjusted to enable the first and second attraction forces as needed (e.g., a first magnetic part and a magnetic mounting structure  506  have a substantially smaller distance than another distance between a second magnetic part and the magnetic plate of the camera module  502 ). 
     Under some circumstances, attraction force between the magnetic mounting structure  506  and the magnet mount  504  is substantially large for the purposes of providing highly secure attachment of the camera module  502  to the mounting surface. Referring to  FIG. 5E , in some implementations, the mounting structure  506  further includes a notch  528  disposed on an edge of the mounting structure  506 , such that a user could use a tool (e.g., a screwdriver having a blade) to detach the magnet mount  504  from the mounting structure  506 . In some implementations, a detachable non-magnetic material  530  is disposed between the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 . The detachable non-magnetic material  530  is configured to increase a distance between the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 , and reduce an attraction force between the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 , thereby facilitating detachment of the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 . 
     When the housing  508  of the camera module  502 , the magnet mount  504 , the mounting structure  508 , the cable  512  and the cable clip  514  are exposed to an outdoor environment, their surfaces could deteriorate under severe weather conditions and comprise their ability to be secured onto the mounting surface or to each other. Thus, in some implementations, one or more of the housing  508  of the camera module, the magnet mount  504 , the mounting structure  508 , the cable  512  and the cable clip  514  are coated with a matte material. For example, the matte material could enhance contact between the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  and the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 , thereby maintaining stability of the camera module  502  when it is mounted on the mounting surface via the magnet mount  504 . In addition, the matte material coating is also configured to protect the exposed surface of the one or more of the housing  508 , the magnet mount  504 , the mounting structure  508 , the cable  512  and the cable clip  514  from ultraviolet light incident thereon, and to avoid a change of color of the exposed surface. In a specific example, the matte material coating is used to protect the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502  from ultraviolet light incident thereon, and avoid a change of color of the rear surface of the housing  502 . 
     It is understood that the camera module  502  is merely an example of a physical module that could be magnetically mounted onto a mounting surface. The physical module includes one or more of smart thermostats  102 , smart hazard detectors  104 , smart doorbells  106 , smart wall switches  108 , smart wall plugs  110 , smart appliances  112 , pool heater monitors  114 , irrigation monitors  116 , cameras  118 , smart door locks  120 , smart alarm systems  122  and other types of smart devices that could be configured to be mounted with a magnet mount  504 . As such, an adjustable union between the magnet mount  504  and the physical module could be formed, permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the physical module with respect to the magnet mount  504 . 
     Camera Module 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a camera assembly  500  in accordance with some implementations. The camera assembly  500  further includes a camera module  502 , a magnet mount  504  and a mounting structure  506 . The camera module  502  includes a housing  508 . Optionally, the housing  508  is made of non-magnetic material. Optionally, the body of the housing  508  is made of a single piece of material. The body of the housing  508  includes a substantially smooth body surface and has a bullet head shape. An open end of the housing  502  is sealed by a front cover  510 , forming a waterproof enclosure configured to contain and protect different components of the camera module  502  under severe weather conditions. The front cover  510  includes a transparent portion  510 A (also called a lens cover) configured to permit ambient light incident on a lens of the camera module  502 . Optionally, the transparent portion  510 A is made of glass, and configured to adhere to the front cover  510  using an adhesive. 
     The camera module  502  further includes one or more of a lens assembly  330 , a heat sink  332 , and a magnetic material  334  (e.g., a magnetic plate), image sensors  336 , one or more infrared illuminators  338 , a microphone  360 , a speaker  380 , and a PCB assembly  602  including a plurality of electronic components. Optionally, the plurality of electronic components includes one or more processors, memory, power management circuit, microphone and speaker circuit, illuminator drivers and one or more indicator lights. These thermal, optical and electronic components are fully contained and sealed within the housing  508  when the front cover  510  is sealed onto the housing  502 . 
     To some extent, the PCB assembly  602  separates space within the housing  508  to a front portion  620  and a rear portion  640 . The front portion  620  of the camera module  500  includes a front enclosure structure  604  configured to facilitate enclosing the housing  508  with the front cover  510 , assembling a transparent portion  510 A onto the front cover  510 , supporting a microphone  360  and an indicator light, and/or enabling a compact concentric lens arrangement for the lens assembly  330 . In some implementations, both the housing  508  and the front cover  510  are glued to a front rim of the front enclosure structure  604 , thereby enabling a fully sealed camera body for the camera module  502 . Further, in some implementations, a microphone  360  is mounted on the front enclosure structure  604  to access the first opening  520  on the front cover  510 . A light pipe  622  could also be routed through a peripheral region of the front enclosure structure  604 , such that light from an indicator light mounted on the PCB assembly  602  can be guided to reach the indicator window  518  on the front cover  510 . Further, in some implementations, the front enclosure structure  604  could include an opening structure around its central axis, and the opening structure is configured to receive a cover glass frame  606  on which a transparent cover glass  624  is mounted. When the transparent cover glass  624  is attached to the front cover  510 , the transparent portion  510 A is formed in a central area of the front cover  510  to expose pass ambient light incident thereon. 
     The lens assembly  330  is disposed inside the front portion of the camera module  500  and in proximity to the front cover  510 . More specifically, in some implementations, the lens assembly  330  includes a set of parallel lenses  608  and a ring lens  610 . The ring lens  610  is mounted on the front enclosure structure  504 , while the set of parallel lenses  608  is disposed substantially within the central opening structure of the front enclosure structure  604 , and the ring lens  610  is configured to surround the set of parallel lenses  608  in a concentric manner. The set of parallel lenses  608  is configured to focus incident light on the image sensors  336 , which are mounted on the PCB assembly  602  and aligned with the parallel lens  608 . The parallel lenses  608  are configured to capture respective color components (e.g., R, G and B components) of the incident light focused on respective sensor array locations. The ring lens  610  is disposed in front of infrared illuminator  338  to diffuse infrared light generated therefrom to create substantially uniform illumination in a field of view. 
     In some implementations, when the camera  502  is in Day mode, a filter is enabled to join the set of parallel lenses  608  for blocking a substantial portion of the IR components of the incident light. Alternatively, when the camera  502  is in Night mode, the filter is disabled from the set of parallel lenses  608 , allowing the image sensors  336  to receive incident IR light from a scene illuminated by the camera&#39;s onboard IR illuminators  338  or external IR illuminators. Referring to  FIG. 6 , in a specific example, the IR illuminators  338  includes eight infrared LEDs disposed between the PCB assembly  602  and the front enclosure structure  604 . Each illuminator  338  is slightly tilted away from a central axis of the camera module  502 , and forms a tilting angle with respect to the central axis of the camera module  502 , thereby enabling substantially uniform illumination over the field of view of the camera module  502 . 
     The rear portion  640  of the camera module  502  includes at least the heat sink  332  and the magnetic material  334 . The magnetic material  334  is magnetically attractable to a magnet, i.e., responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic plate could be an electromagnet that does not retain their magnetism when removed from a magnetic field, or a permanent magnet that strongly resists demagnetization once magnetized. Example magnetic material includes iron, low-carbon steels, iron-silicon alloys, iron-aluminum-silicon alloys, nickel-iron alloys, iron-cobalt alloys, ferrites, amorphous alloys, ceramic magnet, the Alnicos, and the cobalt-samarium, iron-neodymium, iron-chromium-cobalt, and elongated single-domain (ESD) types of magnet. In some implementations, the magnetic material  334  includes a magnetic plate. The magnetic plate  334  is coupled to an interior surface of the rear portion  640  of the housing  508  and has predetermined dimensions. The magnetic material  334  is concealed within the housing  508 . Unlike the magnetic material  334 , the housing  508  is not made of magnetic material. Optionally, the magnetic material  334  has a symmetric shape. 
     The heat sink  332  is disposed between the PCB assembly  602  and the magnetic material  334 . The heat sink  332  is made of thermally conductive material, coupled to electronic components of camera  118  (e.g., processor  302 ) mounted on the PCB assembly  602 , and configured to absorb the heat generated by the electronic components. The heat sink  332  is mechanically and thermally coupled to the magnetic material  334  to further transfer at least part of the generated heat to the magnetic material  334 , thereby directing the heat away from the front portion of camera  118  where sensitive optical or electrical components are located. Thus, in some implementations, the magnetic material  334  is configured to be attracted to a magnet mount (e.g., magnet mount  224 ) for mounting camera  118  onto a mounting surface while at least partially dissipating heat generated by the electronic components of camera  118 . 
     Further, in some implementations, a cable  512  is configured to be extended from a side surface (or a bottom surface) of the camera module  502 . A first end of the cable  512  is fixed and entirely sealed on the side surface of the camera module  502  to protect the interior of the camera module  502  from water permeation. In some implementations, the first end of the cable  512  is electrically coupled to an electronic component (e.g., a power management circuit) integrated on the PCB assembly  602 . The cable  512  further includes a second end opposing the first end, and the second end of the cable  512  is connected to a first connector  516  configured to mate with a second connector of an electronic hub (e.g., a power adapter  232  shown in  FIG. 2 ) for receiving a power supply from and/or exchanging data with the electronic hub. In a specific example, the first connector  516  of the cable  512  includes a male USB connector. When the camera module  502  is applied in an outdoor environment, the first connector  516 , at least when mated with the second connector, is protected from water permeation. The first and second connectors are configured to incorporate a locking mechanism and sealing structures (e.g., a connector cover  626 ) that enable secure electrical and mechanical connections between the first and second connectors. More details on waterproof electronic connectors are explained below with reference to  FIGS. 19-25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a magnet mount  504  is configured to receive the camera module  502 , and includes a first surface  504 A, a second surface  504 B and a magnetic material  614  (e.g., a magnet) disposed between the first and second surfaces. The second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  opposes the first surface  504 A, and have a second shape that is substantially complementary to a first shape of a rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . The second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  is configured to engage the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . Specifically, in some implementations, the first shape of the rear surface of the housing  508  is substantially convex, and the second shape of the second surface  504 B is substantially concave. 
     The first surface  504 A is configured to attach to a mounting surface directly or indirectly. For example, when the mounting surface (a surface of a refrigerator) is made of magnetic material, the first surface  504 A could attach directly to the mounting surface. Alternatively, in some implementations, a magnetic mounting structure  506  is configured to be attached and fixed onto the mounting surface, and the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount is configured to attach to the mounting surface indirectly via the magnetic mounting structure  506 . In some implementations, the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504  includes a first stopper structure (not shown in  FIG. 6 ), and the mounting structure  506  includes a second stopper structure  616  (e.g., a notch or a flat edge of a protrusion) on a front surface that receives the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504 . The first stopper structure is configured to mate with the second stopper structure  616 , thereby preventing the magnet mount  504  from rotating with respect to the mounting structure  506 . In a specific example, the first stopper structure is an recess on the first surface  504 A and includes a flat edge, and the second stopper structure is a protrusion on the front surface of the mounting structure  506  and includes another flat edge that matches that of the recess on the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504 . The flat edges on the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506  are configured to block the magnet mount  504  from rotating with respect to the mounting structure  506 . 
     In some implementations, the magnet mount  504  further includes a friction pad  618 . Optionally, the friction pad is mounted on a holding plate having a larger diameter than that of the friction pad  618 . The second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  includes a cutout opening that matches the dimension of the friction pad. When the holding plate is disposed adjacent to the second surface  504 B, the friction pad  618  protrudes above the second surface  504 B. As such, the friction pad  618  is embedded on the second surface  504 B. The friction pad  618  has a shape substantially similar to that of the second surface  504 B, and protrudes above the second surface by a predefined height (e.g., no greater than 5 mm). Further, in some implementations, the friction pad  618  is made of rubber or silicone that introduces friction between the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  and the rear surface of the camera module  502 , thereby maintaining stability of the camera module  502  when it is mounted on the mounting surface via the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 . 
     Magnet Mount and/or Mounting Structure for Supporting Camera Module 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are two perspective views of a magnet mount  504  viewed from a first surface  504 A and a second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  in accordance with some implementations, respectively, and  FIGS. 7C-7E  illustrate a top view, a rear view, and a side view of a magnet mount  504  in accordance with some implementations. The first surface  504 A is substantially flat. The first surface  504 A is configured to attach to a mounting surface directly, or attach to a front surface of a mounting structure that could be fixed onto the mounting surface. The second surface  504 B opposes the first surface, and has a second shape that is substantially complementary to a first shape of the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . The second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  is configured to engage the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . In some implementations, the second shape  504 B is substantially concave. 
     In some implementations, the first surface  504 A has a rim  704  complementary to another rim of a mounting structure  506 , and is covered with a friction pad  706  to enhance attachment of the first surface  504 A to the front surface of the mounting structure  506 . The friction pad  706  is made of polymeric material (e.g., rubber and silicone). Further, in some implementations, the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504  includes a first stopper structure  708  (e.g., a recess or a protrusion) configured to mate with a second stopper structure  616  on the front surface of the mounting structure  506 , thereby preventing the magnet mount  504  from rotating with respect to the mounting structure  508 . When the camera module  502  is mounted onto the mounting surface via both the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 , the magnet mount  504  cannot be rotated with respect to the mounting structure  506  and the mounting surface, while the camera module  502  can be rotated within the second surface  506  of the magnet mount  504 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7E , in some implementations, the magnet mount  504  includes a friction pad  618  that is embedded on the second surface  504 B. The friction pad  618  protrudes above the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  by a predefined height (h), and has a third shape that is substantially consistent with the second shape of the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504 . The friction pad  618  is configured to come into contact with the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502  at least via a peripheral edge  702  of the friction pad  618  (i.e., in some implementations, the magnet mount  504  and the camera module  502  are configured to physically couple to one another via a circular peripheral edge). The friction pad  618  has a radius of curvature (R 1 ) that is smaller than that (R 2 ) of the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . 
       FIGS. 7F-7H  illustrate an angle of orientation of a camera module  502  with respect to a magnet mount  504  in accordance with some implementations. When the camera module  502  is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount  504 , an adjustable union between the magnet mount  504  and the camera module  502  is formed that permits adjustment of an angle of orientation of the camera module with respect to the magnet mount  504 , where the angle of orientation is limited by a stopping structure of the camera module  502 . Stated another way, in accordance with the adjustable union, the camera module  502  can be freely oriented towards different directions and have an unlimited number of degrees of freedom of rotation. In some implementations, each of the unlimited number of degrees of freedom of rotation is limited within a respective range of rotation. For example, referring to  FIGS. 7G and 7H , the camera module  502  has a first limit to the angle of orientation (A 1 ) for a first direction of a first degree of freedom of rotation, and a second limit to the angle of orientation (A 2 ) for a second direction of the first degree of freedom of rotation that is reverse to the first direction. Optionally, the first limit (A 1 ) is equal to the second limit (A 2 ) when the stopping structure of the camera module  502  is symmetric with respect to a central axis  750  of the camera module  502  in the first degree of freedom. Optionally, the first limit (A 1 ) is distinct from the second limit (A 2 ) when the stopping structure of the camera module  502  is asymmetric with respect to the central axis  750  of the camera module  502  in the first degree of freedom. 
     In some implementations, the stopping structure of the camera module  502  includes one or more physical stops  710  disposed on the rear surface of the housing of the camera module  502 . The magnet mount  504  hits the one or more physical stops  710  when the camera module  502  is rotated to reach the limit of the angle of orientation. Alternatively, in some implementations, to define the limit to the angle of orientation of the camera module  502 , the magnetic material  334  attached to an interior surface of the housing  502  is configured to have predetermined geometry and dimensions or couple to magnets having an opposite polarity to that of the magnet material  614  of the magnet mount  504 . More details on the magnetic material  334  and the magnets having the opposite polarity are explained below with reference to  FIGS. 12A-12D . 
     Further, in some implementations, in accordance with a second degree of freedom of rotation (e.g.,  FIG. 7A ), the camera module  502  has an unlimited range of rotation with respect to the central axis  750  of the camera module  502 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are two perspective views of a mounting structure  506  viewed from a front side and a backside of the mounting structure  506  in accordance with some implementations, respectively, and  FIGS. 8C-8F  illustrate a top view, a rear view, and two side views of a magnet mount  504  in accordance with some implementations. In some implementations, the mounting structure  506  includes a magnetic part made of magnetic material, and the magnetic part is magnetically attractable to a magnet, i.e., responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic part could be an electromagnet that does not retain their magnetism when removed from a magnetic field, or a permanent magnet that strongly resists demagnetization once magnetized. Example magnetic material of the magnetic part includes iron, low-carbon steels, iron-silicon alloys, iron-aluminum-silicon alloys, nickel-iron alloys, iron-cobalt alloys, ferrites, amorphous alloys, ceramic magnet, the Alnicos, and the cobalt-samarium, iron-neodymium, iron-chromium-cobalt, and elongated single-domain (ESD) types of magnet. 
     The mounting structure  506  includes one or more fastener structures  526  (e.g., openings) configured to receive one or more fasteners. When the one or more fasteners are integrated with the one or more fastener structures  526 , the mounting structure  506  is securely fixed onto the mounting surface. In a specific example, the one or more fastener structure  526  includes two holes on the mounting structure  506 , and configured to receive nails or screws that can fix the mounting structure  506  onto the mounting surface when the nails or screws are driven into the holes. It is noted that the holes need to be recessed into the mounting structure  526  such that when the nails or screws are driven into the holes, their heads are lower than the front surface  802  of the mounting structure  506  without blocking contact between the front surface  802  of the mounting structure  506  and the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504 . 
     In some implementations, the mounting structure  506  includes a rim  804  complementary to the rim  704  on the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504 . In some implementations, the front surface  802  is optionally made of polymeric material (e.g., rubber and silicone) so as to enhance attachment of the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504  to the front surface  802  of the mounting structure  506 . Further, in some implementations, the front surface  802  of the mounting structure  506  includes a second stopper structure  806  (e.g., a recess or a protrusion) configured to mate with a first stopper structure  706  on the front surface  504 A of the magnet mount  504 , thereby preventing the magnet mount  504  from rotating with respect to the mounting structure  508 . 
     Under some circumstances, attraction force between the mounting structure  506  and the magnet mount  504  is substantially large for the purposes of providing highly secure attachment of the camera module  502  to the mounting surface. In some implementations, the mounting structure  506  further includes a notch  528  disposed on the rim  804  of the mounting structure  506 , such that a user could use a tool (e.g., a screwdriver having a blade) to detach the magnet mount  504  from the mounting structure  506 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are two perspective views of a mounting assembly  900  including a magnet mount  504  that is attached to a mounting structure  506  in accordance with some implementations, and  FIGS. 9C-9F  illustrate a top view, a rear view, and two side views of the mounting assembly  900  in accordance with some implementations. The magnet mount  504  is magnetically coupled to the mounting structure  506 . The rim  704  of the magnet mount is complementary to the rim  804  of the mounting structure  506 , providing a compact form factor and secure attachment to the mounting assembly  900 . In some implementations, the notch  528  is disposed on the rim  804  of the mounting structure  506  and at an interface between the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  508 , and a user could use a tool (e.g., a screwdriver having a blade) to detach the magnet mount  504  from the mounting structure  506 . 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are two perspective views of a mounting assembly  900  including a magnet mount  504  and a mounting structure  506  presented in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations. When the magnet mount  504  is magnetically coupled to the mounting structure  506 , the first surface  504 A of the magnet mount, the front surface  802  of the mounting structure  506  and mechanical features on these surfaces are entirely sealed within the mounting assembly  900 , except that the notch  528  disposed on the rim  804  of the mounting structure  504 . In some implementations, the notch  528  is used as an alignment mark (e.g., the notch  528  could be oriented towards a floor), when the mounting structure  506  is fixed onto a mounting surface. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are another two perspective views of a mounting assembly  900  including a magnet mount  504  and a mounting structure  506  presented in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations. The magnet mount  504  includes a housing body  1102  and a base  1104  that provide the second surface  504 B and the first surface  504 B when they are assembled into the magnet mount  504 , respectively. In some implementations, the magnet mount  504  is used in an outdoor environment, and the housing body  1102  and the base  1104  are sealed against water permeation. 
     In some implementations, the friction pad  618  of the magnet mount  504  is supported by a holding plate  1106  having a larger diameter than that of the friction pad  618 . The second surface  504 B of the housing body  1102  includes a cutout opening  1108  that matches the dimension of the friction pad  618 . When the holding plate  1106  is disposed within the housing body  1102  and adjacent to the second surface  504 B, the friction pad  618  protrudes above the second surface  504 B, and is thereby embedded on the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504 . The friction pad  618  has a shape substantially similar to that of the second surface  504 B, and protrudes above the second surface by a predefined height (e.g., no greater than 5 mm). Further, in some implementations, the friction pad  618  is made of rubber that introduces friction between the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  and the rear surface of the camera module  502 , and configured to maintain stability of the camera module  502  when the camera module  502  is mounted on the mounting surface via the magnet mount  504  and the mounting structure  506 . In some implementations, the friction pad  618  is made of a polymeric material that is resistant to weather, and examples of the friction pad include rubber and silicone. 
     In some implementations, the shape of the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  is substantially concave, and the friction pad  618  also has a substantially concave shape but protrudes above the second surface by the predefined height. Further, in some implementations, the friction pad  618 , when embedded onto the second surface  504 B, is configured to come into contact with the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502  at least via a peripheral edge  702  of the substantially concave friction pad  618 . Specifically, the friction pad  618  could have a substantially concave inner surface having a first radius of curvature (R 1 ), and the rear surface of the housing  508  of the camera module  502  has a second radius of curvature (R 2 ) that is substantially larger than the first radius of curvature. 
     The magnet mount  504  further includes a magnetic material  614  disposed between the holding pate  1106  and the base  1104 . When the camera module  502  is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount  504 , an adjustable union between the magnet mount and the camera module  502  is formed permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the camera module  502  with respect to the magnet mount  504 . In some implementations, the magnetic material  614  at least partially includes a high-performance permanent magnet (e.g., Neodymium Magnets N52), such that the magnetic material  614  could provide substantially strong adhesion force with a relatively small size of magnet. In some implementations, the magnetic material  614  includes a single piece of magnet that magnetically attracts the camera module  502  and the mounting structure  506  from its two opposing sides. The magnet  502  could be positioned to have a smaller distance to the mounting structure  506  than to the rear surface of the camera module  502 , rendering larger attraction force with the mounting structure  506  than with the camera module  502 . 
     In some implementations, the magnetic material  614  of the magnet mount  504  includes two magnetic parts that are respectively disposed in proximity to the first and second surfaces  504 A and  504 B, and enable the first and second attraction forces. Each of the two magnetic parts could include a plurality of magnetic domains that have a respective size configured to enable the attraction force associated with the respective magnetic part. Alternatively, the locations of the two magnetic parts may be adjusted to enable the first and second attraction forces as needed. For example, a first magnetic part and a magnetic mounting structure  506  have a substantially smaller distance than another distance between a second magnetic part and the magnetic plate of the camera module  502 , such that the magnetic material  614  could have substantially larger first attraction force with the mounting structure  506  than the second attraction force with the camera module  502 . 
     Magnetic Plate for Holding Camera Module 
       FIGS. 12A-12D  are a perspective view, a front view, a side view and a rear view of a magnetic material  334  that adheres to an interior surface of a rear portion of a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations. The interior surface of the camera module  502  to which the magnetic material  334  adheres opposes the rear surface of the camera module  502 . The magnetic material  334  is concealed within the camera module  502 . In some implementations, the magnetic material  334  of the camera module  502  has an area that is substantially greater than that of a cross section of the magnetic material  614  included in the magnet mount  504 . In some implementations, the magnetic material  334  has a symmetric shape. 
     The magnetic material  334  is magnetically attractable to a magnet, i.e., responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic plate could be an electromagnet that does not retain their magnetism when removed from a magnetic field, or a permanent magnet that strongly resists demagnetization once magnetized. Example magnetic material includes iron, low-carbon steels, iron-silicon alloys, iron-aluminum-silicon alloys, nickel-iron alloys, iron-cobalt alloys, ferrites, amorphous alloys, ceramic magnet, the Alnicos, and the cobalt-samarium, iron-neodymium, iron-chromium-cobalt, and elongated single-domain (ESD) types of magnet. 
     In some implementations, the magnetic material  614  of the magnet mount  504  includes a first magnetic part that is disposed in proximity to the second surface  504 B of the magnet mount  504  and configured to attract the magnetic material  334  of the camera module  502 . When the camera module  502  is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount  504 , an adjustable union between the magnet mount and the camera module  502  is formed permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the camera module  502  with respect to the magnet mount  504 . The angle of orientation of the camera module  502  is limited by a stopping structure of the camera module  502 . Optionally, the stopping structure of the camera module  502  includes the magnetic material  334  that has predetermined geometry and dimensions, and the angle of orientation of the camera module  502  is limited by the physical geometry and dimensions of the magnetic material  334  of the camera module  502 . For example, when the camera module  502  is rotated to an edge position at which only part of the magnetic material  334  of the camera module  502  overlaps the magnetic material  614  of the magnet mount  504 , attraction force of the magnetic material  614  of the magnet mount  504  tends to pull the camera module  502  back such that the magnetic material  334  of the camera module  502  could overlap with the magnetic material  614  of the magnet mount  504  with a larger area and enable larger attraction force. 
     Alternatively, in some implementations, the stopping structure of the camera module  502  further includes one or more magnetic parts disposed on the interior surface of the camera module  502  and adjacent to the magnetic material  334  (i.e., disposed next to the magnetic material  334 ). The one or more magnetic parts of the camera module  502  and the magnetic material  614  of the magnet mount  504  are configured to repel each other, thereby limiting the angle of orientation of the camera module  502 . In a specific example, the one or more magnetic parts includes a magnet ring attached to the interior surface of the rear portion of the housing  508  and surrounding the magnetic material  334 . 
     In some implementations, the magnetic material  334  includes a plate, and the plate is configured to spread and dissipate heat generated by electronic components in the camera module  502 . Therefore, the plate  334  is magnetically attractable and thermally conductive, such that it could be configured to be attracted to a magnet mount for mounting the camera onto a mounting surface while at least partially dissipating heat generated by the plurality of electronic components disposed on the PCB assembly  602 . On the other hand, in some implementations, a plate, when used only for heat spreading and dissipation, is made of thermally conductive material that is not necessarily magnetically attractable. 
     Heat Transfer and Dissipation 
       FIGS. 13A-13D  are four perspective views of a heat sink  330  that is mounted on a backside of a board  1302  in accordance with some implementations, and  FIGS. 13E-13H  are a top view and three side views of a heat sink  330  that is mounted on a backside of a board  1302  in accordance with some implementations. The board  1302  includes a printed circuit board that is part of the PCB assembly  602 . 
     As explained above with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 12A-12D , a camera module  502  includes a housing  508 , a lens assembly  330  and a plurality of electronic components. The lens assembly is arranged at a front portion of the housing and configured for focusing light received from outside of the camera. The plurality of electronic components is arranged at the front portion  620  of the housing  508 , and further includes an image sensor coupled to receive light through the lens assembly  330 , a memory  306  for storing information, a processor  302  for processing information from the image sensor, and a wireless communication module  304  for wirelessly communicating with an electronic device. The camera further includes a heat dissipation element arranged at a rear portion  640  of the housing  508 , and located between the plurality of electronic components and a rear surface of the housing  508 . The heat dissipation element is configured to transfer heat from the plurality of electronic components to the rear portion of the housing. In some implementations, the heat dissipation element includes a plate (e.g., the magnetic plate  334 ) and a heat sink  332 . The heat sink  332  is made of thermally conductive material and coupled to the plurality of electronic components to absorb the heat generated by the plurality of electronic components. The heat sink  332  is also mechanically and thermally coupled to the plate to further transfer at least part of the generated heat to the plate. The plate is coupled between the heat sink  332  and the rear surface of the rear portion  640  of the housing  508 , and configured to at least partially dissipate heat generated by the plurality of electronic components, such that the heat is directed away from the front portion  620  of the camera where sensitive optical or electrical components are located. 
     More specifically, the housing  508  of the camera module  502  contains the lens assembly and the plurality of electronic components in its front portion  620 , and the plate (e.g., the magnetic plate  334 ) is attached to an interior surface of the rear portion  640  of the housing  508  that is opposite the front portion  620  of the housing. In some implementations, the heat sink  332  is made of thermally conductive material, and is mounted on the backside of the board  1302 , which is part of the PCB assembly  602  of the camera module  502 . The heat sink  332  is coupled to the plurality of electronic components to absorb the heat generated by the plurality of electronic components, and mechanically and thermally coupled to the plate (not shown in  FIGS. 13A-13H ) to further transfer at least part of the generated heat to the plate  332 . The plate is configured to at least partially dissipate heat generated by the plurality of electronic components, such that the heat is directed away from the front portion  620  of the camera module  502  where sensitive optical or electrical components are located. In some implementations, the plate and the heat sink  332  are integrated as one component for dissipating the heat generated by the plurality of electronic components. 
     Stated another way, in some implementations, the heat dissipation element (including the heat sink  332  and the plate) is disposed between the interior surface of the rear portion  640  of the housing  508  and a printed circuit board (PCB)  1302  on which at least a subset of the plurality of electronic components are mounted, thereby facilitating heat transfer from the front portion  620  of the camera module  502  to the rear portion  640  of the camera module  502 . A rear portion of the heat sink  332  could have a first shape that conforms to the plate and the interior surface of the rear portion of the housing, and a front portion of the heat sink  332  could have a second shape that conforms to a rear surface of the board  1302 . In some implementations, the heat sink  332  is bonded to the plate via a thermoplastic substance that has a substantially high thermal conductivity. Therefore, the heat sink  332  provides a fast path to dissipate the heat generated by the plurality of electronic components located in the front portion  620  of the housing  508  to the plate located in the rear portion  640  of the housing  508 . 
     In some implementations, the plate includes a magnetic plate  334  configured to be attracted to the magnet mount  504  for mounting the camera module  502  onto a mounting surface while at least partially dissipating heat generated by the plurality of electronic components. 
     In some implementations, the camera module  502  includes an outdoor camera module that is mounted and applied for outdoor surveillance. In some implementations, the thermally conductive material of the heat sink  332  is a non-magnetic material. More specifically, the heat sink  332  could be made of Aluminum and have a substantially low weight. The light weight of the heat sink  332  facilitates the application of the camera module  502  for outdoor surveillance. 
     In some implementations, the heat sink  332  is made of a solid piece of material. Alternatively, in some implementations, referring to  FIG. 13B , the heat sink  332  includes a waffle-like structure to further reduce its weight. In some implementations, the waffle-like structure includes a plurality of hollow pillars  1304 . The hollow pillars  1304  are configured to avoid formation of air bubbles during a casting process of the heat sink  332 . Given that the air bubbles in the heat sink  332  could compromise its heat transfer capacity, application of the hollow pillars ensures the heat transfer capacity while reducing the weight of the heat sink  332 . In some implementations, the plurality of hollow pillars  1304  are parallel, and extend from a front surface to a rear surface of the heat sink  332 . A respective cross section of each of the plurality of hollow pillars  1304  could be one of square, round, rectangular, and triangular shapes. 
     Waterproof Microphone and/or Speaker 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5H and 6 , the front cover  510  of the camera module  502  includes a first opening  520 , and a bottom side of the housing  508  includes one or more second openings  524 . The first and second openings provide access to respective sound transmission paths associated with the microphone  360  and the speaker  380 , respectively. In some implementations, when the camera module  502  is configured for use in an environment where it can be exposed to water (e.g., in an outdoor environment); consequently, the microphone  360 , the speaker  380 , their associated sound transmission paths and their associated openings on the camera module  502  are configured to resist water permeation, such as from a jet or stream of water impinging on one of the first and second openings  520 ,  524 . 
     In accordance with some implementations of this application, a waterproof electronic device (e.g., the camera module  502  or another smart device described with reference to  FIG. 1 ) includes a housing, a first transducer (e.g., a microphone  360 , a speaker  380 ), a first hydrophobic membrane, and a first sound transmission channel. The waterproof electronic device is configured to allow sound waves to be coupled to the first transducer without exposing the first transducer to damaging pressures due to environmental impacts on the waterproof electronic device. More specifically, in some implementations, the waterproof electronic device includes a camera module  502 , and the first transducer includes a microphone  360 . More details on a waterproof microphone  360  installed on a cameral module  502  is explained below with reference to  FIGS. 14A-14F, 15A and 15B . In some implementations, the waterproof electronic device includes the camera module  502 , and the first transducer includes a speaker  380 . Alternatively, in some implementations, the camera module  502  includes both a microphone  360  and a speaker  380  that are used as the first transducer and a second transducer, respectively. More details on a waterproof speaker  380  installed on a cameral module  502  is further explained below with reference to  FIGS. 16A-16F, 17A and 17B . 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  are two perspective views of a microphone  360  mounted on a front enclosure structure  604  of a camera module  502  and presented in an exploded manner in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 14C-14F  illustrate a process of assembling a microphone  360  onto a front enclosure structure  604  of a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 15A and 15B  are cross sectional views of two example waterproof microphones  380  that are assembled in a front portion  620  of a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations. The camera module  502  includes a housing  508 , a microphone  360 , a first hydrophobic membrane  1402 , and a first sound transmission channel  1502 . The microphone  360  is disposed inside the housing  508 , and has a sound input region  1404 . A front cover  510  of the camera module  502  includes a first opening  520  and is sealed against water intrusion apart from at least the first opening  520 . Optionally, in some implementations, the front cover  510  is regarded as part of the housing of the camera module  502 . In some implementations, the camera module  502  is configured to satisfy an Ingress Protection (IP) 55 Standard that sets forth enclosure requirements for protecting the microphone  360  from dust and jets of water. According to the IP 55 standard, the microphone  360  must tolerate two to eight hours of jets of water while limited ingress of water or dust is permitted as far as it will not interfere with operation of the microphone  360 . 
     In some implementations, the microphone  360  is mounted on the front enclosure structure  604  to access the first opening  520  on the front cover  510 . Specifically, referring to  FIGS. 14C and 14D , the microphone  360  is situated in a recess  1410  of the front enclosure structure  604 . One or more wires  1408  of the microphone  360  are extended through a body of the front enclosure structure  604  and connected to the PCB assembly  602  that is disposed adjacent to the front enclosure structure  604 . Referring to  FIGS. 14E and 14F , the first hydrophobic membrane  1402  is further disposed into the recess of the front enclosure structure  1410 , covering the sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360 . Optionally, a top surface of the first hydrophobic membrane  1402  lies on the same level of or protrudes beyond a top edge of the recess  1410  of the front enclosure structure  604 . When the front enclosure structure  604  is assembled with the front cover  510 , the recess  1410  of the front enclosure structure  604  is aligned with the first opening  520  on the front cover  510 . The first hydrophobic membrane  1402  is then glued onto the front cover  510  with a waterproof adhesive, and sealed against water intrusion apart from the first opening  520 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15A and 15B , when the microphone  360  is assembled in the camera module  502 , the sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360  optionally faces the first opening  520  or is offset from the first opening  520  on the front cover  510 . The first hydrophobic membrane  1402  is affixed to a first interior surface  1406  of the housing  502  (e.g., a rear surface  1406  of the front cover  510 ) and covers the first opening  520  on the front cover  510 . The first hydrophobic membrane  1402  is configured to allow transmission of sound waves and block water intrusion from the first opening  520 . The first sound transmission channel  1502  couples the sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360  to the first opening  520 , and is configured to allow sound waves transmitted through the first opening  520  and the first hydrophobic membrane  1402  to be coupled to the sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360  without exposing the sound input region  1404  to damaging pressures due to environmental impacts on the camera module  502 . In some implementations, the first hydrophobic membrane  1402  includes a hydrophobic mesh. 
     In some implementations, an interior surface of the first sound transmission channel  1502  is coated with a damping material, and the damping material is hydrophobic and configured to reduce wind noise caused by the sound waves transmitted by the first sound transmission channel  1502 . The damping material includes open celled foam that is commonly used for wind suppression. An example damping material is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the expanded PTFE is both hydrophobic and has wind suppression characteristics. Other wind suppression methods usually involve controlling the geometry to reduce sharp edges around the opening. Alternatively, in some implementations, the microphone  360  is configured to compensate an intensity loss of the sound waves and noise signals introduced into the sound waves, and the intensity loss and the noise signal associated with the sound waves are at least partially caused by the first hydrophobic diaphragm  1402  and the first sound transmission channel  1502 . 
     In some implementations, the camera module  502  is installed in an outdoor environment and, is oriented such that the first opening  520  associated with the microphone  360  is located on a lower portion of the front cover  510  and is oriented slightly downward. The sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360  is offset from the first opening  520  towards a center of the first interior surface  1406  of the front cover  510  of the housing  520 . As such, the sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360  is disposed at a higher level than the first opening  520 , thereby deterring water or dust from reaching the microphone  360  even when the first hydrophobic membrane fails to block water or dust impinging on the camera. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15B , in some implementations, the sound waves that are incident on the first hydrophobic diaphragm  1402  are guided to propagate substantially upward within the first sound transmission channel  1502 . In some implementations, the first sound transmission channel  1502  is substantially tortuous (i.e., comprises twists and turns), and turns at least twice between the first opening  520  and the sound input region  14004  of the microphone  360 . In this situation, the sound waves that are incident on the first hydrophobic diaphragm  1402  are guided to turn at least twice in the first sound transmission channel  1502  to reach the sound input region  1404  of the microphone  360 . Further, in a specific example (not shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B ), the first sound transmission channel  1502  is created between a pair of structures  1504 A and  1504 B, and the structures  1504 A and  1504 B are complementary. Optionally, the structures  1504 A and  1504 B are identical and disposed in a symmetric manner (e.g., rotated with 180 degrees from each other). 
       FIGS. 16A-16C  illustrate a process of assembling a speaker  380  onto a side surface of a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 16D-16F  are a perspective view, a front view and a side view of a speaker  380  in accordance with some implementations.  FIGS. 17A and 17B  are cross sectional views of two example waterproof speakers  380  that are assembled onto a side surface of a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations. The camera module  502  includes a housing  508 , a speaker  380 , and a sound transmission channel  1702 . The housing  508  of the camera module  502  includes one or more second openings  524  on a second interior surface  1602  (e.g., an interior bottom surface of the housing  508 ). The housing  508  is sealed against water intrusion apart from at least the second openings  524 . The speaker  380  is disposed inside the housing  508 , and has a sound output region  1604 . 
     When the speaker  380  is assembled in the camera module  502 , the sound output region  1604  of the speaker  380  optionally faces the second openings  524  or is offset from the second openings  524  on the housing  508 . Referring to  FIGS. 16A, 16B and 17A , in some implementations, a hydrophobic membrane  1606  (which is distinct from or integrated onto the speaker  380 ) is affixed to the second interior surface  1602  of the housing  502  and covers the second openings  524  on the housing  508 . The hydrophobic membrane  1606  is configured to allow transmission of sound waves and block water intrusion from the second openings  524 . The sound transmission channel  1702  couples the sound output region  1604  of the speaker  380  to the second openings  524 , and is configured to allow sound waves outputted from the sound output region  1604  of the speaker  380  to be transmitted through the hydrophobic membrane  1606  and the second openings  524  without exposing the sound output region  1604  to damaging pressures due to environmental impacts on the camera module  502 . One or more wires  1408  of the speaker  380  are connected to the PCB assembly  602  and configured to transmit electrical signals for generating the sound waves in the speaker  380 . Further, it is noted that in some implementations, the camera module  502  is installed in an outdoor environment and the second openings  524  are located at an interior bottom surface of the housing  508  such that the sound output region  1604  of the speaker  380  is oriented down towards a ground to reduce water ingress. 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 17B , in some implementations, the speaker  380  is an integrated waterproof speaker, and the sound output region of the speaker  380  is coated with a hydrophobic coating layer  1704 . The hydrophobic coating layer  1704  has a similar function to that of the hydrophobic membrane  1606 , i.e., allowing transmission of sound waves and blocking water intrusion from the second openings  524 . In the absence of the hydrophobic membrane  1606 , the speaker  380  is affixed to the second interior surface  1602  of the housing  502  and covers the second openings  524  on the housing  508 . 
     Further, in some implementations, the sound output region  1604  of the speaker  380  is aligned with the second openings  524  of the housing  502 , and an interface between peripheral edges of the speaker  380  and the second interior surface of the housing is sealed to block water intrusion. 
     In some implementations, the speaker  380  is configured to satisfy an Ingress Protection (IP) 55 Standard that sets forth enclosure requirements for protecting the speaker  380  from dust and jets of water. According to the IP 55 standard, the speaker  380  must tolerate two to eight hours of jets of water while limiting ingress of water or dust to no more than levels that will not interfere with operation of the speaker  380 . 
     In some implementations, an interior surface of the sound transmission channel  1702  is coated with a damping material, and the damping material is hydrophobic and configured to reduce wind noise caused by the sound waves transmitted by the sound transmission channel  1702 . Alternatively, in some implementations, the speaker  380  is configured to compensate an intensity loss of the sound waves and noise signals that could be introduced into the sound waves, and the intensity loss and the noise signal associated with the sound waves are at least partially caused by the hydrophobic diaphragm or layer and the sound transmission channel  1702 . 
     Reset Pin and Pressure Outlet 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the camera module  502  includes one or more of a lens assembly  330 , a heat sink  332 , and a magnetic plate  334 , image sensors  336 , one or more infrared illuminators  338 , a microphone  360 , a speaker  380 , and a PCB assembly  602 . The PCB assembly  602  includes a plurality of electronic components, e.g., one or more processors, memory, power management circuit, one or more image processors, microphone and speaker circuit, illuminator drivers and one or more indicator lights. In some implementations, the PCB assembly  602  further includes a reset pin  1802  configured to reset operation of at least a subset of the plurality of electronic components. In some implementations, the reset pin can be pressed to reset a subset of the electronic components, thereby allowing software update and device provisioning during the assembly process of the camera module, before the camera module  502  is shipped out of factory or when the camera module  502  is returned by a customer. Under these circumstances, when the reset pin is pressed, the PCB assembly  602  has been assembled into the camera module  502 , i.e., has already been disposed between the front and rear portions  620  and  640  of the camera module  502  and contained within the housing  508  without a direct access to the reset pin, and an access path has to be provided to access the reset pin disposed on the PCB assembly  602  from a front surface of the front portion  620 . 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  are a perspective view and a side view of a front portion  620  of a camera module  502  including an access path  1804  leading to a reset pin  1802  in accordance with some implementations, respectively. The perspective view in  FIG. 18A  is presented in an exploded manner.  FIGS. 18C and 18D  illustrate a process of sealing the access to the reset pin during the course of assembling a camera module  502  in accordance with some implementations. The reset pin  1802  is disposed on a front surface of a printed circuit board  1806  in the PCB assembly  602 , and the front surface of the PCB  1806  faces the front enclosure structure  604  when the PCB assembly  602  and the front enclosure structure  604  are enclosed in the housing  508  of the camera module  502 . The front enclosure structure  604  includes an open access path  1804  that extends along an entire length of the front enclosure structure  604 , allowing a user to use a long needle-like device to access the reset pin  1802  from a front surface of the front enclosure structure  604 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18D , an open end of the access path  1804  is sealed with a first cover membrane  1808 . When the front enclosure structure  604  is assembled with the housing  508 , the first cover membrane  1808  blocks water or dust, and the interior of the housing  508  is entirely sealed against water or dust intrusion. In some implementations, the first cover membrane  1808  is hermetic (i.e., airtight), and is configured to seal the open end of the access path  1804  against gas exchange across the cover membrane  1808 . In some implementations, the first cover membrane  1808  is configured to be permeable to air for the purposes of equalizing internal air pressure of the camera module  502  with external air pressure of the ambient. For example, when the camera module  502  is carried between two locations having air pressure variation, the first cover membrane  1808  enables an air pressure balance between the interior and the exterior of the camera module  502 . 
     In some implementations, the front enclosure structure  604  does not combine the access to the reset pin  1802  and an air pressure balance path in the same access path  1804 . Rather, in addition to the access path  1804 , the front enclosure structure  604  further includes an alternative air access path  1810  covered by an alternative cover membrane. The alternative air access path  1810  is distinct from the open access path  1804  and configured to equalize the internal air pressure of the camera module  502  with the external air pressure of the ambient. The alternative cover membrane is therefore configured to block water and dust, but not the air. In this situation, the first cover membrane  1808  that is used for covering the access path  1804  can be made of hermetic material, while the alternative cover membrane for covering the alternative air access path  1810  is not made of hermetic material. 
     Waterproof Electrical Connector 
       FIGS. 19A-19H  illustrate multiple views of the male connector  234  (e.g., connector  516 ,  FIG. 5A  et al.) at the open end of the cable  228  (e.g., cable  512 ,  FIG. 5A  et al.) extending from the camera  118 , in accordance with some implementations. The male connector  234  includes an electrical plug  1902  and a cover (also called a “locking ring”)  1904  (e.g., connector cover  626 ,  FIG. 6 ).  FIGS. 19A-19H  show the male connector  234  with the cover  1904  in an open state. In some implementations, the electrical plug  1902  is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug, and the female connector (further described below) includes a USB receptacle. For convenience, the plug  1902  is described in this specification as a USB plug, and correspondingly the plug receptacle at the female connector is described as a USB receptacle. In other implementations, the male and female plug and connectors are complementary electrical connectors for other connector types that are employed in electrical systems/devices to carry power and/or data signals, including but not limited to ethernet (e.g., RJ45), coaxial, RCA connector, multiple classes of USB (A, C, mini, micro, etc.), HDMI, 3.5 mm audio jack, and barrel plug type. 
       FIG. 19A  is a perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled away from the viewer, and  FIG. 19B  is a perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled toward the viewer.  FIG. 19C  is an end view of the male connector  234 , viewed from the open end toward the cable  228 .  FIG. 19D  is a side view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 19E  is a side cross-sectional view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 19F  is a top view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 19G  is a bottom view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 19H  is an end view of the male connector  234  from the opposite of the open end and with the cable  228  omitted. 
     It should be appreciated that the designations of top, bottom, side(s), front, and rear of components and elements in this specification may be arbitrary and are as used in this specification for convenience and ease of description. 
     The male connector  234  includes a male connector base or connector body (e.g., an over mold)  1920  covered by the cover  1904 . In some implementations, the male connector  234 , particularly the cover  1904  and the male connector base  1920 , has a substantially cylindrical profile, as shown in  FIGS. 19A-19H . The cover  1904  has a substantially hollow interior, and an open end, opposite the cable  228 , leading to the interior. The male connector base  1920  resides in the hollow interior of the cover  1904 . The USB plug  1902  protrudes from the male connector base  1920 , and out through the open end of the cover  1904 . Within the male connector base  1920 , the USB plug  1902  connects to the cable  228 . The cover  1904  includes an opening  1914  opposite the open end of the cover  1904 , at the end of the cover  1904  closest to the cable  228 . In some implementations, the male connector base  1920  tapers through the opening  1914 , and the cable  228  runs into the male connector base  1920  through the tapered portion of the male connector base  1920 . In some other implementations, the cable  228  runs through the opening  1914  into the male connector base  1920 . In some implementations, the diameter of the opening  1904  is substantially less than the diameter of the cover  1904 . 
     In some implementations, a spring  1906  (e.g., a coil spring) is situated between the male connector base  1920  and a rear end (i.e., the end with the opening  1914 ) of the cover  1904 . When the cover  1904  is pushed or pulled along the male connector  234  toward the open end (i.e., in direction  1950  toward the USB plug  1902 ), the spring  1906  is compressed between the male connector base  1920  and the rear end of the cover  1904 . Thus, release of tension on the spring  1906  tends to push the cover  1904  along the male connector  234  away from the open end (i.e., in direction  1952  towards the cable  228  and away from the USB plug  1902 ). Other implementations employ alternative mechanisms in place of the spring  1906  to provide tension/forces on and between the male connector base  1920  and the cover  1904  similar to those provided by the spring  1906 . For example, the alternate mechanisms can include two permanent magnets with like poles pointed toward each other to generate opposing force, a foam, or compressible rubber. 
     The cover  1904  includes a set of one or more locking pins or other protrusions  1912  on the interior wall of the cover  1904 . The locking pins  1912  work in conjunction with the locking mechanism of the female connector to lock the male connector  234  and the female connector together. In some implementations, the locking mechanism functions in principle similarly to a bayonet mount. The details of the locking mechanism are further described below. 
     The cover  1904  has a lip  1916  at its open end that is configured to engage with a gasket on the female connector. The male connector base  1920  includes a gasket  1910  that is configured to engage with a pressure rib on the female connector. In some implementations, the gaskets are made of silicone material. 
     An O-ring  1922  runs around the male connector base  1920 . The O-ring  1922  is located at a position along the male connector base  1920  such that the cover  1904  (e.g., an inner ridge of the cover  1904 ) engages the O-ring when the cover  1904  is in a closed position to create a waterproof seal. 
     In some implementations, the cover  1904  also includes a set of one or more alignment pins or other protrusions  1918  on the interior wall of the cover  1904 . The alignment pins  1918  facilitate the alignment of the locking pins  1912  to a position appropriate for engagement with the locking mechanism on the female connector. In some implementations, on the interior wall of the cover  1904 , one locking pin  1912  and one alignment pin  1918  are aligned in a substantially straight line parallel to the central axis of the cover  1904 . The locking pin  1912  is positioned on the interior wall of the cover  1904  closer to the open end, and the alignment pin  1918  is positioned on the interior wall of the cover  1904  closer to the opening  1914 . In other implementations, alternative alignment mechanisms can be employed to facilitate the alignment of the locking pins  1912  to a position appropriate for engagement with the locking mechanism on the female connector. For example, the alternate mechanisms can include self-aligning magnets, a non-circular cross section when the cover  1904  is in the open state/position such that in the open state there is only one possible alignment (this shape would morph to a circular one in the closed position/state to allow rotation), and inversion of the locations of the locking/alignment pins and the corresponding channels etc. such that the pins are on the connector body  1920  and the channels etc. are in the cover  1904 . 
     It should be appreciated that certain reference labels in  FIGS. 19A-19H  include a “-A” designation to indicate that the corresponding element is in the position or state as shown while the cover  1904  is in the open state, and that the position or state may be different when the cover  1904  is in the closed/locked state. For example, cover  1904 -A indicates that the cover  1904  is in the position as shown while the cover  1904  is in the open state, and spring  1906 -A is in the de-compressed state as shown while the cover  1904  is in the open state. 
       FIGS. 20A-20E  illustrate multiple views of the male connector  234  with the cover  1904  transitioning from an open state to a closed state, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 20A  is a perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled away from the viewer, and  FIG. 20B  is a perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled toward the viewer.  FIG. 20C  is an end view of the male connector  234 , viewed from the open end toward the cable  228 .  FIG. 20D  is a side view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 20E  is a side cross-sectional view of the male connector  234 . 
       FIGS. 20F-20M  illustrate multiple views of the male connector  234  with the cover  1904  in the closed state, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 20F  is a perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled away from the viewer, and  FIG. 20G  is a perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled toward the viewer.  FIG. 20H  is an end view of the male connector  234 , viewed from the open end toward the cable  228 .  FIG. 20I  is a side view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 20J  is a side cross-sectional view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 20K  is a top view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 20L  is a bottom view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 20M  is an end view of the male connector  234  from the opposite of the open end and with the cable  228  omitted. 
     It should be appreciated that certain reference labels in  FIGS. 20A-20E  include a “-B” designation to indicate that the corresponding element is in the position or state as shown while the cover  1904  is in the closed state. For example, cover  1904 -B indicates that the cover  1904  is in the position as shown while the cover  1904  is in the closed state, and spring  1906 -B is in the compressed state as shown while the cover  1904  is in the closed state. 
     The cover  1904  transitions from the open state to the closed state by being pushed or pulled in direction  1950  toward the USB plug  1902 , compressing the spring  1906  to its compressed state  1906 -B, and rotating the cover  1904  about its central axis away from angle  2002  in direction  2050  toward angle  2004  (with respect to an end view perspective of the male connector  234 ;  FIG. 20C ). The rotating of the cover  1904  moves the locking pins  1912  from position  1912 -A along angle  2002  to position  1912 -B along angle  2004 . When in the closed state, the cover  1904  extends partially over the USB plug  1902 . An inner ridge in the cover  1904  engages with the O-ring  1922  to create a waterproof seal around the male connector base  1920 . A part of the male connector base  1920  extends into the opening  1914  at the rear end of the cover  1904  and fits into the opening  1914  to close the opening  1914 . In  FIG. 20E , the alignment pins  1918  at their positions when the cover  1904  is in the closed state is not shown due to them being out of view of the particular cross-section when the cover  1904  is in the closed state. The cover  1904 -B (e.g., an inner ridge of the cover  1904 -B) engages with the O-ring  1922  to create a seal between the cover  1904  and the connector base  1920 . 
       FIGS. 21A-21E  illustrate exploded views of the male connector  234 , in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 21A  is an exploded perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled toward the viewer, and  FIG. 21B  is an exploded perspective view of the male connector  234  with the open end of the male connector  234  angled away from the viewer.  FIG. 21C  is an exploded top view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 21D  is an exploded side view of the male connector  234 .  FIG. 21E  is an exploded bottom view of the male connector  234 . 
     As described above with reference to  FIGS. 19-20 , the male connector  234  includes a male connector base  1920  and a USB plug  1902 . A gasket  1910  surrounds the USB plug  1902 . The cover  1904  includes the lip  1916 , and one or more locking pins  1912  on the interior wall. Spring  1906  is located between the male connector base  1920  and the cover  1904 , and wraps around a portion of the male connector base  1920 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 21A-21E , male connector base  1920  also includes one or more sets of pin resting and alignment elements arranged along the outer surface of the male connector base  1920  for accommodating the locking pin(s)  1912  and alignment pin(s)  1918 . The set includes a locking pin reservoir  2102  with a backstop  2104 , and a channel  2106  with alignment pin reservoirs  2108  and  2110 . Each of these sets of elements accommodates one locking pin  1912  and one alignment pin  1918 . In some implementations, the cover  1904  includes two sets of locking and alignment pins, each set having one locking pin  1912  and one alignment pin  1918 ; the sets are positioned along opposite locations on the interior wall of the cover  1904  corresponding to opposite ends of the diameter of the interior wall of the cover  1904 . Thus, the male connector base  1920  correspondingly includes two of these sets of pin resting and alignment elements, one at the top of the male connector base  1920  and one at the bottom of the male connector base  1920 , opposite of the set at the top, with both sets positioned to accommodate respective sets of pins  1912 / 1918  on the interior wall of the cover  1904 . Because both sets of pins are similar to each other and both sets of pin resting and alignment elements are similar to each other, the description below is directed to one set of pins and one set of pin resting and alignment elements but is applicable to other sets of pins and sets of pin resting and alignment elements on the male connector  234 . 
     As described above, the release of tension on (i.e., de-compression of) the spring  1906  tends to push the cover  1904  in direction  1952  towards the cable  228 . When the cover  1902  is in the open state, the locking pin  1912  rests at the locking pin reservoir  2102 , backstopped by backstop  2104 . The backstop  2104  thus also serves the purpose of also restraining the cover  1904  as a whole from being pushed in direction  1952  completely away from the male connector base  1920  by the de-compressing spring  1906 . When the cover  1902  is in the open state, the alignment pin  1918  rests at the alignment pin reservoir  2108 . 
     When the cover  1904  transitions from the open state to the closed state, the locking pin  1912  and the alignment pin  1918  change positions in accordance with the movement of the cover  1904  in direction  1950  and rotation of the cover  1904  in direction  2050 . The locking pin  1912  moves from the locking pin reservoir  2102 , over the gasket  1910 , and into a channel on the female connector, further details of which are described below. The alignment pin  1918  changes position within the channel  2104  and comes to rest in the reservoir  2110 . 
     When the cover  1904  transitions from the closed state to the open state, the locking pin  1912  and the alignment pin  1918  reverse the position changes described above in accordance with the movement of the cover  1904  in direction  1952  and rotation of the cover  1904  in the opposite of direction  2050 . The locking pin  1912  moves in the channel on the female connector back to the locking pin reservoir  2102 . The alignment pin  1918  changes position within the channel  2104  and comes to rest in the reservoir  2108 . The channel  2110 , which in some implementations has an at least partially angled boundary (e.g., angled in a way that gives the channel  2110  a triangular profile (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 21C and 21E )), directs the alignment pin  1918  to reservoir  2108  when the cover  1904  is pushed by the decompressing spring  1906  back to its open state position, which has the effect of limiting the rotation of the cover  1904  as a whole such that the locking pin  2102  is directed back to the locking pin reservoir  2102 . 
       FIG. 21F  is a cross-sectional view of the cover  1904  of the male connector  234 , in accordance with some implementations. The cover  1904  includes locking pins  1912  and alignment pins  1918 , as well as an opening  1914 . The cover  1904  also includes an inner ridge  2502  ( FIG. 25 ) configured to engage with the O-ring  1922  to create a waterproof seal. 
       FIGS. 22A-23B  illustrate multiple views of a female connector of the waterproof electrical connector, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 22A  is an end view of the female connector.  FIG. 22B  is a top view of the female connector.  FIG. 22C  is a side view of the female connector.  FIG. 23A  is a perspective view of the female connector, with the USB receptacle angled toward the viewer.  FIG. 23B  is a perspective view of the female connector, with the USB receptacle angled away from the viewer. 
     The female connector  2200 , which is complementary to the male connector  234 , includes a USB receptacle  2202  configured to receive a USB plug (e.g., USB plug  1902 ). The USB receptacle  2202  is enclosed in a female connector base that includes a front portion  2206 , a middle portion  2205 , and a rear portion  2209 . In some implementations, the female connector base is a plastic shell. Surrounding the mouth of the USB receptacle  2202  is a pressure rib  2204  configured to engage a gasket  1910  on the male connector  234 . In front of the middle portion  2205 , and surrounding the front portion  2206 , is a gasket  2208  (e.g., a silicone gasket) configured to engage the lip  1916  of the cover  1904 . In some implementations, to the rear of the middle portion  2205 , and surrounding the rear portion  2209 , is another gasket or some other waterproof sealing material  2207 . 
     The female connector  2200  includes a locking mechanism that includes one or more of a set of elements configured to engage with complementary locking pins (e.g., locking pin(s)  1912  in the cover  104  of the male connector  234 . The set of elements includes an opening  2210  for the locking pin to enter, a channel  2212  for guiding the locking pin to a pin reservoir, and a reservoir  2214  for receiving the locking pin. In some implementations, there is one set of these elements per locking pin in the cover  1904 ; each locking pin  1912  corresponds to and is complementary to one of these sets. In some implementations, the path of the channel  2212  is angled substantially toward the middle/rear of the female connector  2200  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 22B ); the channel  2212  directs the locking pin  1912  toward the rear of the female connector  2200  to provide pressure between male connector  234  and the female connector  2200  (e.g., at the points where the male connector  234  and the female connector  2200  touch). 
     In the rear of the of the female connector  2200 , one or more electrical leads  2216  lead into the female connector base and electrically couple to the USB receptacle  2202 . In some implementations, the rear of the rear portion  2209  is lined with a water sealing compound  2218  (e.g., epoxies, silicones, urethanes). 
     In some implementations, the female connector  2200  is fixed to an electrical device (e.g., adapter  232 , an AC/DC power converter or adapter). The female connector  2200  is partially embedded into the housing (e.g., housing  2602 ,  FIG. 26A ) of the electrical device, within which the electrical leads  2216  are electrically coupled to a DC power supply output, and the DC power supply output is electrically coupled to an AC power supply input (e.g., the DC power supply output and the AC power supply input are parts of a printed circuit board within the housing  2602  to which the electrical leads  2216  and the cable  236  are electrically coupled). Further details of this fixing are described below. In some implementations, the housing is waterproof. 
       FIGS. 24A-24B  illustrate multiple perspective views of the male connector  234  and the female connector  2200  connected together and in the locked state, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 24A  is a perspective view with the rear portion  2209  of the female connector  2200  angled toward the viewer.  FIG. 24A  is a perspective view with the rear portion  2209  of the female connector  2200  angled away from the viewer.  FIG. 25  illustrates a diagonal cross-section of the male connector  234  and the female connector  2200  connected together and in the locked state, in accordance with some implementations. 
     To connect the male connector  234  to the female connector  2200 , the USB plug  1902  is inserted into the USB receptacle  2202 . As is well-known in the art, the USB plug  1902  can fit the USB receptacle  2202  in only one orientation. With the USB plug  1902  inserted as far as possible into the USB receptacle  2202 , the cover  1904  is then pushed or pulled in direction  1950  and rotated in direction  2050  ( FIG. 20C ). With the movement and rotation of the cover  1904 , the locking pin(s)  1912  move through opening(s)  2210  into the channel(s)  2212 , which guide the locking pin(s)  1912  to reservoir(s)  2214 . As the cover  1904  continues rotating to reservoir(s)  2214  at angle  2004 , the channel(s)  2212  facilitates further pushing of the cover  1904  in direction  1950 , forcing the pressure rib  2204  to engage the gasket  1910  with pressure, forcing the lip  1916  of the cover  1904  to engage the gasket  2208  with pressure, and forcing an inner ridge  2502  of the cover  1904  to engage the O-ring  1922  with pressure. These engagements that occur when the cover  1904  is in the closed/locked state, create multiple waterproof seals around the connected male connector  234  and female connector  2200 . Meanwhile, the compression resistance of the spring  1906  (not shown in  FIG. 25 ) pushes the cover in direction  1952 , which keeps the locking pin(s)  1912  restrained within reservoir(s)  2214 , keeping the connectors locked to each other. Thus, as described above, the locking mechanism on the female connector  2200  and the locking pins  1912  in the male connector  234  function in a manner similar to a bayonet mount to lock the connectors together. 
     To release the male connector  234  from the female connector  2200 , the cover  1904  is rotated in the opposite of direction  2050 , from angle  2004  back to angle  2002 ; the locking procedure described above is reversed. As the cover  1904  is rotated, the decompression of the spring  1906  is also pushing the cover in direction  1952 . Thus, the locking pin(s)  1912  move through channel  2212  back through the opening  2210 , and back to the locking pin reservoir(s)  2102 , restrained by backstop(s)  2104 . Further, the alignment pin(s)  1918  work in conjunction with channel(s)  2106  to bound the rotation of the cover  1904  so that the locking pin(s)  1912  is aligned with angle  2002 , which is a nominal position that is aligned with opening(s)  2210  on the female connector  2200 . 
     As described above, the cover  1904  in the closed state facilitates waterproofing of the connection between the male connector  234  and the female connector  2200 . It should be appreciated, however, that the USB plug  1902  may still be plugged into the USB receptacle  2202  with the cover  1904  remaining in the opened state (e.g., when waterproofing is not necessary). This allows the male connector  234  to engage with conventional female connectors (e.g., female connectors without the locking mechanism). 
     In some implementations, the implementations described herein are also applicable to provide sealing to non-electronic devices. As the sealing provided by the implementations described herein are pressure-tight (i.e., under pressure), the implementations may also be used to provide sealing for low pressure fluids like compressed air or liquid coupling. 
     Outdoor Electrical Device Mounting Structure 
       FIGS. 26A-27D  illustrate multiple views of the adapter  232  in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 26A  illustrates a perspective view of the adapter  232  with the top side up.  FIG. 26B  illustrates a perspective view of the adapter  232  with the bottom side up.  FIG. 27A  illustrates an end view of the adapter  232 .  FIG. 27B  illustrates a side view of the adapter  232 .  FIG. 27C  illustrates a top view of the adapter  232 .  FIG. 27D  illustrates a bottom view of the adapter  232 . 
     The adapter  232  includes a base housing  2602  that houses the electrical components of the adapter  232 . The top of the base housing  2602  is covered by a top cover  2604 . In some implementations, the top cover  2604  is coupled to the base housing  2602  using ultrasonic welding techniques. In some implementations, the coupling of the top cover  2604  to the base housing  2602  is waterproof due to the ultrasonic welding and a gasket (not shown) at the edge of the housing  2602  configured to engage with the edge of the top cover  2604 . The cable  236  leads into the base housing  2602 , where the cable  236  is electrically coupled to the electrical components of the adapter  232 . 
     In some implementations, the adapter  232  is an AC to DC power converter. The adapter  232  includes an AC power supply input and a DC power supply output. It should be appreciated that the housing  2602  can contain any sort of electrical device that is supplied by an AC power supply and provides a DC and/or data output over a connector. In some implementations, the housing  2602  is weather resistant in accordance with an industrial standard (e.g., IP Code, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)). 
     In some implementations, the cable  236  is electrically coupled to the electrical components of the adapter  232  (e.g., the AC power supply input) such that the coupling is a fixed and waterproof connection (i.e., the cable  236  is permanently attached to the adapter  232  and not intended for removal from the adapter  232 ). For example, the area where the cable  236  enters into the housing  2602  includes waterproof sealing. The electrical leads of the cable  236  is fixed (e.g., soldered), within the housing  2602 , to a circuit (e.g., a printed circuit board) that serves as the AC power supply input. 
     The base housing  2602  includes a recessed area  2606  configured to hold a female connector  2200 . The back of the recessed area has an opening (not shown) to the interior of the housing  2602 . The rear portion  2209  of the female connector  2200  is positioned within the interior of the housing  2602  through the opening in the back of the recessed area  2606 , and that opening is sealed by the gasket  2207 . The remainder of the female connector  2200  (e.g., the front portion  2206  and the middle portion  2205 ) is within the recessed area  2606  but still exposed to external environmental conditions when not connected to a male connector  234 . The diameter of the recessed area  2606  is sufficiently large to receive the male connector  234  (e.g., the diameter of the recessed area  2606  is larger than the diameter of the cover  1904 ) for connection with the female connector  2200  and for at least a portion of the connected male connector  234  to be within the recessed area  2606 . 
     The bottom  2612  of the base housing  2602  includes a receiving fastener structure  2608  configured to receive a protruding fastener structure, on a mounting plate, complementary to the receiving fastener structure  2608  (further details of which are described below). The receiving fastener structure receptacle  2608  is recessed into the bottom  2612  surface of the base housing  2602 . In some implementations, the receiving fastener structure  2608  has a substantially polygonal (e.g., rectangular, square, triangular, hexagonal, etc.) cross-sectional profile, and may have rounded or sharp corners. For example, the receiving fastener structure  2608 , as shown in  FIGS. 26B and 27D , is substantially rectangular shaped (or more precisely, substantially square shaped). 
     The receiving fastener structure  2608  includes two or more retaining members  2610 . The retaining members  2610  grip to respective snapping members on the protruding fastener structure to secure the adapter  232  to the mounting plate. The protruding fastener structure has as many snapping members as the receiving fastener structure  2608  has retaining members  2610 . In some implementations, the receiving fastener structure  2608  includes a number of retaining members in accordance with the polygonal cross-sectional profile of the receiving fastener structure  2608 . For example, if the cross-sectional profile is rectangular/square, the receiving fastener structure  2608  has four retaining members  2610 , one for each side of the rectangular/square cross-sectional profile. If the cross-sectional profile is triangular, the receiving fastener structure  2608  has three retaining members  2610 , one for each side of the triangular cross-sectional profile. For a side of the cross-sectional profile, the corresponding retaining member  2610  is located at substantially the center of the side. 
       FIGS. 28A-28E  illustrate multiple views of a mounting plate  2800  for mounting the adapter  232  to a surface, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 28A  is a top view of the mounting plate  2800 .  FIG. 28B  is a perspective view of the top of the mounting plate  2800 .  FIG. 28C  is a bottom view of the mounting plate  2800 .  FIG. 28D  is a perspective view of the bottom of the mounting plate  2800 .  FIG. 28E  is a side view of the mounting plate  2800 . 
     The mounting plate  2800  includes a top surface  2802 , from which protrudes a protruding fastener structure  2804  centered on the top surface  2802  of the mounting plate  2800 . The protruding fastener structure  2804  is complementary to the receiving fastener structure  2608 . The protruding fastener structure  2804  includes a number of a set of elements. The set of elements include a snapping member  2806  connected (e.g., integrated) to the protruding fastener structure  2804  by flexible portions  2812 , and a flex space  2808  cut into the protruding fastener structure  2804 . The flex space  2808  enables the snapping member  2806  to flex into and out of the flex space  2808 . A hole or space  2810  cut into the mounting plate  2800  also accompanies the set of elements. This set of elements is complementary to a retaining member  2610  on the receiving fastener structure  2608 . In some implementations, there are as many of these sets of elements as there are retaining members  2610  on the receiving fastener structure  2608 . 
     The snapping member  2806 , connected to protruding fastener structure  2804  by flexible portions  2812 , is configured to flex into and out of the flex space  2808  when the adapter  232  and the mounting plate  2800  are snapped together or are separated (e.g., the snapping member  2806  is pushed into flex space  2808  by the retaining member  2610  when the adapter  232  and the mounting plate  2800  are snapped together or are separated). In some implementations, the retaining members  2610  and the snapping members  2806  are tooth-like; the retaining member  2610  grips the snapping member  2806 , thus facilitating securing of the adapter  232  to the mounting plate  2800 . In some implementations, the fastener structures  2608  and  2804  provide sufficient tension to safely retain the adapter  232  to the mounting plate  2800  mounted to a wall while being separable by a force than can be applied by hand. 
     The protruding fastener structure  2804  also includes a well  2814 . In the middle of the well is a through hole  2816  that goes through to the bottom surface  2830  of the mounting plate  2800 . In some implementations, the diameter of the through hole  2816  is substantially less than the diameter of the well  2814 . The through hole  2816  serves as a fastener hole for coupling a fastener (e.g., a screw, a nail) to the mounting plate  2800  to secure the mounting plate  2800  to a surface (e.g., a wall); the fastener head (e.g., screw head) pushes on the bottom surface of the well  2814 . 
     The bottom surface  2830  of the mounting plate  2800  includes a pattern of grooves or ridges  2820 . The grooves  2820  are configured to touch the wall when the mounting plate  2800  is secured to the wall, and can provide additional stability to the mounting plate  2800  against the wall. In some implementations, the grooves  2820  follow a concentric pattern (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 28C-28D ). In some implementations, the outer ring(s) of the grooves/ridges  2820  project further than the inner ring(s) to promote more stable mounting on uneven surfaces. 
     In some implementations, the mounting plate  2800  includes a raised ridge ring (not shown) on the top surface  2802  that is concentric with the circumference of the mounting plate  2800  and situated around the protruding fastener structure  2804 ; the raised ridge ring is configured to touch the adapter  232  when the adapter  232  is secured to the mounting plate  2800  to provide additional stability. 
       FIGS. 29A-30D  illustrate multiple views of the adapter  232  coupled (e.g., secured) to the mounting plate  2800 , and with the male connector  234  and the female connector  2200  connected and in the locked state, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 29A  is a side view of the coupled and connected adapter  232 .  FIG. 29B  is a side cross-sectional view of the coupled and connected adapter  232 .  FIG. 30A  is a perspective view of the coupled and connected adapter  232 , with the cable  228  angled toward the viewer.  FIG. 30B  is a perspective view of the coupled and connected adapter  232 , with the cable  228  angled away from the viewer.  FIG. 30C  is a top view of the coupled and connected adapter  232 .  FIG. 30D  is a bottom view of the coupled and connected adapter  232 , with the mounting fastener omitted. 
     The mounting plate  2800  is mounted to a surface (e.g., a wall, not shown) by first inserting a fastener (e.g., screw  2902 ) through the hole  2816  of the mounting plate and tightening the screw  2902  on the wall, such that the screw head  2904  pushes against the bottom surface of the well  2814 , thus pushing the mounting plate  2800  against the wall and securing the mounting plate  2800  to the wall. The adapter  232  is snapped onto the mounting plate  2800  by aligning the receiving fastener structure  2608  ( FIG. 26B ) with the protruding fastener structure  2804  and “inserting” the protruding fastener structure  2804  into the receiving fastener structure  2608 , such that the tooth-like retaining members  2610  grip the tooth-like snapping members  2806 . 
       FIG. 31  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the adapter  232  coupled to the mounting plate  2800 , focusing on the bottom surface  2612  of the adapter  232  and the mounting plate  2800 , in accordance with some implementations. As shown in  FIG. 31 , the retaining member  2610  of the receiving fastener structure  2608  grips the snapping member  2806 . The snapping member  2806  is configured to flex into a position to grip the retaining member  2610  by flexing into the flex space  2808  when pushed by the incoming retaining member  2806  and then rebounding when able. 
     Further,  FIG. 31  shows a cross-section of the grooves/ridges  2820  on the bottom surface  2830  of the mounting plate  2800 , and that the through hole  2816  has a smaller diameter than the well  2814 . 
     While the adapter  232  is coupled to a mounting plate  2800  that is secured to a surface (e.g., a wall), the adapter-mounting plate unit may be rotated about an axis (e.g., an axis running through the through hole  2816  and parallel to the mounting fastener) with an unlimited range of rotation. The grooves/ridges  2820  provide substantially consistent resistance through the range of rotation. 
     Cable Clip For Securing Outdoor Cable 
       FIGS. 32A-32G  illustrate multiple views of a cable clip  230  (e.g., cable clip  514 ,  FIG. 5A  et al.) in an open state or position, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 32A  illustrates a side view of the cable clip  230 .  FIGS. 32B-32C  illustrate multiple perspective views of the cable clip  230 .  FIG. 32D  is a top view of the cable clip  230 , and  FIG. 32F  is a bottom view of the cable clip  230 .  FIG. 32E  is an end view of the cable clip  230  viewed from a flexion point of the cable clip  230  toward the open end, and  FIG. 32G  is an end view of the cable clip  230  viewed from the open end toward the flexion point. 
     The cable clip  230  is made (e.g., molded) from a single piece of flexible material and includes two opposing “fingers”  3202 - 1  and  3202 - 2 . The fingers  3202  are joined at a flexion joint  3204 . In some implementations, the single piece of material is bent in half to form the fingers  3202 , and the bending point forms the flexion joint  3204 . In some implementations, the cable clip  230  is waterproof (e.g., coated with a waterproof coating). In some implementations, the fingers  3202 - 1  and  3202 - 2  are substantially symmetrical. Thus, details regarding the fingers  3202  described below apply equally to both fingers. 
     Each of the two fingers  3202  includes a peripheral portion  3206  at the open end of the cable clip  230 . Going from the open end of the cable clip  230  towards the flexion joint  3204 , the peripheral portion  3206  tapers into an inner portion  3208  that is continuous with the peripheral portion  3206 ; the peripheral portion  3206  is thicker than the inner portion  3208  due to the tapering. The flexion joint  3204  connects the inner portions  3208  of the fingers  3202 . 
     In some implementations, when the cable clip  230  is held in the open position, the fingers  3202  and the flexion joint  3204  form a “V” shape (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 32A ) and the “V” shape is configured to hold an opening angle that is substantially less than 90 degrees. 
     For each of the two fingers  3202 , the peripheral portion  3206  includes an inner surface  3210  facing the interior of the cable clip  230  and an outer surface  3212  facing the exterior of the cable clip  230 . In some implementations, the inner surface  3210  and the outer surface  3212  of a finger  3202  are substantially parallel to each other. 
     Each of the two fingers  3202  includes a well  3214  recessed at the outer surface  3212  into the finger  3202 . The well  3214  includes a surface  3218  located at the “bottom” of the well  3214 . In some implementations, the surface  3218  is substantially parallel with the outer surface  3212  and/or the inner surface  3210 . The finger  3202  also includes a through hole  3216  that goes through the finger  3202  substantially perpendicularly with respect to the surface  3218  of the well  3214  and the inner surface  3210  of the finger  3202 . The through hole  3216  has a smaller diameter than the well  3214  and is concentric with the well  3214 . In some implementations, the through hole  3216  has a smooth surface. 
     The cable clip  230  is configured to be held in the open position when not under tension, i.e., when there is no force applied to the peripheral portion  3206  of either finger  3202  at the outer surface  3212  or at the surface  3218  of the well  3214  toward the peripheral portion  3206  of the opposing finger. The cable clip  230  is configured to be held in the closed position when under sufficient tension, i.e., when there is a force applied to the peripheral portion  3206  of either finger  3202  at the outer surface  3212  or at the surface  3218  of the well  3214  toward the peripheral portion  3206  of the opposing finger such that the inner surfaces  3210  of the peripheral portions  3206  touch each other. 
     As noted above, the inner portion  3208  of a finger  3202  is tapered from the peripheral portion  3206  of the finger. When the cable clip  230  is in the open position, the cable  228  may be slipped through the opening between the fingers  3202  at the open end of the cable clip  3202 , toward the tapered inner portions  3208 ; the cable clip  230  wraps around the cable  228  at the space between the inner portions  3208 . When the cable clip  230  is in the closed position, the tapered inner portions  3208  form a space  3302  ( FIGS. 33A and 33C ) at the interior of the cable clip  230  for the cable  228  to run through. In some implementations, when in the open position, the fingers  3202  wrap loosely around the cable  228  (e.g., at the space between the inner portions  3208 ), thus allowing the cable clip  230  to be moved along the length of the cable  228  or vice versa. 
       FIGS. 33A-33C  illustrate multiple views of the cable clip  230  in the closed position, in accordance with some implementations.  FIG. 33A  illustrates a side view of the cable clip  230 .  FIG. 33B  illustrates a top view of the cable clip  230   FIG. 33C  illustrates a perspective view of the cable clip  230 . 
     When the cable clip  230  is under tension (e.g., due to a force applied to a peripheral portion  3206  toward the opposite peripheral portion  3206 ), the cable clip  230  is held in the closed position, such that the fingers  3202  come together and the inner surfaces  3210  of the peripheral portions  3206  touch. In some implementations, the inner surfaces  3210  of the peripheral portions  3206  are substantially flat, and are substantially flush with each other when touching (as shown in  FIGS. 33A and 33C ). 
     While the cable clip  230  is held in the closed position, the through holes  3216  of the two fingers  3202  align, forming a fastener hole through the cable clip  230  for receiving a fastener (e.g., a screw, a nail) for securing the cable clip  230  to a mounting surface (e.g., a wall); the fastener hole acts as the screw hole of the cable clip  230 . When the cable clip  230  is secured to the wall by the fastener, one finger  3202  is touching the wall and the other finger  3202  is opposite the wall. When the cable clip  230  is secured to the wall by the fastener, the cable clip  230  is held in the closed position by the head of the fastener (e.g., the screw head) pushing the surface  3218  of the well  3214  of the finger  3202  opposite of the wall towards the wall and the other finger  3202 , where the diameter of the fastener head is substantially larger than the diameter of the through holes  3216  (but still less than the diameter of the well  3214 . In some implementations, the fastener head (e.g., the screw head) is a special tamper-proof head that requires a specific tool for installation/removal, to help deter improper removal (e.g., theft). 
     It should be appreciated that because the cable clip  230  is substantially symmetrical, the cable clip  230  may be mounted to the wall such that either finger  3202  is touching the wall and the other finger  3202  is opposite the wall. 
     In some implementations, the outer surfaces  3212  of the fingers  3202  are substantially flat. When the cable clip  230  is secured to the wall, either outer surface  3212  is configured to touch then wall. 
     When the cable clip  230  is in the closed position, the tapered inner portions  3208  form a space  3302  at the interior of the cable clip  230  for the cable  228  to run through. The touching inner surfaces  3210  of the fingers  3202 , the inner portions  3208 , and the flexion joint  3204  enclose the space  3302 . In some implementations, the inner portions  3208  conform to the cross-sectional profile of the cable  228 , where the cable  228  is of predetermined thickness and cross-sectional profile. Thus, the space  3302  formed by the inner portions  3208  follow the contours of the cross-sectional profile of the cable  228 ; the space  3302  is shaped to fit the cable  228 . 
     In some implementations, mounting the camera  118  to a mounting surface (e.g., a wall) includes securing the cable  228  extending from the camera  118  to the wall using one or more cable clips  230 . If using multiple cable clips  230 , the cable clips  230  may be arranged along the length of the cable  228  at intervals of equal or different lengths. In some implementations, the cable clip  230  to be arranged closest to the camera  118  on the cable is arranged less than or equal to 12 inches from the camera  118 . In some implementations, the cable clip  230  closest on the cable  228  to the camera  118  is configured to prevent the camera  118  from falling to the ground when the camera  118  becomes detached from the wall; the cable clip  230  closest to the cable  228  on the camera  118  is the first to bear the weight of the camera  118  when the camera  118  becomes detached from the wall. In some implementations, the cable clip  230 , when secured to the wall, has a retention force (e.g., at least 50 newtons in any direction from the center of mass) sufficient to hold the weight of the camera  118  when the camera  118  is detached from the wall. The cable clips  230  also provide a measure of security to prevent easy removal of the camera  118  from its mounted position due to the fixed attachment in some implementations between the camera  118  and the cable  228  secured by the cable clips  230 . 
     After inserting the cable  228  between the peripheral portions  3206  of a cable clip  230  and into the space between the inner portions  3208 , the cable clip  230  is secured to the wall by inserting a fastener (e.g., a screw, a nail) through the aligned through holes  3216  of the peripheral portions  3206 , and securing the fastener to the wall. The fastener head (e.g., screw head) pushes the surface  3218  of the well  3214  of the peripheral portion  3206  opposite the wall, and thus pushes the cable clip  230  towards the wall, securing the fastener to the wall. While the cable clip  230  is secured to the wall, the cable  228  goes through the space  3302  formed by the inner portions  3208  of the touching fingers  3202 . The space  3302  conforms to the contours of the cross-sectional profile of the cable  228 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 33A , in some implementations, the space  3302  is more elongated, to accommodate a cable  228  with a flatter cross-sectional profile. In some other implementations, the space  3302  is more circular or rounded, for a cable  228  with a circular cross-sectional profile. 
     In some implementations, each finger  3202  includes one or more structural openings  3250 . These structural openings  3250  are made during the manufacturing (e.g., molding) of the cable clip  230  to ensure consistent cooling and formation of the cable clip  230  and thus reduce cosmetic defects (e.g., sinks). 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific implementations. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The implementations were chosen in order to best explain the principles underlying the claims and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the implementations with various modifications as are suited to the particular uses contemplated. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to implementations, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described implementations. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described implementations may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, mechanical structures, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the implementations. 
     It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first surface can be termed a second surface, and, similarly, a second surface can be termed a first surface, without departing from the scope of the various described implementations. The first surface and the second surface are both surfaces, but they are not the same surface. 
     The terminology used in the description of the various described implementations herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described implementations and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, structures and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, structures, and/or groups thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting” or “in accordance with a determination that,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in accordance with a determination that [a stated condition or event] is detected,” depending on the context. 
     It is to be appreciated that “smart home environments” may refer to smart environments for homes such as a single-family house, but the scope of the present teachings is not so limited. The present teachings are also applicable, without limitation, to duplexes, townhomes, multi-unit apartment buildings, hotels, retail stores, office buildings, industrial buildings, and more generally any living space or work space. 
     It is also to be appreciated that while the terms user, customer, installer, homeowner, occupant, guest, tenant, landlord, repair person, and the like may be used to refer to the person or persons acting in the context of some particularly situations described herein, these references do not limit the scope of the present teachings with respect to the person or persons who are performing such actions. Thus, for example, the terms user, customer, purchaser, installer, subscriber, and homeowner may often refer to the same person in the case of a single-family residential dwelling, because the head of the household is often the person who makes the purchasing decision, buys the unit, and installs and configures the unit, and is also one of the users of the unit. However, in other scenarios, such as a landlord-tenant environment, the customer may be the landlord with respect to purchasing the unit, the installer may be a local apartment supervisor, a first user may be the tenant, and a second user may again be the landlord with respect to remote control functionality. Importantly, while the identity of the person performing the action may be germane to a particular advantage provided by one or more of the implementations, such identity should not be construed in the descriptions that follow as necessarily limiting the scope of the present teachings to those particular individuals having those particular identities. 
     It is noted that the assemblies described herein are exemplary and are not intended to be limiting. For example, any dimensions, shapes, styles, and/or materials described herein are exemplary and are not intended to be limiting. Drawings are not to scale. For brevity, features or characters described in association with some implementations may not necessarily be repeated or reiterated when describing other implementations. Even though it may not be explicitly described therein, a feature or characteristic described in association with some implementations may be used by other implementations.