Patent Description:
Electronic devices integrated with microphones have been widely used to collect voice inputs from users and implement different voice-activated functions according to the voice inputs. These electronic devices, when made at a low cost and with relatively simple structures, are disposed at different locations in a smart home environment, so that they can be used as user interface devices to listen to the ambient environment and follow a user constantly without disturbing regular activities of the user. The electronic devices disposed at different locations in a smart home environment could be subject to restricted footprints, especially in areas such as a cluttered kitchen countertop or bedroom nightstand. As such, it would be beneficial to pack a number of mechanical and electronic parts into a small package in order to accommodate a smaller footprint. This, however, can potentially cause unintended consequences such as muffled sound due to the speaker being obscured underneath other components, such as a display screen. Further, it would be beneficial in designing a smaller footprint for the overall design to be substantially vertical. However, the more vertical the design, the greater the potential for falling over during physical user interactions due to a higher center of mass. It would be beneficial to incorporate one or more space saving designs that do not negatively affect sound quality, and further allow for a vertically oriented device to maintain a lower center of mass.

<CIT> discloses an audio system configured so that a digital amplifier substrate on which a switching element for performing amplification is mounted is arranged with a predetermined distance in the vicinity of the rear of speakers in a speaker box. The digital amplifier substrate is housed in the speaker box and the digital amplifier substrate and the speakers are shielded from electromagnetic waves using a common first shield.

<CIT> discloses a connector for functionally coupling a module in a modular electronic device comprising a first connector end, wherein said first connector end comprises a series of contacts and an electromagnetic shielding surrounding said contacts.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device provided with a display and a multi-layer printed circuit. Integrated circuits and other components are mounted to the multi-layer printed circuit. The display and multi-layer printed circuit share a common layer formed from a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has portions that are integrated into the display and portions that are integrated into the multi-layer printed circuit board.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device having a metal electromagnetic interference shielding enclosure. The enclosure has a bottom wall, vertical sidewalls that extend upwards from the bottom wall, and a lid that covers the enclosure to define an interior cavity. Power supply components and other electrical components may be mounted within the interior cavity. A printed circuit board on which integrated circuits and other components are mounted has an upper surface that faces the bottom wall of the enclosure and an opposing lower surface that faces a metal plate. Fence structures are used to help shield components mounted on the printed circuit board.

The present disclosure is inter alia related to an electronic device that is applied in a smart home environment to provide an eyes-free and hands-free voice interface that can activate voice-activated functions to control media devices or smart home devices in the smart home environment. The electronic device is configured to sit at a fixed location in the smart home environment, and at least includes a display screen in addition to a microphone and a speaker. The electronic device does not include a complicated operating system, but provides a low cost user interface solution dedicated to constantly listening to its surroundings, collecting audio inputs, and presenting both audio and video information in response to the audio inputs. Further, in some implementations, the audio inputs are collected from the surroundings to initiate voice-activated functions on other media play devices or smart home devices coupled within the smart home environment. Examples of these voice-activated functions include, but are not limited to, initiating play of media content, transferring media content among different media devices, reviewing smart device readings and statuses, powering on or off a smart device, and controlling smart device settings. That said, the display assistant device can also deliver a home monitoring service in addition to its core consumption uses for entertainment, family connection, and productivity. The display assistant device includes a built-in camera that is configured to allow users to keep track of what is happening at home, thus providing users with peace of mind. The display assistant device further includes affordances that identify its operation mode to users (e.g., account owners, family members, and visitors) as they interact with the device.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a speaker assembly includes a speaker, an enclosure structure and one or more electronic components. The speaker is mounted in the enclosure structure, and the enclosure structure exposes a speaker opening of the speaker and provides a sealed enclosure for a rear portion of the speaker. The enclosure structure further includes an electrically conductive portion. The one or more electronic components are coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure (which is grounded in some implementations). The electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure is configured to provide electromagnetic shielding for the one or more electronic components and forms part of the sealed enclosure of the speaker. In some implementations, the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure is thermally coupled to the one or more electronic components and acts as a heat sink that is configured to absorb heat generated by the one or more electronic components and dissipate the generated heat away from the one or more electronic components. Optionally, the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure and the one or more electronic components are thermally coupled to each other via a thermal spreader. In some situations, the electrically conductive portion provides an entire top surface of the enclosure structure.

In some implementations, the one or more electronic components are mounted on a logic board, and the logic board is mounted on the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure, thereby allowing the one or more electronic components to be mechanically coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure via the logic board. Further, in some implementations, the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure includes a recess configured to receive the one or more electronic components when the logic board is mounted on the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure. In some implementations, a thermal spreader is disposed in the recess and thermally coupled between the one or more electronic components and the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure. The thermal spreader is configured to transfer heat generated by the one or more electronic components to the electrically conductive portion. In some implementations, the logic board further includes a grounded plane that is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive portion to provide the electromagnetic shielding that encloses the one or more electronic components.

In an example, the one or more electronic components are surrounded by an electromagnetic shielding fence fixed on the logic board. A flexible electrically conductive foam is disposed on top of the electromagnetic shielding fence. When the logic board is mounted on the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure, the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure structure is pressed onto the flexible electrically conductive foam and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive shielding fence via the flexible electrically conductive foam, thereby forming the electrical fielding that closely encloses the one or more electronic components.

In some implementations, the speaker includes a rear speaker, and the enclosure structure includes a base portion distinct from the electrically conductive portion. The speaker assembly further includes one or more front speakers each of which is individually packaged and integrated into the base portion of the enclosure structure, the one or more front speakers facing a front view that is opposite to a rear view which the rear speaker faces. Further, in some implementations, the enclosure structure includes a plurality of separated sealed spaces each of which provides a respective sealed enclosure for one of the front and rear speakers.

In accordance with various implementations, the display assistant device has a substantially small footprint that allows the display assistant device to be conveniently disposed at many different locations (e.g., a kitchen, living room and bedroom) in the smart home environment. Despite the substantially small footprint, the speaker has a relatively heavy weight and is configured to pull a center of mass of the display assistant device close to the surface on which the display assistant device sits. A low center of mass allows the display assistant device to maintain stability at them time of being touched or hit. The display assistant device further includes many mechanical features configured to protect the screen of the display assistant from falling apart from the base and being damaged when the display assistant device hits a floor. By these means, this application provides a low-cost, mechanically robust, and voice-activated user interface solution that has visual display capabilities and supports various voice-activated functions.

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.

While digital revolution has provided many benefits ranging from openly sharing information to a sense of global community, emerging new technology often induces confusion, skepticism and fear among consumers, preventing consumers from benefitting from the technology. Electronic devices are conveniently used as voice interfaces to receive voice inputs from users and initiate voice-activated functions, and thereby offer eyes-free and hands-free solutions to approach both existing and emerging technology. Specifically, the voice inputs received at an electronic device can carry instructions and information even if a user's line of sight is obscured and his hands are full. To enable hands-free and eyes-free experience, the voice-activated electronic device listens to the ambient (i.e., processes audio signals collected from the ambient) constantly or only when triggered. On the other hand, user identities are linked with a user's voice and a language used by the user. To protect the user identities, voice-activated electronic devices are normally used in non-public places that are protected, controlled and intimate spaces (e.g., home and car).

In accordance with some implementations of the invention, a voice-activated electronic device includes a screen configured to provide additional visual information in addition to audio information that can be broadcast via a speaker of the voice-activated electronic device. For example, the electronic device displays caller information (e.g., a caller's name and number) on the screen in response to receiving a voice command to initiate a phone call. The electronic device may play a YouTube video clip on the screen in response to receiving a voice command including identification information of the video clip. The electronic device may display a list of restaurants and their contact information in response to receiving a voice command for conducting a restaurant search. The electronic device may display a map and a suggested route in response to receiving a voice command to identify a route to a destination on a map. The electronic device may display event information of an upcoming event in response to receiving a voice command to review calendar events. The electronic device may display a post that is transcribed from a voice message in response to receiving a voice command to add a post to a social network. The electronic device may display information of a song that is currently being played (e.g., a title, composer and singer of the song, a YouTube link) in response to receiving a voice command to recognize the song.

Specifically, the voice-activated electronic device, when integrated with its own display screen, constitutes a display assistant device. The display assistant device thereby includes a base, a screen and a speaker. The base is configured for sitting on a surface, and has a front side and rear side that is taller than the front side. The screen has a rear surface and is supported by the front and rear sides of the base at its rear surface. The speaker is concealed inside the base and configured to project sound substantially towards the rear side of the base. A bottom edge of the screen is configured to be held above the surface by a predefined height, and the base is substantially hidden behind the screen from a front view of the display assistant device (i.e., the screen appears to float in air from the front view). The display assistant device has a substantially small footprint, and however, a center of mass of the display assistant device is configured to be close to the surface on which the display assistant device sits, thereby allowing the display assistant device to maintain stability at a time of being touched or hit. That said, the display assistant device provides a low-cost, mechanically robust, and voice-activated user interface solution that has visual display capabilities and supports various voice-activated functions.

In various implementations of this application, display assistant devices integrated with microphones and cameras can be used to collect audio and visual inputs from users and implement voice-activated functions according to voice inputs. Some electronic devices include a voice assistant feature that is configured to use audio inputs to perform many tasks. The functionality of these display assistant devices can be further expanded to home security and remote monitoring, to provide peace of mind to users.

For example, consider a use case in which a first user purchases a voice-activated display assistant device with video monitoring capabilities. While commissioning (e.g., provisioning) the display assistant device for use in her smart home environment (e.g., using a smart home application installed on her mobile device), the first user receives a welcome message on the smart home application asking if she would like to configure the display assistant device for smart home monitoring. The first user accepts the offer and completes the provisioning process, during which the display assistant device is configured to perform video and audio monitoring functions in addition to a range of voice and display assistant functions. Thereafter, the first user is able to move about the room where the display assistant device is located while issuing multiple verbal requests to the display assistant device. The assistant device receives the verbal requests and presents responses, which include visual and/or audio information for the first user to view and/or listen to. Later, when the first user is at work, having configured the display assistant device for smart home monitoring, she is able to see a live video steam of the room, captured using the camera of the display assistant device, using her smart home application. The first user is also able to receive notifications alerting her to unusual activity or unfamiliar faces in the room captured by the camera and/or microphones of the display assistant device. In response to the notifications, the first user is able to check out a live view of the room and respond accordingly via her smart home application.

The use case described above mentions particular modalities through which the first user interacts with the display assistant device (e.g., voice inputs, or inputs received from a smart home application) and receives information from the display assistant device (e.g., information presented via the smart home application or via audio or video playback from the display assistant device). However, in some implementations the display assistant device is responsive to a wider range of inputs, including one or more of: voice inputs, inputs received from a smart home application, touch inputs entered on a touch sensitive display of the display assistant device, and/or air gestures performed in proximity to the display assistant device that are captured by its camera or a sensor included in the display assistant device, such as a radar transceiver or PIR detector.

In some implementations, a user is provided with various subscription options when provisioning the display assistant device. The subscription options include a first option (e.g., a free tier or a lower cost tier) that provides one or more of: a "Live View" capability (e.g., the ability to review via a smart home app or browser, in at least near real time, video from the camera); a "Talk & Listen" capability (e.g., the ability to speak and listen via a smart home app or browser, in real time, to an individual in proximity to the display assistant device); basic event notifications (e.g., notifications for motion events and/or sound events and/or person events captured by the camera and/or microphone of the display assistant device); a display assistant device camera history (e.g., a one-hour, three-hour, or five-hour history of camera recordings); and monitoring settings including a Home/Away Assist setting (e.g., a setting in which the display assistant device is configured to turn on its camera and enter monitoring mode when the user is "away" and to turn off its camera and exit monitoring mode when the user is "home") and Camera Scheduling (a setting in which the user is able to define a schedule for turning the camera and monitoring mode on and off). Further details regarding Live View and Talk & Listen operations are described below in the section entitled "Device Operation Modes. " In some implementations, the subscription options include a second option (e.g., a paid tier or a higher cost tier) that includes all the features of the first option and additional features. In some implementations, the additional features included in second option include intelligent event notifications, such as Familiar Face, Activity Zone, Dog Barking, Person Talking, Broken Glass and Baby Crying alerts; Continuous Video History; Time Lapse Video Summaries; and/or Close-Up Tracking Views of events of interest. Details of intelligent event notifications are described in <CIT>, titled "Methods and Systems for Providing Event Alerts".

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, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the implementations.

<FIG> is an example smart home environment <NUM> in accordance with some implementations. The smart home environment <NUM> includes a structure <NUM> (e.g., a house, office building, garage, or mobile home) with various integrated devices (also referred to herein as "connected" or "smart" devices). It will be appreciated that smart devices may also be integrated into a smart home environment <NUM> that does not include an entire structure <NUM>, such as an apartment, condominium, or office space. In some implementations, the smart devices include one or more of: personal client devices <NUM> (e.g., tablets, laptops or mobile phones), display devices <NUM>, media casting or streaming devices <NUM>, thermostats <NUM>, home protection devices <NUM> (e.g., smoke, fire and carbon dioxide detector), home security devices (e.g., motion detectors, window and door sensors and alarms), including connected doorbell/cameras <NUM>, connected locksets <NUM>, alarm systems <NUM> and cameras <NUM>, connected wall switches transponders <NUM>, connected appliances <NUM>, WiFi communication devices <NUM> (e.g., hubs, routers, extenders), connected home cleaning devices <NUM>(e.g., vacuum or floor cleaner), smart home communication and control hubs <NUM>, voice assistant devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and display assistant devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

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, yards, parks, 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 a person or persons acting in the context of some particular 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 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.

The depicted structure <NUM> includes a plurality of rooms <NUM>, separated at least partly from each other via walls <NUM>. The walls <NUM> may include interior walls or exterior walls. Each room may further include a floor <NUM> and a ceiling <NUM>.

One or more media devices are disposed in the smart home environment <NUM> to provide users with access to media content that is stored locally or streamed from a remote content source (e.g., content host(s) <NUM>). In some implementations, the media devices include media output devices <NUM>, which directly output/display/play media content to an audience, and cast devices <NUM>, which stream media content received over one or more networks to the media output devices <NUM>. Examples of the media output devices <NUM> include, but are not limited to, television (TV) display devices, music players and computer monitors. Examples of the cast devices <NUM> include, but are not limited to, medial streaming boxes, casting devices (e.g., GOOGLE CHROMECAST devices), set-top boxes (STBs), DVD players and TV boxes.

In the example smart home environment <NUM>, media output devices <NUM> are disposed in more than one location, and each media output device <NUM> is coupled to a respective cast device <NUM> or includes an embedded casting unit. The media output device <NUM>-<NUM> includes a TV display that is hard wired to a DVD player or a set top box <NUM>-<NUM>. The media output device <NUM>-<NUM> includes a smart TV device that integrates an embedded casting unit to stream media content for display to its audience. The media output device <NUM>-<NUM> includes a regular TV display that is coupled to a TV box <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., Google TV or Apple TV products), and such a TV box <NUM>-<NUM> streams media content received from a media content host server <NUM> and provides an access to the Internet for displaying Internet-based content on the media output device <NUM>-<NUM>.

In addition to the media devices <NUM> and <NUM>, one or more electronic devices <NUM> are disposed in the smart home environment <NUM>. Electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are display assistant devices and electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> are voice assistant devices. In some implementations, the display assistant device <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> is also a voice assistant device. The electronic devices <NUM> collect audio inputs for initiating various media play functions of the devices <NUM> and/or media devices <NUM> and <NUM>. In some implementations, the devices <NUM> are configured to provide media content that is stored locally or streamed from a remote content source. In some implementations, the electronic devices <NUM> are voice-activated and are disposed in proximity to a media device, for example, in the same room with the cast devices <NUM> and the media output devices <NUM>. Alternatively, in some implementations, a voice-activated display assistant device <NUM>-<NUM> is disposed in a room having one or more smart home devices but not any media device. Alternatively, in some implementations, a voice-activated electronic device <NUM> is disposed in a location having no networked electronic device. This allows for the devices <NUM> to communicate with the media devices and share content that is being displayed on one device to another device (e.g., from device <NUM>-<NUM> to device <NUM>-<NUM> and/or media devices <NUM>).

The voice-activated electronic device <NUM> includes at least one microphone, a speaker, a processor and memory storing at least one program for execution by the processor. The speaker is configured to allow the electronic device <NUM> to deliver voice messages to a location where the electronic device <NUM> is located in the smart home environment <NUM>, thereby broadcasting information related to a current media content being displayed, reporting a state of audio input processing, having a conversation with or giving instructions to a user of the electronic device <NUM>. For instance, in some embodiments, in response to a user query the device provides audible information to the user through the speaker. As an alternative to the voice messages, visual signals could also be used to provide feedback to the user of the electronic device <NUM> concerning the state of audio input processing, such as a notification displayed on the device.

In accordance with some implementations, an electronic device <NUM> is a voice interface device that is network-connected to provide voice recognition functions with the aid of a server system <NUM>. In some implementations, the server system <NUM> includes a cloud cast service server <NUM> and/or a voice/display assistance server <NUM>. For example, in some implementations an electronic device <NUM> includes a smart speaker that provides music (e.g., audio for video content being displayed on the device <NUM> or on a display device <NUM>) to a user and allows eyes-free and hands-free access to a voice assistant service (e.g., Google Assistant). Optionally, the electronic device <NUM> is a simple and low cost voice interface device, e.g., a speaker device and a display assistant device (including a display screen having no touch detection capability).

In some implementations, the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM> integrates a display screen in addition to the microphones, speaker, processor and memory (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>), and are referred to as "display assistant devices. " The display screen is configured to provide additional visual information (e.g., media content, information pertaining to media content, etc.) in addition to audio information that can be broadcast via the speaker of the voice-activated electronic device <NUM>. When a user is nearby and his or her line of sight is not obscured, the user may review the additional visual information directly on the display screen of the display assistant device. Optionally, the additional visual information provides feedback to the user of the electronic device <NUM> concerning the state of audio input processing. Optionally, the additional visual information is provided in response to the user's previous voice inputs (e.g., user queries), and may be related to the audio information broadcast by the speaker. In some implementations, the display screen of the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM> includes a touch display screen configured to detect touch inputs on its surface (e.g., instructions provided through the touch display screen). Alternatively, in some implementations, the display screen of the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM> is not a touch display screen, which is relatively expensive and can compromise the goal of offering the display assistant device <NUM> as a low cost user interface solution.

When voice inputs from the electronic device <NUM> are used to control the electronic device <NUM> and/or media output devices <NUM> via the cast devices <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> effectively enables a new level of control of cast-enabled media devices independently of whether the electronic device <NUM> has its own display. In an example, the electronic device <NUM> includes a casual enjoyment speaker with far-field voice access and functions as a voice interface device for Google Assistant. The electronic device <NUM> could be disposed in any room in the smart home environment <NUM>. When multiple electronic devices <NUM> are distributed in multiple rooms, they become audio receivers that are synchronized to provide voice inputs from all these rooms. For instant, a first electronic device <NUM> may receive a user instruction that is directed towards a second electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., a user instruction of "OK Google, show this photo album on the Kitchen device.

Specifically, in some implementations, an electronic device <NUM> includes a WiFi speaker with a microphone that is connected to a voice-activated personal assistant service (e.g., Google Assistant). A user could issue a media play request via the microphone of electronic device <NUM>, and ask the personal assistant service to play media content on the electronic device <NUM> itself and/or on another connected media output device <NUM>. For example, the user could issue a media play request by saying to the Wi-Fi speaker "OK Google, Play cat videos on my Living room TV. " The personal assistant service then fulfils the media play request by playing the requested media content on the requested device using a default or designated media application.

A user could also make a voice request via the microphone of the electronic device <NUM> concerning the media content that has already been played and/or is being played on a display device. For instance, a user may instruct the device to provide information related to a current media content being displayed, such as ownership information or subject matter of the media content. In some implementations, closed captions of the currently displayed media content are initiated or deactivated on the display device by voice when there is no remote control or a second screen device is available to the user. Thus, the user can turn on the closed captions on a display device via an eyes-free and hands-free voice-activated electronic device <NUM> without involving any other device having a physical user interface, and such a voice-activated electronic device <NUM> satisfies federal accessibility requirements for users having hearing disability. In some implementations, a user wants to take a current media session with them as they move through the house. This requires the personal assistant service to transfer the current media session from a first cast device to a second cast device that is not directly connected to the first cast device or has no knowledge of the existence of the first cast device. Subsequent to the media content transfer, a second output device <NUM> coupled to the second cast device <NUM> continues to play the media content previously a first output device <NUM> coupled to the first cast device <NUM> from the exact point within a photo album or a video clip where play of the media content was forgone on the first output device <NUM>.

In some implementations, the display assistant device includes a display screen and one-or more built in cameras (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>). The cameras are configured to capture images and/or videos, which are then transmitted (e.g., streamed) to a server system <NUM> for display on client devices(s) (e.g., authorized client devices <NUM> and <NUM>, <FIG>).

In some implementations, the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM>, smart home devices could also be mounted on, integrated with and/or supported by a wall <NUM>, floor <NUM> or ceiling <NUM> of the smart home environment <NUM> (which is also broadly called as a smart home environment in view of the existence of the smart home devices). The integrated smart home devices 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 to provide a variety of useful smart home functions. In some implementations, a smart home device is disposed at the same location of the smart home environment <NUM> as a cast device <NUM> and/or an output device <NUM>, and therefore, is located in proximity to or with a known distance with respect to the cast device <NUM> and the output device <NUM>.

In some implementations, the smart home devices in the smart home environment <NUM> includes, but is not limited to, one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected camera systems <NUM>. In some embodiments, content that is captured by the camera systems <NUM> is displayed on the electronic devices <NUM> at a request of a user (e.g., a user instruction of "OK Google, Show the baby room monitor. ") and/or according to settings of the home environment <NUM> (e.g., a setting to display content captured by the camera systems during the evening or in response to detecting an intruder).

The smart home devices in the smart home environment <NUM> may include, but are not limited to, one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected thermostats <NUM>, one or more intelligent, network-connected, multi-sensing hazard detectors <NUM>, one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected entryway interface devices <NUM> and <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "smart doorbells <NUM>" and "smart door locks <NUM>"), one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected alarm systems <NUM>, one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected camera systems <NUM>, and one or more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wall switches <NUM>. In some implementations, the smart home devices in the smart home environment <NUM> of <FIG> includes a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected appliances <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "smart appliances <NUM>"), 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 devices in the smart home environment <NUM> may additionally or alternatively include one or more other occupancy sensors (e.g., touch screens, IR sensors, ambient light sensors and motion detectors). In some implementations, the smart home devices in the smart home environment <NUM> include radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers (e.g., in each room <NUM> 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 <NUM>.

In some implementations, in addition to containing sensing capabilities, devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (which are collectively referred to as "the smart home devices" or "the smart home devices <NUM>") are capable of data communications and information sharing with other smart home devices, a central server or cloud-computing system, and/or other devices (e.g., the client device <NUM>, the cast devices <NUM> and the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM>) that are network-connected. Similarly, each of the cast devices <NUM> and the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM> is also capable of data communications and information sharing with other cast devices <NUM>, voice-activated electronic devices <NUM>, smart home devices, a central server or cloud-computing system <NUM>, and/or other devices (e.g., the client device <NUM>) that are network-connected. Data communications may be carried out using any of a variety of custom or standard wireless protocols (e.g., IEEE <NUM>. <NUM>, 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 cast devices <NUM>, the electronic devices <NUM> and the smart home devices serve as wireless or wired repeaters. In some implementations, a first one of and the cast devices <NUM> communicates with a second one of the cast devices <NUM> and the smart home devices <NUM> via a wireless router. The cast devices <NUM>, the electronic devices <NUM> and the smart home devices <NUM> may further communicate with each other via a connection (e.g., network interface <NUM>) to a network, such as the Internet <NUM>. Through the Internet <NUM>, the cast devices <NUM>, the electronic devices <NUM> and the smart home devices <NUM> may communicate with a server system <NUM> (also called a central server system and/or a cloud-computing system herein). Optionally, the server system <NUM> may be associated with a manufacturer, support entity, or service provider associated with the cast devices <NUM> and the media content displayed to the user.

In general, any of the connected electronic devices described herein can be configured with a range of capabilities for interacting with users in the environment. For example, an electronic device can be configured with one or more microphones, one or more speakers and voice-interaction capabilities in which a user interacts with the device display assistant device via voice inputs received by the microphone and audible outputs played back by the speakers to present information to users. Similarly, an electronic device can be configured with buttons, switches and/or other touch-responsive sensors (such as a touch screen, touch panel, or capacitive or resistive touch sensors) to receive user inputs, and with haptic or other tactile feedback capabilities to provide tactile outputs to users. An electronic device can also be configured with visual output capabilities, such as a display panel and/or one or more indicator lights to output information to users visually, as described in <CIT>, titled "LED Design Language for Visual Affordance of Voice User Interfaces". In addition, an electronic device can be configured with movement sensors that can detect movement of objects and people in proximity to the electronic device, such as a radar transceiver(s) or PIR detector(s), as described in <CIT>, titled "Systems, Methods, and Devices for Utilizing Radar-Based Touch Interfaces".

Inputs received by any of these sensors can be processed by the electronic device and/or by a server communicatively coupled with the electronic device (e.g., the server system <NUM> of <FIG>). In some implementations, the electronic device and/or the server processes and/or prepares a response to the user's input(s), which response is output by the electronic device via one or more of the electronic device's output capabilities. In some implementations, the electronic device outputs via one or more of the electronic device's output capabilities information that is not directly responsive to a user input, but which is transmitted to the electronic device by a second electronic device in the environment, or by a server communicatively coupled with the electronic device. This transmitted information can be of virtually any type that is displayable/playable by the output capabilities of the electronic device.

The server system <NUM> provides data processing for monitoring and facilitating review of events (e.g., motion, audio, security, etc.) from data captured by the smart devices <NUM>, such as video cameras <NUM>, smart doorbells <NUM>, and display assistant device <NUM>-<NUM>. In some implementations, the server system <NUM> may include a voice/display assistance server <NUM> that processes audio inputs collected by voice-activated electronic devices <NUM>, one or more content hosts <NUM> that provide the displayed media content, and a cloud cast service server <NUM> creating a virtual user domain based on distributed device terminals. The server system <NUM> also includes a device registry for keeping a record of the distributed device terminals in the virtual user environment. Examples of the distributed device terminals include, but are not limited to the voice-activated electronic devices <NUM>, cast devices <NUM>, media output devices <NUM> and smart home devices <NUM>-<NUM>. In some implementations, these distributed device terminals are linked to a user account (e.g., a Google user account) in the virtual user domain. In some implementations, each of these functionalities and content hosts is a distinct server within the server system <NUM>. In some implementations, a subset of these functionalities is integrated within the server system <NUM>.

In some implementations, the network interface <NUM> includes a conventional network device (e.g., a router). The smart home environment <NUM> of <FIG> further includes a hub device <NUM> that is communicatively coupled to the network(s) <NUM> directly or via the network interface <NUM>. The hub device <NUM> is further communicatively coupled to one or more of the above intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices (e.g., the cast devices <NUM>, the electronic devices <NUM>, the smart home devices and the client device <NUM>). Each of these network-connected devices optionally communicates with the hub device <NUM> using one or more radio communication networks available at least in the smart home environment <NUM> (e.g., ZigBee, Z-Wave, Insteon, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other radio communication networks). In some implementations, the hub device <NUM> 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 network-connected devices, configure the hub device to interoperate with devices newly introduced to the home network, commission new devices, and adjust or view settings of connected devices, etc..

<FIG> are a perspective view, a front view, a side view and a rear view of a display assistant device <NUM> in accordance with some implementations, respectively. The display assistant device <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and a screen <NUM>. The base <NUM> is configured for sitting on a surface (e.g., which is substantially flat in some situations). The screen <NUM> has a rear surface <NUM> at which the screen <NUM> is supported by the base. In some implementations, the base and the screen are coupled to each other via a plurality of fasteners, and cannot be detached from each other by human manual manipulation without using a tool. A bottom edge <NUM> of the screen <NUM> is configured to be held above the surface by a predefined height h. Referring to <FIG>, the base <NUM> is substantially hidden behind the screen <NUM> from the front view of the display assistant device <NUM>. That said, the predefined height h is less than a predetermined threshold (e.g., <NUM>), such that the screen <NUM> appears to float in air and the base <NUM> can be substantially hidden behind the screen <NUM> from the front view of the display assistant device. In an example, the predetermined threshold is <NUM>% of a width w of the screen <NUM>. If the screen <NUM> is a seven-inch screen having a width of <NUM> inch, the bottom edge <NUM> of the screen <NUM> is held above the surface by a height of <NUM> or below.

Referring to <FIG>, in some implementations, the base <NUM> extends along a central axis <NUM>, and the central axis <NUM> of the base <NUM> is not perpendicular to the surface when the base <NUM> sits on the surface (which is substantially flat herein). Optionally. the base <NUM> has a front side 202A and a rear side 202B both of which are parallel with the central axis <NUM>. The central axis <NUM>, front side 202A and rear side 202B of the base <NUM> lean forward by a base angle α when the base sits on the surface. It is noted that the front side 202A of the base is shorter than the rear side 202B of the base, e.g., a height of the front side 202A is only <NUM>% of that of the rear side 202B. When the screen <NUM> is supported by the base <NUM> at its rear surface <NUM>, the screen <NUM> is not perpendicular to the surface, but faces substantially forward and leans slightly backward by a screen angle β for the purposes of providing a desirable viewing angle for an average user. In an example, both the base angle α and the screen angle β are equal to <NUM> degrees, except that the base leans forward by the base angle α of <NUM> degrees and the screen leans backward by the screen angle β of <NUM> degrees. By these means, the display assistant device <NUM> does not tip over (forward or backward) easily when a blunt force F hits a top edge of the display assistant device <NUM> or a user touch occurs to the screen <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>.

The base <NUM> acts as a speaker box (i.e., an enclosure structure of one or more speakers). A rear speaker (e.g., <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>) is concealed inside the base <NUM> and configured to project sound substantially towards the rear view of the display assistant device, i.e., to project sound out of the base <NUM> substantially via the rear side 202B of the base <NUM>. In some implementations, the base <NUM> further conceals one or more front speakers (e.g., <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>). Each front speaker faces the front view of the display assistant device <NUM> and is configured to project sound out of the base <NUM> substantially via the front side 202A of the base <NUM>. That said, each front speaker projects the sound through a space of the predefined height h separating the bottom edge <NUM> of the screen <NUM> and the surface on which the display assistant device <NUM> is configured to sit. Further, in some implementations, the rear speaker includes a woofer speaker configured to produce first audio frequencies in a first frequency range, and each of the one or more front speakers includes a tweeter speaker configured to produce second audio frequencies in a second frequency range. The second audio frequencies of the front speakers are higher than the first audio frequencies of the rear speaker.

Referring to <FIG>, the display assistant device <NUM> has a substantially narrow bezel area surrounding an active display area of the screen <NUM>. The bezel area is optionally white and has a bezel width less than a threshold width (e.g., a fixed value of <NUM> or %<NUM> of the screen width w). In some implementations, the active display area has a plurality of rounded corners. The rounded corners are formed when white paint is applied on a rear surface of a cover glass to define the active display area. In some implementations, an array of display pixels that are visible via a transparent portion of the cover glass are also rounded, i.e., a subset of display pixels that are outside the rounded corners are not driven to display any color and brightness information that varies with time.

In some implementations, the bezel area includes a subset of one or more microphone holes <NUM>, an indicator window <NUM>, a camera window <NUM> and a sensor window <NUM>. One or more microphones <NUM> may be placed behind the microphone holes <NUM> and configured to collect sound from the ambient of the display assistant device <NUM>. An indicator may be disposed behind the indicator window <NUM>, and configured to provide a sequential lighting pattern to indicate whether the display assistant device <NUM> is active or inactive, whether the display assistant device <NUM> is mute or not, and/or a voice processing state (e.g., hot word detection, listening, thinking and speaking). A camera module <NUM> may be disposed behind the camera window <NUM> to capture a video stream of a field of view. An ambient light sensor may be disposed behind the sensor window <NUM> and configured to detect a light condition in the smart home environment <NUM> where the display assistant device <NUM> sits.

Referring to <FIG>, the display assistant device <NUM> further includes a volume control <NUM>, a privacy control <NUM> and a power adaptor interface <NUM>. In this example, the volume control button <NUM> and privacy control <NUM> are disposed on the rear surface <NUM> of the screen <NUM>, and the power adaptor interface <NUM> is disposed on the rear side 202B of the base <NUM>. The volume control <NUM> includes a mechanical assembly (e.g., a button, a knob, a switch) configure to receive a user input for adjusting a volume level of the speaker in the display assistant device <NUM>. In an example, the volume control <NUM> includes two buttons (separated or connected) configured to initiate an increase or decrease of the volume level of the speaker, respectively. In some implementations, the two buttons of the volume control <NUM> can be pressed concurrently to reset the display assistant device <NUM>, independently of controlling the volume level of the speaker. It is noted that the volume control <NUM> is not disposed on any edge of the screen <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>. Rather, the volume control <NUM> is arranged on the rear surface <NUM> of the screen <NUM> and has a predefined distance from a short edge of the screen <NUM>, such that when a user grabs the display assistant device <NUM> by the short edge of the screen <NUM>, the volume control <NUM> is readily accessible for fingers of the user.

Further, the privacy control <NUM> disposed on the rear surface <NUM> is configured to provide privacy protection to a user of the display assistant device <NUM>. For example, the privacy control <NUM> can mute one or more microphones <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>, disables a camera if there is one in the display assistant device <NUM>, disconnects the display assistant device <NUM> from the Internet while keeping the display assistant device <NUM> coupled in a local area network, and/or disconnects the display assistant device <NUM> from all communication networks available to the display assistant device <NUM>. The type of privacy protection enabled by the privacy control <NUM> could change according to an identify of a person associated with the display assistant device <NUM> and/or or a time of a specific moment. In some implementations, when the privacy control <NUM> is turned on for privacy protection, it dynamically activates one of a group of privacy operations based on a user profile of a user who is identified as associated with the display assistant device <NUM> in real time (e.g., a person whose image or voice is captured and recognized by the display assistant device <NUM>). Specifically, in an example, the display assistant device <NUM> has an owner mode, a family mode and a stranger mode each of which is associated with a unique subset of the group of privacy operations, and the user profile is associated with one of these three modes. Further, in some situations, in accordance with the user profile of the user, the one of the group of privacy operations associated with the display assistant device varies according to a time of a day. The display assistant device <NUM> may further collect user information (e.g., facial features, voice fingerprints and gestures) using a camera or a microphone and use the user information to identify the user who is associated with the display assistant device <NUM> in real time and retrieve the user profile of the user for the purposes of setting the type of privacy protection that can be enabled by the privacy control <NUM>. More details on privacy control are explained with reference to PCT Patent Application No. <CIT>, titled "Display Assistant Device".

In these implementations, the power adaptor interface <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> is disposed on the rear side 202B of the base <NUM>. The power adaptor interface <NUM> includes a female connector to receive a male connector configured to connect the display assistant device <NUM> to an external power source (e.g., a direct current power source). In some implementations, the display assistant device <NUM> has to be constantly connected to the external power source, and is powered off when the external power source is disconnected. Alternatively, in some implementations, a power board is coupled to the power adaptor interface <NUM>, and includes a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery is configured to be charged with the external power source, and drive the display assistant device <NUM> temporarily when the external power source is disconnected from the display assistant device <NUM>.

A bottom surface of the base <NUM> constitutes a footprint of the display assistant device <NUM>. A length of the bottom surface of the base <NUM> is smaller than a length of the screen <NUM>, and a width of the bottom surface of the base <NUM> is significant smaller than a width w of the screen <NUM>. As a result, the footprint of the display assistant device <NUM> is substantially small, and the display assistant device <NUM> can therefore fit into different physical settings (e.g., a kitchen, living room and bedroom) in the smart home environment <NUM>. It is noted that <FIG> are focused on an overall look and mechanical features of the display assistant device <NUM>. More details on functions of the display assistant device <NUM>
are described with reference to <CIT>, titled "Display Assistant Device".

<FIG> and <FIG> are two exploded views of a display assistant device <NUM> from a front perspective angle and a rear perspective angle in accordance with some implementations, respectively. The display assistant device <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and a screen <NUM>. The screen <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> includes a display front <NUM>, a middle frame <NUM> and a back cover <NUM>. The display front <NUM> is coupled to a display module that is configured to provide backlight sources and drive individual display pixels of the display front <NUM>. The display front <NUM> and the middle frame <NUM> are mechanically coupled to each other using an adhesive that is optionally applied adjacent to edges of the display front <NUM> and middle frame <NUM>. In some implementations, a front surface of the display front <NUM> has (<NUM>) a display active area for presenting information and content and (<NUM>) a touch sensing area that is sensitive to touch events. The touch sensing area encloses the display active area and extends beyond the display active area around edges of the display active area.

In some implementations, a thermal spreader can be placed between and comes into contact with the display front <NUM> and middle frame <NUM> for redistributing heat generated by a display panel of the display front <NUM>. The display front <NUM> has a rear surface made of conductive material (e.g., a metal plate), and when the thermal spreader comes into contact with a portion of (e.g., half of) the rear surface of the display front <NUM>, it redistributes heat evenly across itself and the portion of the rear surface of the display front <NUM>, thereby avoiding formation of hot spots on the display front <NUM>. In an example, the thermal spreader includes a graphite sheet.

The base <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a speaker assembly <NUM> and a base mount plate <NUM>. The housing <NUM> encloses the speaker assembly <NUM>, and includes a plurality of speaker grill portions <NUM> that permit sound generated by the speaker assembly <NUM> to exit the housing <NUM> of the base <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the speaker assembly <NUM> includes at least a rear speaker <NUM> mounted in an enclosure structure <NUM>. The rear speaker <NUM> includes a speaker opening that is exposed from the enclosure structure <NUM> and faces towards the rear side 202B of the base <NUM>. The enclosure structure <NUM> provides a sealed enclosure for a rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM> near the front side 202A of the base <NUM>. The speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM> faces backward while being tilted upward with a tilting angle (e.g., angle λ<NUM> in <FIG>), such that the rear speaker <NUM> is configured to project a substantial portion of sound generated by the rear speaker <NUM> backward to exit the housing <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> via the rear side 202B of the base <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some implementations, the speaker assembly <NUM> one or more front speakers <NUM> embedded into the enclosure structure <NUM>. Optionally, each of the one or more front speakers <NUM> is individually packaged and has its separate sealed enclosure integrated into the enclosure structure <NUM>. Optionally, the enclosure structure <NUM> includes a distinct sub-structure configured to provide a respective sealed enclosure for each of the one or more front speakers <NUM>. Each front speaker <NUM> faces a space of the predefined height h that is configured to separate the bottom edge <NUM> of the screen <NUM> and a surface on which the display assistant device <NUM> sits. In some implementations, a respective speaker opening of each front speaker <NUM> has a dimension substantially greater than the predefined height h of the space and faces forward while being tilted downward with a tilting angle (e.g., angle λ<NUM>), such that the respective front speaker <NUM> is configured to project a substantial portion of sound generated by the respective front speaker <NUM> forward and towards the space between the bottom edge of the screen <NUM>, thereby allowing the generated sound to exit the housing <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> via the front side 202A of the base <NUM>. Alternatively, in some implementations, the dimension of the respective speaker opening of each front speaker <NUM> is comparable with the predefined height h of the space, i.e., a projection of the dimension to the predefined height h is substantially equal to the predefined height h.

In some implementations, the enclosure structure <NUM> is configured to guide part of the sound generated by the front speakers <NUM> and the rear speaker <NUM> further towards different areas of the housing <NUM>. Specifically, for example, the plurality of speaker grill portions <NUM> of the housing <NUM> are distributed on at least a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side of the housing, and therefore, the sound generated by the speakers <NUM> and <NUM> is guided inside the housing by the enclosure structure <NUM> to exit the housing <NUM> from its front, rear, left and right sides.

The enclosure structure <NUM> of the rear speaker <NUM> includes an upper portion 318A and a base portion 318B. The rear speaker <NUM> is mounted in the base portion 318B, and the speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM> is exposed on a rear surface of the base portion 318B. The upper and base portions 318A and 318B jointly provides a sealed enclosure for a rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM>. The upper portion 318A is electrically conductive. One or more electronic components <NUM> are coupled to the upper portion 318A, such that the upper portion 318A at least partially provides electromagnetic shielding for the one or more electronic components while forming part of the sealed enclosure of the rear speaker <NUM>. In some implementations, the one or more electronic components <NUM> is also thermally coupled to the upper portion 318A which acts as a heat sink to absorb heat generated by the one or more electronic components and dissipate the generated heat away from the electronic components <NUM>. In some implementations, the one or more electronic components <NUM> are mounted on a rear surface of the main logic board <NUM>. A conductive plane (e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) disposed in a substrate of the main logic board <NUM> is grounded to provide electromagnetic shielding for the electronic components <NUM> jointly with the upper portion 318A. More details on a multi-function speaker enclosure <NUM> are described below with reference to <FIG> of this application.

In some implementations, the housing <NUM> is covered by a fabric, and the plurality of speaker grill portions <NUM> are concealed behind the fabric. Stated another way, the plurality of speaker grill portions <NUM> are not visible to a user of the display assistant device <NUM> from an exterior look. Optionally, the fabric is secured to the housing <NUM> by a thermally activated adhesive that is applied in selective areas as to prevent the fabric from moving during speaker operation and also not occlude sound output. In some implementations, the fabric may be tensioned over the housing and held in place by mechanical clamping. The fabric is cut open at the power adapter interface <NUM>, and wrapped around a circular edge of the power adapter interface <NUM>.

In some implementations, the base <NUM> further includes a power board that is also contained within the housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power board is embedded in a rear portion of the enclosure structure <NUM> and aligned with the power adapter interface <NUM>, when the enclosure structure <NUM> is assembled into the base <NUM>. The power board is electrically coupled to the power adaptor interface <NUM> exposed on the rear side 202B of the base <NUM> to access an external power source, while it is also electrically coupled to a main logic board <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> via a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) or interconnect cable. By these means, the power board is configured to drive the main logic board <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> with the external power source.

The front side 202A of the housing <NUM> is shorter than the rear side 202B of the housing <NUM>, e.g., a height of the front side 202A is only <NUM>% of that of the rear side 202B, such that the housing <NUM> has a tilted opening <NUM> on its top. The tilted opening <NUM> is mechanically coupled to the rear surface <NUM> of the screen <NUM>. The back cover <NUM> has a back opening <NUM>, and the tilted opening <NUM> of the base <NUM> is aligned with the back opening <NUM> of the back cover <NUM>, thereby allowing interconnects to connect electronic components (e.g., a display module) mounted in the screen <NUM> to the main logic board <NUM>. When the screen <NUM> and the base <NUM> are mechanically coupled, a central portion of the rear surface <NUM> of the screen <NUM> is covered by the base <NUM>. Optionally, the central portion of the rear surface <NUM> covered by the base <NUM> accounts for <NUM>-<NUM>% of an entire area of the rear surface <NUM>. In some implementations, to assemble the back cover <NUM> to the base <NUM>, each edge of the back opening <NUM> of the back cover <NUM> is fastened to an interior surface of the housing <NUM> via one or more fasteners (e.g., screws). For example, top and bottom edges of the back opening <NUM> of the back cover <NUM> are fastened to interior rear and front surfaces of the housing <NUM>, respectively.

The base mount plate <NUM> is made of flexible material, and is mechanically coupled to a body of the base <NUM> (e.g., a bottom portion of the speaker assembly <NUM>) via at least an edge of the base mount plate <NUM> (e.g., a peripheral edge surrounding the base mount plate <NUM>). In some implementations, the edge of the base mount plate <NUM> included a raised portion configured to wrap around the edge of the body of the base <NUM> to which the base mount plate <NUM> is attached. The edge of the body of the base <NUM> optionally has a holding structure to couple to the raised portion the base mount plate <NUM>, thereby facilitating the edge of the base mount plate <NUM> to hold onto the body of the base <NUM>. In some implementations, the base mount plate <NUM> is made of an anti-slip material (e.g., silicone) and has a bottom surface that has a predefined friction coefficient with the surface on which the display assistant device <NUM> is configured to sit. The predefined friction coefficient is greater than a threshold friction coefficient such that the base <NUM> can sit on the surface tightly. Optionally, the bottom surface of the base mount plate <NUM> has a substantially concave shape that recesses slightly towards the body of the base <NUM>.

Further, in some implementations, the base mount plate <NUM> further includes a top surface opposing the bottom surface. The top surface of the base mount plate <NUM> includes a plurality of stud fasteners configured to mate with a plurality of receiving fasteners on the bottom surface of the body of the base <NUM> (e.g., a bottom surface of the enclosure structure <NUM>). It is also noted that positions of the stud fasteners and the receiving fasteners can be swapped in some implementations, i.e., the top surface of the base mount plate <NUM> includes a plurality of receiving fasteners configured to mate with a plurality of stud fasteners on the bottom surface of the body of the base <NUM>. Alternatively, in some implementations, the base mount plate <NUM> is coupled to the body of the base <NUM> using an adhesive.

In some embodiments, the plurality of stud fasteners includes a first stud (also called a reference stud fastener) configured to match a first receiving fastener (also called a reference receiving fastener) with a first tolerance and a second stud (also called an adjustable stud fastener) configured to match a second receiving fastener (also called an adjustable receiving fastener) with a second tolerance. The first tolerance is smaller than a threshold tolerance and the second tolerance is larger than the first tolerance. That said, when the base mount plate <NUM> is being assembled onto the body of the base <NUM>, the first stud is snapped onto the first receiving fastener before the second stud is snapped onto the second receiving fastener with its position adjusted within the second tolerance.

<FIG> is a cross sectional views of a display assistant device <NUM> in accordance with some implementations. The display assistant device <NUM> includes a speaker assembly <NUM>, and the speaker assembly <NUM> further includes a rear speaker <NUM> and one or more front speakers <NUM> (optional). The enclosure structure <NUM> provides a sealed structure for a rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM> while a speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM> is exposed from a rear surface of the enclosure structure <NUM>. Stated another way, the enclosure structure <NUM> directly prevents sound waves projected into the rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM> by a diaphragm of an open speaker driver of the rear speaker <NUM> from interacting with (i.e., interfering with) sound waves projected towards the speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM>. The speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM> faces backward and is optionally tilted upward with a tilting angle λ<NUM>.

The enclosure structure <NUM> optionally provides a sealed structure for a rear portion of each front speaker <NUM> while a speaker opening of the respective front speaker <NUM> is exposed from a front surface of the enclosure structure <NUM>. That said, part of the enclosure structure <NUM> directly prevents sound waves projected into the rear portion of the front speaker <NUM> by a diaphragm of an open speaker driver of the front speaker <NUM> from interacting with (i.e., interfering with) sound waves projected towards the speaker opening of the front speaker <NUM>.

Alternatively, in some implementations, each front speaker <NUM> may not rely on the enclosure structure <NUM> to provide the sealed structure. Rather, the front speaker <NUM> is individually packaged and mechanically integrated into the enclosure structure <NUM>, and the enclosure structure <NUM> provides mechanical support to the front speaker <NUM> without controlling the sound waves projected by the front speaker <NUM>. In some implementations, a speaker opening of each front speaker <NUM> has a dimension substantially greater than or matches a predefined height h of the space separating a bottom edge of the screen <NUM> and the surface on which the display assistant device <NUM> is configured to sit. The speaker opening of each front speaker <NUM> faces forward and is optionally tilted downward with a tilting angle λ<NUM>. In some implementations, the tilting angles λ<NUM> and λ<NUM> are equal. Further, in some implementations, the tilting angles λ<NUM> and λ<NUM> are equal to the base angle α and the screen angle β (which, for example, are equal to <NUM> degrees).

The rear speaker <NUM> is configured to project sound substantially towards a rear view of the display assistant device <NUM>, i.e., project a substantial portion of sound generated by the rear speaker <NUM> out of the base <NUM> via its rear side 202B. In contrast, each front speaker <NUM> (if any) is configured to project sound substantially towards a front view of the display assistant device <NUM>, i.e., project a substantial portion of sound generated by the respective speaker <NUM> towards the space between the bottom edge of the screen <NUM> and the surface. A housing <NUM> of the base <NUM> includes a plurality of speaker grill portions disposed on one or more of a front side 202A, a rear side 202B, a left side and a right side of the base <NUM>. In some implementations, a substantial portion (e.g., <NUM>% or more) of the sound generated by the front speaker <NUM> or rear speaker <NUM> exits the base <NUM> via speaker grill portions on the front side 202A or rear side 202B of the base <NUM>, respectively. Remaining portions of the sound generated by the front/rear speaker are guided inside the housing <NUM> to exit the base <NUM> via a subset of speaker grill portions that are disposed on one or more of the rear/front side, left side and right side of the base <NUM>.

The speakers <NUM> and/or <NUM> are disposed in a lower portion of a base <NUM> to lower down a center of mass of the entire display assistant device <NUM> which, for example, is lower than a predetermined portion (e.g., one third) of a height of the display assistant device <NUM>. In some implementations, for the purposes of lowering down the center of mass, a speaker assembly <NUM> having a larger weight is selected over a speaker assembly having a smaller weight when their costs or speaker box volumes are comparable. For example, a rear speaker <NUM> has a volume of 120cc, and a Ferrite based speaker is selected over a Neodymium based speaker because of its weight advantage. Given its center of mass and weight, the display assistant device <NUM> does not tip over (forward or backward) easily when a blunt force F hits a top edge of the display assistant device <NUM> or a user touch occurs to the screen <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>. For example, the center of mass is configured so that the display assistant device <NUM> can sustain an impact force of <NUM> Newton without tipping over.

In some implementations not shown in <FIG>, the enclosure structure <NUM> includes two shoulders each of which is recessed and separated from the housing <NUM> by a respective sound space, and the sound projected from the rear speaker <NUM> is configured to be guided through the sound spaces to exit the base <NUM> from one or both of the speaker grill portions located on the left and right sides of the housing <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>). In some implementations, the two shoulders of the enclosure structure <NUM> have different shapes, e.g., have a hyperbolic shape and a parabolic shape, respectively. In some implementations, the sound spaces are created to eliminate air disturbance associated with the sound that exits the base <NUM> via the rear side of the housing <NUM> and thereby reduce noise in the sound broadcasted from the rear speaker <NUM>. Likewise, sound spaces can be created to guide the sound projected from the front speaker <NUM> to the right and/or left sides of the housing <NUM>. More details on the speaker assembly <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> are discussed with reference to PCT Patent Application No. <CIT>, titled "Speaker Assembly of a Display Assistant Device," which claims priority to <CIT>, titled "Speaker Assembly of a Display Assistant Device".

<FIG> and <FIG> are two exploded views of a speaker assembly <NUM> of a display assistant device <NUM> from a front perspective angle and a rear perspective angle in accordance with some implementations, respectively. The speaker assembly <NUM> includes a rear speaker <NUM>, two front speakers <NUM> and an enclosure structure <NUM> of the rear speaker <NUM>. The enclosure structure <NUM> further includes an upper portion 318A and a base portion 318B. The base portion 318B is configured to hold the front and rear speakers. The upper and base portions 318A and 318B includes a first plurality of fastener structures <NUM> and a second plurality of fastener structures <NUM> that are complementary to each other. The upper portion 318A is mechanically coupled to the base portion 318B via the fastener structures <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., coupled to each other via fasteners <NUM>), thereby forming a sealed enclosure for the rear speaker <NUM>. Specifically, an open speaker driver of the rear speaker <NUM> is mounted on a rear surface of the enclosure structure <NUM>, and a speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM> faces backward to a rear view of the display assistant device <NUM>. The enclosure structure <NUM> directly prevents sound waves projected into a rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM> by a diaphragm of the open speaker driver of the rear speaker <NUM> from interacting with (i.e., interfering with) sound waves projected towards the speaker opening of the rear speaker <NUM>. In some implementations, the upper portion 318A has an internal surface that is configured to control the sound waves projected into the rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM> directly. In some implementations (not shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), the base portion 318B includes a sealed enclosure by itself when the open speaker driver of the rear speaker <NUM> is mounted on its rear surface, and the upper portion 318A is attached to the base portion 318B without controlling the sound waves projected into the rear portion of the rear speaker <NUM>.

The one or more front speakers <NUM> face a front view that is opposite to the rear view that the rear speaker faces. In some implementations, each front speaker <NUM> is not individually packaged and relies on the base portion 318B to provide a front enclosure <NUM>. The front enclosure <NUM> is separated from the sealed enclosure that controls the sound waves generated by the rear speaker <NUM>. An open speaker driver of the respective front speaker <NUM> is disposed in the front enclosure <NUM> to seal the front enclosure <NUM>. The front enclosure <NUM> is configured to constrain sound waves projected backward by a diaphragm of the open speaker driver of the respective front speaker <NUM> within the front enclosure <NUM> and thereby separate it from sound waves projected forward by the diaphragm. That said, the enclosure structure <NUM> includes a plurality of separated sealed spaces each of which provides a respective sealed enclosure for one of the front and rear speakers <NUM> and <NUM>.

Alternatively, in some implementations, each front speaker <NUM> is individually packaged and integrated into the base portion 318B of the enclosure structure <NUM>, i.e., has its own sealed enclosure for separating the sound waves projected forward from sound waves projected backward by the diaphragm of the open speaker driver of the respective front speaker <NUM>. In some situations, the base portion 318B has a front enclosure <NUM> for each front speaker <NUM>. The front enclosure <NUM> is separated from the sealed enclosure for controlling the sound waves generated by the rear speaker <NUM>. The front enclosure <NUM> is configured to receive the respective front speaker <NUM>, allowing the respective front speaker <NUM> to face forward when disposed in the front enclosure <NUM>. Alternatively, in some situations, the base portion 318B has a front opening <NUM> for each front speaker <NUM>. The front opening <NUM> is connected to the sealed enclosure for controlling the sound waves generated by the rear speaker <NUM>. The front opening <NUM> is sealed when the respective front speaker <NUM> that is individually packaged is disposed therein.

In some implementations, a side wall <NUM> of the enclosure structure <NUM> comes into contact with an interior surface of a housing <NUM> when the enclosure structure <NUM> is assembled into the housing <NUM>. Alternative, in some implementations, a sound space is created between the side wall <NUM> of the enclosure structure <NUM> and the interior surface of the housing <NUM> to modulate sound projected from the corresponding front speaker <NUM> or rear speaker <NUM>. The sound space may be separated to two sound spaces to modulate the sound projected from the corresponding front speaker <NUM> and rear speaker <NUM> separately. In an example, the side wall <NUM> of the enclosure structure <NUM> has one of a hyperbolic shape and a parabolic shape. It is noted that the side walls <NUM> on two different sides (also called shoulders) of the enclosure structure <NUM> may have the same shape or distinct shapes.

The upper portion 318A is configured to support a main logic board <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>. A plurality of electronic components <NUM> are mounted on both sides of the main logic board <NUM>. The upper portion 318A includes a recess <NUM> configured to receive one or more of the electronic components <NUM> that are mounted on and rise from a rear surface of the main logic board <NUM>. In accordance with some implementations of the application, the upper portions 318A is made of an electrically conductive material, and at least partially provides electromagnetic shielding for a subset of the electronic components <NUM> while forming part of the sealed enclosure of the rear speaker <NUM>. In some implementations, the subset of the electronic components <NUM> is also thermally coupled to the upper portion 318A which acts as a heat sink to absorb heat generated by the one or more electronic components and dissipate the generated heat away from the electronic components <NUM>. By these means, the upper portion 318A can serve dual or triple purposes (i.e., acts as two or more of a sealed enclosure of the rear speaker, an electromagnetic shield and a heat sink) in the display assistant device <NUM>. More details on electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipating functions of a multi-function speaker enclosure <NUM> are described below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, respectively.

<FIG> and <FIG> are two exploded views of a speaker assembly <NUM> of a display assistant device <NUM> having an electrically conductive portion (i.e., an upper portion 318A) from a front perspective angle and a rear perspective angle in accordance with some implementations, respectively. As explained above, the upper portion 318A that is electrically conductive is configured to provide electromagnetic shielding for one or more electronic components <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of electrical shielding that is provided by the speaker assembly <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> in accordance with some implementations.

In some implementations, the one or more electronic components <NUM> are mounted on a rear surface of the main logic board <NUM>, and the main logic board <NUM> is mounted on the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM>, thereby allowing the one or more electronic components <NUM> to be mechanically coupled to the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> via the main logic board <NUM>. Specifically, the upper portion 318A has a slanted top surface, and the main logic board <NUM> are attached to the slanted top surface of the upper portion 318A via a plurality of fasteners <NUM>. The upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> includes a recess <NUM> configured to receive the one or more electronic components <NUM> when the main logic board <NUM> is mounted on the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM>. That said, the one or more electronic components <NUM> located on the rear surface of the main logic board <NUM> descend into and are concealed in the recess <NUM> when the main logic board <NUM> is mounted on the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM>.

In some implementations, the main logic board <NUM> further includes a grounded plane <NUM> that is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive upper portion 318A to provide the electromagnetic shielding that encloses the one or more electronic components <NUM>. Specifically, in an example, both the grounded plane <NUM> of the main logic board <NUM> and the upper portion 318A are electrically coupled to a ground of the display assistant device <NUM>, such that the one or more electronic components <NUM> is immersed in a grounded local environment and protected from electromagnetic interference. In some situations, the recess <NUM> is physically configured according to a profile of the one or more electronic components <NUM> mounted on the rear surface of the main logic board <NUM>, and the one or more electronic components <NUM> are closely surrounded by the ground of the display assistant device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some implementations, the one or more electronic components <NUM> are surrounded by an electromagnetic shielding fence <NUM> fixed on the main logic board <NUM>. A flexible electrically conductive foam <NUM> is disposed on top of the electromagnetic shielding fence <NUM>. Optionally, the flexible electrically conductive foam <NUM> includes a conductive string bent to align with the electromagnetic shielding fence <NUM>. Optionally, the flexible electrically conductive foam <NUM> includes a conductive sheet covering a top of the electromagnetic shielding fence <NUM>. When the main logic board <NUM> is mounted on the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM>, the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> is pressed onto the flexible electrically conductive foam <NUM> and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive shielding fence <NUM> via the flexible electrically conductive foam <NUM>, thereby forming the electrical shielding that closely encloses the one or more electronic components <NUM>.

In some implementations, a subset of the electronic components <NUM> (not each and every electronic component <NUM>) disposed on the rear surface of the main logic board <NUM> is protected by the electromagnetic shielding fence <NUM> and flexible electrically conductive foam <NUM>. Each electromagnetic shielding fence <NUM> is optionally contains a single electronic component <NUM> that is sensitive to electromagnetic interference or two or more of these sensitive electronic components <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross sectional view of a display assistant device <NUM> in which part of an enclosure structure <NUM> of a speaker assembly <NUM> acts as a heat sink in accordance with some implementations, respectively. In some implementations, the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> is not only electrically conductive, but also thermally conductive. The upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> is thermally coupled to one or more first electronic components <NUM>, and is configured to absorb heat generated by the one or more first electronic components <NUM> and dissipate the generated heat away from the one or more first electronic components <NUM>. Under some circumstances, referring to <FIG>, the one or more first electronic components <NUM> are mounted on a rear surface of the main logic board <NUM>, and the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> and the one or more first electronic components <NUM> are thermally coupled to each other via a thermal spreader <NUM> to facilitate heat transfer from the first electronic components <NUM> to a body of the upper portion 318A.

In accordance with a first heat dissipation path A, the heat absorbed by the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure is then dissipated via the rear side 202B of the base <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>. In some implementations, the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> is hollow, and the heat absorbed by the upper portion 318A is transferred along a surface of the enclosure structure <NUM>. In some implementations, a first thermal conductive pad is disposed between the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> and the rear side of the base <NUM> to facilitate heat transfer from the upper portion 318A to the rear side of the base <NUM>. Alternatively, in some implementations, an air gap exists between the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> and the rear side of the base <NUM>. The sound waves projected from the rear speaker <NUM> are configured to facilitate transferring the heat to the rear side of the base <NUM> and carry the heat out of the housing <NUM> of the base <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>.

Part of the heat generated by the first electronic components <NUM> is absorbed by a substrate of the main logic board <NUM> itself, while part of heat is generated by one or more second electronic components <NUM> mounted on a front surface of the main logic board <NUM> and absorbed by the substrate of the main logic board <NUM>. The main logic board <NUM> comes into contact with the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> via an edge area of the main logic board <NUM>. In accordance with a second heat dissipation path B, the heat absorbed by the substrate of the main logic board <NUM> is transferred in its planar substrate and passed to the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> by heat convection via the edge area of the main logic board <NUM>. The second heat dissipation path B merges with the first heat dissipation path A, allowing the heat absorbed by the substrate of the main logic board <NUM> to be dissipated out of the housing <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM> (e.g., dissipated via the first thermal conductive pad, carried out by the sound waves projected by the rear speaker <NUM>).

In some implementations, in accordance with a third heat dissipation path C, heat generated by the electronic components <NUM> mounted on the main logic board <NUM> is dissipated via a front surface of the screen <NUM> of the display assistant device <NUM>. The heat passes the middle frame <NUM> and the display front <NUM>. In some implementations, a first thermal spreader is disposed between the main logic board <NUM> and a rear surface of the middle frame <NUM>, and is configured to transfer heat from the electronic components <NUM> and the substrate of the main logic board <NUM> to the middle frame <NUM>. Further, in some implementations, a second thermal spreader is disposed between the display front <NUM> and middle frame <NUM>. The second thermal spreader comes into contact with a portion of (e.g., half of) the rear surface of the display front <NUM>, and redistributes heat evenly across itself and the portion of the rear surface of the display front <NUM>. The first thermal spreader also absorbs heat from the middle frame <NUM>. As a result, the heat associated with the display front <NUM> and the main logic board <NUM> is at least partially dissipated into the ambient via the front surface of the display front <NUM>.

In accordance with some implementations of this application, the upper portion 318A is electrically and thermally conductive, and serves multiple functions including, but are not limited to, sealing the rear speaker <NUM>, deterring electromagnetic interference to the electronic components <NUM>, and absorbing heat generated by the electronic components <NUM>. An example material of the upper portion 318A of the enclosure structure <NUM> is metal. The base portion 318B does not need to be electrically and thermally conductive although it can be. In some implementations, the base portion 318B is made of a non-metallic material (e.g., wood and synthetic fiber) to control an overall weight of the display assistant device <NUM>. In some implementations, the upper portion 318A is a metallic hollow structure for the purposes of reducing cost and controlling the weight of the display assistant device <NUM>. In some implementations, the upper portion 318A has a top surface made of an electrically and thermal conductive material configured to facilitate heat dissipation and electromagnetic shielding, while a body of the upper portion 318A is not electrically and thermally conductive.

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, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

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.

Although various drawings illustrate a number of logical stages in a particular order, stages that are not order dependent may be reordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, so the ordering and groupings presented herein are not an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages can be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>), comprising:
a speaker (<NUM>);
an enclosure structure (<NUM>) in which the speaker (<NUM>) is mounted, the enclosure structure (<NUM>) exposing a speaker opening of the speaker (<NUM>) and providing a sealed enclosure for a rear portion of the speaker (<NUM>), wherein the enclosure structure (<NUM>) further includes an electrically conductive portion (318A); and
one or more electronic components (<NUM>) coupled to the electrically conductive portion (318A) of the enclosure structure (<NUM>);
wherein the electrically conductive portion (318A) of the enclosure structure (<NUM>) is configured to provide electromagnetic shielding for the one or more electronic components (<NUM>) and forms part of the sealed enclosure (<NUM>) of the speaker (<NUM>), and wherein the electrically conductive portion is grounded;
wherein the one or more electronic components (<NUM>) are mounted on a logic board (<NUM>), and the logic board (<NUM>) is mounted on the electrically conductive portion (318A) of the enclosure structure (<NUM>), thereby allowing the one or more electronic components (<NUM>) to be mechanically coupled to the electrically conductive portion (318A) of the enclosure structure (<NUM>) via the logic board (<NUM>); and
wherein the electrically conductive portion (318A) of the enclosure structure (<NUM>) includes a recess (<NUM>) configured to receive the one or more electronic components (<NUM>) when the logic board (<NUM>) is mounted on the electrically conductive portion (318A) of the enclosure structure (<NUM>).