Detection-facilitating mounting stand for multi-sensing smart home device

• US 10,041,690 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniels, Eric B., Dong, William R., Chamberlain, Jason C., Warren, Daniel A., Vo, Helen, Srinivasan, Shyam R., Fadell, Anthony M., Rogers, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Norton, Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US15/444,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20170299199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1009 for central heating
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

An electronic device may include an occupancy sensor that is configured to detect presence within a responsive range of the occupancy sensor and a stand configured to physically support the electronic device, where the stand comprises a reflective surface positioned to reflect energy emissions from an object within the responsive range of the occupancy sensor onto the occupancy sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an occupancy sensor that is configured to detect presence within a responsive range of the occupancy sensor; and

a stand configured to physically support the electronic device, wherein the stand comprises a reflective surface positioned to reflect energy emissions from an object within the responsive range of the occupancy sensor onto the occupancy sensor.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a horizontal member, wherein a top side of the horizontal member comprises the reflective surface, and a bottom side of the horizontal member is configured to contact a horizontal surface on which the electronic device is placed.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor comprises an infrared (IR) sensor.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises an IR-reflective surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing that encloses the occupancy sensor.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the housing is configured to be mechanically coupled to the stand.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the stand comprises one or more mechanical alignment protrusions and/or cavities configured to receive corresponding mechanical alignment protrusions and/or cavities on the housing such that a user interface of the electronic device can be correctly oriented when mating the housing to the stand.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the stand further comprises an opening configured to allow one or more wires to pass through the opening to connect to the electronic device, wherein the one or more wires originate from a power supply.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a metallic finish.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the metallic finish comprises a sheet of stainless steel.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the stand is configured to orient the electronic device upwards at an angle of greater than 90°

relative to a surface on which the stand is placed.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein motion detection of the object within the responsive range of the occupancy sensor is enhanced by virtue of reflections of energy emissions off of the reflective surface onto the occupancy sensor.