Sound output apparatus and hub for communication network

• US 10,111,345 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sangin
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaker, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US15/604,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20170347468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 36167903, 36167924
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/00 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 : Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 : comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 : Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A hub comprises a main body with a speaker; a communication module included in the main body; a window formed of a transparent material; a display panel for displaying a screen based on information exchanged via the communication module; and a cover housing coupled to a top of the main body and having a display panel and an opening at an upper surface thereof. The window is provided on an upper surface of the display panel, wherein a normal vector with respect to a predetermined plane in which the opening falls is at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane, and a vector acquired by orthogonally projecting the normal vector with respect to the horizontal plane faces forward. A portion of the inner surface of the cover housing is parallel with the normal vector, and the window is provided so that an upper surface faces the direction of the normal vector.

Claims

1. A hub comprising:

a main body including a speaker configured to output sound;

communication circuitry provided in the main body and configured to wirelessly communicate with another device; and

a cover housing having a lower surface coupled to an upper surface of the main body and having an upper surface defining an opening, wherein a display panel to output a display and a window formed of a transparent material and positioned over the display are provided in the cover housing, wherein the opening is inclined at a prescribed angle relative to a horizontal plane, wherein an inner surface of the cover housing within the opening extends orthogonally to the prescribed angle at the opening, wherein the window is positioned within the opening and inclined at the prescribed angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein a prescribed gap is formed between a side surface of the window and the inner surface of the cover housing, and the side surface of the window is parallel to the inner surface of the cover housing, and wherein the hub further comprises a window support provided below the window to support the window, wherein the window support includes;

a window support plate provided above the display panel to support the window and having an opening to expose the display panel; and

at least one support boss extending downward and away from the window support plate and coupled to the cover housing.

2. The hub according to claim 1, further comprising:

a grille having a vertically elongated cylindrical shape and provided with a plurality of through-holes therein, the main body being provided within the grille, and the grille being coupled at an upper end thereof to the cover housing,

wherein the cover housing comprises;

a cylindrical sidewall extending vertically and provided above the grille; and

an upper-end holding surface extending from the cylindrical sidewall to be inserted into the grille to contact an inner surface of the grille.

3. The hub according to claim 2, wherein an outer side surface of the cylindrical sidewall extends vertically down from the opening.

4. The hub according to claim 2, wherein an outer side surface of the cylindrical sidewall gradually increases is diameter farther downward from the opening.

5. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the window is formed in a circular shape.

6. A hub comprising:

a main body including a speaker configured to output sound;

communication circuitry provided in the main body and configured to wirelessly communicate with another device; and

a cover housing having a lower surface coupled to an upper surface of the main body and having an upper surface defining an opening,

wherein a display panel to output a display and a window formed of a transparent material and positioned over the display are provided in the cover housing,

wherein the opening is inclined at a prescribed angle relative to a horizontal plane,

wherein an inner surface of the cover housing within the opening extends orthogonally to the prescribed angle at the opening,

wherein the inner surface of the cover housing within the opening positions the window to be inclined at the prescribed angle relative to the horizontal plan,

wherein the hub further comprises;

a grille having a vertically elongated cylindrical shape and provided with a plurality of through-holes therein, the main body being provided within the grille, and the grille being coupled at an upper end thereof to the cover housing,

wherein the cover housing comprises;

a cylindrical sidewall extending vertically and provided above the grille; and

an upper-end holding surface extending from the cylindrical sidewall to be inserted into the grille to contact an inner surface of the grille,

wherein the window is formed in a circular shape,

wherein the upper-end holding surface of the cover housing has an elliptical shape in a horizontal plane, and

wherein the upper-end holding surface of the cover housing causes the grille, when inserted over the upper-end holding surface to be deformed into the elliptical shape.

7. A hub comprising:

a main body including a speaker configured to output sound;

communication circuitry provided in the main body and configured to wirelessly communicate with another device; and

a cover housing having a lower surface coupled to an upper surface of the main body and having an upper surface defining an opening,

wherein a display panel to output a display and a window formed of a transparent material and positioned over the display are provided in the cover housing,

wherein the opening is inclined at a prescribed angle relative to a horizontal plane,

wherein an inner surface of the cover housing within the opening extends orthogonally to the prescribed angle at the opening,

wherein the inner surface of the cover housing within the opening positions the window to be inclined at the prescribed angle relative to the horizontal plane, and

wherein the hub further comprises;

a display Printed Circuit Board (PCB) provided in the cover housing and having an upper surface on which the display panel is installed; and

a window support provided below the window to support the window, wherein the window support includes;

a window support plate provided above the display panel to support the window and having an opening to expose the display panel; and

at least one support boss extending downward and away from the window support plate and coupled to the cover housing.

8. The hub according to claim 7, wherein the cover housing further includes:

a partition extending from the inner surface of the cover housing, the partition dividing an inside of the cover housing into upper and lower regions,

wherein the display PCB is provided in an upper surface of the partition within the upper region, and

wherein the partition includes at least one insertion boss to receive the at least one support boss, respectively.

9. The hub according to claim 8, wherein the window support plate and the partition extend parallel to a lower surface of the inclined window.

10. A hub comprising:

a main body including a speaker configured to output sound;

communication circuitry provided in the main body and configured to wirelessly communicate with another device;

a window formed of a transparent material;

a display panel configured to output visual content associate with based on information exchanged via the communication circuitry; and

a cover housing coupled to a top surface of the main body and defining a cavity to receive the display panel, wherein an opening of the cavity is provided on an upper surface of the cover housing, and wherein the window is provided above the display panel, wherein an inner surface of the cover housing extends orthogonally to a prescribed angle relative to a horizontal plane, wherein the window is positioned within the opening and an upper surface of the window is inclined at the prescribed angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein a gap of a prescribed width is provided between a side surface of the window and the inner surface of the cover housing, and the side surface of the window is parallel to the inner surface of the cover housing, and wherein the hub further comprises a window support provided below the window to support the window, wherein the window support includes;

a window support plate provided above the display panel to support the window and having an opening to expose the display panel; and

at least one support boss extending downward and away from the window support plate and coupled to the cover housing.

11. The hub according to claim 10, further comprising:

a grille having a vertically elongated cylindrical shape and provided with a plurality of through-holes therein, the main body being provided within the grille, the grille being coupled at an upper end thereof to the cover housing,

wherein the cover housing further includes;

a cylindrical sidewall extending vertically and provided above the grille; and

an upper-end holding surface extending from the sidewall to be inserted into the grille and come into an inner surface of the grille to thereby maintain an upper end of the grille, and

wherein the inner surface of the cover housing is included in the sidewall.

12. The hub according to claim 11, wherein an outer side surface of the cylindrical sidewall extends vertically down from the opening.

13. The hub according to claim 11, wherein an outer side surface of the cylindrical sidewall gradually increases is diameter farther downward from the opening.

14. The hub according to claim 11 wherein the window is formed in a circular shape.

15. A hub comprising:

a main body including a speaker configured to output sound;

a communication circuitry provided in the main body and configured to wirelessly communicate with another device;

a base provided below the main body to support the main body;

a display panel configured to generate a visual output; and

a window formed of a transparent material and positioned over the display panel;

a cover housing coupled to a top of the main body and having the display panel provided therein, an upper surface of the cover housing defining an opening to receive the window, wherein the window is provided within an inner surface of the cover housing within the opening, wherein a normal vector with respect to the upper surface of the window is at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane, and a vector is acquired by orthogonally projecting the normal vector with respect to the horizontal plane faces forward, wherein the inner surface of the cover housing extends parallel to a side surface of the window, wherein a gap of a prescribed width is formed between a side surface of the window and the inner surface of the cover housing, and the side surface of the window is parallel to the inner surface of the cover housing, and wherein the hub further comprises a window support provided below the window to support the window, wherein the window support includes;

a window support plate provided above the display panel to support the window and having an opening to expose the display panel; and

at least one support boss extending downward and away from the window support plate and coupled to the cover housing.

16. The hub according to claim 15, further comprising:

a grille having a vertically elongated cylindrical shape and provided with a plurality of through-holes therein, the main body being provided within the grille, the grille being coupled at an upper end thereof to the cover housing,

wherein the cover housing further includes;

a cylindrical sidewall extending vertically and provided above the grille; and

an upper-end holding surface extending from the sidewall to be inserted into the grille and come into an inner surface of the grille to maintain an upper end of the grille, and

wherein the inner surface of the cover housing is included in the sidewall.

17. The hub according to claim 15 wherein the window is formed in a circular shape.