Housing for Digital Assistant

• US 20190003196A1
• Filed: 04/06/2018
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David R. Hall
• Original Assignee: David R. Hall
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Miles, Jerome, Jones, Christopher, Webb, Casey
• Granted Patent: US 10,718,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/42 Devices or arrangements peculiar to garages, not covered elsewhere, e.g. securing devices, safety devices , monitoring and operating schemes; centering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A housing for a digital assistant is disclosed. The housing includes; a body holding the digital assistant; attachments for an overhead mounting system. Within the housing there is at least one electrical input; and at least one electrical output; along with a digital current limiter. The digital assistant is capable of receiving and implementing instructions via voice commands or a personal control device. The digital current limiter receives instructions from the digital assistant and in response to those instructions, regulates the current to components in communication with the digital assistant. A method for using the housing and digital assistant to create a smart garage system by regulating access to connected components is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A housing for a digital assistant comprising:

a body holding the digital assistant;

hardware to attach the body to an overhead mounting system;

at least one electrical input;

at least one electrical output; and

a digital current limiter;

wherein the digital assistant is capable of receiving and implementing instructions via voice commands or via a personal control device; and

wherein, the digital current limiter is adapted to, in response to instructions from the digital assistant, regulate the current to components attached to the overhead mounting system.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the digital current limiter is adapted to, in response to instructions from the digital assistant, completely block current from passing to the components attached to the at least one electrical output.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the digital assistant is adapted to identify users.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein users are identified through voice recognition.

5. The housing of claim 3, wherein users are identified through a program installed on their personal control device.

6. The invention of claim 3, wherein the digital assistant is adapted to restrict use of at least one of the components to one or more authorized users.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein the digital assistant is adapted to communicate with and send instructions to the components.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the body is adapted to allow voice commands from a user to reach the digital assistant and audible feedback from the digital assistant to reach the user.

11. The invention of claim 1, wherein the body is waterproof.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein the body is dustproof.

13. The invention of claim 1, wherein the body provides protection against freezing temperatures.

14. The invention of claim 1, where the attachment hardware is removable.

9. The invention of claim 9, wherein a speaker and microphone for the digital assistant are external to the body.

10. The invention of claim 9, wherein the body comprises apertures to allow audio signals to pass into and out of the body.

15. A method for creating a smart garage system comprising:

providing a digital assistant in a housing, the housing comprising;

a body holding the digital assistant;

hardware to attach the body to an overhead mounting system;

at least one electrical input;

at least one electrical output;

a digital current limiter adapted to, in response to instructions from the digital assistant, regulate the current to other components attached to the overhead mounting system;

wherein the digital assistant is capable of receiving and implementing instructions via voice commands or via a personal control device; and

connecting at least one component to the electrical output;

whereby access to the at least one component is restricted by commands given to the digital assistant.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the digital assistant is adapted to identify users and to restrict access to the at least one component to a subset of authorized users.

17. The invention of claim 16, wherein access is restricted by blocking current to the at least one component unless an authorized user is identified.

18. The invention of claim 15, further comprising a second electrical outlet with at least one second component connected thereto, and wherein current to the at least one second component is not regulated by the digital current limiter.

19. The invention of claim 15, further comprising a second electrical outlet with at least one second component connected thereto, wherein current to the at least one second component is regulated by the digital current limiter, and wherein all users are allowed to access the at least one second component.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the users are identified by voice recognition.