Sound output apparatus and hub for communication network

• US 9,992,036 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Eom, Dajeong, Chi, Sanghoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaker, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US15/605,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20170346650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• 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 1/1656 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 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: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• 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: 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• 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: 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

Abstract

A hub includes a main body including a communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with another device and a cover housing coupled to a top portion of the main body, the cover housing including a sidewall that extends in a vertical direction and a partition extending from an inner surface of the sidewall to divide an inside of the sidewall into upper and lower regions. The hub further includes a display panel positioned in the cover housing, the display panel providing a visual output; and a display Printed Circuit Board (PCB) positioned on the partition, the display panel being positioned on an upper surface of the display PCB. The cover housing further includes a rib protruding upward from the partition, the rib extending through a gap between the display PCB and the sidewall to contact with a periphery of the display panel.

Claims

1. A hub comprising:

a main body including communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with another device;

a cover housing coupled to a top portion of the main body, the cover housing including a sidewall that extends in a vertical direction and a partition extending from an inner surface of the sidewall to divide an inside of the sidewall into upper and lower regions;

a display Printed Circuit Board (PCB) positioned on the partition; and

a display panel providing a visual output, the display panel being positioned on an upper surface of the display PCB, in the cover housing, wherein the cover housing further includes a rib protruding upward from the partition, the rib extending through a gap between the display PCB and the sidewall to contact with a periphery of the display panel; and

wherein the cover housing further includes another rib protruding upward from the partition, the another rib passing through one of four regions divided by arm portions of the display PCB and contacting a periphery of the display PCB.

2. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the display PCB includes the arm portions extending forward, rearward, leftward and rightward from a central portion of the display PCB, and wherein the rib passes through any one of four regions divided by the arm portions.

3. The hub according to claim 2, wherein the display panel has a rectangular shape, and

wherein the rib includes a plurality of ribs, one of the ribs coming into contact with a first side of the display panel, and another one of the ribs coming into contact with a second side of the display panel that is parallel to the first side of the display panel.

4. The hub according to claim 3, wherein another of the ribs contacts a third side of the display panel that connects the first side and the second side.

5. The hub according to claim 3, wherein the display panel is oriented so that the first side extends in a left-to-right direction.

6. The hub according to claim 3, wherein the rib contacting the first side of the display panel and the other rib contacting the second side of the display panel pass through different regions among the four regions divided by the arm portions.

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

a window support disposed above the display panel in the cover housing, the window support including a window support plate provided with an opening exposing at least a portion of the display panel and at least one support boss protruding downward from the window support plate so as to be coupled to the partition, the at least one support boss spacing the window support plate from the display PCB; and

a window formed of a transparent material, the window being disposed on an upper surface of the window support plate in the cover housing to cover the opening,

wherein one of the at least one support boss passes through any one of four regions divided by arm portions of the display PCB and is coupled to the partition.

8. The hub according to claim 7, wherein the display PCB has a through-hole, and

wherein one of the at least one support boss passes through the through-hole.

9. The hub according to claim 7, wherein the cover housing further includes at least one insertion boss protruding downward from the partition to receive the at least one support boss, respectively.

10. The hub according to claim 9, further including contact switches provided in the arm portions, respectively, and

wherein the contact switches are positioned in front, rear, left and right areas about the display PCB.

11. The hub according to claim 10, wherein the contact switches are symmetrically positioned about the display PCB.

12. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the partition includes an opening, to receive a wire connecting the display PCB to a main PCB positioned below the partition.

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

a window formed of a transparent material, the window being disposed at an incline and above the display panel, wherein the display panel is positioned in parallel with the inclined window by the partition.

14. The hub according to claim 13, wherein the partition is extends parallel to the inclined window.

15. The hub according to claim 13, further comprising:

a window support disposed above the display panel in the cover housing, the window support including a window support plate provided with an opening exposing at least a portion of the display panel,

wherein contact switches are provided on the upper surface of the display PCB, and

wherein the window support includes protrusions extending downward from the window support plate at respective positions corresponding to the contact switches.

16. The hub according to claim 13, wherein pressure applied on the window support plate through the window activates one or more of the contact switches.

17. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the display PCB is coupled to near-field communication (NFC) circuitry configured to exchange NFC signals with another device with a prescribed distance or contacting the hub.

18. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the display PCB further includes volume adjustment switches, and wherein one or more buttons extend through the cover housing to selectively activate the volume adjustment switches.

19. The hub according to claim 18, wherein the one or more buttons include protrusion that extend from a side of the button to prevent the buttons from being separated from the cover housing.