# US 11,115,741 B2 · Artificial intelligence sound output apparatus, hub for communication network, method of manufacturing the apparatus, and grille for the apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,115,741 B2 - Document ID: US11115741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/433,541 - Filed: 2019-06-06 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-25 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Dajeong Eom; Sangin Kim; Jisung Ryu; Sanghoon Chi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11115741B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture} - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - H04R 1/023: {Screens for loudspeakers} - G10L 15/00: Speech recognition (G10L17/00 takes precedence) - H04R 1/24: Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 31/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor {(manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182)} - H04R 2201/029: Manufacturing aspects of enclosures transducers - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING ## Abstract Disclosed is an artificial intelligence hub including: a main body having a speaker for outputting sound; a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a surround ding device; a base arranged below the main body to support the main body; a cover coupled to a top of the main body, the cover having an upper surface for displaying a screen based on information exchanged via the communication module; and a grille having a vertically elongated cylindrical shape and provided with a plurality of through-holes therein, the main body being arranged within the grille, the grille being coupled at an upper end thereof to the cover housing and coupled at a lower end thereof to the base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hub comprising: a main body including a housing; communication circuitry coupled to the housing of the main body, the communication circuitry exchanging data with another device; a base coupled to a lower surface of the housing of the main body; a cover including a cover housing, the cover housing including a lower surface coupled to a top of the housing of the main body, and an upper surface to receive a display panel to output visual content associated with the data exchanged with the other device via the communication circuitry; and a grille formed of an elastically deformable metal sheet, the grille having a surface defining a cylinder with a central cavity, an upper opening and a lower opening, the upper opening of the grille being coupled to the cover housing, the lower opening of the grille being coupled to the base, and the main body being positioned within the central cavity to be encapsulated by the base, the cover, and the grille, wherein the cover housing further includes: a cylindrical sidewall extending in a vertical direction from the upper surface of the cover housing and positioned above the grille; an upper-end holding extension protruding from the sidewall and inserted into the grille from a top side of the grille, the upper-end holding extension being inserted into the upper opening of the grille to contact an inner surface at an upper end of the grille and to maintain a shape of the upper end of the grille as an ellipse; and a first surface extending from an outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall to the upper-end holding extension so as to be positioned opposite the upper end of the grille when the upper-end holding extension is inserted into the grille. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hub according to claim 1, wherein: the upper surface of the cover housing defines an opening; the display panel is positioned in the opening of the cover housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hub according to claim 2, wherein a window is positioned over the display panel and in the opening to cover the display panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hub according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the cover housing inclines the window and the display panel with respect to a horizontal plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hub according to claim 4, wherein the window has a circular shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The hub according to claim 4, wherein the cover further includes: 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hub according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal cross section of the grille is an ellipse. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hub according to claim 1, wherein the cover housing includes at least one fastening boss extending in a lateral direction from the upper-end holding extension and coupled to the main body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hub according to claim 8, wherein the main body includes at least one boss-insertion recess for insertion of the at least one fastening boss. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hub according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry includes WiFi® circuitry and Bluetooth® circuitry, wherein the WiFi® circuitry and the Bluetooth® circuitry are coupled to the main body, and wherein antennas for the WiFi® circuitry and the Bluetooth® circuitry are positioned in the cover above the grille. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hub according to claim 10, wherein the communication circuitry includes a Zigbee® circuitry.