Wireless network device capable of operating in the 6GHz band

Abstract

This specification describes a wireless local area network (WLAN) device capable of operating in the 6 gigahertz (GHz) band in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The device is configured with a small form factor housing enclosing a three-axis antenna system with three pairs of antennas oriented along orthogonal major axes [x, y, z]. The device also includes multiple heat sinks that act as shielding devices for opposing sides of a circuit board assembly. An antenna plate covers the opening of a cavity defined by the heat sinks. The antenna patterns are uncorrelated based on retrodirectional radiation patterns. A 2.4 GHz antenna is attached to the circuit board assembly, extends outward from the heat sink, and is offset by at least a quarter wavelength from the base of the device to minimize effects from the surface on which the device rests.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] Wi-Fi® devices can be large and unattractive due to hardware limitations. Some such devices have external antennas that, depending on where the device is placed in a user's home, can be damaged by small children or animals touching or moving them. Wi-Fi devices can also have complex controls and status lights that can be difficult for some users to understand. These aspects of conventional range extender devices can frustrate users and degrade the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0002] This specification describes a wireless network device capable of operating in the 6 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The device is configured with a small form factor housing enclosing a three-axis antenna system with three pairs of antennas oriented along orthogonal major axes [x, y, z]. The device also has multiple heat sinks that act as shielding devices for opposing sides of the circuit board assembly (e.g., the side on which integrated circuit components are mounted). An antenna plate covers the opening of a cavity defined by the heat sinks. The antenna patterns are uncorrelated based on retrodirectional radiation patterns. A 2.4 GHz antenna is attached to the circuit board assembly, extends outward from the heat sink, and is offset by at least a quarter wavelength from the base of the device to minimize effects from the surface on which the device rests.

[0003] In some aspects, the wireless network device includes a housing having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a depth along a z-axis. In some implementations, the height is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the depth. In some implementations, the housing forms a vertical rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners and edges. In some implementations, the housing includes a front housing component and a rear housing component, the front housing component and the rear housing component interconnected along their respective perimeters along an xy plane defined by the x-axis and y-axis. In some implementations, the wireless network device also includes an antenna system housed within the housing and operable in at least three bands, including 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. In some implementations, the wireless network device also includes a circuit board assembly disposed within the housing and operable to provide at least one of a gateway or a node to a wireless network.

[0004] In some embodiments, the circuit board assembly is supported in an orientation parallel to the x-y plane. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the circuit board assembly is housed within an antenna and shield subassembly that includes a first heat sink and a second heat sink mated across the circuit board assembly to shield the antenna system from electromagnetic interference generated by electrical components on the circuit board assembly. In some of these embodiments, the circuit board assembly includes a first side and an opposing second side, and the first heat sink includes a first inner surface that physically contacts the first side of the circuit board assembly to conduct heat away from the first side of the circuit board assembly and a first outer surface that conforms to and contacts the first inner surface of the front housing component to transfer heat to the front housing component. In some of these embodiments, the second heat sink includes a second inner surface that physically contacts the second side of the circuit board assembly to conduct heat away from the second side of the circuit board assembly and a second outer surface that conforms to and contacts the second inner surface of the rear housing component to transfer heat to the rear housing component. In some of these embodiments, the first heat sink and the second heat sink each define a cavity with an opening, and the antenna and shield subassembly includes an antenna plate covering the opening of each cavity. In some of these embodiments, the antenna system includes multiple antennas attached to the antenna plate to form a 5 GHz wireless network system that includes both primary and diversity antenna switching. In some of these embodiments, the antenna plate is a single piece of sheet metal that forms a ground plane, and the multiple antennas on the antenna plate are stamped and bent to lie above the ground plane.Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the antenna system includes at least two antennas mounted to the circuit board assembly and extending outward from an edge of the circuit board assembly, the at least two antennas being flush with the circuit board assembly, the at least two antennas extending outward from first and second heat sinks surrounding the circuit board assembly, and the at least two antennas being offset by approximately a quarter wavelength from a base of the wireless network device. In some of these embodiments, the at least two antennas are mounted to the circuit board assembly using surface mount technology. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the at least two antennas are each operable in both the 2.4 GHz band and the 6 GHz band. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the at least two antennas are decorrelated based on minimizing the product of the electric fields generated by each of the at least two antennas and based on the radiation patterns of the at least two antennas being directed in opposite directions from each other. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the first heat sink and the second heat sink have a y-axis dimension that is within a range of 50% to 90% of the height of the housing.

[0005] In some embodiments, the rear housing component includes one or more openings that align with one or more ports on the circuit board assembly, the one or more openings being disposed in a portion of the rear housing component that is parallel to the xy plane. In some of these embodiments, the one or more ports on the circuit board assembly include an Ethernet port and a power connector.

[0006] In some embodiments, the antenna system is a three-axis orthogonal antenna system having three pairs of antennas oriented along orthogonal major axes.

[0007] This Summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of wireless network devices capable of operating in the 6 GHz band, which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter.

[0008] The details of one or more aspects of a wireless network device capable of operating in the 6 GHz band are described herein with reference to the following drawings, in which like numbers are used to reference like features and components throughout: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1A] 1 is an exemplary network environment in which various aspects of a wireless network device capable of operating in the 6 GHz band can be implemented. [Figure 1B] 2 illustrates the exemplary environment of FIG. 1 in more detail. [Figure 2A] 1 illustrates an exemplary home area network system in which various aspects of a wireless network device capable of operating in the 6 GHz band can be implemented. [Figure 2B] 1 illustrates an exemplary operating environment in which a server system interacts with client devices and smart devices, according to some embodiments. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a server system, according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary smart device, according to some implementations. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a representative client device associated with a user account, according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless network device capable of operating in the 6 GHz band, according to some embodiments. [Figure 7] 7 illustrates an exploded view of the exemplary device of FIG. 6. [Figure 8]8 illustrates some components of the device of FIG. 7, including a circuit board assembly and multiple heat sinks. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 illustrates a left-front perspective view of a partially assembled version of the antenna and shield subassembly of the device of FIG. 7. [Figure 10] 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fully assembled version of the antenna and shield subassembly of FIG. 9. [Figure 11A] 8 illustrates exemplary radiation patterns of the antenna of FIG. 7 (e.g., a 2.4 GHz and a 6 GHz antenna) according to one or more embodiments. [Figure 11B] 8 illustrates exemplary radiation patterns of the antenna of FIG. 7 (e.g., a 2.4 GHz and a 6 GHz antenna) according to one or more embodiments. [Figure 11C] 8 illustrates exemplary radiation patterns of the antenna of FIG. 7 (e.g., a 2.4 GHz and a 6 GHz antenna) according to one or more embodiments. [Figure 11D] 8 illustrates exemplary radiation patterns of the antenna of FIG. 7 (e.g., a 2.4 GHz and a 6 GHz antenna) according to one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] This specification describes a wireless network device capable of operating in the 6 GHz band. The device described herein has a small form factor and supports Wi-Fi 6E (a Wi-Fi Alliance standard for extensions to Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax)), which enables operation of features in the unlicensed 6 GHz band in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The device includes a heat sink that completely surrounds the circuit board assembly for both thermal and electrical purposes. Thermally, the heat sink conducts heat from both sides of the circuit board assembly, and electrically, the heat sink forms a completely shielded box for the circuit board assembly. Thus, the heat sink provides a shield against external interference (e.g., interference caused by the circuit board assembly to external components).

[0011] In this manner, computing systems and devices are provided with a more efficient method for Wi-Fi 6E in a small form factor, thereby improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction of such systems and devices.

[0012] Although the features and concepts of the described techniques for wireless network devices capable of operating in the 6 GHz band may be implemented in any number of different environments, aspects are described in connection with the following examples.

[0013] Exemplary Devices 1A illustrates an exemplary network environment 100 (e.g., network environment) in which wireless network devices capable of operating in the 6 GHz band may be implemented. The network environment 100 includes a home area network (HAN). The HAN includes wireless network devices 102 (e.g., electronic devices) located around a structure 104, such as a home, and connected by one or more wireless and / or wired network technologies, as described below. The HAN includes a border router 106 that connects the HAN to an external network 108, such as the Internet, through a home router or access point 110.

[0014] To provide user access to functions performed using wireless network devices 102 in the HAN, cloud services 112 connect to the HAN through border routers 106 and secure tunnels 114 through external networks 108 and access points 110. Cloud services 112 use web-based application programming interfaces (APIs) 118 to facilitate communication between the HAN and internet clients 116, such as applications on mobile devices. Cloud services 112 also manage a home graph, which describes the connections and relationships between wireless network devices 102, elements of structure 104, and users. Cloud services 112 hosts a controller that orchestrates and arbitrates the home automation experience, as described in more detail below.

[0015] A HAN may include one or more wireless network devices 102 that function as hubs 120. The hubs 120 may be general-purpose home automation hubs or application-specific hubs, such as security hubs, energy management hubs, or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) hubs. The functionality of the hubs 120 may also be integrated into any wireless network device 102, such as a smart thermostat device or a border router 106. In addition to being hosted on the cloud service 112, controllers can also be hosted on any hub 120 within the structure 104, such as a border router 106. A controller hosted on the cloud service 112 can be dynamically moved to a hub 120 within the structure 104, such as moving an HVAC zone controller to a newly installed smart thermostat.

[0016] Hosting functionality on a hub 120 within the structure 104 can improve reliability when a user's internet connection is unreliable, can reduce latency for operations that would normally require connecting to a cloud service 112, and can satisfy system and regulatory constraints regarding local access between wireless network devices 102.

[0017] The wireless network devices 102 of a HAN may also be from a single manufacturer that offers cloud services 112, or a HAN may include wireless network devices 102 from multiple partner companies. These partners may also offer partner cloud services 122 that provide services related to the partner's wireless network devices 102 via partner web APIs 124. Partner cloud services 122 may optionally or additionally provide services to internet clients 116 via web-based APIs 118, cloud services 112, and secure tunnels 114.

[0018] The network environment 100 can run on a variety of hosts, such as battery-powered microcontroller-based devices, power-plugged devices, and servers hosting cloud services. Protocols operating on the wireless network devices 102 and cloud services 112 provide several services that support the operation of home automation experiences in the distributed computing environment 100. These services include, but are not limited to, real-time distributed data management and subscription, command and response control, real-time event notification, historical data logging and storage, security group control with encryption, time synchronization, network and service pairing, and software updates.

[0019] 1B illustrates an exemplary environment 130 in which aspects of a home area network and wireless network devices operable in the 6 GHz band as described with reference to FIG. 1A may be implemented. Generally, environment 130 includes a home area network (HAN) implemented as part of a residence or other type of structure with any number of wireless network devices (e.g., wireless network device 102) configured to communicate within the wireless network. For example, the wireless network devices may include a thermostat 132, a hazard detector 134 (e.g., for smoke and / or carbon monoxide), a camera 136 (e.g., indoor and outdoor), a lighting unit 138 (e.g., indoor and outdoor), and any other type of wireless network device 140 implemented inside and / or outside structure 104 (e.g., in a residential environment). In this example, the wireless network devices may also include any of the aforementioned devices, such as border router 106 and wireless network device 102.

[0020] In environment 130, any number of wireless network devices may be implemented for wireless interconnection to wirelessly communicate and interact with one another. The wireless network devices are modular, intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices that can seamlessly integrate with one another and / or with a central server or cloud computing system to provide any of a variety of useful automation purposes and implementations. An example of a wireless network device that may be implemented as any of the devices described herein is shown and described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0021] In an embodiment, thermostat 132 may include a Nest® Learning Thermostat that detects ambient climate characteristics (e.g., temperature and / or humidity) and controls an HVAC system 144 in a residential environment. Learning thermostat 132 and other network-connected devices "learn" by capturing occupant settings for the device. For example, the thermostat learns preferred temperature settings in the morning and evening, as well as the times when the structure's occupants are asleep or awake, and the times when the occupants are typically away from home or at home.

[0022] Hazard detectors 134 may be implemented to detect the presence of hazardous materials or materials indicative of hazardous materials (e.g., smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide). In a wireless interconnection example, hazard detectors 134 may detect the presence of smoke indicative of a fire within a structure, in which case the hazard detector that first detected the smoke may broadcast a low-power wake-up signal to all connected wireless network devices. Other hazard detectors 134 may then receive the broadcasted wake-up signal, initiate a high-power state due to the hazard detection, and receive wireless communication of an alert message. Additionally, lighting units 138 may receive the broadcasted wake-up signal and activate in the area of ​​the detected hazard to illuminate and identify the problem area. In other examples, lighting units 138 may illuminate with one lighting color to indicate a problem area or region within the structure, such as due to a fire or intrusion detection, and illuminate with another lighting color to indicate safe areas and / or evacuation routes outside the structure.

[0023] In various configurations, the wireless network device 140 may include an entrance interface device 146 that works in coordination with a networked door lock system 148 to detect and respond to a person's approach or departure from a location, such as an exterior door of the structure 104. The entrance interface device 146 may interact with other wireless network devices based on whether someone has approached or entered the smart home environment. The entrance interface device 146 may control doorbell functions, notify via audio or visual means of a person's approach or departure, and control settings on a security system, such as activating or deactivating the security system when a resident enters or exits. The wireless network device 140 may also include other sensors and detectors, such as for detecting ambient lighting conditions, detecting the occupancy status of a room (e.g., with an occupancy sensor 150), and controlling the power and / or dimming state of one or more lights. In some examples, the sensor and / or detector may also control the power state or speed of a fan, such as a ceiling fan 152. Additionally, sensors and / or detectors may detect the occupancy status of a room or space and may control the supply of power to electrical outlets or devices 154, such as when the room or structure is unoccupied.

[0024] Wireless network devices 140 may also include connected appliances and / or controlled systems 156, such as refrigerators, stoves and ovens, washers, dryers, air conditioners, pool heaters 158, plumbing systems 160, security systems 162, as well as other electronic and computing devices, such as televisions, entertainment systems, computers, intercom systems, garage door openers 164, ceiling fans 152, control panels 166, etc. When plugged in, the appliances, devices, or systems can identify themselves to the home area network as described above and may automatically integrate with home area network controls and devices within a residence, etc. It should be noted that wireless network devices 140 may also include devices that are physically located outside the structure but within wireless communication range, e.g., a device controlling a swimming pool heater 158 or plumbing system 160.

[0025] As described above, the HAN includes a border router 106 that interfaces to communicate with external networks outside the HAN. The border router 106 connects to an access point 110, which in turn connects to an external network 108, such as the Internet. A cloud service 112, connected via the external network 108, provides services related to the HAN and / or services using devices within the HAN. By way of example, the cloud service 112 may include applications for connecting end user devices 168, such as smartphones and tablets, to devices within the home area network, processing and providing data captured by the HAN to end users, linking one or more devices within the HAN to user accounts with the cloud service 112, provisioning and updating devices within the HAN, and the like. For example, a user may use a networked computer or a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet device, to control a thermostat 132 and other wireless network devices within a residential environment. Furthermore, the wireless network devices may communicate information to any central server or cloud computing system via the border router 106 and the access point 110. Data communication can be performed using any of a variety of custom or standard wireless protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, ZigBee for low power, 6LoWPAN, Thread, etc.) and / or by using any of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (e.g., CAT6 Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.).

[0026] Any of the wireless network devices of the HAN can function as low-power and communication nodes to form a HAN in a residential environment. Individual low-power nodes of the network can periodically transmit messages about what they are sensing, and other low-power nodes in the environment can repeat that message in addition to transmitting their own messages, thereby communicating messages from node to node (e.g., device to device) throughout the home area network. Wireless network devices can perform to conserve power, especially when battery-powered, and can utilize low-power communication protocols to receive messages, convert messages to other communication protocols, and transmit the converted messages to other nodes and / or a central server or cloud computing system. For example, occupancy sensor 150 and / or ambient light sensor 170 can detect the presence of a person in a room, measure ambient light, and activate a light source if ambient light sensor 170 detects that the room is dark or if occupancy sensor 150 detects that someone is in the room. Additionally, the sensors may include low-power wireless communication chips (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4 chips, Thread chips, ZigBee chips) that periodically transmit messages regarding the occupancy and light level of the room, including instantaneous messages that coincide with the occupancy sensor detecting the presence of a person in the room. As noted above, these messages may be transmitted wirelessly from node to node (e.g., from network-connected device to network-connected device) within the residential environment using a home area network, or may be transmitted over the Internet to a central server or cloud computing system.

[0027] In other configurations, various wireless network devices may function as "tripwires" for alarm systems within residential environments. For example, even if an intruder evades detection by alarm sensors located at windows, doors, and other entry points of a structure or environment, an alarm may be triggered by receiving messages from one or more low-power mesh nodes in the home area network indicating occupancy, motion, heat, sound, etc. In other implementations, the home area network may be used to automatically turn on and off lighting units 138 as a person moves from room to room within a structure. For example, a wireless network device may detect a person's movement within the structure and communicate a corresponding message via a node in the home area network. Using a message indicating which room is occupied, other wireless network devices receiving the message may activate and / or deactivate accordingly. As noted above, the home area network may also be utilized to provide egress lighting in an emergency, such as by illuminating appropriate lighting units 138 leading to a safe exit. Lighting units 138 may also be illuminated to indicate a direction along an egress path to follow to safely exit the structure.

[0028] Various wireless network devices may also be implemented to integrate and communicate with wearable computing device 172 and may be used, for example, to identify and locate occupants of a structure and adjust temperature, lighting, sound systems, etc. accordingly. In other implementations, radio frequency identification (RFID) sensing (e.g., a person carrying an RFID bracelet, necklace, or key fob), synthetic vision technology (e.g., a video camera and facial recognition processor), audio technology (e.g., voice, acoustic pattern, vibration pattern recognition), ultrasonic sensing / imaging technology, and infrared (IR) or near field communication (NFC) technology (e.g., a person wearing an IR or NFC-enabled smartphone) may be combined with rule-based inference engines or artificial intelligence techniques to draw useful conclusions from sensed information regarding the location of occupants within a structure or environment.

[0029] In other embodiments, the human-facing functions of a personal comfort area network, personal health area network, personal safety area network, and / or similar service robots may be logically integrated with other wireless network devices and sensors in the environment to utilize rule-based reasoning or artificial intelligence techniques to enhance the performance of these functions. In an example related to personal health areas, the system may also use rule-based reasoning and artificial intelligence techniques to detect (e.g., using either wireless network devices and sensors) whether a household pet is moving toward the resident's current location. Similarly, a hazard detector service robot may receive a notification of elevated temperature and humidity levels in the kitchen and temporarily increase a hazard detection threshold, such as a smoke detection threshold, under the inference that a slight increase in ambient smoke levels is due to cooking activities and not a truly dangerous condition. Any service robot configured to perform any type of monitoring, detection, and / or service may be implemented as a mesh node device on a home area network that conforms to a wireless interconnection protocol for communicating over the home area network.

[0030] The wireless network device 140 may also include a network-connected alarm clock 174 for each resident of a structure within a residential environment. For example, a resident can customize their alarm device to wake up at a desired time the next day, week, etc. Artificial intelligence can be used to consider the resident's response to the alarm when it sounds and make inferences about preferred sleep patterns over time. Additionally, individual residents can be tracked within the home area network based on their unique characteristics. This unique characteristic is determined based on data obtained from sensors located within the wireless network device, such as ultrasonic sensors, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, and the like. A resident's unique characteristics can be based on a combination of movement patterns, voice, height, body type, etc., as well as the use of facial recognition technology.

[0031] In a wireless interconnection example, an individual's wake-up time can be associated with the thermostat 132 to efficiently control the HVAC system to preheat or cool a structure to a desired sleep and wake-up temperature setting. Preferred settings can be learned over time, such as by capturing the temperature the person sets on the thermostat before going to bed and when waking up. Collected data can also include a person's biometric indicators, such as breathing patterns, heart rate, and movement, and these data can be combined with data indicating the person's actual wake-up time to make an inference. Other wireless network devices can use this data to serve other automation purposes, such as adjusting the thermostat 132 to heat or cool the environment to a desired setting or turning on or off lighting units 138.

[0032] In embodiments, wireless network devices can also be used to detect sound, vibration, and / or motion, for example, to detect running water and make inferences about water use in a residential environment based on algorithms and mapping of water usage and consumption. This can be used to determine a signature or fingerprint of each water source in a home, also referred to as an "audio fingerprint of water use." Similarly, wireless network devices can be used to detect subtle sounds, vibrations, and / or motions from, for example, rats and other rodents, as well as unwanted pests such as termites, cockroaches, and other insects. The system can then notify residents of the suspected presence of pests in their environment, such as with an alert message, to facilitate early detection and prevention.

[0033] The environment 130 may include one or more wireless network devices 176 that function as a hub 176. The hub 176 (e.g., hub 120) may be a general-purpose home automation hub or a specific-purpose hub, such as a security hub, energy management hub, or HVAC hub. The functionality of the hub 176 may also be integrated into any wireless network device, such as a network-connected thermostat device or border router 106. Hosting the functionality on the hub 176 within the structure 104 can improve reliability when a user's internet connection is unreliable, reduce latency for operations that would normally require connecting to a cloud service 112, and satisfy system and regulatory constraints regarding local access between wireless network devices.

[0034] Additionally, exemplary environment 130 includes networked speaker 178. Networked speaker 178 provides voice assistant services, including providing voice control of networked devices. The functionality of hub 176 may be hosted within networked speaker 178. Networked speaker 178 may be configured to communicate over a HAN, which may include a wireless mesh network, a Wi-Fi network, or both.

[0035] 2A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network architecture 200 including a home area network 202 (HAN 202) according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, smart devices 204 (e.g., wireless network devices 102) in the network environment 100 combine with a hub 176 to create a mesh network in the HAN 202. In some embodiments, one or more of the smart devices 204 in the HAN 202 operate as smart home controllers. Additionally and / or alternatively, the hub 176 may operate as the smart home controller. In some embodiments, the smart home controller has greater computing power than the other smart devices. The smart home controller can process inputs (e.g., from the smart devices 204, the end-user devices 168, and / or the server system 206) and send commands (e.g., to the smart devices 204 in the HAN 202) to control the operation of the network environment 100. In some aspects, some of the smart devices 204 in the HAN 202 (e.g., in the mesh network) are “spokesman” nodes (e.g., 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, 204-4, 204-5, 204-6), while other smart devices 204 are “low power” nodes (e.g., 204-n). Some of the smart devices in the network environment 100 may be battery-powered, while others may have a conventional, reliable power source, such as line power (e.g., via a 120V line voltage cable). Smart devices with a conventional, reliable power source are referred to as “spokesman” nodes. These nodes typically have the capability to facilitate two-way communication with various other devices in the network environment 100 and with the server system 206 (e.g., cloud service 112, partner cloud service 122) using wireless protocols. In some implementations, one or more “spokesman” nodes operate as smart home controllers. Meanwhile, battery-powered devices are “low power” nodes.These nodes tend to be smaller than spokesperson nodes and typically communicate exclusively using wireless protocols that require very little power, such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, 6LoWPAN, Thread, or Bluetooth.

[0036] Some low-power nodes may not be capable of two-way communication. These low-power nodes transmit messages but cannot "listen." Therefore, other devices in the network environment 100, such as spokesman nodes, cannot transmit information to these low-power nodes.

[0037] Some low-power nodes may be capable of only limited two-way communication. As a result of such limited two-way communication, other devices may only be able to communicate with these low-power nodes for certain periods of time.

[0038] As will be described, in some embodiments, smart devices function as low-power nodes and spokesman nodes to create a mesh network within the network environment 100. In some embodiments, each low-power node in the network environment periodically transmits a message about what it is sensing, and other low-power nodes in the network environment forward the message in addition to transmitting their own messages, causing the message to be passed between nodes (e.g., between devices) throughout the HAN 202. In some embodiments, a spokesman node of the HAN 202 that can communicate using a relatively high-power communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11) can switch to a relatively low-power communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4) to receive these messages, convert the messages to another communication protocol, and transmit the converted messages to other spokesman nodes and / or the server system 206 (e.g., using the relatively high-power communication protocol). Thus, a low-power node using a low-power communication protocol can transmit and / or receive messages throughout the HAN 202 as well as to the server system 206 via the Internet (e.g., network 108). In some implementations, the mesh network enables the server system 206 to periodically receive data from most or all of the smart devices in the home, make inferences based on that data, facilitate state synchronization between devices within and outside the HAN 202, and send commands to one or more of the smart devices to perform tasks within the networked environment.

[0039] As described, some of the spokesman nodes and low power nodes can "listen." Thus, a user, other devices, and / or server system 206 may communicate control commands to the low power nodes. For example, a user may use an end user device 168 (e.g., a smartphone) to send a command over the Internet to server system 206, which then relays the command to one or more spokesman nodes within HAN 202. The spokesman nodes may use a low power protocol to communicate the command to low power nodes throughout HAN 202 and to other spokesman nodes that did not receive the command directly from server system 206.

[0040] In some implementations, lighting unit 138 (FIG. 1B), an example of smart device 204, may be a low-power node. In addition to housing a light source, lighting unit 138 houses an occupancy sensor (e.g., occupancy sensor 150), such as an ultrasonic sensor or a passive IR sensor, and an ambient light sensor (e.g., ambient light sensor 170), such as a photoresistor or a single-pixel sensor that measures the light in a room. In some implementations, lighting unit 138 is configured to activate the light source when the ambient light sensor detects that the room is dark and when the occupancy sensor detects that a person is present in the room. In other implementations, lighting unit 138 is configured to activate the light source simply when the ambient light sensor detects that the room is dark. Additionally, in some implementations, lighting unit 138 includes a low-power wireless communication chip (e.g., a ZigBee chip) that periodically transmits messages regarding the occupancy and light level of the room, including an instant message when the occupancy sensor detects the presence of a person in the room. As described above, these messages may be transmitted wirelessly (e.g., using a mesh network) from node to node within HAN 202 (e.g., smart device to smart device) and over the Internet (e.g., network 108) to server system 206.

[0041] Other examples of low-power nodes include battery-operated hazard detectors 134. These hazard detectors 134 are often located in areas without a regular, reliable power supply and may include any number and type of sensors, such as smoke / fire / heat sensors (e.g., thermal radiation sensors), carbon monoxide / carbon dioxide sensors, occupancy / motion sensors, ambient light sensors, ambient temperature sensors, humidity sensors, etc. Additionally, the hazard detectors 134 may transmit messages corresponding to each of their respective sensors to other devices and / or the server system 206, such as using a mesh network as described above.

[0042] Examples of spokesman nodes include entrance interface devices 146 (e.g., smart doorbells), thermostats 132, control panels 166, electrical outlets or devices 154, and other wireless network devices 140. These devices are often located near and connected to a reliable power source and, therefore, may include more power-hungry components, such as one or more communication chips capable of bidirectional communication over various protocols.

[0043] In some implementations, the network environment 100 includes a controlled system 156, such as a service robot, configured to perform any of a variety of household tasks in an autonomous manner.

[0044] 1B , in some implementations, the network environment 100 includes a hub device (e.g., hub 176) communicatively coupled to the network(s) 108 directly or via a network interface 208 (e.g., access point 110). The hub 176 is further communicatively coupled to one or more of the smart devices 204 using at least one wireless communication network available in the network environment 100. Communication protocols used by the wireless communication network include, but are not limited to, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Insteon, EuOcean, Thread, OSIAN, Bluetooth Low Energy, etc. In some implementations, the hub 176 not only converts data received from each smart device to conform to the data format requirements of the network interface 208 or network(s) 108, but also converts information received from the network interface 208 or network(s) 108 to conform to the data format requirements of the respective communication protocol associated with the target smart device. In some implementations, in addition to data format conversion, the hub 176 may further process data received from the smart devices or information received from the network interface 208 or the network(s) 108. For example, the hub 176 may integrate inputs from multiple sensors / connected devices (including sensors / devices of the same and / or different types), perform higher-level processing on those inputs (e.g., to assess the overall environment and coordinate actions among the different sensors / devices), and / or provide instructions to different devices based on the collection of inputs and programmed processing. It should also be noted that in some implementations, the network interface 208 and the hub 176 are integrated into one network device.The functionality described herein represents a particular implementation of smart devices, control application(s) executing on representative electronic device(s) (such as smartphones), hub(s) 176, and server system(s) 206 coupled to hub(s) 176 via the Internet or other wide area network. All or part of this functionality and associated operations may be performed by any element of the described system; for example, all or part of the functionality described herein as being performed by a hub implementation may be performed in whole or in part on a server, one or more connected smart devices, and / or control application(s), or different combinations thereof, in different system implementations.

[0045] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary operating environment 220 in which a server system 206 provides data processing to facilitate monitoring and reviewing events (e.g., motion, audio, security, etc.) in video streams captured by cameras 136 (e.g., video cameras, doorbell cameras, etc.). As shown in FIG. 2B, the server system 206 receives video data from video sources 222 (including video cameras 224 or video recording doorbells 226) located at various physical locations (e.g., residences, restaurants, stores, roads, bus stops, and / or within or near the network environments 100 and 130 of FIGS. 1A and 1B). Each video source 222 may be linked to one or more reviewer accounts, and the server system 206 provides video surveillance data of the video sources 222 to client devices 228 associated with the reviewer accounts. For example, the portable end-user device 168 is an example of a client device 228. In some implementations, the server system 206 is a video processing server that provides video processing services to the video sources and the client devices 228.

[0046] In some implementations, server system 206 receives non-video data (e.g., audio data, metadata, numerical data, etc.) from one or more smart devices 204. The non-video data may be analyzed to provide context about motion events detected by video camera 224 and / or video recording doorbell 226. In some implementations, the non-video data indicates that an audio event (e.g., detected by an audio device such as an audio sensor integrated into network-connected speaker 178), a security event (e.g., detected by a perimeter monitoring device such as camera 136 and / or motion sensor), a danger event (e.g., detected by danger detector 134), a medical event (detected by a health monitoring device), or the like has occurred within network environment 100.

[0047] In some embodiments, multiple reviewer accounts are linked to a single network environment 100. For example, multiple residents of the network environment 100 may have accounts linked to the network environment 100. In some embodiments, each reviewer account is associated with a particular access level. In some embodiments, each reviewer account has personalized notification settings. In some embodiments, a single reviewer account is linked to multiple network environments 100 (e.g., multiple different HANs). For example, a person may own, occupy, or be assigned to review and / or manage multiple network environments 100. In some embodiments, a reviewer account has different access levels and / or notification settings for each network environment.

[0048] In some implementations, each of video sources 222 includes one or more video cameras 224 or one or more video recording doorbells 226 that capture video and transmit the captured video to server system 206 in substantially real time (e.g., within 1 second, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, or 1 minute). In certain aspects, video source 222 includes a controller device (not shown) that acts as an intermediary between one or more doorbells 226 and server system 206. The controller device receives video data from one or more doorbells 226, optionally performs some pre-processing on the video data, and transmits the video data and / or results of the pre-processing to server system 206 on behalf of one or more doorbells 226 (e.g., in real time). In some implementations, each camera has its own on-board processing capability to perform some pre-processing on the captured video data before transmitting the video data (e.g., along with metadata obtained through pre-processing) to the controller device and / or server system 206. In some implementations, one or more of the cameras are optionally configured to store the video data locally (e.g., for later transmission if requested by a user). In some implementations, the cameras are configured to perform some processing of the captured video data and, based on that processing, transmit the video data in substantially real time, store the video data locally, or discard the video data.

[0049] According to some embodiments, client device 228 includes client-side modules 230. In some embodiments, the client-side modules communicate with server-side modules 232 executing on server system 206 over one or more networks 108. The client-side modules provide client-side functionality for event monitoring and review processing and communication with the server-side modules. The server-side modules provide server-side functionality for event monitoring and review processing for any number of client-side modules each present on a respective client device 228 (e.g., any one of client devices 228-1 through 228-m). In some embodiments, server-side modules 232 also provide server-side functionality for video processing and camera control for any number of video sources 222, including any number of control devices, cameras 224, and doorbells 226.

[0050] In some implementations, the server system 206 includes one or more processors 234, a video storage database 236, an account database 238, an input / output (I / O) interface 240 to one or more client devices 228, and an I / O interface 242 to one or more video sources 222. The I / O interface 242 to the one or more client devices 228 facilitates client-facing input and output processing. The account database 238 stores multiple profiles for reviewer accounts registered with the video processing server, each user profile including account credentials for the respective reviewer account and one or more video sources linked to the respective reviewer account. The I / O interface 242 to the one or more video sources 222 facilitates communication with one or more video sources 222 (e.g., one or more doorbells 226, cameras 224, and a group of associated controller devices). The video storage database 236 stores raw video data received from the video sources 222 and various types of metadata, such as motion events, event categories, event categorization models, event filters, and event masks, for use in processing data for event monitoring and review for each reviewer account.

[0051] Examples of representative client devices 228 include handheld computers, wearable computing devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, mobile phones, smartphones, Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) mobile phones, media players, navigation devices, game consoles, televisions, remote controls, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, in-vehicle computers, e-book readers, or a combination of any two or more of these or other data processing devices.

[0052] Examples of the one or more networks 108 include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. The one or more networks 108 may be implemented using any known network protocol, including various wired or wireless protocols such as Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE®, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM®), Extended Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, or any other suitable communication protocol.

[0053] In some implementations, server system 206 executes on one or more standalone data processing devices or a distributed network of computers. Server system 206 may also use various virtual devices and / or services from third-party service providers (e.g., third-party cloud service providers) to provide the underlying computing and / or infrastructure resources for server system 206. In some implementations, server system 206 includes, but is not limited to, a server computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a combination of any two or more of these or other data processing devices.

[0054] The server-client environment shown in FIG. 2B includes both a client-side portion (e.g., a client-side module) and a server-side portion (e.g., a server-side module). The division of functionality between the client and server portions of the operating environment may vary in different implementations. Similarly, the division of functionality between the video source 222 and the server system 206 may vary in different implementations. For example, in some implementations, the client-side module is a thin client that provides only user-facing input / output processing functions and delegates all other data processing functions to a back-end server (e.g., the server system 206). Similarly, in some implementations, each of the video sources 222 is a simple video capture device that continuously captures and streams video data to the server system 206 with minimal or no local preprocessing on the video data. While many aspects of the present technology are described in terms of the server system 206, corresponding actions performed by the client device 228 and / or the video source 222 will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Similarly, some aspects of the technology may be described in terms of a client device or a video source, and the corresponding actions performed by a video server will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Additionally, some aspects of the technology may be performed cooperatively by the server system 206, the client device 228, and the video source 222.

[0055] In some aspects, video source 222 (e.g., video camera 224 or doorbell 226 with an image sensor) transmits one or more streams 244 of video data to server system 206. For example, video source 222-1 may include one or more video cameras (e.g., 224-1, 224-2) and / or doorbell 226-1. Additionally or alternatively, video source 222-n may include one or more video cameras (e.g., 224-m through 224-z) and / or doorbell 226-x. In some implementations, the one or more streams include multiple streams of raw video captured by an image sensor, each having a respective resolution and / or frame rate. In some implementations, the multiple streams include a “primary” stream (e.g., 244-1) having a particular resolution and frame rate corresponding to the raw video captured by the image sensor, and one or more additional streams (e.g., 244-2 through 244-q). The additional streams are optionally video streams that are the same as the "primary" stream but at a different resolution and / or frame rate, or streams that capture portions of the "primary" stream (e.g., cropped to include a portion of the field of view or pixels of the primary stream) at the same or a different resolution and / or frame rate as the "primary" stream. In some implementations, the primary stream and / or additional streams are dynamically encoded (e.g., based on network conditions, server operating conditions, camera operating conditions, characteristics of the data in the streams (e.g., whether motion is present), user preferences, etc.).

[0056] In some implementations, one or more of the streams 244 are transmitted directly from the video source 222 to the client device 228 (e.g., without being routed to or processed by the server system 206). In some implementations, one or more of the streams are stored in local memory of the doorbell 226 and / or on a local storage device (e.g., a dedicated recording device), such as a digital video recorder (DVR). For example, according to some implementations, the doorbell 226 stores the most recent 24 hours of video recorded by a camera. In some implementations, portions of one or more streams are stored on the doorbell 226 and / or on the local storage device (e.g., portions corresponding to particular events or time periods of interest).

[0057] In some implementations, the server system 206 transmits one or more streams 246 of video data to the client device 228 to facilitate user monitoring of events. In some implementations, the one or more streams may include multiple streams of the same video feed, each at a different resolution and / or frame rate. In some implementations, the multiple streams include a “primary” stream (e.g., 246-1) having a particular resolution and frame rate corresponding to the video feed, and one or more additional streams (e.g., 246-2 through 246-t). The additional streams may be video streams that are the same as the “primary” stream but at a different resolution and / or frame rate, or streams that show portions of the “primary” stream (e.g., cropped to include a portion of the field of view or pixels of the primary stream) at the same or a different resolution and / or frame rate as the “primary” stream.

[0058] 3 is a block diagram illustrating a server system 206, according to some embodiments. The server system 206 typically includes one or more processors 302, one or more network interfaces 304 (e.g., including I / O interface 240 to one or more client devices and I / O interface 242 to one or more electronic devices), memory 306, and one or more communication buses 308 (sometimes referred to as a chipset) for interconnecting these components. The memory 306 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), data double-rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory (DDR SRAM), or other random-access solid-state memory devices, and optionally includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one or more flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory 306 optionally includes one or more storage devices located remotely from one or more of the processors 302. The memory 306, or alternatively, the non-volatile memory within the memory 306, comprises a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some implementations, the memory 306, or the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of the memory 306, comprises: an operating system 310 containing procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware-dependent tasks; a network communications module 312 for connecting the server system 206 to other systems and devices (e.g., client devices, electronic devices, and systems connected to one or more networks 108) via one or more network interfaces 304 (wired or wireless); a server-side module 314 that provides server-side functionality for device control, data processing, and data review; an account management module 316 for creating reviewer accounts, performing a camera registration process to establish associations with video sources to their respective reviewer accounts, and providing account login services to the client device 228; a data receiving module 318 for receiving data from an electronic device (e.g., video data from the video source 222 of FIG. 2B) and preparing the received data for further processing and storage in a data storage database (e.g., the data storage database 332); a device control module 320 for generating and sending server-initiated control commands to change the operational mode of an electronic device (e.g., a device in the network environment 100) and / or receiving and forwarding user-initiated control commands (e.g., from the client device 228) to change the operational mode of the electronic device; a data processing module 322 for processing data provided by the electronic device and / or preparing and transmitting the processed data to a device for review (e.g., the client device 228 for review by a user); an event detection module 324 for detecting motion event candidates in the video stream from each of the video sources 222, including motion track identification, false positive suppression, and event mask generation and caching; an event categorization module 326 for categorizing motion events detected in the received video stream; Server-side modules 314, including but not limited to a person identification module 328 for identifying characteristics associated with the presence of humans in the received video stream; a server database 330 providing server-side stored data related to device control, data processing, and data review; a data storage database 332 for storing data (e.g., raw / processed image data) associated with each electronic device (e.g., each video source 222) for each user account, as well as data processing models, processed data results, and other relevant metadata associated with the data (e.g., name of the data result, location of the electronic device, time of creation, duration, electronic device settings, etc.), optionally in which all or part of the data and / or processing associated with the hub 176 or smart device is securely stored; and o An account database 334 for storing account information for user accounts, including user profiles, user account information such as information and settings of linked hub devices and electronic devices (e.g., hub device identification), hub device specific secrets, associated user and hardware characteristics (e.g., service tier, device model, storage capacity, processing power, etc.), user interface settings, data review preferences, etc., where information about associated electronic devices includes, but is not limited to, one or more device identifiers (e.g., Media Access Control (MAC) address and Universal Unique Identifier (UUID)), device specific secrets, and displayed titles; and a server database 330, including, but not limited to, programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof.

[0059] Each of the above-identified elements may be stored in one or more of the memory devices mentioned above and may correspond to a set of instructions for implementing the functions described above. The above-identified modules or programs (e.g., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules; thus, various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise rearranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory 306 optionally stores a subset of the above-identified modules and data structures. Additionally, memory 306 optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above.

[0060] 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary smart device 204, according to some implementations. In some implementations, the smart device 204 (e.g., any device in the network environment 100 of FIG. 1 , including the end-user device 168, or any device in FIG. 2B , e.g., the doorbell 226) includes one or more processors 402 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a microprocessor, etc.), one or more communication interfaces 404 with a radio 406, image sensor(s) 408, user interface(s) 410, sensor(s) 412, memory 414, and one or more communication buses 416 (sometimes referred to as a chipset) for interconnecting these components. In some implementations, the user interface 410 includes one or more output devices 418 that enable the presentation of media content, including one or more speakers and / or one or more visual displays. In some implementations, the user interface 410 includes one or more input devices 420, including user interface components that facilitate user input, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a voice command input unit or microphone, a touchscreen display, a touch-sensitive input pad, a gesture capture camera, or other input buttons or controls. In some implementations, the input device 420 of the doorbell 226 is a haptic or touch-sensitive doorbell button. Additionally, some smart devices 204 use a microphone and voice recognition, or a camera and gesture recognition, to complement or replace a keyboard.

[0061] The sensor(s) 422 may include, for example, one or more thermal radiation sensors, ambient temperature sensors, humidity sensors, IR sensors such as PIR sensors, proximity sensors, ranging sensors, occupancy sensors (e.g., using RFID sensors), ambient light sensors (ALS), motion sensors 422, position sensors (e.g., Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) sensors), accelerometers, and / or gyroscopes.

[0062] In some implementations, the smart device 204 includes an energy storage component 424 (e.g., one or more batteries and / or capacitors). In some implementations, the energy storage component 424 includes a power management integrated circuit (IC). In some implementations, the energy storage component 424 includes circuitry for harvesting energy from signals received via an antenna (e.g., radio 406) of the smart device. In some implementations, the energy storage component 424 includes circuitry for harvesting thermal energy, vibrational energy, electromagnetic energy, and / or solar energy received by the smart device. In some implementations, the energy storage component 424 includes circuitry for monitoring stored energy levels and adjusting operation and / or generating notifications based on changes in the stored energy levels.

[0063] The communication interface 404 may be, for example, a wireless interface that supports various custom or standard wireless protocols (e.g., WLAN (Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11 (including 802.11ax), and WiFi), low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs) (Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), IEEE 802.15.1, ZigBee, IEEE 802.15.4, wireless infrared communication, IrDA, wireless USB, NFC, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth The radio 406 includes hardware capable of communicating data using any of a variety of wireless protocols, including cellular, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.5A, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc., and wireless wide area networks (WWANs) (including 5G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), 4G, 3G, 2G, WiMAX, and IEEE 802.16, in addition to cellular), and / or any of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.), or any other suitable communication protocols, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. The radio 406 enables one or more wireless communication networks within the network environment 100, allowing the smart device 204 to communicate with other devices. In some implementations, the radio 406 is capable of communicating data using any of a variety of custom or standard wireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.5A, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.).

[0064] The memory 414 includes high-speed random access memory such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR SRAM, or other random access solid-state memory devices, and optionally includes non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one or more flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory 414, or alternatively, the non-volatile memory in the memory 414, includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 414, or the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of the memory 414, includes one of the following: • operating logic 426, which includes procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware-dependent tasks; ● A communications module 428 for coupling to and communicating with other network devices (e.g., network interfaces 208 such as routers providing Internet connectivity, networked storage devices, network routing devices, server systems 206, other smart devices 204, client devices 228, etc.) connected to one or more networks 108 via one or more communications interfaces 404 (wired or wireless); an input processing module 430 for detecting one or more user inputs or interactions from one or more input devices 420 and interpreting the detected inputs or interactions; a user interface module 432 for providing and presenting a user interface in which settings, captured data, and / or other data for one or more devices (e.g., smart device 204 and / or other devices in network environment 100) may be configured and / or viewed; ● One or more applications 434 (e.g., games, social network applications, smart home applications, and / or other web-based or non-web-based applications) executed by the smart device to control the device (e.g., execute commands, send commands, configure settings of the smart device 204 and / or other client / electronic devices) and to review data captured by the device (e.g., device status and settings, captured data, or other information about the smart device 204 and / or other client / electronic devices); a device-side module 436 that provides device-side functionality for device control, data processing, and data review; a command module 438 for receiving, forwarding, and / or executing instructions and control commands (e.g., from the client device 228, from the server system 206, from user input detected on the user interface 410, etc.) for operating the smart device 204; and device-side modules 436, including, but not limited to, for processing data captured or received by one or more inputs (e.g., input device(s) 420, image sensor(s) 408, sensors 412, interfaces (e.g., communication interface 404, radio 406), and / or other components of smart device 204, and a data processing module 440 for preparing and transmitting the processed data to a remote device (e.g., client device 228) for review by a user; Device-side modules 436, including but not limited to, an access point manager 442 for performing access point, node, and router functions and providing Internet connectivity to one or more devices (wireless network devices 204) connected to one or more networks 108 via one or more communication interfaces 404; ● A camera module 444 for operating the image sensor(s) 408 and associated circuitry, e.g., enabling and disabling the image sensor(s) 408 based on data from one or more low-power sensors 412 (e.g., data from a PIR sensor or ALS), and adjusting the encoding of raw image data captured by the image sensor(s) 408 (e.g., adjusting the format, resolution, and / or frame rate); - Device data 446 storing data associated with a device (e.g., smart device 204), account data 448 that stores information related to a user account linked to the smart device 204, including, for example, cached login credentials, smart device identifiers (e.g., MAC address and UUID), user interface settings, display preferences, authentication tokens and tags, password keys, etc.; o Local data storage 450 for selectively storing raw or processed data related to the smart device 204, such as event data and / or video data captured by the image sensor(s) 408; and device data 446, including but not limited to, programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof.

[0065] Each of the above-identified elements may be stored in one or more of the aforementioned memory devices and corresponds to a set of instructions for implementing the functions described above. The above-identified modules or programs (e.g., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise rearranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory 414 optionally stores a subset of the above-identified modules and data structures. Additionally, memory 414 optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above, such as a sensor management module for managing the operation of sensor(s) 412.

[0066] 5 is a block diagram illustrating a representative client device 228 associated with a user account, according to some implementations. The client device 228 typically includes one or more processing units (CPUs) 502, one or more network interfaces 504, memory 506, and one or more communication buses 508 (sometimes referred to as a chipset) for interconnecting these components. Optionally, the client device also includes a user interface 510 and one or more built-in sensors 512 (e.g., an accelerometer and a gyroscope). The user interface 510 includes one or more output devices 514 that enable the presentation of media content, including one or more speakers and / or one or more visual displays. The user interface 510 also includes one or more input devices 516, including user interface components that facilitate user input, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a voice command input unit or microphone, a touchscreen display, a touch-sensitive input pad, a gesture capture camera, or other input buttons or controls. Additionally, some client devices use a microphone and voice recognition, or a camera and gesture recognition, to supplement or replace a keyboard. In some implementations, the client device includes one or more cameras, scanners, or photo sensor units (not shown) for capturing images. Optionally, the client device includes a location detection device 518, such as a GPS sensor or other geographic location receiver, for determining the location of the client device.

[0067] Memory 506 includes high-speed random-access memory such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR SRAM, or other random-access solid-state memory devices, and optionally includes non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one or more flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. Memory 506 optionally includes one or more storage devices located remotely from one or more processing units 502. Memory 506, or alternatively, the non-volatile memory in memory 506, includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 506, or the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of memory 506, includes one or more of the following: an operating system 520 containing procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware-dependent tasks; a network communications module 522 for connecting the client device 228 to other systems and devices (e.g., client devices, electronic devices, and systems connected to one or more networks 108) via one or more network interfaces 504 (wired or wireless); • an input processing module 524 for detecting one or more user inputs or interactions from one of the one or more input devices 516 and interpreting the detected inputs or interactions; ● One or more applications 526 (e.g., games, social network applications, smart home applications, and / or other web-based or non-web-based applications) executed by the client device to control the device (e.g., send commands to the hub device and / or other client or electronic devices, configure settings, etc.) and to review data captured by the device (e.g., device status and settings, captured data, or other information about the hub device or other connected devices); and a user interface module 528 for providing and displaying a user interface in which settings, captured data, and / or other data for one or more devices (e.g., smart devices 204 in the network environment 100) may be configured and / or viewed; and a client-side module 530 that provides client-side functionality for device control, data processing, and data review; a device control module 532 for generating control commands to change the operational mode of the smart device (and optionally other electronic devices) according to user input; a video analysis module 534 for analyzing the captured video data to, for example, detect and / or recognize people, objects, animals, and events; a data review module 536 for providing a user interface for reviewing data from the server system 206 or video source 222, an event review module 538 for reviewing events (e.g., motion and / or audio events) and optionally enabling user edits and / or updates to the events; a data review module 536, including but not limited to, a people review module 540 that reviews data and / or images about detected people and other entities and optionally enables user edits and / or updates to people data; a presentation module 542 for presenting a user interface and response options for interacting with the smart device 204 and / or the server system 206; ○ A client-side module 530, including but not limited to, a remote interaction module 544 for interacting with a remote person (e.g., a visitor to the network environment 100) via, for example, the smart device 204 and / or the server system 206; ● Client data 546, which stores data associated with user accounts and electronic devices; account data 548 that stores information related to both the user account loaded on the client device and the electronic device (e.g., of the video source 222) associated with the user account, such information including cached login credentials, hub device identifiers (e.g., MAC addresses and UUIDs), electronic device identifiers (e.g., MAC addresses and UUIDs), user interface settings, display preferences, authentication tokens and tags, password keys, etc.; Stores programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof, including but not limited to: a local data storage database 550 for selectively storing raw or processed data related to an electronic device (e.g., of a video source 222 such as a doorbell 226), optionally including the entity data described above; and client data 546.

[0068] Each of the above-identified elements may be stored in one or more of the memory devices mentioned above and may correspond to a set of instructions for implementing the functions described above. The above-identified modules or programs (e.g., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, modules, or data structures; thus, various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise rearranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory 506 optionally stores a subset of the above-identified modules and data structures. Additionally, memory 506 optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above.

[0069] These and other capabilities and configurations, and the manner in which the entities of Figures 1A-5 act and interact, are described in more detail below. The entities described with respect to Figures 1A-5 may be further divided, combined, etc. The environment 100 of Figure 1A, the environment 130 of Figure 1B, and the detailed diagrams of Figures 2A-11D illustrate some of the many possible environments, devices, and methods in which the described techniques may be employed individually or in combination with each other.

[0070] Exemplary Implementations FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary device 600 (e.g., smart device 204, wireless network device 102, home router, border router 106, access point 110) for Wi-Fi 6E, according to some implementations. As shown in FIG. 6, the device 600 is depicted relative to an x-axis 602, a y-axis 604, and a z-axis 606. The x-axis 602 represents the width of the device 600, the y-axis 604 represents the height of the device 600, and the z-axis 606 represents the depth (e.g., front to back) of the device 600. The device 600 includes a housing having a first housing component (e.g., front housing component 608) and a second housing component (e.g., rear housing component 610). The front housing component 608 and the rear housing component 610 are joined along the perimeter of each housing component along an xy plane defined by the x-axis 602 and the y-axis 604. In some aspects, the seam formed between the front housing component 608 and the rear housing component 610 is centered along the z-axis 606 such that the front outer surface of the front housing component 608 is substantially equidistant from the rear outer surface of the rear housing component 610. However, the seam may be formed between the front housing component 608 and the rear housing component 610 at any suitable point along the depth (z-axis 606) of the device 600. In some implementations, the front housing component 608 and the rear housing component 610 may be formed to join along different planes (e.g., the xz plane defined by the x-axis 602 and the z-axis 606, and the yz plane defined by the y-axis 604 and the z-axis 606).

[0071] In an embodiment, the height of the housing of device 600 is greater than its width, which is greater than its depth. In one example, the height may be in the range of approximately 100 mm to 150 mm (including approximately 116 mm), the width may be in the range of approximately 80 mm to 110 mm, and the depth may be in the range of approximately 65 mm to 85 mm. Corners and edges are rounded to provide a smooth transition between surfaces (e.g., front, side(s), top, back, bottom). The housing forms an enclosure around the various components of device 600. Thus, device 600 has a form factor that appears as a vertical cuboid with rounded corners and edges. Because device 600 does not have a speaker, the housing lacks holes that are typically implemented to allow sound waves to pass through. Rather, the housing may be a solid, continuous piece of injection-molded plastic that is transparent to radio signals in at least three frequency bands, including 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz.

[0072] Device 600 can be used as a hub (e.g., hub 120) and / or as an access point (e.g., access point 110) in a mesh network (e.g., home area network 202). Device 600 can operate as a router (e.g., a mesh router), including a Wi-Fi 6E router, meaning that device 600 meets the IEEE standard for operating in the 6 GHz frequency band in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Thus, device 600 includes at least three frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz).

[0073] Figure 7 shows an exploded view 700 of the example device of Figure 6. Device 600 includes a front housing component 608 and a rear housing component 610 that form a housing. Inside the housing are a front heat sink 702 and a rear heat sink 704 on opposite sides of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly (e.g., circuit board assembly 706). An example of a circuit board assembly 706 is a main logic board (MLB). Also included within the housing is an antenna plate 708. A base plate 710 is attached to the exterior (e.g., bottom) of the housing to provide friction against the surface on which device 600 rests.

[0074] Note that the circuit board assembly 706 is supported vertically (e.g., in the xy plane). Due to space constraints in the small form factor of the device 600, the circuit board assembly 706 is oriented vertically within the assembly.

[0075] Device 600 includes an antenna system encased within a housing and operable in at least three bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz). The antenna system is shown as including an orthogonal antenna arrangement, resulting in orthogonal current distribution, which may enhance antenna isolation because both conducted currents and radiated near-fields between perpendicular antennas are less coupled than if the antennas were collinear. In one example, circuit board assembly 706 includes one or more antennas 712 (e.g., antenna 712-1, antenna 712-2). In some implementations, circuit board assembly 706 includes at least two antennas (e.g., antenna 712-1 and antenna 712-2). In one example, antenna(s) 712 are attached to circuit board assembly 706 by surface mount technology (SMT). Additionally, antennas 712-1 and 712-2 extend outward from opposite sides of circuit board assembly 706 such that they are coplanar with circuit board assembly 706, on a plane defined by circuit board assembly 706 itself (e.g., the x-y plane). In one aspect, antennas 712-1 and 712-2 are inverted-F antennas and configured for the 2.4 GHz and 6 GHz radio frequency bands.

[0076] The antenna plate 708 includes multiple antennas 714 (e.g., 714-1, 714-2, 714-3, 714-4) arranged orthogonally to one another to enhance coverage in the 5 GHz frequency band. For example, the antennas 714 form a 5 GHz wireless network system, which includes both primary and diversity antenna switching, as well as Thread® and Bluetooth® technologies. The antenna plate 708 is a single plate with the antennas 714 formed therein. Thus, in some aspects, the antenna plate 708 is a single piece of sheet metal with the antennas 714 stamped and bent to rest above a ground plane, the ground plane being defined by the metal plate (e.g., in the xz plane).

[0077] Thus, the antenna topology of device 600 is a three-axis orthogonal antenna system that tends to direct currents in mutually orthogonal directions, thereby enhancing antenna isolation. This architecture allows for simultaneous transmission in different frequency bands (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz).

[0078] In an embodiment, the rear housing component 610 has one or more openings 716 that align with various ports on the circuit board assembly 706 disposed within the housing. Exemplary ports include an Ethernet port (e.g., Ethernet port 718) and a power connector (e.g., USB-C). The openings 716 are located in a portion of the rear housing component 610 (e.g., a recessed area on the rear exterior surface) that is substantially parallel to the y-axis 604, such that the angle between the y-axis 604 and that portion of the rear housing component 610 is less than about 5 degrees. In some embodiments, that portion of the rear housing component 610 (e.g., a recessed area on the rear exterior surface) is substantially parallel to the xy plane. The openings may also be located proximate (e.g., within 20 millimeters) to a base 720 of the rear housing component 610. Because the circuit board assembly 706 is supported vertically within the housing, the Ethernet port 718 and / or the power connector may be attached to the circuit board assembly 706 such that their mating orientation is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board assembly 706. In this example, the Ethernet port 718 and / or the power connector are mounted with a mating direction perpendicular to the xy plane (eg, the mating direction is parallel to the z-axis 606).

[0079] The base plate 710 may be attached or secured to a base 720 of the rear housing component 610 and may also be attached or secured to a base 722 of the front housing component 608. In some embodiments, the base plate 710 may be assembled to the front housing component 608 and the rear housing component 610 via adhesive (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)), fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts), interlocking components (e.g., snap fit, twist fit), or the like, or any combination thereof.

[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates some components of device 600 of FIG. 7 , including a circuit board assembly (e.g., circuit board assembly 706) and multiple heat sinks (e.g., heat sinks 702 and 704). Front heat sink 702 and rear heat sink 704 each have a first surface (e.g., outer surface 802) facing a second surface (e.g., inner surface 804). For example, front heat sink 702 includes outer surface 802-1 and inner surface 804-1. Rear heat sink 704 includes outer surface 802-2 and inner surface 804-2. Both outer surface 802 and inner surface 804 are outer surfaces of heat sinks 702 and 704. The inner surfaces 804 of each of front heat sink 702 and rear heat sink 704 contact circuit board assembly 706 to conduct heat away from heat-dissipating components (e.g., integrated circuits) on circuit board assembly 706. The outer surfaces 802 of the front and rear heat sinks 702 and 704 radiate heat toward the front and rear housing components 608 and 610, respectively. The outer surface 802-1 of the front heat sink 702 conforms to (e.g., follows the geometric shape of) the inner surface of the front housing component 608 to provide a large surface area in contact with the front housing component 608 for transferring heat to the front housing component 608. Similarly, the outer surface 802-2 of the rear heat sink 704 conforms to (e.g., follows the geometric shape of) the inner surface of the rear housing component 610 for transferring heat to the rear housing component 610. Additionally, the front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704 have a y-axis dimension (e.g., height) that is within a range of 50% to 90% (e.g., 55% to 70%, 60% to 80%, 65% to 75%, 70% to 85%) of the height of the front housing component 608 and the rear housing component 610.

[0081] Typically, the circuit board assembly 706 has various electrical components, including unintentional noise sources, that can be radiated and coupled to the antennas 712 and 714. This effect reduces the receiver sensitivity and, consequently, the maximum range of the antennas 712 and 714. To reduce the noise and reduced sensitivity, the front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704 are combined with the PCB assembly in the center (e.g., between the front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704). Because the surfaces of the heat sinks 702 and 704 are metal, the heat sinks 702 and 704 act as noise suppression devices by shielding the antennas from potential noise sources active on the circuit board assembly 706.

[0082] The front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704 each form a cavity (e.g., the front heat sink 702 forms a cavity 806, and the rear heat sink 704 forms a cavity 808). These cavities 806 and 808 are formed to reduce the weight and material costs of the heat sinks while maintaining heat transfer capabilities and providing structural integrity to the overall device 600.

[0083] Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an antenna and shield subassembly 900 for the device 600 of Figure 7. Specifically, Figure 9 illustrates a left-front perspective view of a partially assembled version of the antenna and shield subassembly 900 for the device 600 of Figure 7. Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fully assembled version of the antenna and shield subassembly 900 of Figure 9.

[0084] 9, the front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704 are mated on opposite sides of the circuit board assembly 706, forming a clamshell structure in which the front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704 fit together with the circuit board assembly 706 sandwiched between them. The antenna 712 extends outward from the heat sinks 702 and 704, ensuring that the heat sinks 702 and 704 do not cover or enclose the antenna 712. Additionally, the antennas 712 are each offset a distance 902 of approximately one-quarter lambda (λ / 4) from the bottom of the device 600, which mitigates the effects of metal surfaces that may detune the antenna 712 and / or lossy surfaces that may reduce its range. Because the heat sinks 702 and 704 form one continuous piece of metal that surrounds the circuit board assembly 706, the heat sinks 702 and 704 help to suppress unwanted noise that could radiate outward from the circuit board assembly 706 toward the antenna 712 (and antenna 714) and desensitize the circuit. In one aspect, the heat sinks 702 and 704 directly contact the circuit board assembly 706. For example, the heat sinks 702 and 704 physically contact (e.g., abut) a gold-plated perimeter on the circuit board assembly 706 that surrounds (in at least two dimensions) one or more integrated circuit components on the circuit board assembly 706. This physical contact helps to form an electrically conductive contact, thereby shielding the circuit board assembly 706.

[0085] The cavities 806 and 808 result in a directional radiation pattern that is pointed directly at the top of the device 600 (e.g., in the positive y-axis direction) in the 5 GHz frequency band. This is typically an undesirable consequence of the heat sink design, as the radiation pattern is concentrated in one direction of coverage, whereas the 5 GHz plus diversity scheme relies on radiation patterns with unique and distinct coverage. To mitigate the upward directional radiation pattern caused by the cavities 806 and 808, an antenna plate 708 is assembled to the top of the heat sink to close the openings of the cavities 806 and 808. In an embodiment, the antenna plate 708 is a solid metal piece with no holes in its central region. In this way, the antenna plate 708 prevents the cavities 806 and 808 from concentrating the radiation pattern upward (e.g., in the positive z-axis direction), resulting in radiation patterns that can have different coverage in space. In some implementations, antenna plate 708 may include one or more holes along its perimeter that are used for assembly to heat sinks 702 and 704. For example, the holes on the perimeter provide paths for fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts) to attach antenna plate 708 to front heat sink 702 and rear heat sink 704. In some implementations, antenna plate 708 may include one or more additional holes that are sufficiently small in size to minimize the effect of the upwardly focused radiation pattern caused by cavities 806 and 808.

[0086] In FIG. 10 , the front heat sink 702, rear heat sink 704, circuit board assembly 706, and antenna plate 708 together form an antenna and shield subassembly 900. The antenna and shield subassembly 900 includes antennas 712 and 714 oriented in a three-axis antenna system with three pairs of antennas oriented along orthogonal major axes [x, y, z]. The antenna and shield subassembly 900 also includes heat sink cavities 806 and 808 (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 ) covered by the antenna plate 708. Additionally, the front heat sink 702 and rear heat sink 704 function as shielding devices to shield the antennas 712 and 714 from electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by electrical components on the circuit board assembly 706 (shown in FIGS. 7-9 ). The circuit board assembly 706 includes exposed copper (or other conductive material) that physically contacts the heat sinks 702 and 704 to complete the shielding. In one embodiment, exposed copper (or other conductive material) is disposed along the periphery of the circuit board assembly 706 on a first side that mates with the front heat sink 702, such that the exposed copper contacts the front heat sink 702. Additionally, exposed copper (or other conductive material) is disposed along the periphery of the circuit board assembly 706 on a second side (opposite the first side) that mates with the rear heat sink 702, such that the exposed copper contacts the rear heat sink 702. To further complete the shielding, an antenna plate 708 is secured (e.g., screwed) to the front heat sink 702 and the rear heat sink 704 to form a shield around the top (positive y-axis) of the circuit board assembly 706. The antenna and shield subassembly 900 also maintains the 2.4 GHz antenna (e.g., antenna 712) at a height of at least a quarter wavelength above the surface (e.g., wood, metal, plastic, granite, ceramic) on which the device 600 rests to minimize interference from the surface.

[0087] 11A-11D show exemplary radiation patterns of antenna 712 of FIG. 7 (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 6 GHz antennas) according to one or more embodiments. Closely spaced antennas tend to have high correlation, which reduces the effectiveness of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna. Antenna 712 tends to have an opposite radiation pattern to other antennas in the same frequency band. Correlation is determined by the following equation: ρ env It can be defined as:

[0088]

number

[0089] Similarly, Figure 11C shows the radiation pattern of antenna 712-1 in the 2.4 GHz band, and Figure 11D shows the radiation pattern of antenna 712-2 in the 2.4 GHz band. By comparison, the radiation pattern of antenna 712-2 in the 2.4 GHz band shown in Figure 11D is directed in the opposite direction to the radiation pattern of antenna 712-1 in the 2.4 GHz band shown in Figure 11C.

[0090] Thus, antennas 712-1 and 712-2 are decorrelated (in both the 2.4 GHz and 6 GHz bands) based on minimizing the product of the electric fields generated by each of antennas 712-1 and 712-2, and based on the radiation patterns of antennas 712-1 and 712-2 being directed in opposite directions.

[0091] Some examples are described below. Example 1: A wireless network device comprising: a housing having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a depth along a z-axis, wherein the height is greater than the width and the width is greater than the depth, the housing forming a vertical rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners and edges, the housing including a front housing component and a rear housing component, the front housing component and the rear housing component being interconnected along an x-y plane defined by the x-axis and the y-axis and along respective perimeters of the front housing component and the rear housing component, the wireless network device further comprising: an antenna system contained within the housing and operable in at least three bands, including 2.4 gigahertz, 5 gigahertz, and 6 gigahertz; and a circuit board assembly disposed within the housing and operable to provide at least one of a gateway or a node to a wireless network.

[0092] Example 2: The circuit board assembly described in Example 1 can be supported in an orientation parallel to the xy plane.

[0093] Example 3: A wireless network device as described in Example 1 or Example 2, wherein the circuit board assembly is thermally coupled to an antenna and shield subassembly, particularly comprising at least one heat sink, and particularly at least partially enclosed by the at least one heat sink.

[0094] Example 4: The circuit board assembly described in at least one of the preceding examples may be housed within an antenna and shield subassembly having a first heat sink and a second heat sink combined across the circuit board assembly to shield the antenna system from electromagnetic interference generated by electrical components on the circuit board assembly.

[0095] Example 5: The circuit board assembly described in Example 3 or Example 4 may include a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the first heat sink may include a first inner surface in physical contact with the first side of the circuit board assembly to conduct heat away from the first side of the circuit board assembly and a first outer surface that conforms to and corresponds with the first inner surface of the front housing component and contacts the first inner surface of the front housing component to transfer heat to the front housing component, and the second heat sink may include a second inner surface in physical contact with the second side of the circuit board assembly to conduct heat away from the second side of the circuit board assembly and a second outer surface that conforms to and corresponds with the second inner surface of the rear housing component and contacts the second inner surface of the rear housing component to transfer heat to the rear housing component.

[0096] Example 6: A wireless network device as described in Example 5, wherein the first and second heat sinks each define a cavity with an opening, and the antenna and shield subassembly may include an antenna plate covering the opening of each cavity.

[0097] Example 7: The wireless network device of Example 6, wherein the antenna system may include multiple antennas attached to the antenna plate, forming a 5 GHz wireless network system including both primary and diversity antenna switching.

[0098] Example 8: A wireless network device as described in Example 7, wherein the antenna plate may be a single piece of sheet metal forming a ground plane, and the multiple antennas on the antenna plate may be stamped and bent to be above the ground plane.

[0099] Example 9: A wireless network device described in any of Examples 3 to 8, wherein the antenna system may include at least two antennas attached to the circuit board assembly and extending outward from an edge of the circuit board assembly, the at least two antennas may be flush with the circuit board assembly, the at least two antennas may extend outward from the first heat sink and the second heat sink surrounding the circuit board assembly, and the at least two antennas may be offset by approximately 1 / 4 wavelength from a base of the wireless network device.

[0100] Example 10: The wireless network device of Example 9, wherein the at least two antennas can be attached to the circuit board assembly by surface mount technology.

[0101] Example 11: The wireless network device of Example 9 or Example 10, wherein the at least two antennas can each be operable in both the 2.4 GHz band and the 6 GHz band.

[0102] Example 12: A wireless network device described in any one of Examples 9 to 11, wherein the at least two antennas can be decorrelated based on minimizing the product of the electric fields generated by each of the at least two antennas and based on the radiation patterns of the at least two antennas being directed in opposite directions to each other.

[0103] Example 13: A wireless network device described in any of Examples 3 to 12, wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink may have a y-axis dimension within a range of 50% to 90% of the height of the housing.

[0104] Example 14: A wireless network device as described in any of the preceding examples, wherein the rear housing component may include one or more openings that align with one or more ports on the circuit board assembly, and the one or more openings may be positioned in a portion of the rear housing component that is parallel to the xy plane.

[0105] Example 15: A wireless network device as described in any of the preceding examples, wherein the one or more ports on the circuit board assembly may include an Ethernet port and a power connector.

[0106] Example 16: A wireless network device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the antenna system may be a three-axis orthogonal antenna system having three pairs of antennas oriented along orthogonal major axes.

[0107] Example 17: The wireless network device of any of the preceding examples, wherein the wireless network device is configured as or comprises a thermostat, a hazard detector, a camera, a lighting unit, an entrance door lock system, a room occupancy detector, an alarm system, a wearable computing device, a motion detector, a vibration detector, and / or a doorbell.

[0108] conclusion Although aspects of wireless network devices capable of operating in the 6 GHz band have been described in language specific to features and / or methods, the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the particular features or methods described. Rather, the particular features and methods are disclosed as exemplary implementations of techniques for wireless network devices capable of operating in the 6 GHz band, and other equivalent features and methods are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that a variety of different aspects have been described, and that each described aspect can be implemented independently or in conjunction with one or more other described aspects.

Claims

1. 1. A wireless network device, comprising: a housing having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a depth along a z-axis, the height being greater than the width and the width being greater than the depth, the housing forming a vertical rectangular parallelepiped with rounded corners and edges, the housing including a front housing component and a rear housing component, the front housing component and the rear housing component being interconnected along an xy plane defined by the x-axis and the y-axis and along respective peripheries of the front housing component and the rear housing component, the wireless network device further comprising: an antenna system contained within the housing and operable in at least three frequency bands including 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz; a circuit board assembly disposed within the housing and operable to provide at least one of a gateway or a node to a wireless network; A wireless network device comprising:

2. The wireless network device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board assembly is supported in an orientation parallel to the xy plane.

3. the circuit board assembly is thermally coupled to an antenna and shield subassembly that includes at least one heat sink; The wireless network device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the circuit board assembly is partially encased by the at least one heat sink.

4. 4. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the circuit board assembly is housed within an antenna and shield subassembly having a first heat sink and a second heat sink combined across the circuit board assembly to shield the antenna system from electromagnetic interference generated by electrical components on the circuit board assembly.

5. the circuit board assembly includes a first side and an opposing second side; The first heat sink comprises: a first inner surface in physical contact with the first side of the circuit board assembly for conducting heat away from the first side of the circuit board assembly; a first outer surface conforming to and contacting a first inner surface of the front housing component to transfer heat to the front housing component; The second heat sink comprises: a second inner surface in physical contact with the second side of the circuit board assembly for conducting heat away from the second side of the circuit board assembly; a second outer surface that conforms to and corresponds to a second inner surface of the rear housing component and that contacts the second inner surface of the rear housing component to transfer heat to the rear housing component.

6. the first heat sink and the second heat sink each define an open cavity; The wireless network device of claim 5 , wherein the antenna and shield subassembly includes an antenna plate covering an opening of each of the cavities.

7. 7. The wireless network device of claim 6, wherein the antenna system includes multiple antennas attached to the antenna plate to form a 5 GHz wireless network system that includes both primary and diversity antenna switching.

8. the antenna plate is a single piece of sheet metal forming a ground plane; The wireless network device of claim 7 , wherein the antennas on the antenna plate are stamped and bent to lie above the ground plane.

9. the antenna system includes at least two antennas attached to the circuit board assembly and extending outwardly from edges of the circuit board assembly; the at least two antennas are coplanar with the circuit board assembly; the at least two antennas extend outwardly from the first and second heat sinks surrounding the circuit board assembly; The wireless network device of any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the at least two antennas are offset from a base of the wireless network device by approximately a quarter wavelength.

10. 10. The wireless network device of claim 9, wherein the at least two antennas are each operable in both the 2.4 GHz band and the 6 GHz band.

11. 11. The wireless network device of claim 9, wherein the at least two antennas are decorrelated based on minimizing a product of the electric fields generated by each of the at least two antennas and based on the radiation patterns of the at least two antennas being directed in opposite directions.

12. The wireless network device of any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink have a y-axis dimension that is within a range of 50% to 90% of the height of the housing.

13. the rear housing component includes one or more openings that align with one or more ports on the circuit board assembly; The wireless network device of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more openings are located in a portion of the rear housing component that is parallel to the xy plane.

14. The wireless network device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more ports on the circuit board assembly include an Ethernet port and a power connector.

15. The wireless network device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the antenna system is a three-axis orthogonal antenna system having three pairs of antennas oriented along orthogonal major axes.

Images