Display assistant device
This application is directed to a display assistant device that acts as a voice-activated user interface device. The display assistant device includes a base, a screen and a rear speaker. The base is configured for sitting on a surface. The screen has a rear surface and is supported by the base at the rear surface. A bottom edge of the screen is configured to be held above the surface by a predefined height, and the base is substantially hidden behind the screen from a front view of the display assistant device. The rear speaker is concealed inside the base and oriented to project sound towards the rear side of the base.
1 . A display assistant device comprising:
a base configured for sitting on a surface, the base having a front side and a rear side that is taller than the front side, wherein the base extends upward along a central axis of the base that leans in a first direction by a first angle from perpendicular to a bottom surface of the base when the base sits on the surface;
a screen having a rear surface, wherein, when the screen is supported at the rear surface by the base, the screen leans in a second direction by a second angle from perpendicular to the bottom surface of the base when the base sits on the surface; and
a speaker that is concealed inside the base, wherein the speaker comprises a speaker opening that faces toward the front side or the rear side, wherein the speaker opening tilts at a third angle with respect to the bottom surface.
2 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the screen faces substantially forward and leans backward by the second angle.
3 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first angle and the second angle have a same absolute value.
4 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the speaker is a front speaker that tilts at a fourth angle with respect to the bottom surface.
5 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the fourth angle and one or both of the first angle and the second angle have a same absolute value.
6 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a rear speaker that tilts at a fifth angle with respect to the bottom surface.
7 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the rear speaker is configured to produce sound in a first frequency range, and the front speaker is configured to produce sound in a second frequency range.
8 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the second frequency range is higher than the first frequency range.
9 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the fifth angle and the fourth angle have a same absolute value.
10 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first angle and the second angle have the same absolute value.
11 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the speaker is a rear speaker that tilts at a fourth angle with respect to the bottom surface.
12 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the fourth angle and one or both of the first angle and the second angle have a same absolute value.
13 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the central axis, the front side, and the rear side lean by the first angle from perpendicular to the bottom surface of the base when the base sits on the surface.
14 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base supports the screen such that a space exists between a bottom edge of the screen and a plane defined by the bottom surface.
15 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface has a base length and a base width that is less than the base length, the base width corresponding to a distance between the front side and the rear side.
16 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the screen extends beyond an intersection of the screen and the base.
17 . The display assistant device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the screen has a front surface comprising a touch sensing area that is sensitive to touch events.
18 . A method comprising:
configuring a base for sitting on a surface, the base having a front side and a rear side that is taller than the front side, wherein the base extends upward along a central axis of the base that leans in a first direction by a first angle from perpendicular to a bottom surface of the base when the base sits on the surface;
supporting a screen at a rear surface of the screen by the base so that the screen leans in a second direction by a second angle from perpendicular to the bottom surface of the base when the base sits on the surface; and
concealing a speaker inside the base, wherein the speaker comprises a speaker opening that faces toward the front side or the rear side and the speaker opening tilts at a third angle with respect to the bottom surface.
19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the first angle and the second angle have a same absolute value.