Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.

Abstract: This application is directed to a physical assembly including a magnet mount for physically receiving a physical module that includes a housing having a rear surface of a first shape. The magnet mount includes a first surface, a second surface and a magnetic material. The first surface is configured to attach to a mounting surface. The second surface has a second shape that is substantially complementary to the first shape, and is configured to engage the rear surface of the housing of the physical module. The magnetic material is disposed between the first and second surfaces and configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic material of the physical module. When the physical module is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount, an adjustable union between the magnet mount and the physical module is formed permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the physical module with respect to the magnet mount.

Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face has a concave shape that extends around an entirety of an outer periphery.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures.

Abstract: The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; and (3) a concave-shaped front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor; where the front face includes: (a) an inner section corresponding to the image sensor; and (b) an outer section between the housing and the inner section, the outer section having a concave shape that extends from an outer periphery of the outer section to an inner periphery of the outer section; and where the concave shape extends around an entirety of the outer periphery.

Abstract: This application is directed to a waterproof power adapter, which includes: a waterproof housing enclosing an AC to DC converter having an AC power supply input and a DC power supply output; a fixed, waterproof AC power connection for coupling an external power supply to the AC power supply input; a female connector, a portion of which is coupled within the housing to the DC power supply output, and an exposed portion of which is configured to couple a DC voltage provided at the DC power supply output to a complementary and separate male connector, the exposed portion being exposed when not coupled to the male connector; a sealing structure configured to engage with a cover of the male connector in a sealed position to provide a waterproof environment; and a locking mechanism configured to releasably tighten and lock the cover of the male connector in the sealed position.

Abstract: This application is directed to a physical assembly including a magnet mount for physically receiving a physical module that includes a housing having a rear surface of a first shape. The magnet mount includes a first surface, a second surface and a magnetic material. The first surface is configured to attach to a mounting surface. The second surface has a second shape that is substantially complementary to the first shape, and is configured to engage the rear surface of the housing of the physical module. The magnetic material is disposed between the first and second surfaces and configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic material of the physical module. When the physical module is magnetically coupled to the magnet mount, an adjustable union between the magnet mount and the physical module is formed permitting adjustment of an angle of orientation of the physical module with respect to the magnet mount.

Abstract: This application is directed to a waterproof power adapter, which includes: a waterproof housing enclosing an AC to DC converter having an AC power supply input and a DC power supply output; a fixed, waterproof AC power connection for coupling an external power supply to the AC power supply input; a female connector, a portion of which is coupled within the housing to the DC power supply output, and an exposed portion of which is configured to couple a DC voltage provided at the DC power supply output to a complementary and separate male connector, the exposed portion being exposed when not coupled to the male connector; a sealing structure configured to engage with a cover of the male connector in a sealed position to provide a waterproof environment; and a locking mechanism configured to releasably tighten and lock the cover of the male connector in the sealed position.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a smoke chamber for a smoke detector are presented. Such a smoke chamber may include a housing, having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be through which an electromagnetic sensor and two or more electromagnetic emitters interact with an airspace within the housing. The second portion may have an airflow surface that at least partially defines a curved airflow path between the airspace within the housing and an external environment. The curved airflow path may curve radially outward.

Abstract: Hazard detector for providing a pre-alarm of a developing hazardous condition can include a detection module that detects a hazard level of smoke or carbon monoxide, a light source that generates light, a speaker that generates an audible sound, a horn that generates an audible alarm that a higher volume than the speaker, and a processing module. The processing module can receive the detected hazard level and compare it with the pre-alarm threshold and the emergency threshold. The processing module can determine that the hazard level is greater than the pre-alarm threshold and less than the emergency threshold and cause an audible pre-alarm speech to be generated via the speaker that warns of the developing hazardous condition.

Abstract: A method for establishing a pairing between a smart-home device and an online account may include instantiating an application on a computing device and receiving a first code from a central server. The application may receive a second code from printed material associated with the smart-home device. The smart-home device may broadcast a first communication protocol, and the application may join the first mutation protocol. The application can be authenticated by the smart-home device using the second code, and the application can receive an identity of a second communication protocol from a user. The application can then transmit the identity of the second communication protocol to the smart-home device. The smart-home device can use the second mutation protocol to access the Internet and transmit the first code to the central server, where the central server can use the first code in completing the pairing process.

Abstract: A hazard detector includes a chassis configured to house components of the hazard detector. The chassis includes a front defining a central aperture. The front has a domed contour such that an outer edge of an inner portion extends beyond an outer periphery of the front. The inner surface tapers from the outer edge toward the inner portion. The detector includes a mesh formed to the contour of the front so the mesh is flat against the front. The mesh defines an aperture corresponding to the central aperture. The detector includes a grille secured to the chassis that defines an aperture corresponding to the central aperture and defines openings positioned along the grille. An inner surface of the grille includes a contour corresponding to the contour of the front so the mesh is flat against the inner surface. The mesh is positioned between the grille and the chassis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a smoke chamber for a smoke detector are presented. Such a smoke chamber may include a housing, having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be through which an electromagnetic sensor and two or more electromagnetic emitters interact with an airspace within the housing. The second portion may have an airflow surface that at least partially defines a curved airflow path between the airspace within the housing and an external environment. The curved airflow path may curve radially outward.