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 surveillance camera system including a magnet mount for physically receiving a camera module. The camera module includes a housing having an exterior surface of a first shape. A surface of the magnet mount has a second shape that is substantially concave and complementary to the first shape, and is configured to engage the exterior surface of the housing of the camera module. A magnetic material is disposed inside the magnet mount and configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic material of the camera module. A friction pad is embedded on the surface of the magnet mount, has a substantially concave shape and protrudes beyond the second surface. The friction pad is configured to come into contact with the exterior surface of the housing of the camera module at least via a peripheral edge of the substantially concave friction pad.

Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for illuminating and capturing scenes. In one aspect, a video camera assembly includes: (1) one or more processors configured to operate the video camera assembly in a day mode and in a night mode; (2) an image sensor having a field of view of a scene and configured to capture video of a first portion of the scene while in the day mode of operation and in the night mode of operation, the first portion corresponding to the field of view of the image sensor; (3) one or more infrared (IR) illuminators configured to provide illumination during the night mode of operation while the image sensor captures video; and (4) an IR reflector component configured to: (i) substantially restrict the illumination onto the first portion of the scene, and (ii) illuminate the first portion in a substantially uniform manner across the field of view of the image sensor.

Abstract: This application is directed to a surveillance camera system including a magnet mount for physically receiving a camera module. The camera module includes a housing having an exterior surface of a first shape. A surface of the magnet mount has a second shape that is substantially concave and complementary to the first shape, and is configured to engage the exterior surface of the housing of the camera module. A magnetic material is disposed inside the magnet mount and configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic material of the camera module. A friction pad is embedded on the surface of the magnet mount, has a substantially concave shape and protrudes beyond the second surface. The friction pad is configured to come into contact with the exterior surface of the housing of the camera module at least via a peripheral edge of the substantially concave friction pad.

Abstract: This application discloses a stand assembly that includes a receiving element for physically receiving a module, and a base assembly for supporting the receiving element. The receiving element further includes a module holding structure, an extended portion, and a first fastener structure coupled to an end of the extended portion. The base assembly includes a base, and a second fastener structure coupled to the base at a joint and configured to mate with the first fastener structure. The first fastener structure and the joint are configured to respectively provide a first degree of freedom of motion and a second degree of freedom of motion of the receiving element with respect to the base. The movement of the receiving element at the first degree of freedom has substantially consistent resistance through first part of a first full range of motion associated with the first degree of freedom of motion.

Abstract: A method of detecting and responding to a visitor to a smart home environment via an electronic greeting system of the smart home environment, including determining that a visitor is approaching an entryway of the smart home environment; initiating a facial recognition operation while the visitor is approaching the entryway; initiating an observation window in response to the determination that a visitor is approaching the entryway; obtaining context information from one or more sensors of the smart home environment during the observation window; and at the end of the time window, initiating a response to the detected approach of the visitor based on the context information and/or an outcome of the facial recognition operation.

Abstract: This application is directed to a camera assembly that includes a camera module and a magnet mount for physically receiving the camera module. The camera module includes a housing having an exterior rear surface of a first shape and a magnetic plate attached to a rear portion of the housing. The magnet mount includes a receiving surface of a second shape and a magnetic material covered by the receiving surface. The second shape of the receiving surface is substantially complementary to the first shape of the exterior rear surface of the housing of the camera module, and the receiving surface is configured to engage the exterior rear surface of the housing of the camera module. The magnetic material of the magnet mount magnetically couples to the magnetic plate of the camera module.

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: A method of detecting and responding to a visitor to a smart home environment via an electronic greeting system of the smart home environment, including determining that a visitor is approaching an entryway of the smart home environment; initiating a facial recognition operation while the visitor is approaching the entryway; initiating an observation window in response to the determination that a visitor is approaching the entryway; obtaining context information from one or more sensors of the smart home environment during the observation window; and at the end of the time window, initiating a response to the detected approach of the visitor based on the context information and/or an outcome of the facial recognition operation.