Doorbell device and method thereof

• US 10,257,473 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SerComm Corporation
• Original Assignee: SerComm Corporation
• Inventors: Hu, Shiou-Hua, Yeh, Benjamin, Hsu, Yen-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Patricia I
• Application Number:
  US14/872,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20160219254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A doorbell device is provided. The doorbell device includes a first camera unit, a second camera unit, a doorbell button, and a processing unit. The first camera unit includes a first camera lens and a first image sensor, generating a first video. The second camera unit includes a second camera lens and a second image sensor, generating a second video. The processing unit selectively activates one of the first camera unit and the second camera unit according to at least one of the first video, the second video, and a state of the doorbell button.

Claims

1. A doorbell device, comprising:

a first camera unit, comprising a first camera lens and a first image sensor, configured to generate a first video;

a second camera unit, comprising a second camera lens and a second image sensor, configured to generate a second video;

a doorbell button;

the first camera unit and the second camera unit configured to be integrated into a single doorbell device;

a processing unit, configured to selectively activate one of the first camera unit and the second camera unit according to at least one of the first video, the second video, and a state of the doorbell button,

wherein the processing unit is configured to activate the first camera unit when the doorbell button is pressed, and wherein a field of view of the first camera unit is smaller than a field of view of the second camera unit;

the processing unit is configured to activate the second camera unit a predetermined time period after the doorbell button is pressed; and

capturing, by the first camera unit, an image of a visitor to be uploaded via network connection when the first camera unit is activated.

2. The doorbell device according to claim 1, wherein a field of view of the first camera unit is smaller than 70 degrees, and a field of view of the second camera unit is larger than 90 degrees.

3. The doorbell device according to claim 1, wherein an angle between an optical axis of the first camera lens and an optical axis of the second camera lens is larger than 10 degrees.

4. The doorbell device according to claim 1, wherein a resolution of the first video is lower than a resolution of the second video.

5. A method to be performed by a doorbell device, the doorbell device comprising a doorbell button, a first camera unit, and a second camera unit, the first camera unit and the second camera unit configured to be integrated into a single doorbell device,

wherein a field of view of the first camera unit is smaller than a field of view of the second camera unit, the method comprising:

generating a first video by the first camera unit;

generating a second video by the second camera unit;

selectively activating one of the first camera unit and the second camera unit according to at least one of the first video, the second video, and a state of the doorbell button;

activating the first camera unit when the doorbell button is pressed; and

activating the second camera unit a predetermined time period after the doorbell button is pressed; and

capturing, by the first camera unit, an image of a visitor to be uploaded via network connection when the first camera unit is activated.