Active power management

• US 10,270,274 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beagley, James, Flint, Jason C., Bevan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Leon Viet Q
• Application Number:
  US15/852,244
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, routing a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, and routing a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated. In some cases, the power adapter is wired, via doorbell wiring, to at least one of a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply. In one example, the first portion of power is routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated.

Claims

1. A method for a security and/or automation system, comprising:

receiving, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, wherein the power adapter is wired, via doorbell wiring, to a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply;

routing a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, the first portion of the power being routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated;

receiving, at a processor of the security and/or automation system, a signal to actuate the doorbell button from a mobile device;

routing a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated;

determining an amount of the second portion of the power received from the power supply based at least in part on one or more of an amount of power provided by the power supply, an amount of power currently being used, and a number of devices presently using the provided power; and

providing data to a doorbell adapter, wherein the data indicates a value associated with the second portion of the power.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

actuating the doorbell button according to the received signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modulating a power signal routed to the device of the doorbell unit;

monitoring, via the processor, to determine when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

communicating, via the modulated power signal, data to the power adapter, wherein the data indicates whether the doorbell button is being actuated, and wherein the data is communicated over the doorbell wiring.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing a third portion of the power received from the power supply to a rechargeable energy storage unit when the doorbell button is not being actuated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third portion of the power routed to the rechargeable energy storage unit varies according to a determination made by at least one of a processor of the doorbell unit and a processor of the power adapter.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the rechargeable energy storage unit comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, fuel cell, and capacitor, the rechargeable energy storage unit being configured to provide power to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the doorbell wiring comprises preexisting doorbell wiring, the preexisting doorbell wiring being used to power a previous doorbell unit prior to installing the doorbell unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving power from the power supply further comprises receiving, at the power adapter, a pulsing power signal from the power supply, the method further comprising:

storing power in a rechargeable energy storage unit during dead cycles of the pulsing power when the doorbell is momentarily not being powered by the pulsing power signal.

9. An apparatus for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive, at the apparatus, power from a power supply, wherein the apparatus is wired via doorbell wiring to a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply;

route a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, the first portion of power being routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated;

receive, at the processor, a signal to actuate the doorbell button from a mobile device;

route a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated;

determine an amount of the second portion of the power received from the power supply based at least in part on one or more of an amount of power provided by the power supply, an amount of power currently being used, and a number of devices presently using the provided power; and

provide data to a doorbell adapter, wherein the data indicates a value associated with the second portion of the power.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

actuate the doorbell button according to the received signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

modulate a power signal routed to the device of the doorbell unit;

monitor to determine when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

communicate, via the modulated power signal, data to the apparatus, wherein the data indicates whether the doorbell button is being actuated, and wherein the data is communicated over the doorbell wiring.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

route a third portion of the power received from the power supply to a rechargeable energy storage unit when the doorbell button is not being actuated.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the third portion of the power routed to the rechargeable energy storage unit varies according to a determination made by the processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rechargeable energy storage unit comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, fuel cell, and capacitor, the rechargeable energy storage unit being configured to provide power to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for security and/or automation systems, the code executable by a processor to:

receive, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, wherein the power adapter is wired via doorbell wiring to a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply;

route a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, the first portion of power being routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated;

receive, at the processor, a signal to actuate the doorbell button from a mobile device;

route a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated;

determine an amount of the second portion of the power received from the power supply based at least in part on one or more of an amount of power provided by the power supply, an amount of power currently being used, and a number of devices presently using the provided power; and

provide data to a doorbell adapter, wherein the data indicates a value associated with the second portion of the power.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the code being executable by the processor to:

actuate the doorbell button according to the received signal.