Doorbell communication and electrical systems

• US 10,440,166 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2018
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): McCormack, Thomas S
• Application Number:
  US15/990,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20180278734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 500 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A doorbell system can be used to block a first electricity that is less than a first threshold from entering an electronic chime. By blocking the first electricity from entering the electronic chime, the electronic chime is not allowed to emit a notification sound. The doorbell system can also be used to allow a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold to enter the electronic chime. By allowing the second electricity to enter the electronic chime, this can allow the electronic chime to emit a notification sound in response to a visitor being present.

Claims

1. A doorbell system comprising:

a doorbell comprising a camera and a button;

a switch assembly electrically coupled to the doorbell and a power supply, wherein the switch assembly comprises a first switch; and

a chime electrically coupled in parallel with the first switch, wherein in response to a first electricity that is less than a first threshold the first switch is configured to allow at least a portion of the first electricity to flow through the switch assembly, and in response to a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold, the first switch is configured to not allow the second electricity to flow through the switch assembly and is configured to enable the second electricity to flow through the chime.

2. The doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a single-pole, single-throw switch.

3. The doorbell system of claim 1, wherein when the first switch is in a closed position, the first switch electrically couples the power supply and the doorbell.

4. The doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell is configured such that pressing the button of the doorbell causes the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold.

5. The doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell system is configured to maintain the second electricity above the first threshold for a predetermined amount of time in response to a press of the button.

6. The doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the button of the doorbell is configurable to enable a visitor to sound the chime, and

the first switch is configured to have a first state and a second state, wherein the first state occurs in response to a first electricity that is less than a first threshold, and the second state occurs in response to a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold, wherein in the first state the first switch is configured prevent at least a portion of the first electricity from passing through the chime to prevent the chime from emitting a notification sound, and in the second state the switch assembly is configured to allow the second electricity to pass through the chime such that the chime emits the notification sound.

7. The doorbell system of claim 6, wherein the doorbell is configured such that pressing the button of the doorbell causes the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold to cause the second state.

8. The doorbell system of claim 6, wherein in the first state, the switch assembly is configured to allow the portion of the first electricity to pass through the switch assembly.

9. The doorbell system of claim 6, wherein in the first state, the first switch is configured to allow the portion of the first electricity to pass through the first switch.

10. The doorbell system of claim 9, wherein the switch assembly is mechanically coupled to the chime.

11. The doorbell system of claim 9, wherein the chime comprises a plastic housing, the switch assembly is located inside the plastic housing, and the doorbell is located outside of the plastic housing and in a remote location relative to the plastic housing.

12. The doorbell system of claim 6, wherein the doorbell system is configured to maintain the second electricity above the first threshold for a predetermined amount of time in response to a press of the button.

13. The doorbell system of claim 6, further comprising a remote computing device configured to receive a predetermined amount of time from a user, wherein the predetermined amount of time defines an amount of time that the second electricity is maintained above the first threshold.

14. The doorbell system of claim 6, wherein the first switch comprises a single-pole, single-throw switch.

15. The doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the first switch is configured to have a first state and a second state, wherein the first state occurs in response to a first electricity that is less than a first threshold, and the second state occurs in response to a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold,

wherein in the first state the first switch is in a closed position such that a first electrical current flows through the first switch between the doorbell and the power supply such that the chime does not emit a notification sound during the first state,

wherein in the second state the first switch is in an open position such that the first switch blocks a second electrical current from flowing through the first switch between the doorbell and the power supply.

16. The doorbell system of claim 15, wherein the chime is electrically coupled in parallel with the first switch.

17. The doorbell system of claim 15, wherein the first switch is mechanically coupled to the chime, is located remotely relative to the doorbell, and is electrically coupled to the doorbell such that the doorbell controls whether the first switch is in the first state or the second state.

18. The doorbell system of claim 15, wherein the chime is configured to emit the notification sound in response to the second state.

19. The doorbell system of claim 15, wherein the first switch comprises a single-pole, single-throw switch.

20. The doorbell system of claim 15, wherein the doorbell is configured such that pressing the button of the doorbell causes the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold to cause the second state.

21. The doorbell system of claim 15, wherein the doorbell system is configured to maintain the second electricity above the first threshold for a predetermined amount of time.

22. A system configured to electrically couple a doorbell and a power supply, the system comprising:

a chime; and

a switch assembly electrically and mechanically coupled to the chime, wherein the switch assembly comprises a first switch electrically coupled in parallel with the chime,

wherein in response to a first electricity that is less than a first threshold the first switch is configured to allow at least a portion of the first electricity to flow through the switch assembly, and

wherein in response to a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold the first switch is configured to not allow the second electricity to flow through the switch assembly and is configured to enable the second electricity to flow through the chime.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first switch comprises a single-pole, single-throw switch.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising the doorbell, wherein the doorbell is configured such that pressing a button of the doorbell closes a second switch of the doorbell to cause the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein

the first switch is configured to have a first state and a second state, wherein the first state occurs in response to a first electricity that is less than a first threshold, and the second state occurs in response to a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold, wherein in the first state the first switch prevents at least a portion of the first electricity from passing through the chime to prevent the chime from emitting a notification sound.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein in the second state the switch assembly allows the second electricity to pass through the chime to enable the chime to emit the notification sound.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the first switch is configured to have a first state and a second state, wherein the first state occurs in response to a first electricity that is less than a first threshold, and the second state occurs in response to a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold,

wherein in the first state the first switch is in a closed position such that the first switch is configured to enable a first electrical current to flow through the first switch between the doorbell and the power supply such that the chime does not emit a notification sound during the first state,

wherein in the second state the first switch is in an open position such that the first switch is configured to block a second electrical current from flowing through the first switch between the doorbell and the power supply.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first switch is located remotely relative to the doorbell and is electrically coupled to the doorbell such that the doorbell controls whether the first switch is in the first state or the second state.