Audio/Video recording and communication devices

• US 10,440,333 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jeong, Changsoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zenati, Amal S
• Application Number:
  US15/456,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20170272706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 940 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1406
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell comprises a camera, a front button, and a motion sensor. The camera and the motion sensor are configured to work in tandem to detect motion in a field of view of the A/V recording and communication doorbell, such that a first one of the camera and the motion sensor detects motion and the other one of the camera and the motion sensor independently verifies the motion detection before an alert is sent to a user'"'"'s client device. In this manner, user alerts from false alarm motion detections are reduced.

Claims

1. A method for an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell system, the A/V recording and communication doorbell including a camera, a front button, a motion sensor, and a light sensor, the method comprising:

detecting a level of ambient light using at least one of the camera and the light sensor;

comparing the detected level of ambient light to a threshold value to determine whether the detected level of ambient light is high or low;

based on determining that the detected level of ambient light is high;

using the motion sensor to detect motion in a field of view of the A/V recording and communication doorbell; and

attempting to independently verify the motion detection of the motion sensor using the camera;

based on determining that the detected level of ambient light is low;

using the camera to detect motion in the field of view of the A/V recording and communication doorbell; and

attempting to independently verify the motion detection of the camera using the motion sensor; and

sending an alert to a user'"'"'s client device only when the motion detection is independently verified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is integrated within the front button.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the front button comprises a material that is substantially transparent to infrared radiation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the front button comprises a Fresnel lens configured to focus incoming light onto the motion sensor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein an outer surface of the front button is substantially smooth and curved and an inner surface of the front button includes a plurality of ridges.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a speaker and a microphone.

8. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, comprising:

a camera;

a front button;

a motion sensor;

a processor operatively connected to the camera, the front button, and the motion sensor; and

a memory storing a program comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the A/V recording and communication doorbell to;

detect, using at least one of the camera and the motion sensor, motion within a field of view of the A/V recording and communication doorbell;

detect a level of ambient light using the camera;

compare the detected level of ambient light to a threshold value;

determine, based on comparing the detected level of ambient light to the threshold value, whether the detected level of ambient light is high or low;

based on determining that the detected level of ambient light is high, and when the motion is detected using the motion sensor, attempt to independently verify the motion detection of the motion sensor using the camera;

based on determining that the detected level of ambient light is low, and when the motion is detected using the camera, attempt to independently verify the motion detection of the camera using the motion sensor; and

send an alert to a user'"'"'s client device only when the motion detection is independently verified.

9. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 8, wherein the motion sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

10. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 8, wherein the motion sensor is integrated within the front button.

11. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 10, wherein the front button comprises a material that is substantially transparent to infrared radiation.

12. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 11, wherein the front button comprises a Fresnel lens configured to focus incoming light onto the motion sensor.

13. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 11, wherein an outer surface of the front button is substantially smooth and curved and an inner surface of the front button includes a plurality of ridges.

14. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 8, further comprising a light sensor, wherein the program comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the A/V recording and communication doorbell to detect the level of ambient light using the light sensor.

15. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 14, wherein the light sensor is configured to detect light in both infrared and visible spectrums.

16. The A/V recording and communication doorbell of claim 8, further comprising a speaker and a microphone.