Communicating between devices in a doorbell system using AC power waveforms

• US 10,560,149 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Skeoch, James Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US16/173,931
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 340326, 340506, 340540, 340541, 340565, 340328
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques for using alternating current (AC) power waveforms to communicate between devices in a doorbell circuit. A signaling device that emits sound may be positioned in the doorbell circuit between an AC power source and a doorbell device (such as an A/V device including a doorbell). A signaling device may be coupled in parallel to a signaling-control device that includes electronic circuitry that provides a selective bypass to allow for larger amounts of current drawn by the A/V device to bypass the signaling device without causing the signaling device to emit the sound. The A/V device and the signaling-control device may use AC power waveforms to communicate data and/or data between each other. For example, the A/V device and the signaling-control device may control respective signal relays to selectively open and close the doorbell circuit in order to communicate with each other using the AC current waveform.

Claims

1. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device configured to be connected in series with a doorbell device in a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording and communication device comprising:

a button configured to receive touch input to cause a signaling device to output a sound;

one or more processors;

a first signal relay configured to be disposed in series with the signaling device to perform current switching for controlling AC current that is provided by an AC power source, the first signal relay being selectively configurable to close a first connection such that the AC current is provided by the AC power source and to open the first connection such that the AC current is not provided by the AC power source;

a second signal relay disposed in parallel with the A/V recording and communication device to perform current switching for controlling the AC current that is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, the second signal relay being selectively configurable to open a second connection such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device through the first signal relay and to close the second connection such that that AC current passes through the first signal relay and the second signal relay to bypass the A/V recording and communication device; and

memory having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to;

cause the first signal relay to close the first connection;

cause the second signal relay to open the second connection such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a first amount of AC current through the first signal relay;

detect a touch input of the button;

based at least in part on the detecting the touch input of the button, cause the first signal relay to open the first connection such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the first amount of AC current from being drawn by the A/V recording and communication device for a first period of time,

wherein the preventing the first amount of AC current from being drawn by the A/V recording and communication device indicates to the signaling device to output the sound;

subsequent to the first period of time;

cause the first signal relay to close the first connection such that the AC current is provided to the doorbell circuit by the AC power source; and

cause the second signal relay to close the second connection such that a second amount of AC current that is drawn by the signaling device to output the sound bypasses the A/V recording and communication device by passing through the first signal relay and the second signal relay, wherein the first signal relay and the second signal relay are closed for a second period of time;

subsequent to the second period of time;

cause the first signal relay to open the first connection for a third period of time; and

cause the second signal relay to open the second connection for the third period of time such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signaling device from drawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound; and

subsequent to the third period of time, cause the first signal relay to close the first connection such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a third amount of AC current through the first signal relay.

2. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the first signal relay is configured to be connected in series between the signaling device and a power load of the A/V recording and communication device; and

the power load is configured to draw at least a portion of the AC current and comprises at least one of a camera, a microphone, or a speaker.

3. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 1, further comprising a doorbell circuit device connected in series with the A/V recording and communication device and configured for coupling to the signaling device, the doorbell circuit device comprising:

one or more second processors; and

an electronic switch configured to perform current switching for controlling AC current that is drawn by the signaling device, the electronic switch being selectively configurable to open a third connection such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device and to close the third connection such that the AC current bypasses the signaling device and is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device.

4. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 3, wherein the doorbell circuit device further comprises second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the doorbell circuit device to:

detect that the first amount of AC current was prevented from being drawn by the A/V recording and communication device; and

based at least in part on the first amount of AC current being prevented from being drawn, causing the electronic switch to open the third connection such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device to output the sound at least partly during the second period of time.

5. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 4, wherein:

the doorbell circuit device further comprises a current sense resistor configured to detect changes in alternating current (AC) current drawn from an AC power source and through the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording and communication device; and

detecting that the first amount of AC current was prevented from being drawn comprises detecting, at least partly using the current sense resistor, that the first amount of AC current was prevented from being drawn.

6. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device having two terminals connectable in series with a signaling device within a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording and communication device comprising:

a button that, when pressed, causes the signaling device to output sound;

one or more processors;

a first switch for controlling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, the first switch being selectively configurable to close such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device and to open such that the AC current is not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device;

a second switch for controlling the AC current that is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, the second switch being selectively configurable to open such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device through the first switch and to close such that that AC current passes through the first switch and the second switch to bypass the A/V recording and communication device; and

memory having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to;

cause the first switch to close;

cause the second switch to open such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a first amount of AC current through the first switch;

detect a press of the button;

based at least in part on the press of the button, cause the first switch to open such that the A/V recording and communication device is prevented from drawing the first amount of AC current for a first period of time;

subsequent to the first period of time;

cause the first switch to close; and

cause the second switch to close such that a second amount of AC current that is drawn by the signaling device to output a sound bypasses the A/V recording and communication device, wherein the first switch and the second switch are closed for a second period of time.

7. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 6, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to, subsequent to the second period of time:

cause the first switch to open for a third period of time; and

cause the second switch to open for the third period of time such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signaling device from drawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.

8. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 7, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to, subsequent to the third period of time:

cause the first switch to close such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a third amount of AC current through the first switch.

9. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 6, wherein:

the first switch is configured to be connected in series between the signaling device and a power load of the A/V recording and communication device; and

the power load is configured to draw at least a portion of the first amount of AC current and comprises at least one of a camera, a microphone, or a speaker.

10. A method performed at least in part by an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the method comprising:

causing a first switch of the A/V recording and communication device to close a first connection such that alternating current (AC) current is drawn through a doorbell circuit from an AC power source, wherein the A/V recording and communication device is connected in series with a signaling device in the doorbell circuit;

causing a second switch of the A/V recording and communication device to open a second connection such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a first amount of AC current through the first switch;

detecting a press of a button of the A/V recording and communication device;

based at least in part on the press of the button, causing the first switch to open such that the A/V recording and communication device is prevented from drawing the first amount of AC current for a first period of time;

subsequent to the first period of time;

causing the first switch to close; and

causing the second switch to close such that a second amount of AC current that is drawn by the signaling device to output a sound bypasses the A/V recording and communication device, wherein the first switch and the second switch are closed for a second period of time.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing the first switch to open the first connection for a third period of time; and

causing the second switch to open the second connection for the third period of time such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signaling device from drawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first switch is configured to be connected in series between the signaling device and a power load of the A/V recording and communication device; and

the power load is configured to draw at least a portion of the AC current and comprises at least one of a camera, a microphone, or a speaker.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing the first switch to close the first connection such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a third amount of AC current through the first switch.

14. A doorbell circuit device having two terminals connectable to a signaling device in a doorbell circuit and connectable in series in the doorbell circuit with an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the doorbell circuit device comprising:

an electronic switch configured to perform current switching for controlling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the signaling device, the electronic switch being selectively configurable to open such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device and to close such that the AC current bypasses the signaling device; and

one or more control components comprising logic to cause the doorbell circuit device to;

cause the electrical switch to close such that a first amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device;

identify that an amount of the AC current in the doorbell circuit has fallen below a threshold amount of AC current indicating that the doorbell circuit has changed from a closed-circuit state to an open-circuit state;

based at least in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuit changed from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state;

cause the electronic switch to open such that a second amount of AC current is drawn by the signaling device; and

cause the signaling device to output a sound.

15. The doorbell circuit device of claim 14, wherein the one or more control components comprise further logic that cause the doorbell device to:

identify that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state; and

based at least in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open circuit state, cause the electronic switch to close such that a third amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device.

16. The doorbell circuit device of claim 14, further comprising a current sense resistor configured to detect changes in the AC current drawn from an AC power source and through the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording and communication device,

wherein the identifying that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state comprises detecting, at least partly by the current sense resistor, that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state.

17. The doorbell circuit device of claim 14, wherein the doorbell circuit device is configured to be connected in parallel with the signaling device in the doorbell circuit.

18. A method performed at least partly by a doorbell circuit device that is coupled to a signaling device in a doorbell circuit, the method comprising:

causing an electronic switch to close a connection in the doorbell circuit such that a first amount of alternating current (AC) current bypasses the signaling device in the doorbell circuit;

identifying that the AC current has fallen below a threshold amount of AC current indicating that the doorbell circuit has changed from a closed-circuit state to an open-circuit state; and

based at least in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuit changed from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state;

causing the electronic switch to open such that a second amount of AC current is drawn by the signaling device; and

causing the signaling device to output a sound.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

identifying that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state; and

based at least in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open circuit state, causing the electronic switch to close such that a third amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detecting an end of a predefined period of time associated with causing the signaling device to output the sound; and

based at least in part on the detecting the end of the predefined period of time, cause the electronic switch to close such that a third amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device to cease outputting the sound.