Intelligent door plate and chime

• US 20020149492A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inncom Intl Inc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Inncom Intl Inc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Quirino, Richard N., Buckingham, Duane W., Oliver, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A system in operable communication with a doorbell chime for audio annunciation of a visitor to an occupant of a room in a multiple room building, the system configured to indicate a status of the room to the visitor or occupant, the system comprising: a switch assembly configured to convey a message outside of the room; the switch assembly operable from inside the room; an indicating assembly in operable communication with the switch assembly, the indicating assembly configured to indicate the message when the message is selected, the message viewable from inside and outside of the room; and a doorbell button in operable communication with the doorbell chime, the doorbell button operably connected with the indicating assembly and operable from outside of the room by the visitor.

Claims

1. A system in operable communication with a doorbell chime for audio annunciation of a visitor to an occupant of a room in a multiple room building, the system configured to indicate a status of the room to the visitor or occupant comprising:

a switch assembly configured to convey a message outside of said room;

said switch assembly operable from inside said room;

an indicating assembly in operable communication with said switch assembly, said indicating assembly configured to indicate said message when said message is selected, said message viewable from inside and outside of said room; and

a doorbell button in operable communication with the doorbell chime, said doorbell button operably connected with said indicating assembly and operable from outside of the room by the visitor.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch assembly is mounted to an interior wall of said room.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicating assembly is mounted to an exterior wall adjacent a doorway of said room.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch assembly includes a switch switchable between a first “

off”

position, a first “

on”

position representing the message that the occupant does not wish to be disturbed, and a second “

on”

position representing the message that the occupant wishes to have the said one of said rooms cleaned or made up.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said switch is switchable to a position indicating that the room is available for occupancy.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch assembly configured to indicate said message when said message is selected includes said message associated with each “

on”

position comprising a textual or symbolic representation of said message associated with each of said switch positions.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said message comprises a plurality of message indicators, wherein one of said message indicators includes a light in association with one of said “

on”

positions and wherein another of said message indicators comprises a light in association with another of said “

on”

positions.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said switch assembly includes said one of and said another of message indicators for clearly indicating a message selected by the occupant.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said indicating assembly further comprises a textual or symbolic representation of the message associated with each of said message indicators.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system is powered by one of wiring into the electrical system of the building and wiring to a centrally controlled system.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the doorbell chime is disposed on said switch assembly, said doorbell chime includes a speaker for audio output upon actuation of said doorbell button.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multiple-room building comprises a hotel or motel and the occupant is a hotel or motel guest.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicating assembly may be actuated remotely.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor in operable communication with said switch assembly.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said microprocessor is operably connected with an external device comprising one of a minibar door switch and an entry door switch and a passive infra-red device, and including combinations of at least one of the forgoing.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said indicating assembly further comprises a discrete display and a discrete switch, said discrete switch actuated to determine a condition of said room, said discrete display indicative of said condition of said room.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said switch assembly includes a jumper for selecting a preset period of delay from a plurality of preset period of delays, said preset period of delay is used to determine one condition, said one condition includes an occupancy condition of said room.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said one condition is actuated when said entry door switch detects a closed door and said passive infra-red device detects motion within said preset period of delay, said one condition signals a condition of occupancy to said discrete display.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein another said condition includes a minibar access condition, said minibar access condition is actuated when said minibar door switch detects an open minibar door indicative of minibar access, said minibar door switch signals a condition of minibar access to said discrete display.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said condition of occupancy is queried by employing said discrete switch in one manner to display said one condition on said discrete display, while said condition of minibar access is queried by employing said discrete switch in another manner to display said another condition on said discrete display.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said discrete switch includes a magnetic switch, said magnetic switch actuated with a magnet.

22. The system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said one manner includes pushing said discrete switch once, while said another manner includes pushing 10 said discrete switch twice.

23. The system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said discrete display of said condition of occupancy includes a first number of blinks from said indicating assembly, while said discrete display of said condition of minibar access includes a second number of blinks from said indicating assembly.

24. The system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said discrete display of said condition of occupancy and a second display of an absence of said condition of minibar access is indicated by a DND legend flashing a number of times.

25. The system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said discrete display of said condition of minibar access and a second display of an absence of said condition of occupancy is indicated with a MUR LED flashing a number of times.

26. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said DND legend flashes red.

27. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said MUR LED flashes green.

28. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said microprocessor is disposed in said switch assembly.

29. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said microprocessor is disposed in a centrally controlled system disposed in said room, said centrally controlled system is in electromagnetic communication with said switch assembly.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29 wherein said electromagnetic communication includes an infra-red communication device in said switch assembly and said centrally controlled system for communication of signals therebetween.

31. The system as claimed in claim 29 wherein said centrally controlled system includes an electronic thermostat in communication with at least one external device and said switch assembly.

32. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message selected by said switch assembly is also conveyed to a location remote from said switch assembly and remote from said indicating assembly.

33. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said switch assembly is monitored and operated remotely.

34. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein when said first “

on”

position is selected, the doorbell chime is muted.

35. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein when said first “

on”

position is selected, all incoming telephone calls to said room are routed to voicemail.