Low-Power-Consumption Audio/Video Recording and Communication Doorbell

• US 20180376062A1
• Filed: 07/31/2018
• Published: 12/27/2018
• 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: Siminoff, James, Jeong, Changsoo, Modestine, John, Phillips, Trevor, Siminoff, Mark, Tso, Robert, Westerman, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 10,554,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.

Claims

1. A method for an audio/video (A/V) doorbell, the method comprising:

drawing power from an external alternating current (AC) power source;

when the power reaches a threshold power,

drawing additional power from a battery of the A/V doorbell; and

continuing to draw the power from the external AC power source while drawing the additional power from the battery of the A/V doorbell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, wherein the method further comprises using a portion of the power drawn from the external AC power source to charge the rechargeable battery.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the portion of power is used to charge the rechargeable battery when the power drawn from the external AC power source is below the threshold power.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting that a button of the A/V doorbell is depressed; and

in response to detecting that the button of the A/V doorbell has been depressed, closing an electronic switch of the A/V doorbell for a duration of time, thereby causing the A/V doorbell to cease drawing the power from the external AC power source and causing a signaling device to output sound.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, upon an expiration of the duration of time, opening the electronic switch of the A/V doorbell, thereby causing the A/V doorbell to continue the drawing of the power from the external AC power source and causing the signaling device to cease outputting sound.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the duration of time is a first duration of time, wherein the method further comprises, upon the expiration of the first duration of time, preventing the electronic switch of the A/V doorbell from closing again until after a second duration of time expires.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising, in response to detecting that the button of the A/V doorbell has been depressed, sending a request, via a network, to conduct a call between the A/V doorbell and a client device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, upon receiving a notification that the call is answered by the client device during the duration of time, opening the electronic switch before an expiration of the duration of time, thereby causing the A/V doorbell to continue the drawing of the power from the external AC power source and causing the signaling device to cease outputting sound.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

detecting motion proximate to the A/V doorbell; and

in response to the detecting of the motion proximate to the A/V doorbell, sending a request, via a network, to conduct a call between the A/V doorbell and a client device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting that the button of the A/V doorbell is depressed is at a first time, wherein the method further comprises

upon receiving a notification that the call is answered by the client device at a second time that is before the first time, preventing the closing of the electronic switch of the A/V doorbell.

11. An audio/video (A/V) doorbell comprising:

a battery; and

a power manager configured to;

draw power from an external alternating current (AC) power source; and

when the power reaches a threshold power, draw additional power from the battery, while drawing the power from the external AC power source.

12. The A/V doorbell of claim 11, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, wherein the power manager is configured to direct a portion of the power drawn from the external AC power source to charge the rechargeable battery.

13. The A/V doorbell of claim 12, wherein the power manager is configured to direct the portion of the power drawn from the external AC power source to charge the rechargeable battery when the power drawn from the external AC power source is below the threshold power.

14. The A/V doorbell of claim 11 further comprising a button and an electronic switch, wherein when the button is depressed the electronic switch is configured to close for a duration of time, thereby causing the power manager to cease the drawing of the power from the external AC power source and causing a signaling device, external to the A/V doorbell, to output sound.

15. The A/V doorbell of claim 14, wherein upon an expiration of the duration of time, the electronic switch is configured to open, thereby causing the power manager to continue the drawing of the power from the external AC power source and causing the signaling device to cease outputting sound.

16. The A/V doorbell of claim 15, wherein the duration of time is a first duration of time, wherein upon the expiration of the first direction of time, the electronic switch is prevented from closing again until after a second duration of time expires.

17. The A/V doorbell of claim 14 further comprising a communication module, wherein when the button is pressed the communication module is configured to send a request, via a network, to conduct a call between the A/V doorbell and a client device.

18. The A/V doorbell of claim 17, wherein, upon the communication module receiving a notification that the call is answered by the client device during the duration of time, the electronic switch is configured to open before an expiration of the duration of time, thereby causing the power manager to continue the drawing of the power from the external AC power source and causing the signaling device to cease outputting sound.

19. The A/V doorbell of claim 14 further comprising a motion sensor and a communication module, wherein in response to the motion sensor detecting motion proximate to the A/V doorbell, the communication module is configured to send a request, via a network, to conduct a call between the A/V doorbell and a client device.

20. The A/V doorbell of claim 19, wherein the button is depressed at a first time, wherein, upon the communication module receiving a notification that the call is answered by the client device at a second time that is before the first time, the electronic switch is prevented from closing.