Video doorbell system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for acquiring information from a remote location and transmitting said information to a monitoring location, without requiring interconnecting wires between said remote location and said monitoring location, said apparatus comprising;
- a. a sensor station, said sensor station including means for sensing physical quantities including audio and/or video information within the vicinity of said sensor station, signal transmission means responsive to said sensor means for wireless transmission of said audio and/or said video information to a monitoring location, internal energy storage means for powering said sensor station and coupling means adapting said internal energy storage means to be connected to and be recharged from an electrical power source for powering an annunciator such as a doorbell, said coupling means containing current limiting means whereby said energy storage means may be maintained in a charged state without causing an annunciator connected to said annunciator power source from being actuated, andb. a monitor station, said monitor station including means adapted to receive said information transmitted from said sensor station, means for producing an annunciator signal upon receipt of said information, and transducer means for producing perceptible signals functionally related to said sensed physical quantities, said transducer including means for displaying said transmitted video information on a television monitor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication apparatus for monitoring sounds and images at a remote location, such as the entranceway of a dwelling or other building includes a sensor station located at the entranceway, and a monitor station located within the building. A microphone and television camera in the sensor station modulate signals, preferably of radio frequency, emitted by a wireless transmitter in the sensor station. The monitor station includes a transmitter and demodulator for reproducing sounds and visual images received by the sensor station. Preferably, the monitor station contains a microphone and transmitter for transmitting voice signals from the monitor station to the sensor station, in which case, the sensor station contains a receiver and loudspeaker for reproducing the voice signals. The preferred embodiment of the sensor station includes an internal battery re-chargeable by being connected across the terminals of an existing doorbell button, the charging current being limited to a value which insures that a doorbell connected to the button will not be activated unless the button is depressed. Logic circuitry within the sensor station activates the sensor transmitter, and sends an annunciator signal to the monitor station when the doorbell button is pressed. Also in the preferred embodiment, activation of the sensor station and transmission of an annunciator signal may be initiated by the presence of a human being in the location of a sensor, such as an infrared sensor, in the sensor station.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for acquiring information from a remote location and transmitting said information to a monitoring location, without requiring interconnecting wires between said remote location and said monitoring location, said apparatus comprising;
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a. a sensor station, said sensor station including means for sensing physical quantities including audio and/or video information within the vicinity of said sensor station, signal transmission means responsive to said sensor means for wireless transmission of said audio and/or said video information to a monitoring location, internal energy storage means for powering said sensor station and coupling means adapting said internal energy storage means to be connected to and be recharged from an electrical power source for powering an annunciator such as a doorbell, said coupling means containing current limiting means whereby said energy storage means may be maintained in a charged state without causing an annunciator connected to said annunciator power source from being actuated, and b. a monitor station, said monitor station including means adapted to receive said information transmitted from said sensor station, means for producing an annunciator signal upon receipt of said information, and transducer means for producing perceptible signals functionally related to said sensed physical quantities, said transducer including means for displaying said transmitted video information on a television monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for acquiring audible and/or visible information from a remote location, transmitting said information to a monitor station, and receiving information from said monitor station, said apparatus comprising;
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a. a sensor station including (i) sensor microphone, (ii) a sensor transmitter connected to said microphone, said transmitter adapted to send a wireless signal modulated with audio information received by said sensor microphone, (iii) detection means adapted to ascertain the presence of a person in the vicinity of said sensor station, said detection means being operably interconnected to said sensor transmitter so as to modulate said wireless signal emitted by said sensor transmitter with a signal signifying said presence of a person, (iv) a sensor receiver connected to a loudspeaker, said receiver adapted to receive wireless signals modulated with intelligible sounds and emitting reproductions of said sounds from said receiver, b. a monitor station, said monitor station including (i) a wireless monitor receiver adapted to receive said modulated wireless signal emitted by said sensor transmitter, (ii) a monitor loudspeaker connected to said monitor receiver for reproducing sounds received by said microphone in said sensor station, (iii) a microphone, (iv) a monitor transmitter connected to said microphone, said monitor transmitter being adapted to send wireless signals modulated with audio information received by said monitor microphone, and (v) control logic responsive to said presence-indicating modulating signal in producing an annunciator signal perceptible in the region of said monitor station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification