Systems and methods for home automation integration with a doorbell

• US 9,589,430 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Daniel, Parthasarathy rao, Roopkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US15/184,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20160300458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 340/392.1, 340/326, 340/393.3, 340/384.7, 340/392.5, 340/287, 340/6.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 1/064 Operating or striking mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

Various doorbell monitoring devices and methods are presented herein. Such arrangements may be configured to be integrated with a previously-installed doorbell and a previously-installed chime unit. A first power source may be configured to power the doorbell monitor device separate from the previously-installed doorbell and the previously-installed chime unit. A plurality of electrical connectors may be present and may be configured to be attached with preexisting terminals of the previously-installed chime unit. An actuation sensor may be present and configured to detect an actuation of the previously-installed doorbell via the two or more electrical connectors. A communication module may also be present and configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the ring to a receiver device.

Claims

1. A doorbell monitor device configured to be integrated with a chime unit, comprising:

a plurality of electrical connectors configured to be attached with terminals of the chime unit;

an actuation sensor configured to sense an actuation of a doorbell via the plurality of electrical connectors, wherein the actuation sensor comprises a first comparator circuit and a second comparator circuit, wherein;

the first comparator circuit is configured to monitor a first voltage differential, and the second comparator circuit is configured to monitor a second voltage differential; and

a communication module configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the actuation.

2. The doorbell monitor device of claim 1, further comprising a power source that powers the communication module and the actuation sensor of the doorbell monitor device.

3. The doorbell monitor device of claim 1, further comprising a housing, configured to encase the actuation sensor and the communication module, wherein the housing is configured to be placed within the chime unit and is configured to permit the plurality of electrical connectors to be attached with the terminals of the chime unit.

4. The doorbell monitor device of claim 1, wherein:

the actuation sensor is further configured to sense a second actuation of a second doorbell; and

the communication module is further configured to transmit a second wireless signal indicative of the second actuation to the receiver device.

5. The doorbell monitor device of claim 4, further comprising:

a third comparator circuit that monitors a third voltage differential related to the second doorbell; and

a fourth comparator circuit that monitors a fourth voltage differential related to the second doorbell.

6. The doorbell monitor device of claim 1, further comprising a power converter that convers a half-wave signal existing between two electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors into a direct current (DC) voltage.

7. A doorbell monitor device configured to be integrated with a chime unit, comprising:

a plurality of electrical connectors configured to be attached with terminals of the chime unit, wherein;

the plurality of electrical connectors comprises three electrical connectors, the three electrical connectors including;

a first electrical connector configured to be attached to a first terminal associated with a first doorbell;

a second electrical connector configured to be attached to a second terminal associated with a second doorbell; and

a third electrical connector configured to be attached to a third terminal associated with a power source of the chime unit;

an actuation sensor configured to sense an actuation of the first doorbell or the second doorbell via the plurality of electrical connectors; and

a communication module configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the actuation, the wireless signal indicating the first doorbell or the second doorbell.

8. The doorbell monitor device of claim 7, further comprising a housing, configured to encase the actuation sensor and the communication module, wherein the housing is configured to be placed within the chime unit and is configured to permit the plurality of electrical connectors to be attached with the terminals of the chime unit.

9. The doorbell monitor device of claim 7, further comprising a power converter, configured to:

convert a half-wave signal existing between the first electrical connector and the third electrical connector into a direct current voltage; and

convert a half-wave signal existing between the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector into the direct current voltage.

10. The doorbell monitor device of claim 7, further comprising an on-board power module that powers the communication module and the actuation sensor of the doorbell monitor device.

11. The doorbell monitor device of claim 10, wherein the on-board power module is configured to detect, via the plurality of electrical connectors connected with the first terminal, second terminal, and third terminal, that an insufficient voltage is available to power the doorbell monitor device from the power source of the chime unit.

12. The doorbell monitor device of claim 11, wherein the on-board power module is further configured to, based on detecting the insufficient voltage, power the actuation sensor and the communication module using one or more batteries of the on-board power module.

13. The doorbell monitor device of claim 12, wherein the power module is further configured to electrically disconnect one or more batteries of the on-board power module based on a reverse polarity of the one or more batteries being detected.

14. The doorbell monitor device of claim 7, wherein the communication module comprises:

an antenna and a wireless communication controller.

15. A doorbell monitor device configured to be integrated with a chime unit, comprising:

a plurality of electrical connectors configured to be attached with terminals of the chime unit;

an actuation sensor configured to sense an actuation of a doorbell via the plurality of electrical connectors, wherein the actuation sensor comprises;

a light filter configured to eliminate false detection of activations caused by a lit light of the doorbell; and

a communication module configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the actuation.

16. The doorbell monitor device of claim 15, further comprising a power source that powers the communication module and the actuation sensor of the doorbell monitor device.

17. The doorbell monitor device of claim 15, further comprising a housing, configured to encase the actuation sensor and the communication module, wherein the housing is configured to be placed within the chime unit and is configured to permit the plurality of electrical connectors to be attached with the terminals of the chime unit.

18. The doorbell monitor device of claim 15 wherein each electrical connector the plurality of electrical connectors comprise a u-shaped screw terminal.

19. The doorbell monitor device of claim 15 wherein the actuation sensor comprises a first comparator circuit and a second comparator circuit, wherein:

the first comparator circuit is configured to monitor a first voltage differential, and the second comparator circuit is configured to monitor a second voltage differential.

20. The doorbell monitor device of claim 15 further comprising a processor, wherein a first output of the first comparator circuit and a second output of the second comparator circuit control a voltage provided to first input and a second input, respectively, of the processor.