Illuminated doorbell touch pad system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An illuminated doorbell chime comprising:
- a main power supply;
one or more LED lights;
a chime having a chime coil;
a circuit having a power supply unit, an LED driver and a chime driver, wherein said power supply unit is connected to said one or more LED lights and said chime coil, said LED driver is connected to said one or more LED lights, and said chime driver is connected to said chime coil;
a touch pad doorbell sensor having a touch surface defined by a housing of an outdoor portion of said doorbell chime;
said touch pad doorbell sensor further including an RC circuit which includes a capacitor and a resistor connected in parallel to an earth ground, with said touch surface connected to said capacitor and said resistor of said RC circuit such that when said touch surface is touched by a person, the person defines a capacitance connecting between said touch surface and the earth ground in parallel with said capacitor and said resistor; and
a microprocessor programmed for discriminating against touches to said touch surface caused by moisture and small animals, as opposed to a human touch, wherein said microprocessor is connected to said RC circuit to both determine voltage on said RC circuit and to selectively apply a voltage to said RC circuit, and said microprocessor compares a measured relaxation frequency of said RC circuit to a threshold relaxation frequency for determining when the human touch has occurred.
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Abstract
An illuminated doorbell touch pad system is disclosed, having a chime control unit controlled by a micro-processor which continually calibrates according to a process for discriminating between a human touch and moisture, rain and small animals, for changes in capacitance of a metal housing enclosing an outdoor portion of the illuminated doorbell touch pad system.
30 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An illuminated doorbell chime comprising:
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a main power supply; one or more LED lights; a chime having a chime coil; a circuit having a power supply unit, an LED driver and a chime driver, wherein said power supply unit is connected to said one or more LED lights and said chime coil, said LED driver is connected to said one or more LED lights, and said chime driver is connected to said chime coil; a touch pad doorbell sensor having a touch surface defined by a housing of an outdoor portion of said doorbell chime; said touch pad doorbell sensor further including an RC circuit which includes a capacitor and a resistor connected in parallel to an earth ground, with said touch surface connected to said capacitor and said resistor of said RC circuit such that when said touch surface is touched by a person, the person defines a capacitance connecting between said touch surface and the earth ground in parallel with said capacitor and said resistor; and a microprocessor programmed for discriminating against touches to said touch surface caused by moisture and small animals, as opposed to a human touch, wherein said microprocessor is connected to said RC circuit to both determine voltage on said RC circuit and to selectively apply a voltage to said RC circuit, and said microprocessor compares a measured relaxation frequency of said RC circuit to a threshold relaxation frequency for determining when the human touch has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An illuminated doorbell chime comprising:
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a main power supply; one or more LED lights; a chime having a chime coil; a circuit having a power supply unit, an LED driver and a chime driver, wherein said power supply unit is connected to said one or more LED lights and said chime coil, said LED driver is connected to said one or more LED lights, and said chime driver is connected to said chime coil; a touch pad doorbell sensor having a touch surface of an outdoor portion of said doorbell chime; said touch pad doorbell sensor further including an RC circuit which includes a capacitor and a resistor connected to a node and in parallel to an earth ground, and said touch surface is connected to said node and said capacitor and said resistor of said RC circuit, such that when said touch surface is touched by a person, the person defines a capacitance connecting said touch surface to the earth ground in parallel with said capacitor and said resistor; and a microprocessor having an input and an output, wherein said input is connected to said node for detecting voltage on said node, and said output is connected to said node for applying a voltage to said node, wherein said voltage is selectively applied to said node when a low voltage value is detected at said input and then said voltage is removed once a high voltage value is detected; and wherein said microprocessor includes a counter which measures a length of time for said capacitor to discharge to ground to said low voltage value, and from said length of time determines a measured relaxation frequency of said RC circuit, and compares said measured relaxation frequency to a threshold relaxation frequency for determining when the human touch has occurred and discriminating against touches to said touch surface caused by moisture and small animals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification