Low-power-consumption audio/video recording and communication doorbell

• US 9,819,867 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bot Home Automation Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James, Jeong, Changsoo, Modestine, John, Phillips, Trevor, Siminoff, Mark, Tso, Robert, Westerman, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US15/459,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20170272653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401, 348 1402, 348 1404, 348 1406, 348 1411, 379159, 379164, 379165, 379166, 37916701, 37916704, 37916705, 37916714, 37916715, 379169, 37916707, 37916712
• 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) recording and communication doorbell system, the A/V recording and communication doorbell including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a button, and an electronic switch, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is connected to an external power source, the method comprising:

the A/V recording and communication doorbell drawing power from the power source;

the power flowing through a signaling device and a shunt connected in parallel with the signaling device, wherein the shunt is in a low impedance state; and

when the button is depressed, the electronic switch closing and the shunt transitioning to a high impedance state, thereby diverting power from the power source through the signaling device to cause the signaling device to emit a sound.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is electro-mechanical or electronic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is external to the A/V recording and communication doorbell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell further includes a timer, wherein when the button is depressed the timer is activated and the electronic switch remains closed until the timer expires, unless the A/V recording and communication doorbell receives a notification that a call to a client device has been answered.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the electronic switch opening when the A/V recording and communication doorbell receives the notification that the call to the client device has been answered.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the timer is a first timer and the A/V recording and communication doorbell further includes a second timer, the method further comprising the electronic switch opening, the second timer being activated when the electronic switch opens, and the electronic switch being prevented from closing again until after the second timer expires.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the A/V recording and communication doorbell, in response to the button being depressed, sending an alert signal and a video signal to a network device, the video signal including images captured by the camera.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a rechargeable battery.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, in response to the button being depressed, comparing a power level of the rechargeable battery to a threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the electronic switch closing only if the power level of the rechargeable battery is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

11. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell system, comprising:

an A/V recording and communication doorbell including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a button, and an electronic switch, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is connected to an external power source;

wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is configured to draw power from the power source such that the power flows through a signaling device and a shunt connected in parallel with the signaling device, wherein the shunt is in a low impedance state; and

when the button is depressed, the electronic switch is configured to close, thereby transitioning the shunt to a high impedance state and diverting power from the power source through the signaling device to cause the signaling device to emit a sound.

12. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the signaling device is electro-mechanical or electronic.

13. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the signaling device is external to the A/V recording and communication doorbell.

14. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell further includes a timer, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured such that when the button is depressed the timer is activated and the electronic switch remains closed until the timer expires, unless the A/V recording and communication doorbell receives a notification that a call to a client device has been answered.

15. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 14, wherein the electronic switch is configured to open when the A/V recording and communication doorbell receives the notification that the call to the client device has been answered.

16. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 14, wherein the timer is a first timer and the A/V recording and communication doorbell further includes a second timer, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured such that when the electronic switch opens the second timer is activated and the electronic switch is prevented from closing again until after the second timer expires.

17. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured to send, in response to the button being depressed, an alert signal and a video signal to a network device, the video signal including images captured by the camera.

18. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a rechargeable battery.

19. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 18, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured to, in response to the button being depressed, compare a power level of the rechargeable battery to a threshold value.

20. The A/V recording and communication doorbell system of claim 19, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured to close the electronic switch only if the power level of the rechargeable battery is equal to or greater than the threshold value.