Active power management

• US 9,859,741 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beagley, James, Flint, Jason C., Bevan, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Leon-Viet
• Application Number:
  US15/233,102
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, routing a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, and routing a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated. In some cases, the power adapter is wired, via doorbell wiring, to at least one of a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply. In one example, the first portion of power is routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated.

Claims

1. A method for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

receiving, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, wherein the power adapter is wired, via doorbell wiring, to a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply;

routing a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, the first portion of power being routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated;

routing a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

routing a third portion of the power received from the power supply to a rechargeable energy storage unit when the doorbell button is not being actuated, wherein the rechargeable energy storage unit comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, or a capacitor, or any combination thereof, the rechargeable energy storage unit being configured to provide power to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

modulating a power signal routed to the device of the doorbell unit.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

monitoring, via a processor of the doorbell unit, to determine when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

communicating, via the modulated power signal, data to the power adapter, wherein the data indicates whether the doorbell button is being actuated, and wherein the data is communicated over the doorbell wiring.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third portion of the power routed to the rechargeable energy storage unit varies according to a determination made by at least one of a processor of the doorbell unit and a processor of the power adapter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the power from the power supply is received by the power adapter via the doorbell wiring.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the doorbell wiring comprises preexisting doorbell wiring, the preexisting doorbell wiring being used to power a previous doorbell unit prior to installing the doorbell unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the doorbell unit comprises at least one of an image sensor, a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, and an audio sensor.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the power supply comprises a doorbell transformer.

9. An apparatus for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive, at the apparatus, power from a power supply, wherein the apparatus is wired via doorbell wiring to a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply;

route a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, the first portion of power being routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated;

route a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

route a third portion of the power received from the power supply to a rechargeable energy storage unit when the doorbell button is not being actuated, wherein the rechargeable energy storage unit comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, fuel cell, and capacitor, the rechargeable energy storage unit being configured to provide power to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

modulate a power signal routed to the device of the doorbell unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the instructions being executable by the processor to:

monitor to determine when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

communicate, via the modulated power signal, data to the apparatus, wherein the data indicates whether the doorbell button is being actuated, and wherein the data is communicated over the doorbell wiring.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third portion of the power routed to the rechargeable energy storage unit varies according to a determination made by the processor.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power from the power supply is received by the apparatus via the doorbell wiring.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the doorbell wiring comprises preexisting doorbell wiring, the preexisting doorbell wiring being used to power a previous doorbell unit prior to installing the doorbell unit.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for security and/or automation systems, the code executable by a processor to:

receive, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, wherein the power adapter is wired via doorbell wiring to a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply;

route a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, the first portion of power being routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated;

route a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated; and

route a third portion of the power received from the power supply to a rechargeable energy storage unit when the doorbell button is not being actuated, wherein the rechargeable energy storage unit comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, or a capacitor, or any combination thereof, the rechargeable energy storage unit being configured to provide power to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the code being executable by the processor to:

modulate a power signal routed to the device of the doorbell unit.