Doorbell communication systems and methods

• US 9,247,219 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBell Technologies Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skybell Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kasmir, Seton Paul, Thomas, Andrew Paul, Scalisi, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US14/797,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 197 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Doorbell systems can be configured to detect temperature of an outdoor environment. Accordingly, some embodiments of the doorbell system can include a doorbell, a button coupled to the doorbell, and a temperature sensor coupled to the doorbell. Doorbell systems can also be configured to regulate temperature within a doorbell. As such, some embodiments of the doorbell system can include the doorbell, a button coupled to the doorbell, and a heating element located inside the doorbell.

Claims

1. A doorbell system comprising:

a doorbell housing;

a button coupled to the doorbell housing;

a temperature sensor coupled to the doorbell housing, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect atmospheric temperature; and

a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the doorbell and a visitor notification received by the remote computing device, wherein the visitor notification comprises a first indication of atmospheric temperature.

2. The doorbell system of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless temperature communication emitted by the doorbell; and

a second indication of atmospheric temperature displayed by the remote computing device in response to the wireless temperature communication being emitted by the doorbell.

3. The doorbell system of claim 2, further comprising:

a speaker coupled to the doorbell;

a microphone coupled to the doorbell; and

a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and located at least partially inside the doorbell.

4. The doorbell system of claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared thermometer.

5. The doorbell system of claim 2, further comprising a memory coupled to the printed circuit board, the memory comprising a first temperature data and a second temperature data, wherein the memory stores at least one of the first temperature data and the second temperature data for at least a predetermined time.

6. The doorbell system of claim 2, further comprising a camera coupled to the doorbell, and a video displayed by the remote computing device, wherein the video is taken by the camera.

7. The doorbell system of claim 2, wherein the visitor notification is received by the remote computing device in response to the doorbell system detecting an indication of a presence of a visitor.

8. The doorbell system of claim 1, further comprising a heating element coupled to the doorbell, wherein the heating element heats an interior portion of the doorbell in response to a temperature measurement of the temperature sensor being below a temperature threshold.

9. The doorbell system of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor coupled to the doorbell.

10. The doorbell system of claim 9, further comprising:

a wireless humidity communication emitted by the doorbell;

a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the doorbell; and

a humidity indication displayed by the remote computing device in response to the wireless humidity communication being emitted by the doorbell.

11. A doorbell system comprising:

a doorbell;

a button coupled to the doorbell; and

heating element coupled to the doorbell;

an electrical power system of the building electrically coupled to the heating element to provide primary power to the heating element; and

a battery electrically coupled to the heating element to provide backup power to the heating element when the electrical power system is disabled.

12. The doorbell system of claim 11, further comprising a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the doorbell.

13. The doorbell system of claim 12, further comprising a wireless command emitted by the remote computing device, wherein the heating element activates in response to the remote computing device emitting the wireless command.

14. The doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the heating element is located within an interior portion of the doorbell.

15. The doorbell system of claim 14, wherein the heating element activates in response to a temperature of the interior portion of the doorbell being less than a predetermined temperature.

16. The doorbell system of claim 11, wherein the heating element comprises an electrical resistor that generates heat by passing electric current through a conductive path.

17. The doorbell system of claim 16, wherein the heating element comprises nickel and chromium, and wherein the conductive path passes through ceramic.

18. A doorbell system comprising:

a doorbell;

a button coupled to the doorbell;

a heating element coupled to the doorbell; and

a fan coupled to the doorbell, wherein the fan activates in response to a temperature of the interior portion of the doorbell being greater than a predetermined temperature.

19. The doorbell system of claim 18, wherein the fan is located within an interior portion of the doorbell.

20. The doorbell system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined temperature is a first predetermined temperature, and wherein the fan activates in response to a temperature of the button being greater than a second predetermined temperature.