WO2021138513A1

WO2021138513A1 - Doorbell communication systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2021138513A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/067594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Frank SCALISI
Original assignee: Skybelltechnologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2020-01-03
Filing date: 2020-12-30
Publication date: 2021-07-08
Also published as: EP4085435A4; JP2023510197A; EP4085435A1

Abstract

An electronic doorbell may include a housing, a visitor detection system, a battery, and a battery access door. The visitor detection system may be coupled to the housing and may include at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. The battery may be slideably coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the visitor detection system, and the battery access door may be located along an outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the battery access door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position whereby the battery is able to be slideably coupled to the housing.

Description

DOORBELL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

BACKGROUND

Field

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to doorbells. Certain embodiments relate to doorbells including a battery.

Description of Related Art

Doorbells can enable a person located outside of an entry point, such as a door, to alert a person inside of an entry point that someone outside would like to talk to someone inside. Doorbells sometimes include a button located near a door, such as a front door, side door, or back door of a home, office, dwelling, warehouse, building, or structure. Doorbells are sometimes used near a gate or some other entrance to a partially enclosed area. Pushing the doorbell sometimes causes a chime or other alerting sound to be emitted.

SUMMARY

The disclosure includes an electronic doorbell, and in some embodiments, the electronic doorbell comprises a housing and a visitor detection system coupled to the housing. The visitor detection system may include at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell further comprises a battery slideably coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the visitor detection system. The electronic doorbell may also include a battery access door located along an outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery access door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position whereby the battery is able to be slideably coupled to the housing.

When the battery access door moves between the closed position and the open position, the battery access door may pivot with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, the battery access door pivots with respect to a side surface of the housing. The battery access door may be located along a bottom surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell further comprises a screw that extends through the battery access door, wherein the screw is configured to threadably couple to the housing to thereby secure the battery access door in the closed position. The battery access door may include a conductive pad configured to electrically couple the visitor detection system to the battery. In some embodiments, the conductive pad comprises a negative terminal. The battery access door may also include a pair of magnets, and the screw may be located between the pair of magnets. In some embodiments, the battery access door includes a battery indication symbol located along an outer surface of the battery access door.

The electronic doorbell may include a light coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the battery. In some embodiments, the light is configured to illuminate in response to the visitor detection system detecting an indication of a visitor’s presence. The electronic doorbell may also include a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the electronic doorbell, wherein the remote computing device is configured to run a mobile application. In some embodiments, the mobile application is configured to provide an indication of battery life.

The camera may be configured to capture an image of a visitor in response to the visitor detection system detecting an indication of the visitor’s presence. In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell includes a touch pad located on a front surface of the housing, wherein the touch pad comprises the button.

The battery access door may be configured to couple to the housing via a friction fit to thereby secure the battery access door in the closed position. In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell further comprises a charging port located along an outer surface of the battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.

Figures 1A and IB illustrate front views of electronic doorbells, according to some embodiments.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of electronic doorbells, according to some embodiments. Figures 3 A and 3B illustrate perspective views of electronic doorbells each having a battery access door in an open position, according to some embodiments.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate electronic doorbells with a partially inserted battery, according to some embodiments.

Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate batteries of an electronic doorbell, according to some embodiments.

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate perspective views of various batteries inside electronic doorbells, according to some embodiments.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate electronic doorbells communicatively coupled to a remote computing device, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed below, inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodiments described below. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the method or process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding certain embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. Additionally, the structures, systems, and/or devices described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components.

For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may also be taught or suggested herein.

Component Index 10 - electronic doorbell 12 - housing 14 - visitor detection system

16 - button

18 - camera

22 - motion detector

24 - battery

26 - battery access door 28 - side surface (of housing)

30 - bottom surface (of housing)

32 - screw

34 - conductive pad

36 - negative terminal

37 - positive terminal

38 - pair of magnets

40 - battery indication symbol

42 - outer surface (of battery access door)

46 - remote computing device 48 - mobile application 50 - indication of battery life 54 - touch pad

56 - front surface (of housing)

58 - charging port

Figures 1A and IB show front views of an electronic doorbell 10a, 10b (collectively referred to as “10”). In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell 10 includes a visitor detection system 14 coupled to a housing 12. The visitor detection system 14 may comprise multiple components located on multiple areas of the housing 12, as illustrated in Figure 1 A. The visitor detection system 14 may include at least one of a button 16, a camera 18, a microphone, and a motion detector 22. In some embodiments, the motion detector 22 is a passive infrared (“PIR”) sensor. In some embodiments, the camera 18 also acts as a motion detector. The button 16, camera 18, and motion detector 22 will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. Figures 1A and IB also illustrate that, in some embodiments, the electronic doorbell 10 includes a touch pad 54. The touch pad 54 may be located on a front surface 56 of the housing 12, as shown in Figures 1A and IB. The touch pad 54 may be located elsewhere on the housing 12, such as on a side surface (and/or side surfaces) of the housing 12. In some embodiments, the touch pad 54 includes the button 16.

Figures 2A and 2B show bottom perspective views of the electronic doorbell 10, including the battery access door 26. In some embodiments, the battery access door 26 includes a battery indication symbol 40 located on an outer surface 42 of the battery access door 26, as illustrated in Figure 2A. The battery access door 26 may not include a battery indication symbol 40, as illustrated in Figure 2B.

The battery access door 26 may also include a screw 32. In many embodiments, the screw 32 extends through the battery access door 26 to threadably couple the access door 26 to the housing 12 in a closed position. The battery access door 26 may be opened by removing the screw 32 and pivoting the access door 26 with respect to the housing 12. In some embodiments, the battery access door 26 is retained in the closed position via a friction fit between the access door 26 and the housing 12. In such an embodiment, the access door 26 “snaps” in and out of the housing 12 and uses tension, rather than the screw 32, to couple the battery access door 26 to the housing 12. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, in some embodiments, the battery access door is located on a lower portion of the electronic doorbell 10. As will be discussed further, the battery access door 26 may be located along a different portion of the housing 12. The battery access door 26 may also extend across multiple sides and/or surfaces of the housing 12. For example, the battery access door 26 could be located on a corner of the housing 12, thereby covering part of a side surface and part of a bottom surface.

Figures 3 A and 3B illustrate additional bottom perspective views of the electronic doorbell 10, and show the battery access door 26 in an open position. As shown by Figure 3 A, the battery access door 26 may include a hinge along one edge to allow the door 26 to swing (pivot) open and shut with respect to the housing 12. In some embodiments, the hinge is located along an opposite edge from the edge shown in Figures 3A and 3B. The battery access door 26 may also open by swinging down from the top edge of the access door 26 or by swinging up from the bottom edge of the access door 26. The batery access door 26 may also include a pair of magnets 38, as shown in Figure 3 A, and a conductive pad 34, as shown in both Figures 3 A and 3B. In some embodiments, the pair of magnets 38, located on either side of the screw 32, is used in conjunction with the screw to couple the battery access door 26 to the housing 12 of the electronic doorbell 10. The pair of magnets 38 may also serve as a path for conduction, such as conducting electricity. In some embodiments, the pair of magnets 38 are not included, as shown in Figure 3B. The conductive pad 34 may be a negative terminal 36 and may be intended to contact the battery 24, which is shown located inside the electronic doorbell 10. Figures 3 A and 3B also show that the battery access door 26 may be located along a bottom surface 30 of the electronic doorbell 10.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate side perspective views of the electronic doorbell 10 with the battery 24 partially inserted. Though the battery 24 is shown protruding from the botom surface 30 of the electronic doorbell 10, in some embodiments, the battery 24 is inserted into the electronic doorbell 10 through the side surface 28 of the doorbell 10. In that case, the battery access door 26 would also be located along the side surface 28 of the electronic doorbell 10, and would be sized to enable sideways insertion of the battery 24. Figures 4A and 4B also show the negative terminal 36 located at the bottom portion (with respect to the electronic doorbell 10) of the battery 24. In some embodiments, the negative terminal 36 is located at the top of the battery 24 and, therefore, near the top of the electronic doorbell 10.

Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate some embodiments of the battery 24 of the electronic doorbell 10. As shown in Figures 5A-5C, in some embodiments the battery 24 includes a positive terminal 37 and a negative terminal 36. The battery 24 may comprise any type of suitable batery, including but not limited to lithium-ion, alkaline, and any other appropriate type. In some embodiments, the battery 24 measures about 122mm tall, about 32 mm wide, and has a thickness of about 8.5mm. The batery 24 may have any other dimensions in order to be compatible with the electronic doorbell 10, including embodiments not pictured or explicitly discussed in the disclosure.

In many embodiments, the batery 24 is rechargeable. Figure 5C shows a side view of the battery 24, and includes a charging port 58 located on the side of the battery 24. The charging port 58 may be located anywhere on the batery 24. In some embodiments, the charging port 58 is configured to receive a MicroUSB connection. The charging port 58 may be configured to receive other types of connections, such as USB, USB-C, lighting cable, and the like. Figures 6A and 6B show perspective views of an outline of the battery 24 inside the electronic doorbell 10, to illustrate the size of the battery 24 compared to the size of the housing 12. The housing 12 of the electronic doorbell 10 may be about 135mm tall, about 42mm wide, and have a thickness of about 35.5mm. Of the about 35.5mm thickness, about 20.5mm may comprise the area of the housing 12 containing the battery 24.

Figures 6A and 6B also include the button 16, the camera 18, and the motion detector 22. As previously mentioned, the button 16 may be integrated into the touch pad 54 located on the front surface 56 of the housing 12, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. The button 16 may be located anywhere on the touch pad 54, and/or may make up substantially the entire surface of the touch pad 54. In some embodiments, touching and/or pressing the button 16 activates a chime. Touching and/or pressing the button 16 may also initiate the sending of an alert to a user, such as to the user’s remote computing device 46 (shown in Figures 7A and 7B).

In some embodiments, the camera 18 is located towards the top of the electronic doorbell 10 as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. The camera 18 may be located towards the middle, the bottom, or anywhere else on the housing 12 of the electronic doorbell 10 that allows the camera 18 to view the area surrounding the doorbell 10. In some embodiments, the camera 18 is configured to capture an image of a visitor upon detection of the visitor’s presence. The image may be a still image or a video. In some embodiments, the alert sent to a user’s remote computing device 46 upon detection of the visitor comprises the image of the visitor. As previously discussed, the camera 18 may also act as a motion detector.

In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell 10 has a dedicated motion detector 22. The motion detector may be a PIR sensor or any other suitable type of motion detector. Though shown located near the bottom of the housing 12, the motion detector 22 may be located anywhere along the housing 12, including the middle, closer to the top, etc. In some embodiments, the motion detector 22 is integrated into the touch pad 54, as illustrated in Figure 6B. The motion detector 22 may be communicatively coupled with the remote computing device 46 such that the electronic doorbell 10 sends an alert to the remote computing device 46 upon detection of motion by the motion detector 22. Activation of the motion detector 22 (e.g., via sensing motion) may also activate the camera 18 such that the camera 18 captures an image at substantially the same time, or shortly after, the motion detector 22 senses the motion. The electronic doorbell 10 may also include a microphone (not shown). In some embodiments, the microphone is used for sound detection, such as for detecting a visitor’s presence by detecting noise made by the visitor. The microphone may be communicatively coupled to the camera 18 in a manner similar to the motion detector 22, wherein the camera 18 is configured to capture an image upon the detection of sound by the microphone. The microphone may also be used to facilitate communication, such as between the visitor and another person located remotely from the electronic doorbell 10.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a remote computing device 46 communicatively coupled to the electronic doorbell 10. As previously discussed, the remote computing device 46 may be used in conjunction with the electronic doorbell 10 to monitor the area surrounding the doorbell 10, such as through use of at least one of the camera 18, the motion detector 22, the button 16, and the microphone. In some embodiments, the remote computing device 46 comprises a mobile application 48. The mobile application 48 may be configured to display an alert from the electronic doorbell 10, such as an image captured by the camera 18. The mobile application 48 may also display an indication of battery life 50. In some embodiments, the indication 50 comprises an amount of battery life remaining in the battery 24 as a percent. The indication 50 may also comprise the amount as an amount of time; for example, the indication 50 may show that 12 hours remain until the battery may need to be recharged.

In some embodiments, the electronic doorbell 10 includes at least one light. The at least one light may be located anywhere on the housing 12 of the doorbell 10, including the top, bottom, side, and front surfaces. The at least one light may be communicatively coupled to at least one of the motion detector 22, the button 16, and the microphone, such that the at least one light illuminates upon detection of a visitor. The detection may include, but is not limited to, the detection of motion, a button press, and sound detection. The at least one light may also be communicatively coupled to the remote computing device 46 such that a user is able to operate the at least one light remotely via the mobile application 48. In some embodiments, the at least one light illuminates upon receiving an indication of an emergency, such as from an alarm (e.g., fire, carbon monoxide, home security, and the like) within the home and/or from the mobile application 48 of the remote computing device 46.

INTERPRETATION None of the steps described herein is essential or indispensable. Any of the steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can be used. Any portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in one embodiment, flowchart, or example in this specification can be combined or used with or instead of any other portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in a different embodiment, flowchart, or example. The embodiments and examples provided herein are not intended to be discrete and separate from each other.

The section headings and subheadings provided herein are nonlimiting. The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the full scope of the embodiments described in the sections to which the headings and subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled “Topic 1” may include embodiments that do not pertain to Topic 1 and embodiments described in other sections may apply to and be combined with embodiments described within the “Topic 1” section.

Some of the devices, systems, embodiments, and processes use computers. Each of the routines, processes, methods, and algorithms described in the preceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules executed by one or more computers, computer processors, or machines configured to execute computer instructions. The code modules may be stored on any type of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or tangible computer storage device, such as hard drives, solid state memory, flash memory, optical disc, and/or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any type of non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g., volatile or non-volatile storage.

The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state, or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods, steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than the order specifically disclosed. Multiple steps may be combined in a single block or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can," "could," "might," "may," “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.

The term “and/or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or” applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and/or C can be replaced with A, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in another sentence. A, B, and/or C means that some embodiments can include A and B, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include B and C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can include only B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments can include A, B, and C. The term “and/or” is used to avoid unnecessary redundancy.

The term “about” is used to mean “approximately”. For example, the disclosure includes “the battery may be about 122mm tall”. In this context, “about” indicates that the battery may have a height of exactly or approximately 122mm. The height of the battery may range from 110mm- 135mm and fall within the embodiments described in the disclosure. The term “substantially” is used to mean “completely” or “nearly completely”. For example, the disclosure includes “the button...may make up substantially the entire surface of the touch pad”. In this context, the term “substantially” indicates that the button may make up the entire surface or nearly the entire surface of the touch pad. The button may make up more than half of the touch pad and fall within the bounds of “substantially” as used in the disclsoure.

While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An electronic doorbell, comprising: a housing; a visitor detection system coupled to the housing, wherein the visitor detection system comprises at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector; a battery slideably coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the visitor detection system; and a battery access door located along an outer surface of the housing, wherein the battery access door is configured to move between a closed position and an open position whereby the battery is able to be slideably coupled to the housing.

2. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, wherein when the battery access door moves between the closed position and the open position the battery access door pivots with respect to the housing.

3. The electronic doorbell of Claim 2, wherein the battery access door pivots with respect to a side surface of the housing.

4. The electronic doorbell of Claim 2, wherein the battery access door is located along a bottom surface of the housing.

5. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1 , further comprising a screw that extends through the battery access door, wherein the screw is configured to threadably couple to the housing to thereby secure the battery access door in the closed position.

6. The electronic doorbell of Claim 5, wherein the battery access door includes a conductive pad configured to electrically couple the visitor detection system to the battery.

7. The electronic doorbell of Claim 6, wherein the conductive pad comprises a negative terminal.

8. The electronic doorbell of Claim 6, wherein the battery access door includes a pair of magnets.

9. The electronic doorbell of Claim 8, wherein the screw is located between the pair of magnets.

10. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, wherein the battery access door includes a battery indication symbol located along an outer surface of the battery access door.

11. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, further comprising a light coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the battery.

12. The electronic doorbell of Claim 11, wherein the light is configured to illuminate in response to the visitor detection system detecting an indication of a visitor’s presence.

13. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, further comprising a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the electronic doorbell, wherein the remote computing device is configured to run a mobile application.

14. The electronic doorbell of Claim 13, wherein the mobile application is configured to provide an indication of battery life.

15. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image of a visitor in response to the visitor detection system detecting an indication of a presence of the visitor.

16. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, further comprising a touch pad located on a front surface of the housing, wherein the touch pad comprises the button.

17. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, wherein the battery access door is configured to couple to the housing via a friction fit to thereby secure the battery access door in the closed position.

18. The electronic doorbell of Claim 1, further comprising a charging port located along an outer surface of the battery.