CN-115883788-B - Low power consumption audio/video recording and communication doorbell

Abstract

An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell includes a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured to be connected to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power from the AC power source up to a threshold power and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. Thus, the a/V recording and communication doorbell herein may be connected to an existing home AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing an unintended sounding of the signaling device.

Inventors

• JAMES SIMINOV
• C.ZHENG
• John Mortenstein
• TREVOR PHILLIPS
• Mark Sminov
• ROBERT TSO
• Stewart Westman

Assignees

• 亚马逊技术有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20170315

Priority Date

20160315

Claims (18)

1. 1. An audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system, comprising: A/V recording and communication doorbell comprising a camera, a speaker, a microphone and buttons, and A shunt connected in parallel with the signaling device, wherein the shunt has a low impedance state and a high impedance state; an electronic switch, a power manager, a rechargeable battery, the power manager configured to draw power up to a threshold power from an external power source; Wherein, the The electronic switch is used for switching from an open state to a closed state when the button is pressed, and the electronic switch is used for switching the electronic switch from the open state to the closed state when the button is pressed In a closed state causing power drawn from an external power source to be applied to the shunt and the signaling device; The A/V recording and communication doorbell is connected to the external power supply via the shunt when the shunt is in a low impedance state Drawing electric power; the shunt includes a bridge rectifier electrically coupled to a resistor electrically coupled to the shunt switch, The shunt switch is in an open state, the shunt is operated in a high impedance state, and the shunt switch is in a closed state In a state in which the shunt operates in a low impedance state, and The shunt is configured to transition from a low impedance state by closing the electronic switch to open the shunt switch Switching to a high impedance state, said shunt in the high impedance state diverting power drawn from said external power source through said signaling device to cause said signaling device to sound; Wherein when the power manager determines that the power drawn from the external power source reaches the threshold power, the power manager causes the A/V recording and communication doorbell to draw supplemental power from the rechargeable battery such that the power drawn from the external power source does not exceed the threshold power.
2. 2. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is electromechanical or electronic.
3. 3. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the signaling device is external to the a/V recording and communication doorbell.
4. 4. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a timer, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured such that the timer is activated in response to the button being pressed and the electronic switch remains closed until the timer expires.
5. 5. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the electronic switch is configured to open when the a/V recording and communication doorbell receives notification that a call to a user device has been answered.
6. 6. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a timer, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured such that the timer is activated when the electronic switch is open, and the electronic switch is prevented from reclosing until the timer expires.
7. 7. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured to send an alert signal and a video signal to a network device in response to the button being pressed, the video signal representing an image captured by the camera.
8. 8. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 1, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured to compare the power level of the rechargeable battery to a threshold in response to the button being pressed.
9. 9. The audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system of claim 8, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell is further configured to close the electronic switch only when the power level of the rechargeable battery is equal to or greater than the threshold.
10. 10. A method for an audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system, the a/V recording and communication doorbell comprising a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a shunt, an electronic switch, a signaling device, a power manager, a rechargeable battery, and a button, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell is connected to an external power source, the method comprising: A power manager of the a/V recording and communication doorbell receiving power up to a threshold power from the external power source; by closing the shunt switch of the shunt connected in series with the resistor of the shunt, such that the shunt In a low impedance state, the shunt switch and the resistor being connected in parallel with the signaling means, and When the button is pressed, the electronic switch is closed to open the shunt switch to switch the shunt to A high impedance state, wherein the shunt diverts power from the external power source when in the high impedance state, through the signaling device, to cause the signaling device to emit sound; Wherein when the power manager determines that the power drawn from the external power source reaches the threshold power, the power manager causes the A/V recording and communication doorbell to draw supplemental power from the rechargeable battery such that the power drawn from the external power source does not exceed the threshold power.
11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signaling device is electromechanical or electronic.
12. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the signaling device is external to the a/V recording and communication doorbell A portion.
13. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a timer, wherein the The method further comprises the steps of: Activating the timer when the button is pressed, and Such that the electronic switch remains closed until the timer expires.
14. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving based at least in part on the a/V record and a communication doorbell The electronic switch is turned off after a notification of a call to the user device has been answered.
15. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the a/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a timer, the party The method further comprises activating the timer when the electronic switch is turned off, preventing the electronic switch until the timer expires The switch is again closed.
16. 16. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting an alert signal and a video signal to a network device in response to the button being pressed, the video signal representing an image captured by the camera.
17. 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing a power level of the rechargeable battery to a threshold in response to the button being pressed.
18. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising only when the power level of the rechargeable battery is equal to or greater than And closing the electronic switch when the threshold value is larger than the threshold value.

Description

Low power consumption audio/video recording and communication doorbell The division of chinese patent application 201780028309.3. Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 62/308,746 filed on 3/15 of 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field Embodiments herein relate to audio/video (a/V) recording and communication devices, including a/V recording and communication doorbell systems. In particular, embodiments herein relate to improvements in the functionality of a/V recording and communication devices that enhance streaming and storage of video recorded by these devices. Background Home security is a concern for many homeowners and renters. Those seeking protection or monitoring of their homes often wish to communicate video and audio with visitors, such as those at an outer gate or entrance. An audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell system provides this functionality, which can also aid in crime detection and prevention. For example, audio and/or video captured by an A/V recording and communication doorbell may be uploaded to the cloud and recorded on a remote server. Subsequent review of the a/V video may help law enforcement capture suspects of home theft and other criminals. In addition, the presence of an A/V recording and communication doorbell at the residential entrance can effectively deter potential thieves. Disclosure of Invention Various embodiments of the low power audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell herein have multiple features, none of which are solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the embodiments herein expressed by the claims which follow, their more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled "detailed description of certain embodiments" one will understand how the features of the various embodiments herein provide the advantages described herein. An aspect of embodiments herein includes the recognition that in current audio/video (a/V) recording and communication doorbell systems other than embodiments herein, it is difficult, if not impossible, to connect the a/V recording and communication doorbell to an existing household AC power source (which may also be referred to as an AC power source) because the amount of power the a/V recording and communication doorbell draws from the AC power source is above a threshold required to cause the signaling device to sound. Thus, a/V recording and communication doorbell can cause the signaling device to sound inadvertently and frequently, which can not only be annoying to the resident, but can also undermine the effectiveness of the doorbell. Embodiments herein address this problem by limiting the power consumption of the a/V recording and communication doorbell to an amount below the threshold required to cause the signaling device to sound. Thus, the a/V recording and communication doorbell herein can be connected to existing household AC power and to existing signaling devices without causing unintended sounding of the signaling devices. In a first aspect, a method of an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell system is provided, the A/V recording and communication doorbell system comprising a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter, wherein the A/V recording and communication doorbell is connected to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter, the method comprising drawing power from the AC power source by the power manager up to a threshold power, wherein the threshold power is measured at an output of the DC/DC converter, and when the power drawn from the AC power source reaches the threshold power, the power manager draws supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power measured at the output of the DC/DC converter. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the threshold power measured at the output of the DC/DC converter is about 1.4A. In another embodiment of the first aspect, the a/V recording and communication doorbell further comprises a button and an electronic switch, wherein when the button is pressed, the electronic switch is closed, thereby diverting power from the AC power source from the power manager. In another embodiment of the first aspect, when the electronic switch is closed, power from the AC power source is diverted to flow through the signaling device to cause the signaling device to sound. In another embodiment of the first aspect, power drawn from the AC power source flows through the signaling device and a shunt connected in parallel with the signaling device before the electronic switch is closed. In another embodiment of the first aspect, the sh