U.S. patent application number 15/784169 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-08 for wireless audio/video recording and communication doorbells with integrated image sensor/button.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ring Inc.. Invention is credited to James Siminoff.
Application Number | 20180041669 15/784169 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57217959 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180041669 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Siminoff; James |
February 8, 2018 |
Wireless Audio/Video Recording and Communication Doorbells with
Integrated Image Sensor/Button
Abstract
Audio/video recording and communication doorbells, comprising a
housing and an image sensor or camera. The image sensor or camera
may be located behind or integrated with an actuating button of the
doorbell, and may serve the actuating function of the doorbell so
that the doorbell does not require a discrete button separate from
the image sensor or camera.
Inventors: |
Siminoff; James; (Pacific
Palisades, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ring Inc. |
Santa Monica |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57217959 |
Appl. No.: |
15/784169 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15148981 |
May 6, 2016 |
|
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15784169 |
|
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62158035 |
May 7, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/2257 20130101;
H04N 5/2252 20130101; H04N 7/186 20130101; H04N 5/77 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225; H04N 5/77 20060101 H04N005/77; H04N 7/18 20060101
H04N007/18 |
Claims
1. An audio/video recording and communication doorbell, comprising:
a housing; and a camera located at a front of the housing and
capable of capturing video images, wherein the camera is configured
to move between a first, static position and a second, depressed
position to actuate the doorbell.
2. The doorbell of claim 1, wherein the camera is further
configured to stream video images captured within a field of view
of the camera to a client device when the doorbell is actuated.
3. The doorbell of claim 2, wherein the client device comprises a
smartphone that wirelessly communicates with the doorbell.
4. The doorbell of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an
aperture that exposes the camera.
5. The doorbell of claim 4, wherein the camera protrudes from the
housing through the aperture.
6. The doorbell of claim 1, wherein actuating the doorbell
comprises at least one of sounding an audible tone, initiating
recording of audio and/or video, and transmitting the audio and/or
the video to the client device.
7. The doorbell of claim 1 further comprising infrared
light-emitting components configured to enable the camera to
clearly capture images in low ambient light.
8. The doorbell of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a camera
printed circuit board (PCB).
9. The doorbell of claim 8, wherein the camera PCB is configured to
move between the first, static position and the second, depressed
position.
10. The doorbell of claim 9 further comprising tracking bosses,
wherein the camera PCB comprises through-holes that receive the
tracking bosses to maintain alignment of the camera PCB as the
camera PCB moves between the first, static position and the second,
depressed position.
11. An audio/video recording and communication doorbell comprising:
a button configured to actuate the doorbell; at least one motion
sensor configured to detect motion in an area about the doorbell;
and a camera located directly behind the button, the camera being
configured to capture images within a field of view of the camera
when the button is activated.
12. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein the button comprises an
optically transparent material configured for ambient light to pass
through the button and reach the camera behind the button.
13. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein the camera is aligned
concentrically with the button.
14. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein actuating the doorbell
comprises at least one of sounding an audible tone, initiating
recording of audio and/or video, and transmitting the audio and/or
the video to a client device.
15. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein the at least one motion
sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.
16. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein the camera is further
configured to capture images within the field of view of the camera
when the at least one motion sensor detects the motion.
17. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein the button is activated when
the button moves from a first, static position to a second,
depressed position.
18. The doorbell of claim 11, wherein the doorbell is further
configured to stream the captured images to a remote client
device.
19. The doorbell of claim 11 further comprising infrared (IR)
light-emitting components configured to enable the camera to
clearly capture images in low ambient light.
20. The doorbell of claim 19, wherein the IR light-emitting
components are located within the button.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
15/148,981, filed on May 6, 2016, which claims priority to
provisional application Ser. No. 62/158,035, filed on May 7, 2015.
The entire contents of the priority applications are hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present embodiments relate to wireless audio/video
recording and communication doorbells.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Home safety is a concern for many homeowners and renters.
Those seeking to protect or monitor their homes often wish to have
video and audio communications with visitors, for example, those
visiting an external door or entryway. Audio/Video (A/V) doorbell
systems provide this functionality, and can also aid in crime
detection and prevention. For example, audio and/or video captured
by an A/V doorbell unit can be uploaded to the cloud and recorded
on a remote server. Subsequent review of the A/V footage can aid
law enforcement in capturing perpetrators of home burglaries and
other crimes. Further, the presence of an A/V doorbell unit at the
entrance to a home acts as a powerful deterrent against would-be
burglars.
SUMMARY
[0004] The various embodiments of the present wireless audio/video
recording and communication doorbells with integrated image
sensor/button have several features, no single one of which is
solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting
the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims
that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed
briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after
reading the section entitled "Detailed Description," one will
understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the
advantages described herein.
[0005] One aspect of the present embodiments includes the
realization that it may be advantageous to locate an image sensor
or camera of a wireless audio/video recording and communication
doorbell behind, and/or integrate the image sensor or camera into,
the doorbell button (e.g. the button used to actuate the doorbell's
audible tone). Locating the image sensor or camera behind the
button, and/or integrating the image sensor or camera into the
button, may conserve space within the doorbell, thereby enabling
the size of the outer envelope of the doorbell to be reduced, which
in turn may give the doorbell a more streamlined and visually
pleasing appearance. In some embodiments in which the image sensor
or the camera is integrated into the doorbell button, the image
sensor or the camera may comprise the doorbell button, e.g. the
image sensor or the camera may be configured such that the visitor
presses the image sensor or the camera in order to actuate the
doorbell's audible tone.
[0006] In a first aspect, an audio/video recording and
communication doorbell is provided, the doorbell comprising a
housing, a button for actuating the doorbell, the button being
located at a front of the housing and being configured to move
between a first, static position and a second, depressed position,
and an image sensor located behind the button or integrated with
the button, wherein the button comprises an optically transparent
or translucent material such that ambient light may pass through
the button to impinge upon the image sensor.
[0007] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the housing includes
an aperture that exposes the button.
[0008] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the button
protrudes from the housing through the aperture.
[0009] In another embodiment of the first aspect, actuating the
doorbell comprises sounding an audible tone and/or initiating
recording of audio and/or video and/or transmitting audio and/or
video.
[0010] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the image sensor
is located concentrically with the button.
[0011] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the image sensor
comprises a video recording sensor or a camera chip.
[0012] Another embodiment of the first aspect further comprises
infrared (IR) light-emitting components configured to enable the
image sensor to clearly capture images under conditions of low
ambient light.
[0013] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the IR
light-emitting components are located behind or within the
button.
[0014] In a second aspect, an audio/video recording and
communication doorbell is provided, the doorbell comprising a
housing, and a camera located at a front of the housing and being
configured to move between a first, static position and a second,
depressed position in order to actuate the doorbell.
[0015] In an embodiment of the second aspect, the housing includes
an aperture that exposes the camera.
[0016] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the camera
protrudes from the housing through the aperture.
[0017] In another embodiment of the second aspect, actuating the
doorbell comprises sounding an audible tone and/or initiating
recording of audio and/or video and/or transmitting audio and/or
video.
[0018] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the camera
comprises an image sensor.
[0019] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the image sensor
comprises a video recording sensor or a camera chip.
[0020] Another embodiment of the second aspect further comprises
infrared light-emitting components configured to enable the camera
to clearly capture images under conditions of low ambient
light.
[0021] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the camera
comprises a camera printed circuit board (PCB).
[0022] In another embodiment of the second aspect, the camera PCB
is configured to move with the camera between the first, static
position and the second, depressed position.
[0023] Another embodiment of the second aspect further comprises
tracking bosses, wherein the camera PCB includes through-holes that
receive the tracking bosses to maintain alignment of the camera PCB
as the camera PCB moves with the camera between the first, static
position and the second, depressed position.
[0024] In a third aspect, an audio/video recording and
communication doorbell is provided, comprising: a housing; and a
camera located at a front of the housing and capable of capturing
video images, wherein the camera is configured to move between a
first, static position and a second, depressed position to actuate
the doorbell.
[0025] In an embodiment of the third aspect, the camera is further
configured to stream video images captured within a field of view
of the camera to a client device when the doorbell is actuated.
[0026] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the client device
comprises a smartphone that wirelessly communicates with the
doorbell.
[0027] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the housing
comprises an aperture that exposes the camera.
[0028] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the camera
protrudes from the housing through the aperture.
[0029] In another embodiment of the third aspect, wherein actuating
the doorbell comprises at least one of sounding an audible tone,
initiating recording of audio and/or video, and transmitting the
audio and/or the video to the client device.
[0030] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the audio/video
recording and communication doorbell further comprises infrared
light-emitting components configured to enable the camera to
clearly capture images in low ambient light.
[0031] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the camera
comprises a camera printed circuit board (PCB).
[0032] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the camera PCB is
configured to move between the first, static position and the
second, depressed position.
[0033] In another embodiment of the third aspect, the audio/video
recording and communication doorbell further comprises tracking
bosses, wherein the camera PCB comprises through-holes that receive
the tracking bosses to maintain alignment of the camera PCB as the
camera PCB moves between the first, static position and the second,
depressed position.
[0034] In a fourth aspect, an audio/video recording and
communication doorbell is provided comprising: a button configured
to actuate the doorbell; at least one motion sensor configured to
detect motion in an area about the doorbell; and a camera located
directly behind the button, the camera being configured to capture
images within a field of view of the camera when the button is
activated.
[0035] In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the button comprises
an optically transparent material configured for ambient light to
pass through the button and reach the camera behind the button.
[0036] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the camera is
aligned concentrically with the button.
[0037] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, wherein
actuating the doorbell comprises at least one of sounding an
audible tone, initiating recording of audio and/or video, and
transmitting the audio and/or the video to a client device.
[0038] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the at least one
motion sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.
[0039] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the camera is
further configured to capture images within the field of view of
the camera when the at least one motion sensor detects the
motion.
[0040] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the button is
activated when the button moves from a first, static position to a
second, depressed position.
[0041] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the doorbell is
further configured to stream the captured images to a remote client
device.
[0042] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the audio/video
recording and communication doorbell further comprises infrared
(IR) light-emitting components configured to enable the camera to
clearly capture images in low ambient light.
[0043] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the IR
light-emitting components are located within the button.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] The various embodiments of the present wireless audio/video
recording and communication doorbells with integrated image
sensor/button now will be discussed in detail with an emphasis on
highlighting the advantageous features. These embodiments depict
the novel and non-obvious wireless audio/video recording and
communication doorbells with integrated image sensor/button shown
in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes
only. These drawings include the following figures, in which like
numerals indicate like parts:
[0045] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system
for streaming and storing audio/video (A/V) content captured by a
wireless A/V recording and communication device according to the
present embodiments;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a front view of a wireless A/V recording and
communication doorbell according to an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0047] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the wireless A/V recording and
communication doorbell of FIG. 2;
[0048] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the wireless A/V recording and
communication doorbell of FIG. 2 attached to a mounting bracket
according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0049] FIG. 5 is cross-sectional right side view of the wireless
A/V recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 2;
[0050] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the wireless A/V recording and
communication doorbell and the mounting bracket of FIG. 4;
[0051] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 4;
[0052] FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and bottom views, respectively, of
the wireless A/V recording and communication doorbell and the
mounting bracket of FIG. 4;
[0053] FIGS. 9A and 9B are top and front views, respectively, of a
passive infrared sensor holder of the wireless A/V recording and
communication doorbell of FIG. 2;
[0054] FIGS. 10A and 10B are top and front views, respectively, of
a passive infrared sensor holder assembly of the wireless A/V
recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 2;
[0055] FIG. 11 is a top view of the passive infrared sensor
assembly of FIG. 10A and a field of view thereof according to an
aspect of the present disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 12 a functional block diagram of the components of the
wireless A/V recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 2;
[0057] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process for a wireless
A/V recording and communication doorbell according to an aspect of
the present disclosure;
[0058] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another process for a
wireless A/V recording and communication doorbell according to an
aspect of the present disclosure;
[0059] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating another process for a
wireless A/V recording and communication doorbell according to an
aspect of the present disclosure;
[0060] FIG. 16 is a front view of another embodiment of a wireless
A/V recording and communication doorbell according to an aspect of
the present disclosure;
[0061] FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the wireless A/V
recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 16;
[0062] FIGS. 18 and 19 are cross-sectional right side views of the
wireless A/V recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 16, taken
along the section line A-A in FIG. 16;
[0063] FIGS. 20 and 21 are cross-sectional right side views of
another embodiment of the wireless A/V recording and communication
doorbell of FIG. 16, taken along the section line A-A in FIG.
16;
[0064] FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of a client device on
which the present embodiments may be implemented according to
various aspects of the present disclosure; and
[0065] FIG. 23 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose
computing system on which the present embodiments may be
implemented according to various aspects of present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0066] The following detailed description describes the present
embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings,
reference numbers label elements of the present embodiments. These
reference numbers are reproduced below in connection with the
discussion of the corresponding drawing features.
[0067] The embodiments of the present wireless audio/video
recording and communication doorbells with integrated image
sensor/button are described below with reference to the figures.
These figures, and their written descriptions, indicate that
certain components of the apparatus are formed integrally, and
certain other components are formed as separate pieces. Those of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that components shown and
described herein as being formed integrally may in alternative
embodiments be formed as separate pieces. Those of ordinary skill
in the art will further appreciate that components shown and
described herein as being formed as separate pieces may in
alternative embodiments be formed integrally. Further, as used
herein the term integral describes a single unitary piece.
[0068] With reference to FIG. 1, the present embodiments include an
audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell. The A/V
recording and communication doorbell 100 is typically located near
the entrance to a structure (not shown), such as a dwelling, a
business, a storage facility, etc. The A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100 includes a camera 102, a microphone 104,
and a speaker 106. The camera 102 may comprise, for example, a high
definition (HD) video camera, such as one capable of capturing
video images at an image display resolution of 1080p or better.
While not shown, the A/V recording and communication doorbell 100
may also include other hardware and/or components, such as a
housing, one or more motion sensors (and/or other types of
sensors), a button, etc. The A/V recording and communication
doorbell 100 may further include similar componentry and/or
functionality as the wireless communication doorbells described in
US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2015/0022620 (application
Ser. No. 14/499,828) and 2015/0022618 (application Ser. No.
14/334,922), both of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entireties as if fully set forth.
[0069] With further reference to FIG. 1, the A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100 communicates with a user's home wireless
network 110, which may be for example a Wi-Fi network compatible
with the IEEE 802.11 standard and/or other wireless communication
standard(s). The user's wireless network 110 is connected to
another network 112, which may comprise, for example, the Internet
and/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). As described
below, the A/V recording and communication doorbell 100 may
communicate with the user's client device 114 via the home wireless
network 110 and the network 112. The user's client device 114 may
comprise, for example, a mobile telephone (may also be referred to
as a cellular telephone), such as a smartphone, a personal digital
assistant (PDA), or another communication device. The user's client
device 114 comprises a display (not shown) and related components
capable of displaying streaming and/or recorded video images. The
user's client device 114 may also comprise a speaker and related
components capable of broadcasting streaming and/or recorded audio,
and may also comprise a microphone. The A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100 may also communicate with one or more
remote storage device(s) 116 (may be referred to interchangeably as
"cloud storage device(s)") and/or one or more servers 118 via the
home wireless network 110 and the network 112. While FIG. 1
illustrates the storage device 116 and the server 118 as components
separate from the network 112, it is to be understood that the
storage device 116 and/or the server 118 may be considered to be
components of the network 112.
[0070] The network 112 may be any wireless network or any wired
network, or a combination thereof, configured to operatively couple
the above mentioned modules, devices, and systems as shown in FIG.
1. For example, the network 112 may include one or more of the
following: a PSTN (public switched telephone network), the
Internet, a local intranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN
(Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a MAN
(Metropolitan Area Network), a virtual private network (VPN), a
storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, an Advanced
Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network
(SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 or E3 line, a Digital Data
Service (DDS) connection, a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (Integrated Services
Digital Network) line, a dial-up port such as a V.90, V.34, or
V.34bis analog modem connection, a cable modem, an ATM
(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) connection, or an FDDI (Fiber
Distributed Data Interface) or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data
Interface) connection. Furthermore, communications may also include
links to any of a variety of wireless networks, including WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol), GPRS (General Packet Radio
Service), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), CDMA (Code
Division Multiple Access), TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),
FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access), and/or OFDMA (Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiple Access) cellular phone networks, GPS,
CDPD (cellular digital packet data), RIM (Research in Motion,
Limited) duplex paging network, Bluetooth radio, or an IEEE
802.11-based radio frequency network. The network can further
include or interface with any one or more of the following: RS-232
serial connection, IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connection, Fibre Channel
connection, IrDA (infrared) port, SCSI (Small Computer Systems
Interface) connection, USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection, or
other wired or wireless, digital or analog, interface or
connection, mesh or Digi.RTM. networking.
[0071] According to one or more aspects of the present embodiments,
when a person (may be referred to interchangeably as "visitor")
arrives at the A/V recording and communication doorbell 100, the
A/V recording and communication doorbell 100 detects the visitor's
presence and begins capturing video images within a field of view
of the camera 102. The A/V recording and communication doorbell 100
may also capture audio through the microphone 104. The A/V
recording and communication doorbell 100 may detect the visitor's
presence using a motion sensor, and/or by detecting that the
visitor has depressed the button on the A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100.
[0072] In response to the detection of the visitor, the A/V
recording and communication doorbell 100 sends an alert to the
user's client device 114 (FIG. 1) via the user's home wireless
network 110 and the network 112. The A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100 also sends streaming video, and may also
send streaming audio, to the user's client device 114. If the user
answers the alert, two-way audio communication may then occur
between the visitor and the user through the A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100 and the user's client device 114. The
user may view the visitor throughout the duration of the call, but
the visitor cannot see the user (unless the A/V recording and
communication doorbell 100 includes a display, which it may in some
embodiments).
[0073] The video images captured by the camera 102 of the A/V
recording and communication doorbell 100 (and the audio captured by
the microphone 104) may be uploaded to the cloud and recorded on
the remote storage device 116 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the
video and/or audio may be recorded on the remote storage device 116
even if the user chooses to ignore the alert sent to his or her
client device 114.
[0074] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a wireless audio/video (A/V)
communication doorbell 130 according to an aspect of present
embodiments. FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a rear view, and
FIG. 4 is a left side view of the doorbell 130 coupled with a
mounting bracket 137. The doorbell 130 includes a faceplate 135
mounted to a back plate 139 (FIG. 3). With reference to FIG. 4, the
faceplate 135 has a substantially flat profile. The faceplate 135
may comprise any suitable material, including, without limitation,
metals, such as brushed aluminum or stainless steel, metal alloys,
or plastics. The faceplate 135 protects the internal contents of
the doorbell 130 and serves as an exterior front surface of the
doorbell 130.
[0075] With reference to FIG. 2, the faceplate 135 includes a
button 133 and a light pipe 136. The button 133 and the light pipe
136 may have various profiles that may or may not match the profile
of the faceplate 135. The light pipe 136 may comprise any suitable
material, including, without limitation, transparent plastic, that
is capable of allowing light produced within the doorbell 130 to
pass through. The light may be produced by one or more
light-emitting components, such as light-emitting diodes (LED's),
contained within the doorbell 130, as further described below. The
button 133 may make contact with a button actuator (not shown)
located within the doorbell 130 when the button 133 is pressed by a
visitor. When pressed, the button 133 may trigger one or more
functions of the doorbell 130, as further described below.
[0076] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the doorbell 130 further
includes an enclosure 131 that engages the faceplate 135. In the
illustrated embodiment, the enclosure 131 abuts an upper edge 135T
(FIG. 2) of the faceplate 135, but in alternative embodiments one
or more gaps between the enclosure 131 and the faceplate 135 may
facilitate the passage of sound and/or light through the doorbell
130. The enclosure 131 may comprise any suitable material, but in
some embodiments the material of the enclosure 131 preferably
permits infrared light to pass through from inside the doorbell 130
to the environment and vice versa. The doorbell 130 further
includes a lens 132. In some embodiments, the lens may comprise a
Fresnel lens, which may be patterned to deflect incoming light into
one or more infrared sensors located within the doorbell 130. The
doorbell 130 further includes a camera 134, which captures video
data when activated, as described below.
[0077] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the doorbell 130, according to an
aspect of the present embodiments. As illustrated, the enclosure
131 may extend from the front of the doorbell 130 around to the
back thereof and may fit snugly around a lip of the back plate 139.
The back plate 139 may comprise any suitable material, including,
without limitation, metals, such as brushed aluminum or stainless
steel, metal alloys, or plastics. The back plate 139 protects the
internal contents of the doorbell 130 and serves as an exterior
rear surface of the doorbell 130. The faceplate 135 may extend from
the front of the doorbell 130 and at least partially wrap around
the back plate 139, thereby allowing a coupled connection between
the faceplate 135 and the back plate 139. The back plate 139 may
have indentations in its structure to facilitate the coupling.
[0078] With further reference to FIG. 3, spring contacts 140 may
provide power to the doorbell 130 when mated with other conductive
contacts connected to a power source. The spring contacts 140 may
comprise any suitable conductive material, including, without
limitation, copper, and may be capable of deflecting when contacted
by an inward force, for example the insertion of a mating element.
The doorbell 130 further comprises a connector 160, such as a
micro-USB or other connector, whereby power and/or data may be
supplied to and from the components within the doorbell 130. A
reset button 159 may be located on the back plate 139, and may make
contact with a button actuator (not shown) located within the
doorbell 130 when the reset button 159 is pressed. When the reset
button 159 is pressed, it may trigger one or more functions, as
described below.
[0079] FIG. 4 is a left side profile view of the doorbell 130
coupled to the mounting bracket 137, according to an aspect of the
present embodiments. The mounting bracket 137 facilitates mounting
the doorbell 130 to a surface, such as the exterior of a building,
such as a home or office. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the faceplate
135 may extend from the bottom of the doorbell 130 up to just below
the camera 134, and connect to the back plate 139 as described
above. The lens 132 may extend and curl partially around the side
of the doorbell 130. The enclosure 131 may extend and curl around
the side and top of the doorbell 130, and may be coupled to the
back plate 139 as described above. The camera 134 may protrude
slightly through the enclosure 131, thereby giving it a wider field
of view. The mounting bracket 137 may couple with the back plate
139 such that they contact each other at various points in a common
plane of contact, thereby creating an assembly including the
doorbell 130 and the mounting bracket 137. The couplings described
in this paragraph, and elsewhere, may be secured by, for example
and without limitation, screws, interference fittings, adhesives,
or other fasteners. Interference fittings may refer to a type of
connection where a material relies on pressure and/or gravity
coupled with the material's physical strength to support a
connection to a different element.
[0080] FIG. 5 is a right side cross-sectional view of the doorbell
130 without the mounting bracket 137. In the illustrated
embodiment, the lens 132 is substantially coplanar with the front
surface 131F of the enclosure 131. In alternative embodiments, the
lens 132 may be recessed within the enclosure 131 or may protrude
outward from the enclosure 131. The camera 134 is coupled to a
camera printed circuit board (PCB) 147, and a lens 134a of the
camera 134 protrudes through an opening in the enclosure 131. The
camera lens 134a may be a lens capable of focusing light into the
camera 134 so that clear images may be taken.
[0081] The camera PCB 147 may be secured within the doorbell with
any suitable fasteners, such as screws, or interference
connections, adhesives, etc. The camera PCB 147 comprises various
components that enable the functionality of the camera 134 of the
doorbell 130, as described below. Infrared light-emitting
components, such as infrared LED's 168, are coupled to the camera
PCB 147 and may be triggered to activate when a light sensor
detects a low level of ambient light. When activated, the infrared
LED's 168 may emit infrared light through the enclosure 131 and/or
the camera 134 out into the ambient environment. The camera 134,
which may be configured to detect infrared light, may then capture
the light emitted by the infrared LED's 168 as it reflects off
objects within the camera's 134 field of view, so that the doorbell
130 can clearly capture images at night (may be referred to as
"night vision").
[0082] With continued reference to FIG. 5, the doorbell 130 further
comprises a front PCB 146, which in the illustrated embodiment
resides in a lower portion of the doorbell 130 adjacent a battery
166. The front PCB 146 may be secured within the doorbell 130 with
any suitable fasteners, such as screws, or interference
connections, adhesives, etc. The front PCB 146 comprises various
components that enable the functionality of the audio and light
components, as further described below. The battery 166 may provide
power to the doorbell 130 components while receiving power from the
spring contacts 140, thereby engaging in a trickle-charge method of
power consumption and supply. Alternatively, the doorbell 130 may
draw power directly from the spring contacts 140 while relying on
the battery 166 only when the spring contacts 140 are not providing
the power necessary for all functions.
[0083] With continued reference to FIG. 5, the doorbell 130 further
comprises a power PCB 148, which in the illustrated embodiment
resides behind the camera PCB 147. The power PCB 148 may be secured
within the doorbell 130 with any suitable fasteners, such as
screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc. The power PCB
148 comprises various components that enable the functionality of
the power and device-control components, as further described
below.
[0084] With continued reference to FIG. 5, the doorbell 130 further
comprises a communication module 164 coupled to the power PCB 148.
The communication module 164 facilitates communication with client
devices in one or more remote locations, as further described
below. The connector 160 may protrude outward from the power PCB
148 and extend through a hole in the back plate 139. The doorbell
130 further comprises passive infrared (PIR) sensors 144, which are
secured on or within a PIR sensor holder 143, and the assembly
resides behind the lens 132. The PIR sensor holder 143 may be
secured to the doorbell 130 with any suitable fasteners, such as
screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc. The PIR
sensors 144 may be any type of sensor capable of detecting and
communicating the presence of a heat source within their field of
view. Further, alternative embodiments may comprise one or more
motion sensors either in place of or in addition to the PIR sensors
144. The motion sensors may be configured to detect motion using
any methodology, such as a methodology that does not rely on
detecting the presence of a heat source within a field of view.
[0085] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the doorbell 130 and the
mounting bracket 137 according to an aspect of the present
embodiments. The mounting bracket 137 is configured to be mounted
to a mounting surface (not shown) of a structure, such as a home or
an office. FIG. 6 shows the front side 137F of the mounting bracket
137. The mounting bracket 137 is configured to be mounted to the
mounting surface such that the back side 137B thereof faces the
mounting surface. In certain embodiments the mounting bracket 137
may be mounted to surfaces of various composition, including,
without limitation, wood, concrete, stucco, brick, vinyl siding,
aluminum siding, etc., with any suitable fasteners, such as screws,
or interference connections, adhesives, etc. The doorbell 130 may
be coupled to the mounting bracket 137 with any suitable fasteners,
such as screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc.
[0086] With continued reference to FIG. 6, the illustrated
embodiment of the mounting bracket 137 includes the terminal screws
138. The terminal screws 138 are configured to receive electrical
wires adjacent the mounting surface of the structure upon which the
mounting bracket 137 is mounted, so that the doorbell 130 may
receive electrical power from the structure's electrical system.
The terminal screws 138 are electrically connected to electrical
contacts 177 of the mounting bracket. If power is supplied to the
terminal screws 138, then the electrical contacts 177 also receive
power through the terminal screws 138. The electrical contacts 177
may comprise any suitable conductive material, including, without
limitation, copper, and may protrude slightly from the face of the
mounting bracket 137 so that they may mate with the spring contacts
140 located on the back plate 139.
[0087] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 (which is a rear view of the
mounting bracket 137), the mounting bracket 137 further comprises a
bracket PCB 149. With reference to FIG. 7, the bracket PCB 149 is
situated outside the doorbell 130, and is therefore configured for
various sensors that measure ambient conditions, such as an
accelerometer 150, a barometer 151, a humidity sensor 152, and a
temperature sensor 153. The functions of these components are
discussed in more detail below. The bracket PCB 149 may be secured
to the mounting bracket 137 with any suitable fasteners, such as
screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc.
[0088] FIGS. 8A and 8B are top and bottom views, respectively, of
the doorbell 130. As described above, the enclosure 131 may extend
from the front face 131F of the doorbell 130 to the back, where it
contacts and snugly surrounds the back plate 139. The camera 134
may protrude slightly beyond the front face 131F of the enclosure
131, thereby giving the camera 134 a wider field of view. The
mounting bracket 137 may include a substantially flat rear surface
137R, such that the doorbell 130 and the mounting bracket 137
assembly may sit flush against the surface to which they are
mounted. With reference to FIG. 8B, the lower end of the enclosure
131 may include security screw apertures 141 configured to receive
screws or other fasteners.
[0089] FIG. 9A is a top view of the PIR sensor holder 143. The PIR
sensor holder 143 may comprise any suitable material, including,
without limitation, metals, metal alloys, or plastics. The PIR
sensor holder 143 is configured to mount the PIR sensors 144 behind
the lens 132 such that the PIR sensors 144 face out through the
lens 132 at varying angles, thereby creating a wide field of view
for the PIR sensors 144, and dividing the field of view into zones,
as further described below. With further reference to FIG. 9A, the
PIR sensor holder 143 includes one or more faces 178 within or on
which the PIR sensors 144 may be mounted. In the illustrated
embodiment, the PIR sensor holder 143 includes three faces 178,
with each of two outer faces 178 angled at 55.degree. with respect
to a center one of the faces 178. In alternative embodiments, the
angle formed by adjacent ones of the faces 178 may be increased or
decreased as desired to alter the field of view of the PIR sensors
144.
[0090] FIG. 9B is a front view of the PIR sensor holder 143. In the
illustrated embodiment, each of the faces 178 includes a through
hole 180 in which the PIR sensors 144 may be mounted. First and
second brackets 182, spaced from one another, extend transversely
across the PIR sensor holder 143. Each of the brackets 182 includes
notches 184 at either end. The brackets 182 may be used to secure
the PIR sensor holder 143 within the doorbell 130. In alternative
embodiments, the through holes 180 in the faces 178 may be omitted.
For example, the PIR sensors 144 may be mounted directly to the
faces 178 without the through holes 180. Generally, the faces 178
may be comprise any structure configured to locate and secure the
PIR sensors 144 in place.
[0091] FIGS. 10A and 10B are top and front views, respectively, of
a PIR sensor assembly 179, including the PIR sensor holder 143, the
lens 132, and a flexible power circuit 145. The PIR sensor holder
143 may be secured to a rear face 132R of the lens 132, as shown,
with the brackets 182 abutting the rear face 132R of the lens 132.
The flexible power circuit 145, which may be any material or
component capable of delivering power and/or data to and from the
PIR sensors 144, is secured to a rear face 143R of the PIR sensor
holder 143, and may be contoured to match the angular shape of the
PIR sensor holder 143. The flexible power circuit 145 may connect
to, draw power from, and/or transmit data to and/or from, the power
PCB 148 (FIG. 5).
[0092] FIG. 11 is a top view of the PIR sensor assembly 179
illustrating the fields of view of the PIR sensors 144. Each PIR
sensor 144 includes a field of view, referred to as a "zone," that
traces an angle extending outward from the respective PIR sensor
144. Zone 1 is the area that is visible only to Passive Infrared
Sensor 144-1. Zone 2 is the area that is visible only to the PIR
sensors 144-1 and 144-2. Zone 3 is the area that is visible only to
Passive Infrared Sensor 144-2. Zone 4 is the area that is visible
only to the PIR sensors 144-2 and 144-3. Zone 5 is the area that is
visible only to Passive Infrared Sensor 144-3. The doorbell 130 may
be capable of determining the direction that an object is moving
based upon which zones are triggered in a time sequence. In the
illustrated embodiment, each zone extends across an angle of
110.degree.. In alternative embodiments, each zone may extend
across a different angle, such as one greater than or less than
110.degree..
[0093] FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the components
within or in communication with the doorbell 130, according to an
aspect of the present embodiments. As described above, the bracket
PCB 149 may comprise an accelerometer 150, a barometer 151, a
humidity sensor 152, and a temperature sensor 153. The
accelerometer 150 may be one or more sensors capable of sensing
motion and/or acceleration. The barometer 151 may be one or more
sensors capable of determining the atmospheric pressure of the
surrounding environment in which the bracket PCB 149 may be
located. The humidity sensor 152 may be one or more sensors capable
of determining the amount of moisture present in the atmospheric
environment in which the bracket PCB 149 may be located. The
temperature sensor 153 may be one or more sensors capable of
determining the temperature of the ambient environment in which the
bracket PCB 149 may be located. As described above, the bracket PCB
149 may be located outside the housing of the doorbell 130 so as to
reduce interference from heat, pressure, moisture, and/or other
stimuli generated by the internal components of the doorbell
130.
[0094] With further reference to FIG. 12, the bracket PCB 149 may
further comprise terminal screw inserts 154, which may be
configured to receive the terminal screws 138 and transmit power to
the electrical contacts 177 on the mounting bracket 137 (FIG. 6).
The bracket PCB 149 may be electrically and/or mechanically coupled
to the power PCB 148 through the terminal screws 138, the terminal
screw inserts 154, the spring contacts 140, and the electrical
contacts 177. The terminal screws 138 may receive electrical wires
located at the surface to which the doorbell 130 is mounted, such
as the wall of a building, so that the doorbell can receive
electrical power from the building's electrical system. Upon the
terminal screws 138 being secured within the terminal screw inserts
154, power may be transferred to the bracket PCB 149, and to all of
the components associated therewith, including the electrical
contacts 177. The electrical contacts 177 may transfer electrical
power to the power PCB 148 by mating with the spring contacts
140.
[0095] With further reference to FIG. 12, the front PCB 146 may
comprise a light sensor 155, one or more light-emitting components,
such as LED's 156, one or more speakers 157, and a microphone 158.
The light sensor 155 may be one or more sensors capable of
detecting the level of ambient light of the surrounding environment
in which the doorbell 130 may be located. LED's 156 may be one or
more light-emitting diodes capable of producing visible light when
supplied with power. The speakers 157 may be any electromechanical
device capable of producing sound in response to an electrical
signal input. The microphone 158 may be an acoustic-to-electric
transducer or sensor capable of converting sound waves into an
electrical signal. When activated, the LED's 156 may illuminate the
light pipe 136 (FIG. 2). The front PCB 146 and all components
thereof may be electrically coupled to the power PCB 148, thereby
allowing data and/or power to be transferred to and from the power
PCB 148 and the front PCB 146.
[0096] The speakers 157 and the microphone 158 may be coupled to
the camera processor 170 through an audio CODEC 161. For example,
the transfer of digital audio from the user's client device 114 and
the speakers 157 and the microphone 158 may be compressed and
decompressed using the audio CODEC 161, coupled to the camera
processor 170. Once compressed by audio CODEC 161, digital audio
data may be sent through the communication module 164 to the
network 112, routed by one or more servers 118, and delivered to
the user's client device 114. When the user speaks, after being
transferred through the network 112, digital audio data is
decompressed by audio CODEC 161 and emitted to the visitor via the
speakers 157.
[0097] With further reference to FIG. 12, the power PCB 148 may
comprise a power management module 162, a microcontroller 163, the
communication module 164, and power PCB non-volatile memory 165. In
certain embodiments, the power management module 162 may comprise
an integrated circuit capable of arbitrating between multiple
voltage rails, thereby selecting the source of power for the
doorbell 130. The battery 166, the spring contacts 140, and/or the
connector 160 may each provide power to the power management module
162. The power management module 162 may have separate power rails
dedicated to the battery 166, the spring contacts 140, and the
connector 160. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the power
management module 162 may continuously draw power from the battery
166 to power the doorbell 130, while at the same time routing power
from the spring contacts 140 and/or the connector 160 to the
battery 166, thereby allowing the battery 166 to maintain a
substantially constant level of charge. Alternatively, the power
management module 162 may continuously draw power from the spring
contacts 140 and/or the connector 160 to power the doorbell 130,
while only drawing from the battery 166 when the power from the
spring contacts 140 and/or the connector 160 is low or
insufficient. The power management module 162 may also serve as a
conduit for data between the connector 160 and the microcontroller
163.
[0098] With further reference to FIG. 12, in certain embodiments
the microcontroller 163 may comprise an integrated circuit
including a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output
peripherals. The microcontroller 163 may receive input signals,
such as data and/or power, from the PIR sensors 144, the bracket
PCB 149, the power management module 162, the light sensor 155, the
microphone 158, and/or the communication module 164, and may
perform various functions as further described below. When the
microcontroller 163 is triggered by the PIR sensors 144, the
microcontroller 163 may be triggered to perform one or more
functions, such as those described below with reference to FIG. 14.
When the light sensor 155 detects a low level of ambient light, the
light sensor 155 may trigger the microcontroller 163 to enable
"night vision," as further described below. The microcontroller 163
may also act as a conduit for data communicated between various
components and the communication module 164.
[0099] With further reference to FIG. 12, the communication module
164 may comprise an integrated circuit including a processor core,
memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. The
communication module 164 may also be configured to transmit data
wirelessly to a remote network device, and may include one or more
transceivers (not shown). The wireless communication may comprise
one or more wireless networks, such as, without limitation, Wi-Fi,
cellular, Bluetooth, and/or satellite networks. The communication
module 164 may receive inputs, such as power and/or data, from the
camera PCB 147, the microcontroller 163, the button 133, the reset
button 159, and/or the power PCB non-volatile memory 165. When the
button 133 is pressed, the communication module 164 may be
triggered to perform one or more functions, such as those described
below with reference to FIG. 13. When the reset button 159 is
pressed, the communication module 164 may be triggered to erase any
data stored at the power PCB non-volatile memory 165 and/or at the
camera PCB memory 169. The communication module 164 may also act as
a conduit for data communicated between various components and the
microcontroller 163. The power PCB non-volatile memory 165 may
comprise flash memory configured to store and/or transmit data. For
example, in certain embodiments the power PCB non-volatile memory
165 may comprise serial peripheral interface (SPI) flash
memory.
[0100] With further reference to FIG. 12, the camera PCB 147 may
comprise components that facilitate the operation of the camera
134. For example, an imager 171 may comprise a video recording
sensor and/or a camera chip. In one aspect of the present
disclosure, the imager 171 may comprise a complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor (CMOS) array, and may be capable of recording high
definition (1080p or better) video files. A camera processor 170
may comprise an encoding and compression chip. In some embodiments,
the camera processor 170 may comprise a bridge processor. The
camera processor 170 may process video recorded by the imager 171
and audio recorded by the microphone 158, and may transform this
data into a form suitable for wireless transfer by the
communication module 164 to a network. The camera PCB memory 169
may comprise volatile memory that may be used when data is being
buffered or encoded by the camera processor 170. For example, in
certain embodiments the camera PCB memory 169 may comprise
synchronous dynamic random access memory (SD RAM). IR LED's 168 may
comprise light-emitting diodes capable of radiating infrared light.
IR cut filter 167 may comprise a system that, when triggered,
configures the imager 171 to see primarily infrared light as
opposed to visible light. When the light sensor 155 detects a low
level of ambient light (which may comprise a level that impedes the
performance of the imager 171 in the visible spectrum), the IR
LED's 168 may shine infrared light through the doorbell 130
enclosure out to the environment, and the IR cut filter 167 may
enable the imager 171 to see this infrared light as it is reflected
or refracted off of objects within the field of view of the
doorbell. This process may provide the doorbell 130 with the "night
vision" function mentioned above.
[0101] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
process according to an aspect of the present disclosure. At block
B200, a visitor presses the button 133 on the doorbell 130. At
block B202, the communication module 164 sends a request to a
network device. Once the network device receives the request, at
block B204 the network device may connect the doorbell 130 to the
user's client device 114 through the user's wireless network 110
and the network 112. In block B206, the doorbell 130 may record
available audio and/or video data using the camera 134, the
microphone 158, and/or any other sensor available. At block B208,
the audio and/or video data is transmitted to the user's client
device 114. At block B210, the user may receive a notification on
his or her client device 114 prompting him or her to either accept
or deny. If the user denies the notification, then the process
advances to block B214, where the audio and/or video data is
recorded and stored at a cloud server. The session then ends at
block B216 and the connection between the doorbell 130 and the
user's client device 114 is terminated. If, however, the user
elects to accept the notification, then at block B212 the user
communicates with the visitor through the user's client device 114
while being provided audio and/or video data captured by the camera
134, the microphone 158, and/or other sensors. At the end of the
call, the user may terminate the connection between the user's
client device 114 and the doorbell 130 and the session ends at
block B216. In some embodiments, the audio and/or video data may be
recorded and stored at a cloud server (block B214) even if the user
accepts the notification and communicates with the visitor through
the user's client device 114.
[0102] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a
process according to an aspect of the present disclosure. At block
B300, an object may move into the field of view of one or more of
the PIR sensors 144. At block B302, the PIR sensors 144 may trigger
the microcontroller 163, which may then trigger the communication
module 164 to send a request to a network device. At block B304,
the network device may connect the doorbell 130 to the user's
client device 114 through the user's wireless network 110 and the
network 112. At block B306, the doorbell 130 may record available
audio and/or video data using the camera 134, the microphone 158,
and/or any other available sensor, and stream the data to the
user's client device 114. At block B308, the user may receive a
notification prompting the user to either accept or deny the
notification. If the notification is accepted, then at block B310a
the live audio/video data may be displayed on the user's client
device 114, thereby allowing the user surveillance from the
perspective of the doorbell 130. When the user is satisfied with
this function, the user may sever the connection at block B312,
whereby the session ends. If, however, at block B308 the user
denies the notification, or ignores the notification and a
specified time interval elapses, then the connection between the
doorbell 130 and the user's client device 114 is terminated and the
audio/video data is recorded and stored at a cloud server at block
B310b, such that the user may view the audio/video data later at
their convenience. The doorbell 130 may be configured to record for
a specified period of time in the event the notification in block
B308 is denied or ignored. If such a time period is set, the
doorbell 130 may record data for that period of time before ceasing
operation at block B312 thereby ending the session. In some
embodiments, the audio and/or video data may be recorded and stored
at a cloud server (block B310b) even if the user accepts the
notification and communicates with the visitor through the user's
client device 114.
[0103] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a
process according to an aspect of the present disclosure. At block
B400, the user may select a "snooze time-out," which is a time
period during which the doorbell 130 may deactivate or otherwise
not respond to stimuli (such as light, sound, or heat signatures)
after an operation is performed, e.g. a notification is either
accepted or denied/ignored. For example, the user may set a snooze
time-out of 15 minutes. At block B402, an object moves into the
field of view of one or more of the PIR sensors 144. At block B404,
the microcontroller 163 may trigger the communication module 164 to
send a request to a network device. In block B406, the network
device may connect the doorbell 130 to the user's client device 114
through the user's wireless network 110 and the network 112. At
block B408, audio/video data captured by the doorbell 130 may be
streamed to the user's client device 114. At block B410, the user
may receive a notification prompting the user to either accept or
deny/ignore the request. If the request is denied or ignored, then
at block B412b audio/video data may be recorded and stored at a
cloud server. After the doorbell 130 finishes recording, the
objects may remain in the PIR sensor 144 field of view at block
B414. In block B416, the microcontroller 163 waits for the "snooze
time" to elapse, e.g. 15 minutes, before triggering the
communication module 164 to submit another request to the network
device. After the snooze time, e.g. 15 minutes, elapses, the
process moves back to block B404 and progresses as described above.
The cycle may continue like this until the user accepts the
notification request at block B410. The process then moves to block
B412a, where live audio and/or video data is displayed on the
user's client device 114, thereby allowing the user surveillance
from the perspective of the doorbell 130. At the user's request,
the connection may be severed and the session ends at block B418.
At this point the user may elect for the process to revert back to
block B416, whereby there may be no further response until the
snooze time, e.g. 15 minutes, has elapsed from the end of the
previous session, or the user may elect for the process to return
to block B402 and receive a notification the next time an object is
perceived by one or more of the PIR sensors 144. In some
embodiments, the audio and/or video data may be recorded and stored
at a cloud server (block B412b) even if the user accepts the
notification and communicates with the visitor through the user's
client device 114.
[0104] As described below, some of the present embodiments
advantageously locate an image sensor or a camera of the wireless
A/V recording and communication doorbell behind, and/or integrate
the image sensor or camera into, the doorbell button (e.g. the
button used to actuate the doorbell, including sounding an audible
tone and/or initiating recording of audio and/or video and/or
transmitting audio and/or video). Locating the image sensor or
camera behind the button, and/or integrating the image sensor or
camera into the button, may conserve space within the doorbell,
thereby enabling the size of the outer envelope of the doorbell to
be reduced, which in turn may give the doorbell a more streamlined
and visually pleasing appearance. In some embodiments in which the
image sensor or the camera is integrated into the doorbell button,
the image sensor or the camera may comprise the doorbell button,
e.g. the image sensor or the camera may be configured such that the
visitor presses the image sensor or the camera in order to actuate
the doorbell (e.g. to sound an audible tone and/or initiate
recording of audio and/or video and/or initiate transmitting of
audio and/or video).
[0105] FIG. 16 is a front view of another embodiment of a wireless
A/V recording and communication device 500 according to an aspect
of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the
wireless A/V recording and communication device 500 is a doorbell.
Further examples of wireless A/V recording and communication
devices may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/099,828, filed on Sep. 29, 2014, and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 62/308,746, filed on Mar. 15, 2016, the contents of which
are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties as if
fully set forth.
[0106] The wireless A/V recording and communication device 500 may
include a housing 502, which may include but is not limited to
plastic, metal, or wood. The housing 502 may serve as an exterior
surface of the wireless A/V recording and communication device 500
and protect components within. In one aspect of the present
disclosure, the housing 502 may be IR transmissive, so as to allow
infrared light to pass through. The housing 502 may contain an
aperture 503 that allows a button 504 and/or a camera 506 to
protrude through. The button 504 may act as a trigger to activate
the wireless A/V recording and communication device 500. When the
housing 502 and the button 504 are mechanically coupled, the
wireless A/V recording and communication device 500 may be sealed
hermetically. The button 504 may be any optically transparent or
translucent material so as to allow light to pass through to an
imager 508 located behind or within the button 504. The button 504
may have convex, concave, or flat geometry, but preferably the
configuration of the button 504 does not significantly distort the
way in which light passes through the button 504. In one aspect of
the present disclosure, the button 504 may have a tinted surface,
so as to appear opaque, yet still be capable of allowing light to
pass through to the inside of the housing 502. Locating the camera
506 or the imager 508 behind the button 504, and/or integrating the
camera 506 or the imager 508 into the button 504, may conserve
space within the doorbell 500, thereby enabling the size of the
outer envelope of the doorbell 500 to be reduced, which in turn may
give the doorbell 500 a more streamlined and visually pleasing
appearance.
[0107] FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the wireless A/V
recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 16. The perspective
view of the housing 502 in FIG. 17 illustrates the depth of the
housing 502. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the housing
502, and all components within, may be mounted to a wall or an
exterior surface of a structure using mechanical features (not
shown) built into a rear surface 510 (FIG. 19) of the housing 502
and/or mechanical fasteners or mechanical coupling features.
[0108] Embodiments of the present wireless A/V recording and
communication device 500 may include components similar to the
doorbells 100, 130 described above, such as components for
wirelessly transmitting audio and/or video, one or more speakers,
one or more microphones, one or more antennas, one or more
rechargeable batteries, and/or one or more motion sensing
peripherals, such as passive infrared (PIR) sensors. In one aspect
of the present disclosure, the wireless A/V recording and
communication device 500 may replace a doorbell and/or an outdoor
camera on the exterior surface of a home, office, or property. In
this aspect, after a visitor presses the button 504 or the camera
506, the wireless A/V recording and communication device 500 may
stream audio and/or video to the owner's smartphone, tablet, or
computer using wireless communication protocols such as but not
limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee technology. The owner may
then communicate with the visitor using a smartphone, tablet, or
computer via the on-board microphones and speakers, which may be
built into the wireless A/V recording and communication device
500.
[0109] FIGS. 18 and 19 are cross-sectional right side views of the
wireless A/V recording and communication doorbell of FIG. 16, taken
along the section line A-A in FIG. 16. FIG. 18 shows the button 504
in a static position, and FIG. 19 shows the button 504 in a
depressed position. In the static position of FIG. 18, the housing
502 is cut away to show components within the wireless A/V
recording and communication device 500, some of which may have been
omitted for clarity. According to an aspect of the present
disclosure, the button 504 may be movably mechanically coupled to
the housing 502, allowing the button to travel when pressed by a
human finger. After the button 504 is released, the button 504 may
return to its original position. The housing 502 may contain
mechanical features that secure a printed circuit board (PCB) 512
using fasteners, glue, or mechanical coupling features, for
example. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the camera 506
sits behind and concentric to the button 504. The camera 506 is
located on the surface of and is electrically coupled to the PCB
512. In this aspect, the button 504 may be transparent or
translucent, and allows light to be directed into the camera 506
without significantly adversely affecting the images produced by
the camera 506.
[0110] The camera 506 may include, or may communicate with,
components integral to the operation of the camera 506, such as the
imager 508 and/or a bridge processor (not shown in FIGS. 16-21, but
may be similar to the microcontroller 163 described above). The
imager 508 may be a video recording sensor or a camera chip, for
example. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the imager 508
may include a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) array,
for example, and may be capable of recording high definition video
files. The bridge processor may process video data recorded by the
imager 508, and may transform this data into a form suitable for
wireless transfer by a communication module (not shown in FIGS.
16-21, but may be similar to the communication module 164 described
above).
[0111] Infrared (IR) light-emitting components, such as IR LED's
513, may be operatively connected to the PCB 512 and may be
triggered to activate when a light sensor (not shown) or the camera
506 detects a low level of ambient light. When activated, the IR
LED's 513 may emit infrared light out into the ambient environment.
The camera 506, which may be configured to detect infrared light,
may then capture the light emitted by the IR LED's 513 as it
reflects off objects within the camera's 506 field of view, so that
the doorbell 500 can clearly capture images at night (may be
referred to as "night vision"). In the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 18 and 19, the IR LED's 513 are located behind or within the
button 504. Locating the IR LED's 513 behind or within the button
504 conserves space within the doorbell 500, thereby enabling the
size of the outer envelope of the doorbell 500 to be reduced, which
in turn may give the doorbell 500 a more streamlined and visually
pleasing appearance.
[0112] With reference to FIG. 19, button stems 514 are protruding
mechanical features designed into the button 504. When the button
504 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 19 in the direction of arrow B,
the button stems 514 make contact with button actuators 516. The
button actuators 516 are located on the surface of and are
electrically coupled to the PCB 512. When one or more of the button
actuators 516 are compressed as a result of the button 504 being
pressed, the button actuators 516 may activate the camera 506
and/or other components within the wireless A/V recording and
communication device 500 used to transmit audio and/or video.
[0113] FIGS. 20 and 21 are cross-sectional right side views of
another embodiment of the wireless A/V recording and communication
doorbell 500' of FIG. 16, taken along the section line A-A in FIG.
16. In this alternative embodiment, the button 504 is omitted, and
the camera 506 also serves as a button that a visitor may depress
to activate the doorbell 500'. Omitting the button as a discrete
component with respect to the camera further conserves space within
the doorbell 500', thereby enabling the size of the outer envelope
of the doorbell 500' to be reduced even further in comparison to
the embodiment of the doorbell 500 of FIGS. 16-19.
[0114] Also in this alternative embodiment, a camera PCB 518 moves
within the housing 502 when the camera 506 is pressed. FIG. 20
shows the camera PCB 518 in a static position, and FIG. 21 shows
the camera PCB 518 in a depressed position. In the static position
of FIG. 18, the housing 502 is cut away to show components within
the wireless A/V recording and communication device 500, some of
which may have been omitted for clarity. The housing 502 may
contain mechanical features that secure the PCB 512 using
fasteners, glue, or mechanical coupling features. The button
actuators 516 may be located on the surface of and electrically
coupled to the PCB 512. When one or more button actuators 516 are
compressed, they may activate the camera 506 and/or other
components within the wireless A/V recording and communication
device 500 used to transmit audio and/or video.
[0115] Still referencing FIG. 20, the housing 502 may contain one
or more tracking bosses 520 according to an aspect of the present
disclosure. The tracking bosses 520 may be mechanical features
built in to the housing 502 to help contain and guide moving
components within the assembly, such as the camera PCB 518.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the camera PCB
518 may include through-holes that receive the tracking bosses 520
to maintain the alignment of the camera PCB 518. The through-holes
may comprise holes drilled through the camera PCB 518. In this
aspect, the through-holes may align concentrically with the
tracking bosses 520.
[0116] With reference to FIG. 21, which shows the camera PCB 518 in
a depressed position, the camera 506 may be located on the surface
of and electrically coupled to the camera PCB 518, according to one
aspect of the present disclosure. The housing 502 may contain an
aperture 522 through which the camera 506 may protrude. In this
aspect of the present disclosure, the camera 506 may be used as a
button that can be pressed by a user/visitor. When the camera 506
is depressed in the direction of the Arrow C, the camera PCB 518
may travel in the direction of the Arrow C, using the tracking
bosses 520 to stay aligned and parallel to the PCB 512. In this
aspect, when the camera PCB 518 is fully depressed, the camera PCB
518, or a part located on or within the camera PCB 518, makes
contact with one or more of the button actuators 516 located on the
PCB 512. When the button actuators 516 are compressed, they may
activate the camera 506 and/or other components within the wireless
A/V recording and communication device 500 used to transmit audio
and/or video.
[0117] As described above, some of the present embodiments locate
an image sensor or camera of the wireless A/V recording and
communication doorbell behind, and/or integrate the image sensor or
camera into, the doorbell button (e.g. the button used to actuate
the doorbell, including sounding an audible tone and/or initiating
recording of audio and/or video and/or initiating transmitting of
audio and/or video). Locating the image sensor or camera behind the
button, and/or integrating the image sensor or camera into the
button, may conserve space within the doorbell, thereby enabling
the size of the outer envelope of the doorbell to be reduced, which
in turn may give the doorbell a more streamlined and visually
pleasing appearance. In some embodiments in which the image sensor
or the camera is integrated into the doorbell button, the image
sensor or the camera may comprise the doorbell button, e.g. the
image sensor or the camera may be configured such that the visitor
presses the image sensor or the camera in order to actuate the
doorbell (e.g. to sound an audible tone and/or initiate recording
of audio and/or video).
[0118] FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of a client device 800
on which the present embodiments may be implemented according to
various aspects of the present disclosure. The user's client device
114 described with reference to FIG. 1 may include some or all of
the components and/or functionality of the client device 800. The
client device 800 may comprise, for example, a smartphone.
[0119] With reference to FIG. 22, the client device 800 includes a
processor 802, a memory 804, a user interface 806, a communication
module 808, and a dataport 810. These components are
communicatively coupled together by an interconnect bus 812. The
processor 802 may include any processor used in smartphones and/or
portable computing devices, such as an ARM processor (a processor
based on the RISC (reduced instruction set computer) architecture
developed by Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).). In some embodiments,
the processor 802 may include one or more other processors, such as
one or more conventional microprocessors, and/or one or more
supplementary co-processors, such as math co-processors.
[0120] The memory 804 may include both operating memory, such as
random access memory (RAM), as well as data storage, such as
read-only memory (ROM), hard drives, flash memory, or any other
suitable memory/storage element. The memory 804 may include
removable memory elements, such as a CompactFlash card, a
MultiMediaCard (MMC), and/or a Secure Digital (SD) card. In some
embodiments, the memory 804 may comprise a combination of magnetic,
optical, and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, for example,
RAM, ROM, flash drive, and/or a hard disk or drive. The processor
802 and the memory 804 each may be, for example, located entirely
within a single device, or may be connected to each other by a
communication medium, such as a USB port, a serial port cable, a
coaxial cable, an Ethernet-type cable, a telephone line, a radio
frequency transceiver, or other similar wireless or wired medium or
combination of the foregoing. For example, the processor 802 may be
connected to the memory 804 via the dataport 810.
[0121] The user interface 806 may include any user interface or
presentation elements suitable for a smartphone and/or a portable
computing device, such as a keypad, a display screen, a
touchscreen, a microphone, and a speaker. The communication module
808 is configured to handle communication links between the client
device 800 and other, external devices or receivers, and to route
incoming/outgoing data appropriately. For example, inbound data
from the dataport 810 may be routed through the communication
module 808 before being directed to the processor 802, and outbound
data from the processor 802 may be routed through the communication
module 808 before being directed to the dataport 810. The
communication module 808 may include one or more transceiver
modules capable of transmitting and receiving data, and using, for
example, one or more protocols and/or technologies, such as GSM,
UMTS (3GSM), IS-95 (CDMA one), IS-2000 (CDMA 2000), LTE, FDMA,
TDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA, OFDMA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or any other protocol
and/or technology.
[0122] The dataport 810 may be any type of connector used for
physically interfacing with a smartphone and/or a portable
computing device, such as a mini-USB port or an
IPHONE.RTM./IPOD.RTM. 30-pin connector or LIGHTNING.RTM. connector.
In other embodiments, the dataport 810 may include multiple
communication channels for simultaneous communication with, for
example, other processors, servers, and/or client terminals.
[0123] The memory 804 may store instructions for communicating with
other systems, such as a computer. The memory 804 may store, for
example, a program (e.g., computer program code) adapted to direct
the processor 802 in accordance with the present embodiments. The
instructions also may include program elements, such as an
operating system. While execution of sequences of instructions in
the program causes the processor 802 to perform the process steps
described herein, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or
in combination with, software/firmware instructions for
implementation of the processes of the present embodiments. Thus,
the present embodiments are not limited to any specific combination
of hardware and software.
[0124] FIG. 23 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose
computing system on which the present embodiments may be
implemented according to various aspects of the present disclosure.
The computer system 900 may be embodied in at least one of a
personal computer (also referred to as a desktop computer) 900A, a
portable computer (also referred to as a laptop or notebook
computer) 900B, and/or a server 900C. A server is a computer
program and/or a machine that waits for requests from other
machines or software (clients) and responds to them. A server
typically processes data. The purpose of a server is to share data
and/or hardware and/or software resources among clients. This
architecture is called the client-server model. The clients may run
on the same computer or may connect to the server over a network.
Examples of computing servers include database servers, file
servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, game servers,
and application servers. The term server may be construed broadly
to include any computerized process that shares a resource to one
or more client processes.
[0125] The computer system 900 may execute at least some of the
operations described above. The computer system 900 may include at
least one processor 910, memory 920, at least one storage device
930, and input/output (I/O) devices 940. Some or all of the
components 910, 920, 930, 940 may be interconnected via a system
bus 950. The processor 910 may be single- or multi-threaded and may
have one or more cores. The processor 910 may execute instructions,
such as those stored in the memory 920 and/or in the storage device
930. Information may be received and output using one or more I/O
devices 940.
[0126] The memory 920 may store information, and may be a
computer-readable medium, such as volatile or non-volatile memory.
The storage device(s) 930 may provide storage for the system 900,
and may be a computer-readable medium. In various aspects, the
storage device(s) 930 may be a flash memory device, a hard disk
device, an optical disk device, a tape device, or any other type of
storage device.
[0127] The I/O devices 940 may provide input/output operations for
the system 900. The I/O devices 940 may include a keyboard, a
pointing device, and/or a microphone. The I/O devices 940 may
further include a display unit for displaying graphical user
interfaces, a speaker, and/or a printer. External data may be
stored in one or more accessible external databases 960.
[0128] The features of the present embodiments described herein may
be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, and/or in computer
hardware, firmware, software, and/or in combinations thereof.
Features of the present embodiments may be implemented in a
computer program product tangibly embodied in an information
carrier, such as a machine-readable storage device, and/or in a
propagated signal, for execution by a programmable processor.
Embodiments of the present method steps may be performed by a
programmable processor executing a program of instructions to
perform functions of the described implementations by operating on
input data and generating output.
[0129] The features of the present embodiments described herein may
be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable
on a programmable system including at least one programmable
processor coupled to receive data and/or instructions from, and to
transmit data and/or instructions to, a data storage system, at
least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer
program may include a set of instructions that may be used,
directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity
or bring about a certain result. A computer program may be written
in any form of programming language, including compiled or
interpreted languages, and it may be deployed in any form,
including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,
subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing
environment.
[0130] Suitable processors for the execution of a program of
instructions may include, for example, both general and special
purpose processors, and/or the sole processor or one of multiple
processors of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor may
receive instructions and/or data from a read only memory (ROM), or
a random access memory (RAM), or both. Such a computer may include
a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for
storing instructions and/or data.
[0131] Generally, a computer may also include, or be operatively
coupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices for
storing data files. Such devices include magnetic disks, such as
internal hard disks and/or removable disks, magneto-optical disks,
and/or optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly
embodying computer program instructions and/or data may include all
forms of non-volatile memory, including for example semiconductor
memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices,
magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks,
magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor
and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, one or
more ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).
[0132] To provide for interaction with a user, the features of the
present embodiments may be implemented on a computer having a
display device, such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor,
for displaying information to the user. The computer may further
include a keyboard, a pointing device, such as a mouse or a
trackball, and/or a touchscreen by which the user may provide input
to the computer.
[0133] The features of the present embodiments may be implemented
in a computer system that includes a back-end component, such as a
data server, and/or that includes a middleware component, such as
an application server or an Internet server, and/or that includes a
front-end component, such as a client computer having a graphical
user interface (GUI) and/or an Internet browser, or any combination
of these. The components of the system may be connected by any form
or medium of digital data communication, such as a communication
network. Examples of communication networks may include, for
example, a LAN (local area network), a WAN (wide area network),
and/or the computers and networks forming the Internet.
[0134] The computer system may include clients and servers. A
client and server may be remote from each other and interact
through a network, such as those described herein. The relationship
of client and server may arise by virtue of computer programs
running on the respective computers and having a client-server
relationship to each other.
[0135] The above description presents the best mode contemplated
for carrying out the present embodiments, and of the manner and
process of practicing them, in such full, clear, concise, and exact
terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which they
pertain to practice these embodiments. The present embodiments are,
however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions
from those discussed above that are fully equivalent. Consequently,
the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments
disclosed. On the contrary, the present invention covers all
modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the steps in the
processes described herein need not be performed in the same order
as they have been presented, and may be performed in any order(s).
Further, steps that have been presented as being performed
separately may in alternative embodiments be performed
concurrently. Likewise, steps that have been presented as being
performed concurrently may in alternative embodiments be performed
separately.
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