Granted Patent B1

US 8,937,659 · App. 14/474,209 · Granted Jan 20, 2015

Abstract

Claims (78)

1. A method for using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises an electronic doorbell, an electronic chime, and a remote computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the electronic doorbell that comprises a camera and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable a visitor to sound the electronic chime, wherein the electronic chime comprises a speaker configurable to emit a notification sound in response to the visitor pressing the button of the electronic doorbell;

electrically coupling an electronic switch assembly to the electronic chime;

electrically coupling the electronic doorbell to the electronic switch assembly;

configuring the electronic switch assembly so that a first electricity that is less than a first threshold passes through the electronic switch assembly without entering the electronic chime, wherein the first electricity does not cause the electronic chime to emit the notification sound, wherein the electronic switch assembly blocks the first electricity from passing through the electronic chime in response to the first electricity being less than the first threshold;

configuring the electronic switch assembly so that the electronic switch assembly causes a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold to pass through the electronic chime to cause the electronic chime to emit the notification sound, wherein the electronic switch assembly causes the second electricity to pass through the electronic chime in response to the second electricity being greater than the first threshold;

mechanically coupling the electronic switch assembly to the electronic chime;

configuring an electrical circuit so that a third electricity passes from a transformer to the electronic doorbell and to the electronic switch assembly and then back to the transformer without entering the electronic chime in response to the third electricity being less than the first threshold;

configuring the electrical circuit so that a fourth electricity passes from the transformer to the electronic doorbell and to the electronic switch assembly, wherein the fourth electricity is diverted from the electronic switch assembly into the electronic chime and then back into the electronic switch assembly in response to the fourth electricity being greater than the first threshold, wherein the electronic doorbell and the electronic switch assembly are in series in the electrical circuit;

using the electronic switch assembly to block transformer electrical power from entering the electronic chime while the first electricity is less than the first threshold; and

using the electronic switch assembly to divert the transformer electrical power from the electronic switch assembly into the electronic chime while the second electricity is greater than the first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic chime comprises a digital chime having a first printed circuit board, the method further comprising configuring the first printed circuit board to enable the electronic chime to emit the notification sound from the speaker based on digital music data.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electronic doorbell comprises a second printed circuit board, the method further comprising:

routing at least a portion of the first electricity through the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell;

blocking the second electricity from entering the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell in response to the visitor pressing the button; and

causing the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold in response to the visitor pressing the button of the electronic doorbell.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the doorbell system comprises a plastic housing, the method further comprising:

placing the electronic chime and the electronic switch assembly inside the plastic housing; and

placing the electronic doorbell outside of the plastic housing and in a remote location relative to the plastic housing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is a first electrical power threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is a first electrical voltage threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is a first electrical current threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a predetermined amount of time via the remote computing device prior to the second electricity exceeding the first threshold;

sending the predetermined amount of time wirelessly from the remote computing device to the electronic doorbell; and

once the second electricity is greater than the first threshold, the method further comprises maintaining the second electricity above the first threshold for the predetermined amount of time.

9. A method for using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises an electronic doorbell, an electronic chime, and a remote computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the electronic doorbell that comprises a camera and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable a visitor to sound the electronic chime, wherein the electronic chime comprises a speaker configurable to emit a notification sound in response to the visitor pressing the button of the electronic doorbell;

mechanically coupling a printed circuit board to the electronic chime and electrically coupling the printed circuit board to the electronic chime;

electrically coupling the electronic doorbell to the printed circuit board;

configuring the printed circuit board so that the printed circuit board allows a first electricity to pass through the printed circuit board in response to the first electricity being less than a first threshold;

configuring the printed circuit board so that the printed circuit board blocks the first electricity from entering the electronic chime in response to the first electricity being less than the first threshold, wherein the first electricity does not cause the electronic chime to emit the notification sound; and

configuring the printed circuit board so that the printed circuit board causes a second electricity that is greater than the first threshold to enter the electronic chime to cause the electronic chime to emit the notification sound, wherein the printed circuit board causes the second electricity to pass through the electronic chime in response to the second electricity being greater than the first threshold,

wherein the doorbell system comprises a plastic housing, and the printed circuit board comprises an electronic switch assembly, and

wherein the electronic chime and the electronic switch assembly are located inside the plastic housing and the electronic doorbell is located outside the plastic housing and in a remote location relative to the plastic housing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the printed circuit board is a first printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic doorbell comprises a second printed circuit board, the method further comprising:

routing at least a portion of the first electricity through the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell; and

configuring the second printed circuit board to block the second electricity from entering the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell in response to the visitor pressing the button.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

using the remote computing device to set a predetermined amount of time for the second electricity to stay above the first threshold;

wirelessly sending the predetermined amount from the remote computing device to the electronic doorbell; and

in response to the second electricity being greater than the first threshold, using the electronic doorbell to maintain the second electricity above the first threshold for the predetermined amount of time.

12. A method for using a doorbell system, wherein the doorbell system comprises an electronic doorbell, an electronic chime, and a remote computing device, the method comprising:

obtaining the electronic doorbell that comprises a camera and a button, wherein the button is configurable to enable a visitor to sound the electronic chime, wherein the electronic chime comprises a speaker configurable to emit a notification sound in response to the visitor pressing the button of the electronic doorbell;

mechanically coupling an electronic switch assembly to the electronic chime and electrically coupling the electronic switch assembly to the electronic chime;

electrically coupling the electronic doorbell to the electronic switch assembly;

configuring the electronic switch assembly so that the electronic switch assembly causes a second electricity that is greater than a first threshold to pass through the electronic chime to cause the electronic chime to emit the notification sound, wherein the electronic switch assembly causes the second electricity to pass through the electronic chime in response to the second electricity being greater than the first threshold;

configuring an electrical circuit so that a third electricity passes from an external power supply to the electronic doorbell and to the electronic switch assembly and then back to the external power supply without entering the electronic chime in response to the third electricity being less than the first threshold;

configuring the electrical circuit so that a fourth electricity passes from the external power supply to the electronic doorbell and to the electronic switch assembly, wherein the fourth electricity is diverted from the electronic switch assembly into the electronic chime and then back into the electronic switch assembly in response to the fourth electricity being greater than the first threshold, wherein the electronic doorbell and the electronic switch assembly are in series in the electrical circuit,

wherein the external power supply is configured to provide electrical power;

using the electronic switch assembly to block the electrical power from entering the electronic chime while the first electricity is less than the first threshold; and

using the electronic switch assembly to divert the electrical power from the electronic switch assembly into the electronic chime while the second electricity is greater than the first threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electronic switch assembly comprises a first printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic doorbell comprises a second printed circuit board, the method further comprising:

routing at least a portion of the first electricity through the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell; and

configuring the second printed circuit board to block the second electricity from entering the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell in response to the visitor pressing the button.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising maintaining the second electricity above the first threshold for a predetermined amount of time.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

setting the predetermined amount of time via the remote computing device; and

sending the predetermined amount of time wirelessly from the remote computing device to the electronic doorbell.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic doorbell is located remotely relative to the electronic chime.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first threshold is at least one of a first electrical power threshold, a first electrical voltage threshold, and a first electrical current threshold.

18. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

mechanically coupling the electronic switch assembly to the electronic chime;

configuring an electrical circuit so that a third electricity passes from an external power supply to the electronic doorbell and to the electronic switch assembly and then back to the external power supply without entering the electronic chime in response to the third electricity being less than the first threshold; and

configuring the electrical circuit so that a fourth electricity passes from the external power supply to the electronic doorbell and to the electronic switch assembly, wherein the fourth electricity is diverted from the electronic switch assembly into the electronic chime and then back into the electronic switch assembly in response to the fourth electricity being greater than the first threshold, wherein the electronic doorbell and the electronic switch assembly are in series in the electrical circuit.

19. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electronic chime comprises a digital chime, the method further comprising configuring the printed circuit board to enable the electronic chime to emit the notification sound from the speaker based on digital music data.

20. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

using the electronic switch assembly to block transformer electrical power from entering the electronic chime while the first electricity is less than the first threshold; and

using the electronic switch assembly to divert the transformer electrical power from the electronic switch assembly into the electronic chime while the second electricity is greater than the first threshold.

21. The method of claim 9 , further comprising causing the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold in response to the visitor pressing the button of the electronic doorbell.

22. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

causing the second electricity to be greater than the first threshold in response to the visitor pressing the button of the electronic doorbell; and

configuring the printed circuit board so that the printed circuit board causes the second electricity that is greater than the first threshold to pass through the electronic chime to cause the electronic chime to emit the notification sound,

wherein the printed circuit board causes the second electricity to pass through the electronic chime in response to the second electricity being greater than the first threshold.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the electronic doorbell comprises a second printed circuit board, the method further comprising:

routing at least a portion of the first electricity through the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell; and

blocking the second electricity from entering the second printed circuit board of the electronic doorbell in response to the visitor pressing the button.

24. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electronic doorbell is located remotely relative to the electronic chime.

Assignments (9)