Doorbell diagnostics
View Patent ↗A doorbell can be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing device. In some cases, components that enable the doorbell to wirelessly communicate with the remote computing device could make the doorbell incompatible with certain types of chimes. In some embodiments, the doorbell is configured to diagnose chime compatibility issues.
1. A doorbell configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing device, wherein the doorbell is configured to be electrically coupled to an external power supply and to an external chime, the doorbell comprising:
an outer housing;
a button coupled to the outer housing, wherein the button is configurable to enable a visitor to sound the external chime;
a first load evaluation system configured to evaluate a first load signature of the external chime; and
a first notification sent to the remote computing device in response to the first load signature being indicative of the external chime being an electronic chime rather than a mechanical chime.
2. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first notification includes information related to obtaining a chime adapter.
3. The doorbell of claim 2 , wherein the chime adapter is configured such that a first electricity that is less than a first threshold passes through the chime adapter such that the first electricity does not cause the external chime to emit a summon sound, and the chime adapter is configured such that a second electricity that is greater than a second threshold causes the external chime to emit the summon sound.
4. The doorbell of claim 1 , further comprising an outer housing, wherein the button and the first load evaluation system are coupled to the outer housing.
5. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first load signature is a first power signature.
6. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first load signature is a first current signature.
7. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first load signature is a first voltage signature.
8. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first load evaluation system is configured to detect a variable power load, and the doorbell is configured to send the first notification in response to detecting that the external chime comprises the variable power load within a predetermined range.
9. The doorbell of claim 8 , wherein the first load evaluation system is configured to detect a constant power load, and the doorbell is configured to not send the first notification in response to detecting that the external chime comprises the constant power load.
10. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first load evaluation system is configured to detect a waveform of the first load signature, and the doorbell is configured to send the first notification in response to determining that the waveform of the first load signature meets at least one predetermined requirement.
11. The doorbell of claim 1 , wherein the first load evaluation system is configured to detect a magnitude of the first load signature, and the doorbell is configured to send the first notification in response to determining that the magnitude of the first load signature meets at least one predetermined requirement.
12. The doorbell of claim 1 , further comprising a second load evaluation system configured to detect a second load signature of the doorbell, wherein the doorbell is configured to determine that the first load signature is indicative of the external chime being the electronic chime by analyzing a circuit that comprises the doorbell and the external chime.
13. The doorbell of claim 12 , wherein the circuit comprises a third load signature, and analyzing the circuit comprises reducing at least one effect of the second load signature on the third load signature to evaluate the first load signature.
14. The doorbell of claim 1 , further comprising a second load evaluation system configured to detect a second load signature of the doorbell, and further comprising a load comparison system configured to measure electrical traits of a circuit that comprises the doorbell and the external chime, wherein the load comparison system is configured to evaluate the first load signature by reducing at least one effect of the second load signature on the electrical traits of the circuit.
15. A doorbell configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing device, wherein the doorbell is configured to be electrically coupled to an external power supply and to an external chime, the doorbell comprising:
an outer housing;
a camera coupled to the outer housing;
a first load measurement system coupled to the outer housing, the first load measurement system configured to measure a first load signature of a circuit that comprises the doorbell and the external chime;
a second load measurement system coupled to the outer housing, the second load measurement system configured to measure a second load signature of the doorbell; and
a load evaluation system coupled to the outer housing, the load evaluation system configured to reduce an electrical effect of the second load signature on the first load signature to enable the doorbell to evaluate a third load signature of the external chime.
16. The doorbell of claim 15 , further comprising a wireless communication system configured to send a first notification to the remote computing device in response to the third load signature being indicative of the external chime being incompatible with the doorbell.
17. The doorbell of claim 16 , wherein the first notification includes information related to chime compatibility.
18. The doorbell of claim 15 , further comprising a wireless communication system configured to send a first notification to the remote computing device in response to the third load signature being indicative of the external chime being an electronic chime rather than a mechanical chime.
19. The doorbell of claim 18 , wherein the first notification includes information related to obtaining a chime adapter.
20. The doorbell of claim 15 , further comprising an outer housing, wherein the first 13 load measurement system, the second load measurement system, and the load evaluation system are located inside the outer housing of the doorbell.
21. The doorbell of claim 15 , wherein the first load signature comprises a first power signature.
22. A method for using a doorbell configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing device, wherein the doorbell is configured to detect a visitor, the method comprising:
coupling electrically the doorbell to an external power supply and to a first external chime, wherein the first external chime comprises a first load signature;
evaluating the first load signature of the first external chime with the doorbell; and
emitting a first notification from the doorbell in response to the first load signature being indicative of the first external chime being incompatible with the doorbell.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, in response to the first notification, replacing the first external chime with a second external chime.
24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, in response to the first notification, creating a circuit that comprises the doorbell, the external power supply, and a chime adapter, and electrically coupling the chime adapter to the first external chime.
25. The doorbell of claim 24 , further comprising coupling the chime adapter to the first external chime such that a first electricity that is less than a first threshold passes through the chime adapter and bypasses at least a portion of the first external chime such that the first electricity does not cause the first external chime to emit a summon sound, and coupling the chime adapter to the first external chime such that a second electricity that is greater than a second threshold passes through the portion of the first external chime and causes the first external chime to emit the summon sound.
26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving the first notification with the remote computing device.
27. The method of claim 22 , wherein emitting the first notification comprises emitting at least one of a sound and a light from the doorbell in response to the first external chime being incompatible with the doorbell.
28. The method of claim 22 , wherein evaluating the first load signature of the first external chime comprises evaluating a second load signature of the doorbell.
29. The method of claim 22 , wherein evaluating the first load signature of the first external chime comprises:
evaluating a second load signature of the doorbell;
evaluating a third load signature of a circuit that comprises the doorbell, the external power supply, and the first external chime; and
reducing at least one effect of the second load signature on the third load signature to estimate the first load signature.
30. The doorbell of claim 22 , further comprising determining that the first load signature is indicative of the first external chime being incompatible with the doorbell in response to a variability of the first load signature.