Power outlet camera

Abstract

To provide a security system including a visitor detection system.SOLUTION: A security system 10 includes a housing 12, a visitor detection system 14, a first electrical prong 24, a second electrical prong 26, a first connection port 30, and a second connection port 34. The visitor detection system 14 includes at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. The first electrical prong 24 and the second electrical prong 26 each protrude from the housing 12 and transmit power from a power outlet to the visitor detection system 14. The first connection port 30 and the second connection port 34 each are located along an outer surface of the housing 12, and each are electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrical prong 24, the second electrical prong 26, and the visitor detection system 14. The second connection port 34 is also electrically coupled to the first connection port 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to doorbells. Certain embodiments relate to doorbells that include connection ports.

Background Art

[0002] With a doorbell, a person located outside an entrance such as a door can alert a person inside the entrance that someone outside wants to talk to someone inside. A doorbell may include a button located near a door such as a front door, access door, or back door of a house, office, residence, warehouse, building, or structure. A doorbell may be used near a gate or other entrance to a partially enclosed area. Pressing the doorbell may emit a chime or other warning sound.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure includes a security system, and in some embodiments, the security system includes a housing, a visitor detection system, a first electrical prong, a second electrical prong, and a first connection port. The visitor detection system may be coupled to the housing and may include at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. In some embodiments, the first electrical prong and the second electrical prong each protrude from the housing and are configured to send power from a power outlet to the visitor detection system. The first connection port may be located along an outer surface of the housing and may be electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrical prong, the second electrical prong, and the visitor detection system.

[0004] In some embodiments, the security system further comprises a second connection port that is located along an outer surface of the housing and is electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrical prong, the second electrical prong, the visitor detection system, and the first connection port. The first connection port may be configured to receive a first cable end that defines a first connection type, and the second connection port may be configured to receive a second cable end that defines a second connection type.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first connection port is configured to receive power from at least one of the first electrical prong and the second electrical prong. The first connection port may be configured to receive data from the visitor detection system. The first connection port may be configured to send data to the visitor detection system. In some embodiments, the second connection port is configured to receive power from at least one of the first electrical prong and the second electrical prong. The second connection port may be configured to receive data from the visitor detection system. The second connection port may be configured to send data to the visitor detection system.

[0006] In some embodiments, when the first electrical prong and the second electrical prong are electrically coupled to a wall-mounted power outlet, the first connection port and the second connection port are located above the visitor detection system. When the first electrical prong and the second electrical prong are electrically coupled to a wall-mounted power outlet, the first connection port and the second connection port may be located below the visitor detection system.

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are intended to illustrate, but not limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals consistently indicate corresponding features throughout similar embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Specific examples and instances are disclosed below, but the subject matter of the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed examples to other alternative examples and / or uses, as well as their variations and equivalents. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not limited by any of the specific examples described below. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the method or process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as a plurality of discrete operations in sequence in a manner that may be useful for understanding a particular example, but the order of description should not be construed as implying that these operations are order-dependent. Further, the structures, systems, and / or devices described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components.

[0010] For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, the various embodiments may be implemented in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as taught or suggested herein.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a security system 10. In some embodiments, the security system 10 includes a housing 12 and a visitor detection system 14. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the visitor detection system 14 may comprise at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. In some embodiments, the visitor detection system 14 may include a plurality of buttons, a plurality of cameras, a plurality of microphones, and / or a plurality of motion detectors. The camera may act as a motion detector, or the motion detector may be a stand-alone sensor. In some embodiments, the motion detector is a passive infrared (``PIR'') sensor. The security system 10 may also include a first electrical prong 24 and a second electrical prong 26 protruding from the housing 12. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 protrude from a side surface of the housing 12 located on the opposite side of the side surface of the housing 12 to which the visitor detection system 14 is coupled. The first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 may be coupled to any suitable surface and / or side surface of the housing 12.

[0012] FIG. 1 also includes a first connection port 30 and a second connection port 34. In many embodiments, the first and second connection ports 30, 34 are located on the outer surface 32 of the housing 12. The first connection port 30 may be configured to receive a first cable end that defines a first connection type, and the second connection port 34 may be configured to receive a second cable end that defines a second connection type. As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second connection types may be different connection types. For example, the first connection type may comprise a micro USB, a USB-C, a Lightning cable, or any other possible connection type, and the second connection type may comprise a USB connection type, as well as various other possible connection types. In some embodiments, the first and second connection ports 30, 34 are configured to receive the same connection type.

[0013] The first and second connection ports 30, 34 may be configured to receive power via an electrical connection from at least one of the prongs 24, 26 when the first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 are electrically coupled to a power outlet 28 (shown in FIG. 4). At least one of the first and second connection ports 30, 34 may be configured to supply power to an external device such as a smartphone when the smartphone or other device is electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second connection ports 30, 34 via a cable and an appropriate cable connection type.

[0014] In many embodiments, the first and second connection ports 30, 34 are electrically coupled to the visitor detection system 14 to enable communication between the visitor detection system 14 and the first and second connection ports 30, 34. At least one of the first and second connection ports 30, 34 may be configured to receive data from the visitor detection system 14. At least one of the first and second connection ports may be configured to send data to the visitor detection system 14. An external device, such as a smartphone, may be enabled to receive data from and / or send data to the visitor detection system 14 via at least one of the first and second connection ports 30, 34.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the security system 10, including the housing 12 and the visitor detection system 14. As described above, the visitor detection system 14 may include at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. In some embodiments, either one of the two components labeled as the visitor detection system 14 includes at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. For example, the small component in FIG. 2 labeled as the visitor detection system 14 may include a camera, a motion detector, and a microphone, and the large component may include a button. In some embodiments, the reverse is true. Each component may also include two of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector. In some embodiments, each component includes one element (button, camera, microphone, or motion detector), and the remaining elements are disposed at other locations on the housing 12 and / or within the security system 10. The visitor detection system 14 may also include additional elements not recited in this disclosure. FIG. 3 shows a front view of the security system 10 and also includes the housing 12 and the visitor detection system 14 as shown and discussed with reference to FIG. 2.

[0016] Figure 4 shows a rear view of the security system 10 and includes the housing 12 and first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 located at the lower part of the back surface of the housing 12. The first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 may be arranged at any position on the housing 12 (e.g., the upper part of the back surface, the central part of the back surface, along the side surface, etc.) that facilitates the connection with the power source of the security system 10. Figure 4 also includes a power outlet 28 and shows one possibility of the electrical connection between the power outlet 28 and the security system 10. Although only two electrical prongs are shown, the security system 10 may be provided with a third electrical prong. Note that although the security system 10 is shown throughout the figure with the type of power plug used in most of North America and Central America, the security system 10 may be configured to be compatible with other types of power plugs used worldwide by means of at least one of the use of a power converter and the implementation of different types of electrical prongs.

[0017] Figures 5 and 6 show side views of the security system 10. As shown in both figures and as previously described, the first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 may protrude from the housing 12 on the side surface located on the opposite side of the side surface of the housing 12 to which the visitor detection system 14 is coupled. Figure 5 also includes a partial view of the second connection port 34. In some embodiments, when the first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 are coupled to the power outlet 28, the second connection port 34 is located below the second electrical prong 26 (not shown in Figure 5, but the same is true for the first electrical prong 24). The second connection port 34 may also be located below the visitor detection system 14 when the security system 10 is electrically coupled to the power outlet 28.

[0018] FIG. 6 includes a partial view of the first connection port 30. Similar to the second connection port 34, in some embodiments, when the security system 10 is coupled to the power outlet 28, the first connection port 30 is positioned below the first (and second) electrical prong 24. The first connection port 30 may also be positioned below the visitor detection system 14 when the security system 10 is coupled to the power outlet 28. Note that the security system 10 may be configured to electrically couple to the power outlet 28 in multiple orientations (i.e., both "right side up" and "upside down") and may be configured to retain functionality in multiple orientations. Thereby, when the security system 10 is coupled to the power outlet 28 in a given orientation, the first and second connection ports 30, 34 may be positioned above the visitor detection system 14 and above the first and second electrical prongs 24, 26.

[0019] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the security system 10 and includes an overall view of the first and second connection ports 30, 34. In some embodiments, the first and second connection ports 30, 34 are disposed at other positions along the outer surface 32 of the housing. For example, the first and second connection ports 30, 34 may be located on either side and / or the top of the housing 12. In some embodiments, the first connection port 30 is located in one part of the housing 12 and the second connection port 34 is located in a different part of the housing 12.

[0020] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the security system 10. As described above, at least one of the first and second connection ports 30, 34 may be located on the top surface of the housing 12. The first and second electrical prongs 24, 26 may be located closer to the top surface than the bottom surface of the housing 12.

[0021] Although not shown in the figures, the security system 10 may include at least one light emitter. The at least one light emitter may be disposed at any position on the housing 12, such as on the top surface, bottom surface, side surface, front surface, etc., and may be configured to emit light of different colors, intensities, patterns, etc. The at least one light emitter may be communicatively coupled to the visitor detection system 14, whereby an instruction from the visitor detection system 14 turns the at least one light emitter on and / or off. The instruction may include, but is not limited to, at least one detection among button pressing by a button, movement by a motion detector and / or a camera, and sound by a microphone. The instruction may also change the pattern, color, and / or intensity of the light emitted by the at least one light emitter.

[0022] The at least one light emitter may also be communicatively coupled to a remote computing device of a user of the security system 10, whereby the remote computing device can be used for remote operation of the at least one light emitter. In some embodiments, the at least one light emitter lights up upon receiving an indication of an emergency situation (such as a fire, carbon monoxide, home security, etc.), such as from an alarm within the building of the security system 10 and / or from the remote computing device. In many embodiments, the at least one light emitter comprises at least one LED.

[0023] Interpretation None of the steps described in this specification are essential or indispensable. Any of the steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can be used. Any part of the steps, processes, structures, and / or devices disclosed or illustrated in an example, flowchart, or illustration in this specification can be combined with, or used together or alternatively with, any other part of the steps, processes, structures, and / or devices disclosed or illustrated in a different example, flowchart, or illustration. The examples and illustrations provided in this specification are not intended to be discrete and separate from each other.

[0024] The headings and subheadings of the sections provided in this specification are not restrictive. The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the full scope of the examples described in the sections to which the headings and subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled "Topic 1" may include examples not related to Topic 1, and examples described in other sections may be applicable to and combined with the examples described within the "Topic 1" section.

[0025] Some of the devices, systems, examples, and processes use a computer. Each of the routines, processes, methods, and algorithms described in the previous sections may be embodied in code modules that are executed by one or more computers, computer processors, or machines configured to execute computer instructions and may be fully or partially automated. The code modules may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or tangible computer storage device, such as a hard drive, solid-state memory, flash memory, optical disk, and / or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or fully in application-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and process steps may be persistently or separately stored in any type of non-transitory computer storage device, such as volatile or non-volatile memory devices.

[0026] The various features and processes described above may be used independently of each other or may be combined in various forms. All possible combinations and sub - combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Additionally, certain methods, events, states, or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods, steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the associated blocks, steps, or states can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, the described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than the specifically disclosed order. Multiple steps may be combined into a single block or state. Exemplary tasks or events may be performed continuously, in parallel, or in other manners. Tasks or events may be added or removed with respect to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The exemplary systems and components described herein may have a configuration different from that described. For example, elements may be added, removed, or rearranged with respect to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.

[0027] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can", "may", "might", "could", "for example", etc., is generally intended to convey that a particular embodiment includes a particular feature, element, and / or step while other embodiments do not, unless otherwise specified or understood otherwise in context as used. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that a feature, element, and / or step is required in any way in one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for determining whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included in or performed in any particular embodiment, whether or not there is author input or prompting. Terms such as "comprise", "include", "have", etc. are synonymous and are used inclusively in an unrestricted manner and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, etc. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense), so that, for example, when used to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Connectives such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z" are understood separately in the context in which they are generally used to convey that items, terms, etc. may be any of X, Y, or Z, unless otherwise specified. Thus, such connectives are not generally intended to imply that a particular embodiment requires the presence of at least one of each of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z, respectively.

[0028] The term "and / or" means that "and" applies to some embodiments and "or" applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and / or C can be replaced with A, B, and C written in one sentence, and A, B, or C written in another sentence. A, B, and / or C means that some embodiments can include A and B, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include B and C, some embodiments can include only A, some embodiments can include only B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments can include A, B, and C. The term "and / or" is used to avoid unnecessary redundancy.

[0029] Specific exemplary embodiments have been described, but these embodiments are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention disclosed herein.

Claims

【Claim 1】 A housing, a visitor detection system coupled to the housing and having at least one of a button, a camera, a microphone, and a motion detector; a first electrical prong and a second electrical prong protruding from the housing, the first electrical prong and the second electrical prong configured to send power from an electrical outlet to the visitor detection system; a first connection port positioned along an outer surface of the housing, the first connection port electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrical prong, the second electrical prong, and the visitor detection system A security system having the above components.

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