Smart Doorbell Chime Bypass Circuit Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart doorbell systems face issues with power supply compatibility with conventional doorbell wiring, leading to undesired chime sounds and potential damage due to surge currents, and are limited by the availability and cost of depletion mode FETs and solid state relays.

Innovation Solution

A smart doorbell circuit with a chime bypass circuit using an enhancement mode FET as a transistor, controlled by a control circuit to manage power sharing between the door chime and smart doorbell, ensuring sufficient power and preventing undesired chime sounds, and incorporating a battery backup for the smart doorbell.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a normally closed relay is used to bypass the door chime, then more current is supplied to the smart doorbell, but surge currents can harm the relay and doorbell switch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent supply to smart doorbellVSAvoidsurge current damage

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit opens the bypass transistor before the chime switch closes, and closes it after the switch opens, preemptively preventing surge currents from damaging the relay and switch while ensuring continuous power supply to the smart doorbell

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If the relay is normally closed to provide power, then the smart doorbell receives sufficient current, but surge currents occur when the doorbell switch is first closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent to smart doorbellVSAvoidprotection from surge damage

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit monitors the state of the chime switch and dynamically adjusts the bypass transistor state, using feedback from the switch state to prevent surge currents while maintaining continuous power to the smart doorbell

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a fixed current threshold is used to open the relay, then the control is simple, but it cannot tolerate wide range of transformer voltages and different chime mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol circuit simplicityVSAvoidcompatibility with different voltages and chimes

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass transistor is controlled dynamically based on the state of the chime switch rather than a fixed current threshold, allowing the system to adapt to different transformer voltages and chime mechanisms while maintaining simple control logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Power

If the transistor is opened periodically to store gate voltage, then the control circuit can maintain operation, but the transistor must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegate voltage maintenanceVSAvoidcontrol precision

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass transistor is opened periodically at controlled intervals to allow the control circuit to store gate voltage on capacitors, enabling the transistor to remain precisely controlled while maintaining sufficient gate drive voltage for operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution ensures reliable power supply to both the smart doorbell and door chime, prevents undesired chime noises, and reduces the risk of damage from surge currents, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various transformer voltages and chime mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

A chime bypass circuit may comprise a transistor configured to control an amount of the shared power for the door chime and the smart doorbell circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectField effect transistor switching:

Implementation Method 2

a control circuit configured to generate a gate voltage for the transistor from the shared power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage generation and control:

Implementation Method 3

A power supply provides shared power to the door chime and the smart doorbell circuit. A battery provides a backup power supply for the smart doorbell circuit when the shared power is insufficient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery electrical energy storage: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 4

A smart doorbell circuit may comprise a battery and a switch for a door chime

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentUS10607458B1Chime control companion and communication

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 KUNA SYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

An apparatus includes a smart doorbell and a chime bypass circuit. The smart doorbell may comprise a battery and a switch for a chime. A power supply provides shared power to the chime and the smart doorbell. The battery provides a backup power supply for the smart doorbell when the shared power is insufficient. The chime bypass circuit may comprise a transistor configured to control an amount of the shared power for the chime and the smart doorbell, and a control circuit configured to generate a gate voltage for the transistor from the shared power. The transistor may be normally closed and opened periodically by the control circuit. Periodically opening the transistor may store the gate voltage to close the transistor. The transistor may control the amount of the shared power to ensure the chime does not produce undesired sounds when the chime is enabled in response to the switch.