Smart Chime Dehumming Board for Surge Filtering and Noise Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing doorbell systems, particularly Wi-Fi video doorbells, face challenges with power requirements and noise issues when installed using existing home wiring and transformers, leading to humming sounds and installation complexities due to inadequate energy profiles and high-current surges.

Innovation Solution

A smart chime dehumming board that mimics the power sequence of a traditional doorbell switch, detects chime type, and filters out high-current surges to power mechanical or electronic chimes efficiently, minimizing noise and installation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If existing doorbell wiring and transformer are reused to power video doorbell, then installation time and cost are reduced, but humming noise is generated and power requirements are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation timeVSAvoidhumming noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A chime dehumming board is introduced as an intermediary component between the existing transformer and the chime. This board intercepts the power signal from the transformer, processes it to remove the humming-causing components, and delivers a cleaned power signal to the chime, thereby eliminating noise while preserving the existing wiring infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful humming component is extracted from the power signal using filtering circuitry in the dehumming board. The board separates the useful power delivery function from the harmful noise generation, removing only the problematic frequency components while maintaining the operational signal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If existing transformer is used to power video doorbell, then installation complexity is reduced, but power requirements and energy profiles are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation complexityVSAvoidpower requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dehumming board dynamically adjusts power delivery parameters including voltage, current, and pulse duration based on the detected chime type (mechanical or electronic). This allows the system to meet varying power requirements of different chime devices while using the same existing transformer infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If manual tuning of ring pulse length is required, then chime operation can be optimized, but installation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechime operationVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The dehumming board automatically detects the chime type (mechanical or electronic) and self-configures the appropriate power signal parameters without requiring manual intervention. The system performs self-diagnosis and adjusts its operation autonomously, eliminating the need for installer tuning while ensuring optimal chime performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Power

If high-current surges are present in doorbell applications, then power delivery capability is improved, but false rings occur due to surge detection errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery capabilityVSAvoidfalse rings

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dehumming board employs dynamic threshold adjustment for surge detection, adapting the detection criteria based on the operational context and chime type. This allows the system to tolerate normal high-current surges during legitimate doorbell operation while still detecting abnormal surges that indicate false ring conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively powers chimes without humming noise and reduces installation complexity by accurately detecting and powering mechanical or electronic chimes, ensuring proper operation and reducing false rings.

Implementation Method 1

the circuit is configured to filter out short, high-current surges to reduce (or eliminate) occurrences of false rings due to the high-current surges

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS20250220120A1Smart electronic chime and mechanical chime dehum board

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 ALARM COM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are disclosed for implementing a smart dehum circuit that powers a chime which outputs audio in response to detection of a trigger event by a video doorbell. The circuit includes a detector circuit configured to generate a power signal in response to determining that an output voltage signal of a first circuit exceeds a threshold voltage. The circuit also includes a microcontroller coupled to the detector circuit. The microcontroller is configured to generate a chime power signal based on the power signal of the detector circuit. The chime power signal is generated to power the chime in response to detection of the trigger event by the video doorbell.