Controlling Device for Smart Doorbell Voltage Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of a smart doorbell into traditional electrical circuits often results in unintended activation of chimes due to incompatibility with voltage ranges, leading to unnecessary ringing and potential damage to the doorbell.

Innovation Solution

A controlling device is connected in parallel to the electrical circuit, capable of absorbing leakage currents below a threshold and controlling voltage to ensure the smart doorbell is supplied with the correct voltage, preventing unwanted activation and ensuring compatibility with various voltage ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a smart doorbell is connected to a traditional electrical circuit, then the doorbell can be activated, but the chime may ring continuously due to leakage current

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoorbell activationVSAvoidcontinuous chime ringing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A controlling device is introduced as an intermediary component between the traditional electrical circuit and the smart doorbell. This device detects leakage current and controls the power supply to the doorbell, preventing continuous ringing while maintaining normal activation functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The controlling device continuously monitors the electrical circuit for leakage current and adjusts the power supply to the smart doorbell based on the detected conditions, creating a feedback loop that prevents harmful continuous activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If a smart doorbell is connected to an electrical circuit with unknown voltage, then the doorbell may be damaged, but connecting it risks incompatibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage compatibilityVSAvoiddoorbell safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controlling device adapts the electrical parameters (voltage and current) supplied to the smart doorbell based on the characteristics of the connected electrical circuit, ensuring compatibility across different voltage ranges while protecting the doorbell from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The controlling device performs preliminary detection and adaptation of the electrical circuit parameters before fully powering the smart doorbell, ensuring voltage compatibility is established before the doorbell operates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a controlling device is added to manage voltage and current, then compatibility and safety are ensured, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical compatibilityVSAvoidcircuit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controlling device automatically detects electrical circuit parameters and configures itself without requiring user intervention or electrical knowledge, simplifying the installation process while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 prevents unintended chime activation and ensures the smart doorbell operates safely by adapting the voltage to match the doorbell's requirements, ensuring it only rings when activated and maintaining compatibility with the electrical circuit's voltage range.

Implementation Method 1

absorb a leakage current flowing through the electrical circuit below a first predetermined threshold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

control the voltage or current between the terminals of the controlling device, so as to ensure that the second user device is supplied with the second voltage or current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage Control: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP3668073B1Method for adapting an electrical circuit with a controlling device
Publication Date: 2022.07.13 NETATMO
  • EP3668073B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3668073B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3668073B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention concerns the adaption of a traditional doorbell circuit (11) to a smart doorbell having a second user device (13), comprising, for example, a camera, microphone and speakers. To prevent the smart doorbell operating current from activating the chime in a first user device (12), a controlling device (10) comprising a switch (20) is connected in parallel with the first user device (12). When the current in the circuit (11) is below a predetermined threshold the switch (20) is closed to bypass the first user device (12) and ensure that the second user device (13) is supplied with the correct voltage. When the current in the circuit (11) is above the predetermined threshold, the controlling device (10) determines that the doorbell button is being pressed and opens the switch (20), thereby activating the chime.