Audio/video recording and communication devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12289566-B2
Application number	US-202217666007-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2022
Priority date	Feb 27, 2017
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

An audio/video recording and communication device configured as a doorbell has a housing with a support structure and a removable faceplate. A flexible translucent membrane of the faceplate supports a button aligned with a mechanical switch when the removable faceplate is attached to the housing such that a plurality of light emitting elements are positioned around the mechanical switch transmit light through the translucent membrane. A removable battery casing is configured to hold at least one battery and has a release button physically coupling with a detent of the support structure to retain the removable battery casing within the support structure. The removable battery casing may be removed from the device for recharging without removing the device from a surface on which it is mounted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing, the housing including an opening and a surface;
one or more speakers disposed within the housing;
one or more microphones disposed within the housing;
a camera disposed at least partially within the housing;
a translucent membrane disposed at least partially on the surface, the translucent membrane supporting an input device;
a mounting bracket that includes a lighting element and a mechanical switch, wherein the housing is removable from the mounting bracket, and wherein the translucent membrane is positioned over the lighting element and the input device is positioned over the mechanical switch when the housing is properly secured to the mounting bracket wherein the translucent membrane is deformable upon depression of the input device to actuate the mechanical switch; and
a battery, the battery being arranged within the opening and including a release button, the battery being removable from the opening when the release button is pressed, wherein the release button is accessible when the housing is removed from the mounting bracket.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing further includes a first fastener; and
the mounting bracket includes a second fastener, the second fastener configured to couple to the first fastener when the housing is attached to the mounting bracket.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the release button couples to a detent located within the opening when the battery is placed within the opening.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing further includes a plate disposed over at least a portion of the opening, the surface being located on the plate; and
the plate is removable while the electronic device is attached to a structure using the mounting bracket.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the battery is also removable from the opening while the electronic device is attached to a structure using the mounting bracket.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing further includes a support structure and a plate, the surface being located on the plate; and
the electronic device further comprises a fastener, the fastener to secure the plate to the support structure in order to secure the battery within the opening.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the surface covers the opening and the battery when the housing is attached to the mounting surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing further comprises a plate disposed over at least a portion of the opening, the plate including the surface and one or more openings; and
the one or more microphones are disposed within the housing and proximate to the one or more openings.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lighting elements disposed proximate to the surface and around at least a portion of the input device.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
one or more motion sensors disposed at least partially within the housing;
one or more processors disposed within the housing; or
memory disposed within the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the translucent membrane prevents ingress of moisture into the mounting bracket.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the translucent membrane is sufficiently flexible to allow the input device to connect with the mechanical switch.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the translucent membrane is formed from one of transparent silicone, plastic, or rubber.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting element comprises one or more LEDs positioned to emit light through the translucent membrane when the housing is properly secured to the mounting bracket.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more speakers comprises two speakers on opposing sides of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more speakers are disposed on the mounting brackets and align with one or more speaker grills on the housing the housing is properly secured to the mounting brackets.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the translucent membrane is located at least partially between the input device and the mechanical switch such that the input device, when depressed, causes the translucent membrane to make contact with the mechanical switch.

18. An electronic device comprising:
a housing, the housing including a support structure, an opening, and a plate having a translucent membrane disposed over at least a portion of the opening, the plate being removable from the support structure;
one or more speakers disposed within the housing;
one or more microphones disposed within the housing;
a camera disposed at least partially within the housing;
an input device disposed at least partially on the translucent membrane of the plate wherein the translucent element is deformable upon depression of the input device to actuate a mechanical switch; and
a removable battery, the removable battery being received within the opening and including a release button, wherein the release button is accessible when the plate is removed from the support structure.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the release button couples to a detent located within the opening when the removable battery is placed within the opening.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a mounting bracket to attach the electronic device to a structure,
wherein the plate is removable from the support structure while the electronic device is attached to the structure.

21. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a mounting bracket to attach the electronic device to a structure,
wherein the removable battery is removable from the opening while the electronic device is attached to the structure.

22. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a mounting bracket to attach the electronic device to a structure,
wherein the removable battery is removable from the opening when the housing is attached to the structure and when the housing is removed from the mounting bracket.

23. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the opening is accessible for removing the battery when the plate is removed from the support structure.

24. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising:
a switch disposed within the housing,
wherein the input device aligns with the switch when the plate is attached to the support structure.

25. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein:
the plate includes one or more openings; and
the one or more microphones are disposed within the housing and proximate to the one or more openings.

26. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising one or more lighting elements disposed on the plate and at least partially around the input device.

27. The electronic device of claim 18 , further comprising at least one of:
one or more motion sensors disposed at least partially within the housing;
one or more processors disposed within the housing; or
memory disposed within the housing.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Siminoff Mark D
• Sacre Spiro
• Siminoff James
• Modestine John
• Lemberger Elliott

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04R2227/003

  Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet · CPC title

• H04R1/023

  Screens for loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R1/028

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title