Patents by Inventor Robert Tso

Robert Tso has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11647165
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell device includes a transistor assembly and control circuitry. The transistor assembly is electrically coupled between an input power bus that distributes alternating current (AC) input power and/or direct current (DC) input power, and an output power bus that provides a DC output power for the A/V recording and communication doorbell device. The control circuitry is configured to cause the transistor assembly to convert AC input power and/or DC input power from the input power bus to the DC output power into the output power bus, to provide the DC output power for the A/V recording and communication doorbell device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Tso
  • Patent number: 11417184
    Abstract: Security devices and associated methods have a housing, a camera with a field of view of a monitored area outside the housing, a microphone to sense audio from the monitored area, a speaker to generate sound audible to the monitored area, an illumination source to illuminate the monitored area, a communication module to communicate with a communication network, a motion sensor to detect motion within the monitored area, at least two removable battery casings, each configured via a release button to hold at least one battery within the housing, and a control circuit that, when the motion sensor detects motion, is operable to (a) activate the illumination source, (b) capture video and audio from the camera and the microphone, and (c) send the captured video and audio to a remote server via the communication module and the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Spiro Sacre, Matthew J. England, Robert Tso, Samuel Taeyoung Lee, Mark Siminoff, James Siminoff, Christopher Loew
  • Patent number: 11102457
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell device includes an input port, a switch, a first power supply, a second power supply, a button, a first controller, and a second controller. The switch is electrically coupled across the input port. The first power supply receives power from the input port and powers a first power supply rail, and the second power supply powers a second power supply rail. The button, when pressed, activates a signaling device. The first controller is at least partially powered from the first power supply rail and closes the switch in response to the button being pressed. The second controller is at least partially powered from the second power supply rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Steven Skeoch, Robert Tso, Chih-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 11082591
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present embodiments provide a mounting bracket for automatically charging one or more rechargeable batteries of an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device. The mounting bracket of some of the present embodiments includes one or more integrated solar panels that generate the electrical power for charging the rechargeable battery(ies) of the A/V recording and communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Spiro Sacre, Robert Tso, Christopher Loew, Mark Siminoff, Matthew J. England
  • Patent number: 10999505
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman
  • Patent number: 10939040
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman
  • Patent number: 10834366
    Abstract: In implementations described herein, power is supplied to functional components of audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell devices (“A/V doorbells”) during activation of signaling devices that are coupled to the A/V doorbells without the use of a backup power supply. To illustrate, systems described herein may include first parallel circuitry coupled to the signaling device and second parallel circuitry coupled to an A/V doorbell. The first parallel circuitry and the second parallel circuitry are configured to supply sufficient power to the functional components of the A/V doorbell during activation of the signaling device. In particular implementations, the first parallel circuitry and the second parallel circuitry include shunting circuitry to control the flow of current through the first and second parallel circuitry and supply sufficient power to both the signaling device and the A/V doorbell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniil Tretiakov, James Steven Skeoch, Robert Tso
  • Patent number: 10672237
    Abstract: A doorbell switch includes a user input device configured to receive a user command to activate a doorbell sound output device, and activation circuitry configured to generate an activation signal in response to the user input device receiving the user command to activate the doorbell sound output device. A doorbell sound output device controller includes a switching device configured to control flow of electrical current between the doorbell sound output device controller and the doorbell sound output device, and control circuitry configured to control the switching device to enable flow of electrical current between the doorbell sound output device controller and the doorbell sound output device in response to receiving the activation signal from the doorbell switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Tso
  • Publication number: 20200154050
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman
  • Patent number: 10638097
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell device includes an input port, a switch, a first power supply, a second power supply, a button, a first controller, and a second controller. The switch is electrically coupled across the input port. The first power supply receives power from the input port and powers a first power supply rail, and the second power supply powers a second power supply rail. The button, when pressed, activates a signaling device. The first controller is at least partially powered from the first power supply rail and closes the switch in response to the button being pressed. The second controller is at least partially powered from the second power supply rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Steven Skeoch, Robert Tso, Chih-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 10609344
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell device includes a transistor assembly and control circuitry. The transistor assembly is electrically coupled between an input power bus that distributes alternating current (AC) input power and/or direct current (DC) input power, and an output power bus that provides a DC output power for the A/V recording and communication doorbell device. The control circuitry is configured to cause the transistor assembly to convert AC input power and/or DC input power from the input power bus to the DC output power into the output power bus, to provide the DC output power for the A/V recording and communication doorbell device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Tso
  • Publication number: 20200090480
    Abstract: Security devices and associated methods have a housing, a camera with a field of view of a monitored area outside the housing, a microphone to sense audio from the monitored area, a speaker to generate sound audible to the monitored area, an illumination source to illuminate the monitored area, a communication module to communicate with a communication network, a motion sensor to detect motion within the monitored area, at least two removable battery casings, each configured via a release button to hold at least one battery within the housing, and a control circuit that, when the motion sensor detects motion, is operable to (a) activate the illumination source, (b) capture video and audio from the camera and the microphone, and (c) send the captured video and audio to a remote server via the communication module and the communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Spiro Sacre, Matthew J. England, Robert Tso, Samuel Taeyoung Lee, Mark Siminoff, James Siminoff, Christopher Loew
  • Patent number: 10554887
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman
  • Patent number: 10529206
    Abstract: Security devices and associated methods have a housing, a camera with a field of view of a monitored area outside the housing, a microphone to sense audio from the monitored area, a speaker to generate sound audible to the monitored area, an illumination source to illuminate the monitored area, a communication module to communicate with a communication network, a motion sensor to detect motion within the monitored area, at least two removable battery casings, each configured via a release button to hold at least one battery within the housing, and a control circuit that, when the motion sensor detects motion, is operable to (a) activate the illumination source, (b) capture video and audio from the camera and the microphone, and (c) send the captured video and audio to a remote server via the communication module and the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Spiro Sacre, Matthew J. England, Robert Tso, Samuel Taeyoung Lee, Mark Siminoff, James Siminoff, Christopher Loew
  • Publication number: 20190372180
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel method for harnessing the heat generated by one or more components (e.g., a set of IR LEDs) of an A/V recording and communication device in order to manage the temperature of one or more batteries of the A/V recording and communication device. Some aspects of the present embodiments raise the temperature of the battery in a cold weather without requiring any additional electrical power (e.g., without consuming any additional power for heating up the battery). In one aspect of the present embodiments, a thermally conductive sheet is coupled to a printed circuit board to which one or more IR LEDs are coupled. The thermally conductive sheet transfers the waste heat generated by the IR LEDs of the A/V recording and communication device to a rechargeable battery of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Tso, Samuel T. Lee, James Siminoff
  • Patent number: 10418672
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel method for harnessing the heat generated by one or more components (e.g., a set of IR LEDs) of an A/V recording and communication device in order to manage the temperature of one or more batteries of the A/V recording and communication device. Some aspects of the present embodiments raise the temperature of the battery in a cold weather without requiring any additional electrical power (e.g., without consuming any additional power for heating up the battery). In one aspect of the present embodiments, a thermally conductive sheet is coupled to a printed circuit board to which one or more IR LEDs are coupled. The thermally conductive sheet transfers the waste heat generated by the IR LEDs of the A/V recording and communication device to a rechargeable battery of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Tso, Samuel T. Lee, James Siminoff
  • Publication number: 20190230286
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman
  • Publication number: 20190213847
    Abstract: A doorbell switch includes a user input device configured to receive a user command to activate a doorbell sound output device, and activation circuitry configured to generate an activation signal in response to the user input device receiving the user command to activate the doorbell sound output device. A doorbell sound output device controller includes a switching device configured to control flow of electrical current between the doorbell sound output device controller and the doorbell sound output device, and control circuitry configured to control the switching device to enable flow of electrical current between the doorbell sound output device controller and the doorbell sound output device in response to receiving the activation signal from the doorbell switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Tso
  • Patent number: 10304296
    Abstract: A doorbell switch includes a user input device configured to receive a user command to activate a doorbell sound output device, and activation circuitry configured to generate an activation signal in response to the user input device receiving the user command to activate the doorbell sound output device. A doorbell sound output device controller includes a switching device configured to control flow of electrical current between the doorbell sound output device controller and the doorbell sound output device, and control circuitry configured to control the switching device to enable flow of electrical current between the doorbell sound output device controller and the doorbell sound output device in response to receiving the activation signal from the doorbell switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Tso
  • Patent number: 10270971
    Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication doorbell, including a camera, a speaker, a microphone, a power manager, a battery, an AC/DC rectifier, and a DC/DC converter. The doorbell is configured for connection to an external AC power source through the AC/DC rectifier and the DC/DC converter. The power manager is configured to draw power, up to a threshold power, from the AC power source and to draw supplemental power from the battery such that the power drawn from the AC power source never exceeds the threshold power. The present A/V recording and communication doorbell can thus be connected to an existing household AC power supply and an existing doorbell signaling device without causing inadvertent sounding of the signaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Changsoo Jeong, John Modestine, Trevor Phillips, Mark Siminoff, Robert Tso, Stuart Westerman