This patent specification relates to a wall switch that comprises a docking station and a user-removable wall-switch head unit. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to receive the user-removable wall-switch head unit, and configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-power voltage wires. In some embodiments, the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.

An electronic device has a DC/DC boost converter that includes a power NFET. The power NFET is coupled between a first pin, which can be coupled to a battery through an inductor, and a second pin that can be coupled to a ground plane. A switch-node is coupled to a third pin, which can be coupled to a diode to provide a boosted output voltage. A gate driver can receive a FET-on signal and drive a gate of the power NFET. A digital logic circuit provides the FET-on signal and includes an Ipeak gear-shifting circuit that dynamically changes the value of a peak inductor current responsive to one or more determinations that are related to one of the boosted output voltage and a switching frequency of the DC/DC boost converter.

An electronic device includes a driver circuit embodied on an IC chip. The driver circuit includes a threshold voltage selection circuit that is coupled to receive a horn comparator threshold setting and to use the horn comparator threshold setting to provide a horn comparator threshold voltage. The driver circuit also includes a comparator that has a non-inverting input coupled to a first pin and an inverting input coupled to receive the horn comparator threshold voltage.

An electronic device includes a driver circuit embodied on an IC chip. The driver circuit includes a threshold voltage selection circuit that is coupled to receive a horn comparator threshold setting and to use the horn comparator threshold setting to provide a horn comparator threshold voltage. The driver circuit also includes a comparator that has a non-inverting input coupled to a first pin and an inverting input coupled to receive the horn comparator threshold voltage.

This patent specification relates to various smart-home systems. Such a system may include a battery-powered smart home device that communicates using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates. Such a system may further include a smart wall outlet device. The smart wall outlet device may include wireless communication circuitry comprising a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate with the battery-powered smart home device using the first wireless protocol. The second wireless interface may be configured to serve as a communication bridge between the battery-powered smart home device and a wireless network that uses a second communication protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.

A detection system including a smoke detector configured to transmit a detector baseline signal to at least one of a control panel and a server (e.g., to establish at least one indoor air quality trend), and a method for monitoring indoor air quality with at least one smoke detector are provided. The smoke detector includes a processor configured determine whether a current condition indicates a need to trigger an alarm. The smoke detector is configured to measure a baseline. The detector baseline signal is used (e.g., by the control panel and/or the server) to establish at least one indoor air quality (IAQ) trend.

This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being touched, depressed or activated, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home. A rechargeable battery is coupled to a housing wire and configured to be charged via the housing wire, and the doorbell is configured to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery based on power usage of the doorbell.

Smoke detectors and smoke alarms are provided which have one or more light shields configured to block or minimize the transmission of ambient light to their light receivers. Light shield configurations for facilitating such functionality are provided as well. The shield/s include a material which attenuates a majority amount of light within a particular range of light that a light source of the smoke detector may be configured to only emit and/or the range of light the light receiver may configured to only convert to photocurrent. In some cases, the shield/s surrounds the light source and/or the light receiver arranged external to an interior chamber of the smoke detector. In some cases, the shield/s may at least partially span a connection side of an external housing of the smoke detector. Alternatively, the shield may be arranged in a space between the interior chamber and the connection side of the housing.

Smoke detectors and smoke alarms are provided which have one or more light shields configured to block or minimize the transmission of ambient light to their light receivers. Light shield configurations for facilitating such functionality are provided as well. The shield/s include a material which attenuates a majority amount of light within a particular range of light that a light source of the smoke detector may be configured to only emit and/or the range of light the light receiver may configured to only convert to photocurrent. In some cases, the shield/s surrounds the light source and/or the light receiver arranged external to an interior chamber of the smoke detector. In some cases, the shield/s may at least partially span a connection side of an external housing of the smoke detector. Alternatively, the shield may be arranged in a space between the interior chamber and the connection side of the housing.

This application is directed to a home monitoring and control system including a doorbell installed at a door of a home. The doorbell has a button configured to, upon being pressed, wirelessly initiate a first communication to indicate presence of a person at the door. The doorbell also has a camera configured to capture video data within a field of view, and a processor configured to cause a communication component to enable the first communication and wirelessly stream via a remote server the video data captured by the camera to a monitoring device associated with an occupant of the home.