In some embodiments, a power supply in a doorbell system includes a boost rectifier circuit with a plurality of active devices arranged in a bridge topology that are configured to receive an AC input voltage, generate a DC output voltage by rectifying the AC input voltage, drive an electric load using the rectified DC voltage, and boost an amplitude of the AC input voltage. Two of the plurality of active devices in the boost rectifier circuit may be pulse driven and can control an operation of a mechanical or digital chime device. The chime device can include a solenoid and the boost rectifier circuit may utilize the solenoid as an energy storage element to facilitate the boosting of the amplitude of the AC input voltage. The boost rectifier circuit may boost the AC input voltage by at least a multiplication factor of two.

A holiday ornament assembly for hanging includes a bell body that has an upper wall and peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall has a bottom edge creating an opening into the bell body. A pendulum is pivotally attached to the bell body. The pendulum has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end extends through an aperture in the upper wall. A bob is attached to the lower end and positioned within the bell body. A housing is comprised of a top wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to the top wall and extends downwardly therefrom and attached to the upper wall. A hook is attached to and extends outwardly from the top wall. A drive assembly is mounted in the housing and pivots the pendulum to strike the bell body emitting a ringing sound.

A holiday ornament assembly for hanging includes a bell body that has an upper wall and peripheral wall that is attached to and extends downwardly therefrom. The peripheral wall has a bottom edge creating an opening into the bell body. A pendulum is pivotally attached to the bell body. The pendulum has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end extends through an aperture in the upper wall. A bob is attached to the lower end and positioned within the bell body. A housing is comprised of a top wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to the top wall and extends downwardly therefrom and attached to the upper wall. A hook is attached to and extends outwardly from the top wall. A drive assembly is mounted in the housing and pivots the pendulum to strike the bell body emitting a ringing sound.

A chime apparatus for producing a sound in response to an actuation signal is provided. The chime apparatus comprises a support frame, a bell, a hammer assembly and a chiming mechanism. The support frame has an opened bottom end, and the bell is hanging from the opened bottom end. The hammer assembly comprises an L-shaped lever and a hammer head. The L-shaped lever has a lever fulcrum and is pivotally mounted to the support frame. The L-shaped lever has a first and a second lever segments orthogonally projecting from the lever fulcrum, and the hammer head is affixed to an extremity of the first lever segment opposite the fulcrum. The chiming mechanism comprises a plunger element and an actuator. The plunger element is vertically movable in the support frame, and the actuator is operatively connected to the plunger element.

A chime apparatus for producing a sound in response to an actuation signal is provided. The chime apparatus comprises a support frame, a bell, a hammer assembly and a chiming mechanism. The support frame has an opened bottom end, and the bell is hanging from the opened bottom end. The hammer assembly comprises an L-shaped lever and a hammer head. The L-shaped lever has a lever fulcrum and is pivotally mounted to the support frame. The L-shaped lever has a first and a second lever segments orthogonally projecting from the lever fulcrum, and the hammer head is affixed to an extremity of the first lever segment opposite the fulcrum. The chiming mechanism comprises a plunger element and an actuator. The plunger element is vertically movable in the support frame, and the actuator is operatively connected to the plunger element.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a doorbell device comprises: a power input unit; an interface unit; a battery unit for supplying power to the interface unit; a switching circuit connected to a doorbell switch so as to change a path of a current supplied from the power input unit according to an on/off state of the doorbell switch; and a control unit for charging the battery unit by using a current outputted from the switching circuit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the battery unit supplies power to the interface unit if the current outputted from the switching circuit toward the control unit is cut off.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a doorbell device comprises: a power input unit; an interface unit; a battery unit for supplying power to the interface unit; a switching circuit connected to a doorbell switch so as to change a path of a current supplied from the power input unit according to an on/off state of the doorbell switch; and a control unit for charging the battery unit by using a current outputted from the switching circuit, wherein the control unit performs control such that the battery unit supplies power to the interface unit if the current outputted from the switching circuit toward the control unit is cut off.

Various doorbell monitoring devices and methods are presented herein. Such arrangements may be configured to be integrated with a previously-installed doorbell and a previously-installed chime unit. A first power source may be configured to power the doorbell monitor device separate from the previously-installed doorbell and the previously-installed chime unit. A plurality of electrical connectors may be present and may be configured to be attached with preexisting terminals of the previously-installed chime unit. An actuation sensor may be present and configured to detect an actuation of the previously-installed doorbell via the two or more electrical connectors. A communication module may also be present and configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the ring to a receiver device.

Various doorbell monitoring devices and methods are presented herein. Such arrangements may be configured to be integrated with a previously-installed doorbell and a previously-installed chime unit. A first power source may be configured to power the doorbell monitor device separate from the previously-installed doorbell and the previously-installed chime unit. A plurality of electrical connectors may be present and may be configured to be attached with preexisting terminals of the previously-installed chime unit. An actuation sensor may be present and configured to detect an actuation of the previously-installed doorbell via the two or more electrical connectors. A communication module may also be present and configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the ring to a receiver device.

Various doorbell monitoring devices and methods are presented herein. Such arrangements may be configured to be integrated with a previously-installed doorbell and a previously-installed chime unit. A first power source may be configured to power the doorbell monitor device separate from the previously-installed doorbell and the previously-installed chime unit. A plurality of electrical connectors may be present and may be configured to be attached with preexisting terminals of the previously-installed chime unit. An actuation sensor may be present and configured to detect an actuation of the previously-installed doorbell via the two or more electrical connectors. A communication module may also be present and configured to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the ring to a receiver device.