Patent Abstract:
A system in operable communication with a doorbell chime for audio annunciation of a visitor to an occupant of a room in a multiple room building, the system configured to indicate a status of the room to the visitor or occupant, the system comprising: a switch assembly configured to convey a message outside of the room; the switch assembly operable from inside the room; an indicating assembly in operable communication with the switch assembly, the indicating assembly configured to indicate the message when the message is selected, the message viewable from inside and outside of the room; and a doorbell button in operable communication with the doorbell chime, the doorbell button operably connected with the indicating assembly and operable from outside of the room by the visitor.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is based upon, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/257,010, filed Dec. 20, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In hotels, motels, inns, and the like, guest rooms typically have a means for indication of the occupant&#39;s desire that the housekeeping service make-up the room or leave the room undisturbed. Typically, this is accomplished by the use of a card that is placed on the handle of the door. One side of the card shows “do-not-disturb” and the other side shows “make-up-room.” If the occupant wishes to be undisturbed, he or she places the card on the knob outside the door so that the “do-not-disturb” sign is visible. If the occupant wishes to have the housekeeping service make-up the room, the occupant places the card on the knob outside the door so that the “make-up-room” sign is visible.  
           [0003]    One of the drawbacks to using the doorknob mounted card is that the cards are awkward and tend to fall off when the door is closed. In addition, a doorknob mounted card is susceptible to pranksters, who have been known to switch or remove the cards. Another drawback to the use of a doorknob mounted card is that it requires the occupant to open the door to place the card on the knob outside the door. This can be an inconvenience to the occupant.  
           [0004]    To overcome these drawbacks, indicator lights have been used. Typically, indicator lights are mounted outside the guest room or at a remote housekeeping service station. The indicator lights are typically operated from within the guest room, making operation convenient for the occupant and preventing tampering by pranksters.  
           [0005]    Many modem guest rooms include room control systems. Room control systems comprise a central control computer or device that receives data from various remote sensors and operates a number of remote room control devices. Such remote sensors include, for example, motion sensors, temperature sensors, smoke detectors, and door and other closure switches. Such remote room control devices include, for example, thermostats and associated relays for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, electronic locks, lighting control switches and relays, and motors and switches for opening and closing drapes. The central control computer uses the data and control devices to, for example, adjust the room&#39;s temperature, determine and annunciate whether the room is occupied or unoccupied, determine and annunciate whether the room&#39;s mini-bar has been accessed, sound fire and emergency alarms, turn lights on or off, permit or deny access to the room, open and close drapes, turn audio-visual equipment on or off, and perform other functions related to controlling equipment or annunciating status in rooms. A central control computer or device may be located in each room, and all rooms can be tied to a single master central control computer. Where a central control computer or device is used in each room, each such computer or device can provide data to the master central control computer from which such data is disseminated to display and control terminals at housekeeping, front desk, security, engineering or any number of other locations in order to provide hotel personnel with access to the data and with the ability to remotely control various room functions or settings from such terminals.  
           [0006]    Room control systems are valuable tools for the lodging industry. Unfortunately, the equipment and installation costs associated with room control systems are generally too expensive for most new construction and renovation projects.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies are overcome or alleviated by a system in operable communication with a doorbell chime for audio annunciation of a visitor to an occupant of a room in a multiple room building. The system is configured to indicate a status of the room to the visitor or occupant, the system comprising: a switch assembly configured to convey a message outside of the room; the switch assembly operable from inside the room; an indicating assembly in operable communication with the switch assembly, the indicating assembly configured to indicate the message when the message is selected, the message viewable from inside and outside of the room; and a doorbell button in operable communication with the doorbell chime, the doorbell button operably connected with the indicating assembly and operable from outside of the room by the visitor. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a top sectional view of a wall within a guest room showing the installation of an intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a front view of the intelligent internal door plate of FIG. 1 with a cover plate installed;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a front view of the intelligent internal door plate of FIG. 1 with the cover plate removed;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of the intelligent internal door plate of FIG. 1 with the cover plate removed;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a top view of the intelligent internal door plate of FIG. 1 with the cover plate removed;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a front view of the external door plate of FIG. 1 with a cover plate installed;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a front view of the external door plate of FIG. 1 with the cover plate removed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a side view of the external door plate of FIG. 1 with the cover plate removed;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a top view of the external door plate of FIG. 1 with the cover plate removed;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a multi-line wiring diagram depicting the intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system of FIG. 1 with door entry, mini-bar door, and passive infra-red sensors;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the printed circuit and electronic components on a circuit board within the intelligent internal door plate of FIG. 1; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a multi-line wiring diagram of FIG. 10 incorporating a centrally controlled system intermediate the sensors and the intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is the top sectional view of the intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system in FIG. 1 in electromagnetic communication with a centrally controlled system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, a top sectional view of a wall  6  of a guest room  8  shows the installation of an intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system  10 . System  10  includes a switch assembly or intelligent internal door plate  12 , an indicating assembly or external door plate  14  with do-not-disturb/makeup-room annunciation, and a power supply device  16 . Power supply device  16  is electrically connected to line voltage wiring  18 , such as a 120 volt power supply. Power supply device  16  is electrically connected via wires  20  to internal door plate  12 , which is, in turn, electrically connected via wires  22  to external door plate  14 . Internal door plate  12  is mounted to a surface  24  of wall  6  within guest room  8 , preferably near a door  26  to the guest room  8 . External door plate  14  is mounted to a surface  32  of wall  6  external to the guest room  8 , preferably near the door  26 .  
         [0022]    Power is supplied to the internal door plate  12  from power supply device  16 , which may comprise any U/L (or other appropriately) approved device that can receive 100-240 VAC (50-60 Hz) line voltage inputs and deliver, for example, 300 mA of 12 VDC output. Power supply device  16  may be mounted in any location at which it can tap into line voltage wiring  18  and from which low voltage wires  20  can be run to the internal door plate  12 .  
         [0023]    An entry door switch  100  is optionally coupled to door plate  12  via line  110  for communicating an open or closed door condition to door plate  12 . Entry door switch  100  is preferably located proximate door  26  on wall  6 . A mechanical or magnet contact  111  may be disposed on door  26  to provide operable communication of door  26  in an open or closed condition to switch  100 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, various views of the internal door plate  12  are shown. The internal door plate  12  has a “Do Not Disturb” (DND) button  30  and a “Make Up Room” (MUR button)  32  attached to a core housing  31 . Each button  30  and  32  has a small LED  38 ,  40  (a LED  38  for DND; a LED  40  for MUR) that lights when that button function is active (e.g., when the button  30  or  32  is depressed). Centered vertically in core housing  31 , between DND and MUR buttons  30  and  32 , is a small grill  34 , behind which is located a round chime speaker  36 .  
         [0025]    A standard, screwless, snap-on cover plate  42  is snap-fit to the core housing  31 . Cover plate  42  may be manufactured from a selection of multiple colors and materials, including plastic and brass. The physical design of the core housing  31  is dimensioned to accommodate any Decora-type cover plate manufactured by many manufacturers (e.g., Leviton, Eagle or Lutron), and the internal door plate  12  can be mounted in a multiple gang box next to one or more Decora-style switches by using existing multiple-opening cover plates (not shown) produced by those same manufacturers.  
         [0026]    In an alternative embodiment, a mounting plate (not shown) is positioned beneath the snap-on cover plate  42 , and extends along the same plane as the snap-on cover plate  42 . The mounting plate is secured to the core housing  31  using screws, bolts, or the like. The snap-on cover plate  42  is then snap-fit over the mounting plate.  
         [0027]    As can best be seen in FIG. 3, internal door plate  12  includes tabs  60  extending from the top and bottom of core housing  31 . Tabs  60  include apertures  62  disposed therethrough, which accept screws (not shown) for mounting internal door plate  12  to wall  6 . Internal door plate  12  may be mounted to wall  6  in two ways. It can be secured with standard screws (not shown) to a standard, single gang junction box (not shown) mounted directly on a wall stud (not shown). Internal door plate  12  may also be mounted in a multi-gang junction box (not shown) together with entry light or other switches (not shown).  
         [0028]    At the lower rear of the internal door plate  12  are four small connectors  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  for electrically connecting internal door plate  12  with external door plate  14  (FIG. 1), power supply device  16  (FIG. 1), and other optional devices (not shown).  
         [0029]    Internal door plate  12  is an intelligent (smart) device. Internal door plate includes a circuit board  64  having a printed circuit and electronic components disposed thereon. The printed circuit is attached to DND button  38  by wires  66 , to MUR button  32  by wires  68 , to connectors  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  by wires  70  and to chime speaker  36  by wires  72 . The functionality of circuit board will be described hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS.  6 - 9 , a front view of the external door plate  14  is shown. External door plate  14  includes a core housing  80  with a doorbell button  82 , a DND backlit legend  84 , preferably backlit in red, a MUR single point light emitting diode (LED)  86 , and a hidden switch  88 , which may be either mechanically or magnetically queried.  
         [0031]    A standard, screwless, snap-on cover plate  42  is snap-fit to the core housing  80 . Cover plate  42  may be manufactured from a selection of multiple colors and materials, including plastic and brass. The physical design of the core housing  80  is dimensioned to accommodate any Decora-type cover plate manufactured by many manufacturers (e.g., Leviton, Eagle or Lutron), and the external door plate  14  can be mounted in a multiple gang box next to one or more Decora-style switches by using existing multiple-opening cover plates (not shown) produced by those same manufacturers.  
         [0032]    In an alternative embodiment, a mounting plate (not shown) is positioned beneath the snap-on cover plate  42 , and extends along the same plane as the snap-on cover plate  42 . The mounting plate is secured to the core housing  80  using screws, bolts, or the like. The snap-on cover plate  42  is then snap-fit over the mounting plate.  
         [0033]    At the rear of the external door plate  14  is a 6-pin Molex-type connector  90 . Connector  90  accepts wires  22  (FIG. 1), which extend from internal door plate  12  to external door plate  14  for providing power the external door plate  14  and providing data flow between the two devices  12  and  14 .  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 7, external door plate  14  includes tabs  92  extending from the top and bottom of core housing  80 . Tabs  92  include apertures  94  disposed therethrough, which accept screws (not shown) for mounting external door plate  14  to wall  6 . Like internal door plate  12 , external door plate  14  may be mounted to wall  6  in two ways. It can be secured with standard screws (not shown) to a standard, single gang junction box (not shown) mounted directly on a wall stud (not shown). External door plate  14  may also be mounted in a multi-gang junction box (not shown) together with entry light or other switches (not shown).  
         [0035]    In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the core housing  80  of external door plate  14  is dimensioned such that its thickness, shown in the previous embodiment as “1.1 inches” in the side view of FIG. 8, is reduced to a thickness of “x”, as shown on FIG. 8. The reduction in thickness allows the external door plate  14  to be mounted flush with external surface  32  of wall  6  (FIG. 1) using tabs  60 , without having to penetrate surface  32  to accommodate the core housing  80 . Only small penetrations would be necessary, to accommodate mounting screws (not shown) and wires  22  (FIG. 1). This embodiment would be beneficial if wall  6  (FIG. 1) were constructed of a hard material such as concrete.  
         [0036]    In FIG. 10, intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system  10  is shown connected to optional entry door sensor or switch  100 , mini-bar sensor  102 , and passive infra-red sensor  106 . Connector  50  is a 3-pin connector that accepts the 2-wire power supply  20  from the power supply device  16 . Connector  50  is also configured to accept a 3-wire power supply, which is commonly used in centralized, room control systems (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). Wires  22  comprise six wires that each attach at one end to 6-pin connector  52  and at an opposite end to 6-pin connector  90 . Wires  22  provide data and power flow between the internal and external door plates  12  and  14 . Connector  54  is a 4-pin connector that provides for a common wire  108  and 3 input wires  110 ,  112 , and  114 . Wires  110 ,  112 , and  114  provide data input to internal door plate  12  from optional entry door switch  100 , passive infra-red sensor  106 , and mini-bar switch  102 , respectively. Connector  56  is a 3-pin connector with a 2-pin jumper, which is used for adjusting the occupancy sensing capability of internal door plate  12 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the printed circuit and electronic components on circuit board  64 . Mounted on circuit board  64  are a microprocessor  150 , ROM (read only memory)  152 , RAM (random access memory)  154 , NVM (non-volatile memory)  156 , I/O control device  158 , and a data bus  160 . Data bus  160  interconnects microprocessor  150 , ROM  152 , RAM  154 , NVM  156 , and I/O control device  158 , allowing data to be transferred between these devices. I/O control device  158  sends/receives analog input data to/from: DND button  30  via wires  66 , MUR button  32  via wires  68 , and connectors  52 ,  54 , and  56  via wires  70 . I/O control device  162  also provides an actuation signal to chime speaker via wires  72 . Microprocessor  150  receives operating power via power supply  20  at connector  50 .  
         [0038]    ROM  152  stores boot-code for directing microprocessor  150  when microprocessor  150  is initially powered-up. NVM  156  stores programming instructions that are transferred into RAM  154  by microprocessor  150  and then executed by microprocessor  150 . The functionality provided by the execution of the programming instructions by microprocessor  150  can now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.  
         [0039]    Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, internal door plate  12  permits the guest of room  8  (FIG. 1) to activate or deactivate DND and MUR requests without needing to open the door  26  (FIG. 1). The guest simply depresses either the MUR button  30  or the DND button  32 . When the DND button  32  is depressed, internal door plate  12  provides a power to the DND legend  84 , and the backlit DND legend  84  appears above the doorbell button  82 . In addition, the doorbell button  82  is deactivated. When the MUR button  30  is depressed, the internal door plate  12  illuminates the green LED  86 . The functionality of the DND and MUR buttons  30  and  32  is mutually exclusive, so only one button  30  or  32  can be active at a time. If the DND button  32  is active and MUR button  30  is pressed, the DND button  32  will deactivate and the MUR button  30  will become active, and vice versa.  
         [0040]    When either the DND or MUR button  32  or  30  is pressed, the LED  40  or  38  on that button is illuminated, so the guest knows which function has been activated. When the DND command is activated by the guest, the door chime  36  is muted. Additionally, when microprocessor  150  senses that the internal door plate  12  is connected to a centralized room control system, incoming calls to the room  8  can be diverted to voice mail and active MUR or butler call requests are cancelled when the DND command is activated. It will also be understood, that it is contemplated that, microprocessor  150  is optionally configured to serially connect with an incoming telephone line entering the room and configured to generate a signal when the DND command is activated in a stand alone set up to direct all incoming telephone calls to voicemail. The signal may duplicate a busy signal that causes many existing telephone systems to direct the incoming call to voicemail.  
         [0041]    The chime speaker  36  of internal door plate  12  is sounded when the doorbell button  82  on external door plate  14  is pressed. When the doorbell button  82  is pressed, a signal is received by the internal door plate  12 , and a single synthesized “ding dong” is sounded over its speaker  36 . Each time a doorbell signal is received, the “ding dong” is sounded. (There is no time out between signals, so that, if the doorbell button  82  is pressed three times consecutively, the “ding dong” will sound three consecutive times.)  
         [0042]    Entry switch  100  senses the opening and closing of door  26  (FIG. 1). Passive infra-red sensor  106  is positioned within room  8  (FIG. 1) to sense motion within room  8 . Passive infra-red sensor  106  is optionally used to accept input from active infra-red devices within room  8 , such as from a centrally controlled system discussed hereinafter. It is also contemplated that infra-red sensor  106  includes a transmitter for transmission of data from internal door plate  12  to centrally controlled system. Mini-bar switch  102  senses the opening and closing of a mini-bar (not shown) within room  8 , or in some way senses depletion of mini-bar stock. A mini-bar is a convenient store of goods within each room, usually within a refrigerator, that can be accessed by the occupant at his or her discretion. Typically, the mini-bar is re-stocked after the occupant checks out, and the occupant is billed for the items that he or she consumed.  
         [0043]    For occupancy sensing and annunciation, an entry door switch  100  (such as INNCOM&#39;s S241) and a 2-wire or 3-wire passive infra-red device  106  can be connected to internal door plate  12  via connector  54 . Microprocessor  150  detects when a passive infra-red device  106  is connected at connector  54 , and, in response, executes programming instructions for occupancy determination. Occupancy determination includes logic in the circuitry of internal door plate  12  in which the time-out between entry switch  100  activation and non-sensing by the passive infra-red sensor  106  can be programmed for 0, 10 or 30 minutes by adjusting the 2-pin jumper position on the 3-pin connector  56 . If the room  8  is electronically determined to be occupied and the hidden (mechanical or magnetic) switch  88  is closed once, the backlit DND legend  84  will flash 3 or more times. If the room  8  is determined to be unoccupied, and the hidden switch  88  is closed, the green MUR LED  86  will flash 3 or more times.  
         [0044]    For occupancy determination, the housekeeper or other staff member activates the hidden switch  88 . Where hidden switch  88  is mechanically activated, a housekeeper or other staff member activates the hidden switch  88  by depressing it. Where hidden switch  88  is magnetically activated, the housekeeper or other staff member activates the hidden switch  88  by placing a small, handheld magnet (not shown) near the hidden switch. If the room  8  is occupied, the DND legend  84  flashes; if the room  8  is unoccupied, the green MUR LED  86  flashes.  
         [0045]    The microprocessor  150  senses when a mini-bar switch is attached to connector  54 , and, in response, executes programming instructions to sense a mini-bar door opening. Such opening can be queried by using the hidden mechanical or magnetic switch  90  on the external door plate  14 . If the mini-bar door has been opened and the hidden switch  90  is closed twice in rapid succession, the backlit DND legend  84  will flash 3 or more times. If the mini-bar door has not been opened, the green MUR LED  86  will flash 3 or more times. In this embodiment, a normally closed switch, such as INNCOM&#39;s S241, is used as the mini-bar switch  102 . The microprocessor  150  will reset the status to “not opened” in accordance with a “sequential openings/closings” routine. With the sequential openings/closings routine, if the microprocessor  150  senses a number (e.g. three) rapid openings/closings of the mini-bar door, the microprocessor  150  will reset the status to “not opened”, allowing the housekeeping staff to reset the status of the mini-bar after stocking the mini-bar.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, microprocessor  150  recognizes that when the 2-wire power supply  20  from the power supply device  16  is connected to connector  50 , system  10  is a stand-alone system (FIG. 10). That is, system  10  is not connected to a centrally controlled system. In this case, microprocessor executes programming instructions to processes data from entry switch  100  (optional), passive infra-red sensor  106  (optional), mini-bar switch  102  (optional), and external door plate  14 , and provides control to these devices. However, when microprocessor  150  detects that a 3-wire connection is provided to connector  50 , the microprocessor  150  executes programming instructions required for system  10  to act as part of a centrally controlled system, such as INNCOM&#39;s commercially available System 4 (e 4 ), shown in FIG. 12. When in a centrally controlled system, microprocessor  150  becomes subservient to a central control microprocessor in the centrally controlled system, accepting input from the central control microprocessor and providing data to the central control microprocessor via connection  54 . FIG. 13 illustrates that transmission of data between microprocessor  150  and a central control processor of e 4  is optionally accomplished via electromagnetic radiation  200  using an infra-red communication device (not shown) with each microprocessor of the centrally controlled system and the internal door plate  12 . In a centrally controlled system, both DND and MUR requests (initiated by depressing either the DND or MUR buttons  32  and  40 ) can be reported automatically to a floor status and/or a central control monitor for use by housekeeping and other staff.  
         [0047]    The intelligent doorbell/do-not-disturb/make-up-room annunciation system  10  of the present disclosure is convenient, inexpensive, and expandable. System  10  overcomes the inconvenience of doorknob mounted tags by providing MUR and DND buttons within the guest room. System  10  is expandable to include other options such as a mini-bar switch, an entry switch, and a passive infra-red sensor, all of which provide convenience to housekeeping and other hotel staff. In addition, system  10  is a potential “starter kit” for an expanded system. Basic functionality can be expanded to include mini-bar and occupancy monitoring and annunciation by simply plugging devices into connections on the internal door plate  12 . System  10  can also become part of a larger system, either standalone or centrally controlled without the need to make any hardware or software changes. Because system  10  can be expanded, the system will not have to be discarded with future expandability, creating a cost savings. Also, the internal and external door plates  12  and  14  of system  10  are sized to fit within the recess for a standard light switch, allowing door plates  12  and  143  to each be installed in a standard, single gang junction box or to be mounted in a standard multi-gang junction box together with entry light or other switches. Because the internal and external door plates can be installed in standard junction boxes, the cost of installation is reduced from that of previously available room control systems, which require customized installation.  
         [0048]    It will be understood that a person skilled in the art may make modifications to the preferred embodiment shown herein within the scope and intent of the claims. While the present invention has been described as carried out in a specific embodiment thereof, it is not intended to be limited thereby but is intended to cover the invention broadly within the scope and spirit of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6