System and Method for Transmitting Signals to an Appliance
First Claim
1. A transmitter apparatus comprising:
- an actuator configured for mounting on a structural element of a building, the actuator at least partially exposed and accessible to a user, the actuator being configured to receive actuations from the user; and
a transmitter which includes a housing, the housing shaped to fit within a cylindrically shaped hole that is less than approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and including transmission circuitry and an antenna, the housing coupled to the actuator and configured to extend at least partially into an opening in the structural element of the building, the housing surrounding the transmission circuitry and antenna, the transmission circuitry configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remotely situated appliance via the antenna.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transmitter apparatus is provided that includes an actuator and a transmitter with a housing around an antenna and wireless transmission circuitry. The actuator is mounted to a structural element of a building and is at least partially exposed and accessible to a user. The housing is coupled to the actuator and is arranged and configured to extend at least partially into an opening in the structural element of the building. The housing generally surrounds transmission circuitry and an antenna. The transmission circuitry is arranged and configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remotely situated appliance via the antenna.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A transmitter apparatus comprising:
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an actuator configured for mounting on a structural element of a building, the actuator at least partially exposed and accessible to a user, the actuator being configured to receive actuations from the user; and a transmitter which includes a housing, the housing shaped to fit within a cylindrically shaped hole that is less than approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and including transmission circuitry and an antenna, the housing coupled to the actuator and configured to extend at least partially into an opening in the structural element of the building, the housing surrounding the transmission circuitry and antenna, the transmission circuitry configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remotely situated appliance via the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transmitter apparatus comprising:
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an actuator configured for mounting on a structural element of a building, the actuator at least partially exposed and accessible to a user, the actuator being configured to receive actuations from the user; and a transmitter which includes a cylindrically shaped housing, transmission circuitry and an antenna, the cylindrically shaped housing coupled to the actuator and configured to extend at least partially into an opening in the structural element of the building, the housing surrounding the transmission circuitry and the antenna, the transmission circuitry configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remotely situated appliance via the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A transmitter apparatus comprising:
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an actuator which is configured to receive user interaction from a user; transmitter circuitry; an antenna coupled to the transmitter circuitry; and a rigid cylindrically shaped housing around the transmitter circuitry and the antenna, the cylindrically shaped housing coupled to the actuator and configured to extend at least partially into an opening in a structural element of a building so that at least 70% of the volume of the transmitter extends into the structural element, the transmission circuitry and antenna configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a remotely situated appliance via the antenna.
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27. A method of installing a transmitter that actuates a remotely situated appliance comprising:
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mounting an actuator to a structural element of a building; and disposing a transmitter into a hole in a structural element of the building, the transmitter comprising a rigid housing shaped to fit into the hole, RF transmission circuitry surrounded by the housing and an antenna within the housing, the antenna effective for responsively transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals to a remote appliance upon actuation of the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A wireless door bell and chime system comprising:
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an actuator mounted on a structural element of a building, the actuator at least partially exposed and accessible to a user, the actuator being configured to receive actuations from the user; and transmitter which includes a cylindrically shaped housing, transmission circuitry and an antenna, the cylindrically shaped housing coupled to the actuator and extending at least partially into an opening in the structural element of the building, the housing surrounding the transmission circuitry and the antenna, at least 70% of the volume of the transmission circuitry and antenna being within the opening in the structural element; and chimes remote from the transmitter, the chimes configured to receive transmissions from the transmission circuitry and antenna, the transmission circuitry configured to receive the actuations from the actuator and responsively and wirelessly transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to the remotely situated chimes.
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Specification