System and Method for Transmitting Signals to an Appliance

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.

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.   
     
     
         2 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a power source. 
     
     
         3 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the power source is disposed within the transmitter so as to be accessible to the user without removing the actuator from a mounted position in the structural element. 
     
     
         4 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the power source is disposed within the housing so as to be accessible to the user only by removing the actuator from a mounted position in the structural element. 
     
     
         5 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 4  wherein antenna is disposed within the housing so as to extend at least partially beyond the structural element of the building when the housing is inserted in the opening in the structural element. 
     
     
         6 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing is less than approximately 1.5 inches across its cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least 70% of the volume of the transmitter is configured to be in the wall structure. 
     
     
         8 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the structural element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of an exterior wall, an interior wall and a barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the remotely situated appliance comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a door bell; an intercom; a light; a fan; an alarm system; a moveable barrier operator; a window treatment; a rolling shutter; a hot tub; a fireplace; a television; and a video source. 
     
     
         10 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the actuator comprises at least one button. 
     
     
         11 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the at least one button is illuminated. 
     
     
         12 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the actuator has a first volume and the housing has a second volume configured to be inserted into the wall structure, and the first volume is less than the second volume. 
     
     
         13 . 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 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.   
     
     
         14 . The transmitter of  claim 13  wherein the hole is of less than approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and wherein the housing is of less than approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a power source. 
     
     
         16 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the power source is disposed within the transmitter so as to be accessible to the user without removing the actuator from a mounted position in the structural element. 
     
     
         17 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the power source is disposed within the housing so as to be accessible to the user only by removing the actuator from a mounted position in the structural element. 
     
     
         18 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 17  wherein antenna is disposed within the cylindrically shaped housing so as to extend at least partially beyond the structural element of the building when the cylindrically shaped housing is inserted in the opening in the structural element. 
     
     
         19 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the cylindrically shaped housing is less than approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  wherein at least 70% of the volume of the transmitter is configured to be in the wall structure. 
     
     
         21 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the structural element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of an exterior wall, an interior wall and a barrier. 
     
     
         22 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the remotely situated appliance comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a door bell; an intercom; a light; a fan; an alarm system; a moveable barrier operator; a window treatment; a rolling shutter; a hot tub; a fireplace; a television; and a video source. 
     
     
         23 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the actuator comprises at least one button. 
     
     
         24 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the at least one button is illuminated. 
     
     
         25 . The transmitter apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the actuator has a first volume and the housing has a second volume configured to be inserted into the wall structure, and the first volume is less than the second volume. 
     
     
         26 . A transmitter apparatus comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         27 . A method of installing a transmitter that actuates a remotely situated appliance comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the housing is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein disposing a transmitter comprises drilling a hole completely through a wall of the building. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the hole is of less than approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising accessing a power source at the transmitter without removing the actuator from its mounted position. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising accessing a power source at the transmitter by removing the actuator from its mounted position. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the remotely situated appliance comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a door bell; a light; an intercom; a fan; an alarm system; a moveable barrier operator; a window treatment; a rolling shutter; a hot tub; a fireplace; a television; and a video source. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the structural element of the building comprises an element selected from the group consisting of an exterior wall, an interior wall, and a barrier. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  wherein at least 70% of the volume of the transmitter extends into the structural element. 
     
     
         36 . A wireless door bell and chime system comprising:
 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.