US4963876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin programmable remote control transmitter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-08-21
•
Granted: 1990-10-16
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Expires: 2009-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A transmitter includes case, a thin non-conductive pad with an electrically conductive coating applied to selective areas of the pad, one or more electrically conductive actuator buttons on the pad to activate the transmitter, a thin insulator containing a plurality of separate areas which can easily be selectively punched out leaving open holes, and a printed circuit board containing the electronic circuits of the transmitter. Because all of the internal components can be manufactured as extremely thin elements, the transmitter can be made extremely small and thin.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudy T. Sanders
- 👤 Lee Fleishman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/02; H04B1/03; H04B1/034; H04B1/0346; G; G08; G08C; G08C17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A programmable transmitter for the transmission of remote control signals comprising a first non-conductive element having a conductive area thereon, a second non-conductive element having a plurality of removable areas thereon, and a third element comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of contacts thereon, said contacts adapted to come into continuous electrical contact with said first element's conductive area only at those locations where the removable areas are removed from said second element to program the transmitter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A programmable transmitter for the transmission of remote control signals comprising a first non-conductive element having a conductive area thereon, a second non-conductive element having a plurality of removable areas thereon, and a third element comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of contacts thereon, said contacts adapted to come into continuous electrical contact with said first element's conductive area only at those locations where the removable areas are removed from said second element to program the transmitter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 in which the first element's conductive area comprises a plurality of conductive protrusions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 2 in which said conductive protrusions comprise rubber protrusions having an electrically conductive coating thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 in which said conductive protrusions comprise rubber protrusions having an electrically conductive material embedded therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 in which said elements are encased in a housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 5 in which said housing comprises protrusions adapted to apply continuous pressure against said first element's conductive area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 6 in which the means to generate power comprises a battery and the means to engage said battery comprises depressable button means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 5 further comprising means to align said elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means to generate a signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising power means and means to engage said power means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 in which said conductive area comprises an electrically conductive coating affixed on said non-conductive element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 in which said conductive area comprises electrically conductive material embedded in said non-conductive element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
A programmable transmitter for the transmission of remote control signals comprising a housing having therein a first non-conductive element having a plurality of conductive protrusions affixed thereon, a second non-conductive element having a plurality of removable areas thereon, said areas matching the pattern of said protrusions, a third element comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts thereon, said contacts adapted to come into continuous electrical contact with said protrusions only at those locations where the areas are removed from said second element, thereby creating a particular electrical pattern to program the transmitter, means to generate a signal, and means to power said signal generation means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A programmable transmitter for the transmission of remote control signals comprising a housing having therein a first non-conductive element having a plurality of conductive protrusions affixed thereon, a second non-conductive element having a plurality of removable areas thereon, said areas matching the pattern of said protrusions, a third element comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts thereon, said contacts adapted to come into continuous electrical contact with said protrusions only at those locations where the areas are removed from said second element, thereby creating a particular electrical pattern to program the transmitter, means to generate a signal, and means to power said signal generation means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 13 in which said signal generator means comprises an RF signal generator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising means to align said elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 13 in which said conductive protrusions comprise rubber protrusions having an electrically conductive coating thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 13 in which said conductive protrusions comprise rubber protrusions having an electrically conductive material embedded therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 13 in which the means to power comprises a battery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 18 comprising depressable button means adapted to engage said battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |