Programmable universal transmitter

A transmitter, comprising:

• at least two switches;
• a first memory including a plurality of predetermined transmission frequencies, and a plurality of predetermined transmission formats;
• a second memory including one or more instructions;
• and
• a controller coupled to the at least two switches and the first and second memories, the controller, in response to the one or more instructions, to detect actuation of a first sequence of the at least two switches, and to store in the first memory a transmission frequency from the plurality of predetermined transmission frequencies, said transmission frequency being associated with a first switch.

A method of programming a transmitter, comprising:

• actuating a first sequence of at least two switches;
• storing in a memory one or both of a transmission frequency from a predetermined plurality of transmission frequencies and a transmission format from a predetermined plurality of transmission formats;
• associating one or both of the transmission frequency and the transmission format to a first switch;
• detecting actuation of the first switch;
• and
• transmitting a signal having the transmission format at the transmission frequency.

A transmitter, comprising:

• a plurality of switches;
• a memory including transmission frequency values defining a transmission frequency range, and a plurality of transmission formats;
• a voltage controlled oscillator;
• and
• a controller coupled to the plurality of switches, the memory, and the voltage controlled oscillator, the controller to assign a transmission format to a switch based on user actuation of one or more of the plurality of switches, to detect actuation of the switch, and to control the voltage controlled oscillator to generate a signal having the transmission format, at a transmission frequency that is within the transmission frequency range based on one or more of the transmission frequency values.

A transmitter, comprising:

• a plurality of switches;
• a memory including a first plurality of predetermined transmission frequency values, and a second plurality of predetermined transmission formats;
• and
• an output circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO);
• a controller coupled to the plurality of switches, memory, and VCO, the controller to (i) detect actuation of a sequence of the plurality of switches, (ii) store in the memory a combination of a transmission frequency value and a transmission format from a plurality of combinations of the first plurality and the second plurality, said combination of the transmission frequency value and transmission format being associated with a first switch, and (iii) control the VCO to transmit a signal having the transmission format at the transmission frequency, in response to actuation of the first switch.