Method and apparatus for a programmable electrophoretic remote control

1. A programmable remote control unit comprising:

a data processing device;

a memory storage unit;

a data transmitter;

an electrophoretic button; and

a bus that communicatively couples said data processing device to said memory storage unit, said data transmitter, and said electrophoretic button;

wherein the optical qualities of said electrophoretic button may be modified in response to commands from said data processing device and wherein the electrophoretic button comprises:

a transparent surface layer;

a first electrode layer coupled to said transparent surface layer;

a layer of microcapsules communicatively coupled to said first electrode layer wherein the layer of microcapsules comprise microcapsules containing a suspension medium and multiple pigment chips of opposing charges suspended in said suspension medium;

a second electrode layer communicatively coupled to said addressable layer of microcapsules; and

a conductive disk coupled to said second electrode layer;

wherein said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer are communicatively coupled to said data processing device.

2. The programmable remote control unit of claim 1 , wherein said commands which modify the optical qualities of said electrophoretic button further comprise instructions that cause said electrophoretic button to display a representation of a user determined label.

3. The programmable remote control unit of claim 2 , wherein said electrophoretic button may be programmed to initiate the transmission of a component function command to control a videocassette recorder, a digital videodisk player, a compact disk player, a television, or a radio.

4. The programmable remote control unit of claim 3 , wherein said label corresponds to said programmed component function command.

5. The programmable remote control unit of claim 4 , wherein said programmable remote control unit further comprises a signal receiving device.

6. The programmable remote control unit of claim 5 , wherein said signal receiving device:

receives said component function command from a component remote; and

said component function command is stored in said memory storage unit.

7. The programmable remote control unit of claim 5 , wherein:

said signal receiving device receives said component function command from a personal computer; and

said component function command is stored in said memory storage unit.

8. The programmable remote control unit of claim 5 , wherein said electrophoretic button may be programmed to sequentially execute multiple component function commands.

9. The programmable remote control unit of claim 1 , wherein said first electrode layer is optically transparent.

10. The programmable remote control unit of claim 1 , wherein said first and second electrode layers selectively apply electric fields to said microcapsules causing said pigment chips of opposing charges to migrate in said suspension medium.

11. The programmable remote control unit of claim 10 , wherein said electric field causes said pigment chips to form a representation of said user determined label.

12. The programmable remote control unit of claim 1 wherein said memory storage unit comprises:

predetermined component function commands; and

predetermined button labels associated with said predetermined component function commands.

13. The programmable remote control unit of claim 12 , wherein when said predetermined component function commands are assigned to said electrophoretic buttons, said data processing device forms a representation of said predetermined button labels on said electrophoretic buttons.

14. An electrophoretic button for use with an electronic device comprising:

a first electrode layer comprised of a transparent conductive material;

a layer of microcapsules communicatively coupled to said first transparent electrode layer wherein said layer of microcapsules further comprise

microcapsules each comprising

a suspension medium;

a first plurality of pigment chips having a first color and a first charge suspended in said suspension medium; and

a second plurality of pigment chips having a second, different color and a second charge opposite to the first charge suspended in said suspension medium; and

a second electrode layer communicatively coupled to said layer of microcapsules;

wherein said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer selectively apply an electric field to said layer of microcapsules.

15. The electrophoretic button of claim 14 , wherein said first and second electrode layers selectively apply an electric field to said layer of microcapsules causing said pigment chips of opposing charges to migrate in said suspension medium.

16. The programmable remote control unit of claim 15 , wherein said electric field causes said pigment chips of opposing charges to migrate in such a way as to form a user defined label.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storage unit;

a data transmitter;

an electrophoretic button; and

a data processing device communicatively coupled to said memory storage unit, said data transmitter, and said electrophoretic button;

wherein optical qualities of said electrophoretic button may be modified in response to commands from said data processing device and the electrophoretic button comprises:

a first transparent electrode layer;

a layer of microcapsules communicatively coupled to said first transparent electrode layer wherein each microcapsule is filled with a suspension medium and multiple pigment chips of opposing charges suspended in said suspension medium; and

a second electrode layer communicatively coupled to said layer of microcapsules;

wherein said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer selectively apply electric fields to said layer of microcapsules.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said electrophoretic buttons can be programmed to execute function commands.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a data receiver communicatively coupled to said memory storage unit wherein said function commands are received by said data receiver and stored in said memory storage unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said first and second electrode layers selectively apply electric fields to said layer of microcapsules causing said pigment chips of opposing charges to migrate in said suspension medium.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein said first and second electrode layers are selectively addressable by said data processing device.