Method and apparatus for a programmable electrophoretic remote control

• US 20040189591A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Breuil, Thomas L. du
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1685 Operation of cells; Circuit arrangements affecting the entire cell
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source

Abstract

A programmable remote control unit including a data processing device, a memory storage unit, a data transmitter, an electrophoretic button, and a bus that communicatively couples the data processing device to the memory storage unit, the data transmitter, and the electrophoretic button; wherein the optical qualities of the electrophoretic button may be modified in response to commands from the data processing device.

Claims

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.

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 8, wherein said electrophoretic button further 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;

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.

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

11. The programmable remote control unit of claim 10, wherein said layer of microcapsules further comprises:

microcapsules containing a suspension medium; and

multiple pigment chips of opposing charges suspended in said suspension medium.

12. The programmable remote control unit of claim 11, 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.

13. The programmable remote control unit of claim 12, wherein said electric field causes said pigment chips to form a representation of said user determined label.

14. 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.

15. The programmable remote control unit of claim 14, 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.

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

a first electrode layer;

an layer of microcapsules communicatively coupled to said first transparent electrode layer; and

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

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

17. The electrophoretic button of claim 16, wherein said first electrode layer comprises a transparent conductive material.

18. The electrophoretic button of claim 17, wherein said layer of microcapsules further comprises:

microcapsules filled with a suspension medium; and

multiple pigment chips of opposing charges suspended in said suspension medium.

19. The electrophoretic button of claim 19, 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.

20. The programmable remote control unit of claim 19, wherein said electric field causes said pigment chips of opposing charges to migrate in such a way as to form a user defined label.

21. 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.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said electrophoretic buttons can be programmed to execute function commands.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 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.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said electrophoretic button further comprises:

a first electrode layer;

an layer of microcapsules communicatively coupled to said first transparent electrode layer; 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.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said first electrode layer comprises a transparent conductive material.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said layer of microcapsules further comprises:

microcapsules filled with a suspension medium; and

multiple pigment chips of opposing charges suspended in said suspension medium.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, 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.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first and second electrode layers are selectively addressable by said data processing device.

29. A programmable remote control unit comprising:

memory means for storing data;

data transmission means for transmitting data;

electrophoretic display means for changeably displaying labels; and

computer processing means communicatively coupled to said memory means, said data transmission means, and said electrophoretic display means;

wherein optical qualities of said electrophoretic display means may be modified in response to commands from said computer processing means.

30. The programmable remote control unit of claim 29, wherein said electrophoretic display means may be programmed to initiate the transmission of function commands that control electrical components.

31. A programmable remote control unit comprising:

an electrophoretic button;

a memory storage unit; and

a processor communicatively coupled to said memory storage unit and said electrophoretic button;

wherein said memory storage unit includes a machine readable medium having instructions thereon for causing said processor to execute commands that modify the optical qualities of said electrophoretic button.

32. The programmable remote control unit of claim 31, wherein said machine readable medium further comprises a driver which, when accessed, converts a user defined label into pixels that are represented on said electrophoretic button.

33. A method for customizing a programmable remote control unit that includes electrophoretic buttons comprising:

assigning a command function to an electrophoretic button;

receiving a user defined label for said electrophoretic button; and

forming a representation of said label on said electrophoretic button.

34. The method for customizing a programmable remote control unit of claim 33, wherein forming a representation of said label on said electrophoretic button comprises:

converting said user defined label into a pixel representation;

converting said pixel representation into command language;

executing said command language that generates electrical fields in said electrophoretic button to form an electrophoretic representation of said user defined label.