Digital information recording media system including a digital information recording media device with an electronic-ink display label for displaying information related to said digital information recording media device and/or digital information recorded thereon

• US 20080314992A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gelbman, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167

Abstract

A digital information recording media system including a digital information recording media device, and a digital information reading and writing drive unit for writing digital information to, and reading digital information from the digital information recording media device. An electronic-ink display label is provided to the digital information recording media device for displaying graphical indicia on the electronic-ink display label representative of information relating to the digital information recording media device and/or digital information recorded thereon. An activation module is arranged in communication with the digital information reading and writing drive unit, for providing instructions employed in the determination of determined graphic indicia to be displayed on the electronic-ink display label. The electronic-ink display label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The electronic-ink display label includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in communication with storage element. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the activation module, using the antenna structure. The electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representing information relating to digital information recorded on the digital information recording media device.

Claims

1. A digital information recording media system comprising:

(A) a digital information recording media device, having a digital recording media;

(B) a digital information reading and writing drive unit for writing digital information to the digital recording media of said digital information recording media device, and reading digital information from the digital recording media of said digital information recording media device;

(C) an electronic-ink display label provided to said digital information recording media device for visually displaying graphical indicia on said electronic-ink display label and being representative of information relating to said digital information recording media device and/or digital information recorded on said digital information recording media device; and

(D) an activation module arranged in communication with said digital information reading and writing drive unit, for providing instructions employed in the determination of graphic indicia to be displayed on said electronic-ink display label;

wherein said activation module transmitting electromagnetic data signals to said electronic-ink display label;

wherein said electronic-ink display label includes;

(1) an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material disposed between an activation layer and a transparent electrode layer located above said layer of electronic ink, for activating said layer of electronic ink at particular locations to display graphical indicia on the surface of said addressable display assembly, wherein said layer of electronic ink does not require electrical power to maintain the display of said graphical indicia;

(2) at least one one antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic data signals carrying information corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly;

(3) an integrated circuit structure having (i) a storage element for storing said instructions, programs and data, and (ii) a programmed processor in electrical communication with said addressable display assembly, and using said programs to process said instructions and data for (i) determining the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly at any moment in time, (ii) controlling and coordinating operation of said addressable display assembly, and (iii) generating output signals for instructing said addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia; and

(4) a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said at least one antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic data signals from said activation module, using said at least one antenna structure;

wherein said received electromagnetic data signals carry information corresponding to said programs, said instructions, said data or said graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly;

wherein said integrated circuit structure is responsive to electromagnetic data signals received from said activation module, by said at least one antenna structure and said signal receiving structure; and

wherein said addressable display assembly is responsive to said output signals generated by said programmed processor, to display the determined graphical indicia.

2. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna structure also receives electromagnetic power signals transmitted by said activation module;

and wherein said electronic-ink display label further comprises a power converter, operably connected to said at least one antenna structure, for converting said received electromagnetic power signals into electrical power signals and storing electrical charge for powering said integrated circuit structure, including said programmed processor, to process instructions and data to (i) determine the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly and (ii) activate said addressable display assembly to display said determined graphical indicia.

3. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said electronic-ink display label further comprises an electrical power source for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit structure.

4. The digital information recording media system of claim 3, wherein said electrical power source is an electrical battery structure.

5. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna structure, said integrated circuit structure, and said signal receiving structure are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of said addressable display assembly so as to form said electronic-ink based display label having a stacked construction.

6. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module receives electromagnetic data signals from said at least one antenna structure of said electronic-ink display label, carrying information, including the status of the graphical indicia displayed by said electronic-ink display label.

7. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, which further comprises a signal transmitting structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure, and wherein said at least one antenna structure further transmits electromagnetic data signals from said at least one antenna structure, to said activation module.

8. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna structure receives electromagnetic data signals carrying information corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly.

9. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said signal transmitting structure and said signal receiving structure are realized as a signal transceiving structure.

10. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said electronic-ink display label further comprises a protection layer disposed over said layer of electronic ink in order to prevent said addressable display assembly from inadvertent physical trauma and/or environmental damage.

11. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation layer comprises an activation grid, disposed on a support structure, to form a plurality of addressable pixel locations, wherein each said addressable pixel location is addressable by said programmed processor.

12. The digital information recording media system of claim 11, wherein said programmed processor controls each pixel location in said activation grid to form human and/or machine readable graphical indicia within said layer of electronic ink.

13. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said electronic ink comprises an arrangement of microcapsules disposed between said transparent electrode layer and said activation layer, and wherein each said microcapsule has disposed therein an electrophoretic composition of a fluid, such as a dielectric or emulsion fluid, and a suspension of colored or charged particles or colloidal material.

14. The digital information recording media system of claim 13, wherein said fluid comprises a dielectric fluid.

15. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device.

16. The digital information recording media system of claim 15, wherein said receiver and said transmitter in said activation module are combined into a single transceiver device for both sending and receiving electromagnetic data signals.

17. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module is configured to transmit or receive, by way of electromagnetic signal transmission, commands, instructions, software programs, and parameters or variables associated with either (i) pixel address locations of said addressable display assembly, (ii) the graphical indicia displayed on the surface of said addressable display assembly, or (iii) instructions for subsequent use by said electronic-ink display label.

18. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said storage element comprises a volatile or non-volatile memory element, or combinations thereof, such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM.

19. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said digital information recording media device comprises any device for recording, storing, capturing or holding digital information, including but not limited to digital video information, digital audio information, and other forms of digital data.

20. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said digital information recording media device comprises a housing, and wherein said electronic-ink display label is mounted or secured to the surface of said housing.

21. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said digital information recording media device is transportable and comprises a support structure for supporting said digital recording media, and wherein said electronic-ink display label is applied to the surface of said support structure.

22. The digital information recording media system of claim 20, wherein said housing has a form factor associated with a digital recording media device selected from the group consisting of a computer diskette, a zip disk, a DVD, a VHS tape, or a music cassette.

23. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said information graphically encoded in said graphical indicia is related to the information content written to the digital recording media of said digital information recording media device, and wherein said information content includes types of information relating to the type of software being used to record the information content, the format of the files written to said digital recording media, the version number of the software used to record the information content, and the amount of available storage space remaining on said digital recording media.

24. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said graphical indicia is updated when said digital information recording media device is supported within said digital information reading and writing drive unit.

25. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said graphical indicia is updated when a new file is written to said digital recording media, or when the size of a file or directory is updated on said digital recording media.

26. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module transmits electromagnetic data signals to said electronic-ink display label when said portable digital information recording media device is loaded within said digital information reading and writing drive unit

27. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module is configured for activating said electronic-ink display label independent of any relative movement occurring between said activation module and said digital information recording media device.

28. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module is integrated with said digital information reading and writing drive unit.

29. The digital information recording media system of claim 1, wherein said activation module is physically separated from said digital information reading and writing drive unit and is integrated with a piece of equipment different than said digital information reading and writing unit.

30. The digital information recording media system of claim 29, wherein said piece of equipment is realized as stand-alone unit supportable on a desktop or tabletop.

31. The digital information recording media system of claim 29, wherein said piece of equipment is realized as a hand-held unit.