Electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device employing and activator module mounted beneath the surface of an electronic-ink display structure

• US 20090014540A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• 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 7,946,489 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

An electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device employing an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, including graphical input data provided by an activator module. The integrated circuit structure also includes a programmed processor in communication with the storage element. The activator module is mounted beneath the surface of the addressable display assembly to (i) determine graphical indicia to be selected and/or displayed on the addressable display assembly, (ii) allow graphical indicia being displayed on the addressable display assembly, to be modified in real-time by a user of the device, and (iii) allow graphical indicia to be displayed on the addressable display assembly while graphical input data is being provided to the programmed processor by said activator module, so that the user is enabled to write and/or draw on the surface of the addressable display assembly while graphical indicia is being displayed thereon.

Claims

1. An electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device, comprising:

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;

an integrated circuit structure having (i) a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, including graphical input data provided by an activator module, and (ii) a programmed processor using said programs to process said instructions and data for (i) determining graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly, (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;

an electrical power source for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit structure; and

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

wherein said activator module is mounted beneath the surface of said addressable display assembly to (i) determine graphical indicia to be selected and/or displayed on said addressable display assembly, (ii) allow graphical indicia displayed on said addressable display assembly to be modified in real-time by a user of said device, and (iii) allow graphical indicia to be displayed on said addressable display assembly while graphical input data is being provided to said programmed processor by said activator module, so that said user is enabled to write and/or draw on the surface of said addressable display assembly while graphical indicia is being displayed thereon.

2. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 1, wherein said electrical power source is an electrical battery structure.

3. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 1, wherein said addressable display assembly 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.

4. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device 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.

5. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 4, 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.

6. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device 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 electro-phoretic composition of a fluid, such as a dielectric or emulsion fluid, and a suspension of colored or charged particles or colloidal material.

7. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 6, wherein said fluid comprises a dielectric fluid.

8. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 1, wherein each said activator module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device.

9. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 8, wherein said receiver and said transmitter in said activator module are combined into a single transceiver device for sending electromagnetic signals to, and receiving electromagnetic signals from, a host computer system.

10. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device 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.

11. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 1, wherein said activator module electronically determines the graphical indicia is to be selected by said user and/or displayed on said addressable display assembly.

12. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 1, wherein said activator module optically determines the graphical indicia to be selected by said user and/or displayed on said addressable display assembly.

13. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 12, wherein said activator module further comprises apparatus for producing a laser or infrared light beam.

14. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 1, wherein said activator module mechanically determines the graphical indicia to be selected by said user, and/or displayed on said addressable display assembly.

15. The electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device of claim 14, wherein said activator module further comprises one or more pressure sensors and/or a stylus device.