CONTROLLABLE MARKING

• US 20170083806A1
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Holostov, Vladimir, CZARNECKI, Austin, Meinershagen, Julia
• Granted Patent: US 9,858,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133342 for double-sided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07705 the visual interface being a single light or small number of lights capable of being switched on or off, e.g. a series of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP

Abstract

The description relates to controllable device marking. One example can be manifest as a device that has a housing and a marking apparatus integrated into the housing. The marking apparatus can include a display and a disablement mechanism. While the disablement mechanism is in a first state the display is controllable to allow content presented on the display to be defined and when the disablement mechanism is transitioned to a second state the content is persisted and unchangeable on the display.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a device comprising a housing; and

,

a marking apparatus integrated into the housing, the marking apparatus including a display and a disablement mechanism, and wherein while the disablement mechanism is in a first state the display is controllable to allow content presented on the display to be defined and when the disablement mechanism is transitioned to a second state the content is persisted and unchangeable on the display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a layer of a chemical compound positioned over a controllable array of electrical conductors.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the selectively activatable electronic array comprises a thin film transistor layer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises the disablement mechanism.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to undergo a non-reversible change when transitioned to the second state that provides the disablement mechanism.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display comprises a layer of transition metals.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the content is presented on the display by causing an oxidation/reduction reaction on individual portions of the layer of transition metals that causes color changes to the individual portions.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the display comprises a layer of Sodium Iodide.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the display comprises an array of cells of solvent positioned against a membrane layer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the solvent comprises acetone and the membrane layer comprises a plastic layer.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the non-reversible change comprises a phase change or an oxidation/reduction reaction.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the marking apparatus further comprises circuitry for controlling the display.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the circuitry comprises the disablement mechanism.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the circuitry includes a fuse that allows the display to be driven below a threshold power level and which can be blown with a spike of power above the threshold power level to transition the disablement mechanism to the second state.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the circuitry includes a controller and wherein the controller is configured to self-destruct after controlling the display.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller comprises a gate or wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.

17. A device, comprising:

a housing; and

,

a marking apparatus integrated into the housing, the marking apparatus configured to allow an entity to electronically define content for presentation on the marking apparatus and upon displaying the content the marking apparatus is configured to undergo a transformation that causes the content to be unchangeable.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the device includes a processor and a display and wherein the processor is configured to present a graphical user interface on the display that allows the entity to electronically define the content for presentation on the marking apparatus.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the marking apparatus is configured to be physically coupled to an external device through which the entity can electronically define the content for presentation on the marking apparatus.

20. A device, comprising:

a processor and storage positioned in a housing;

a marking apparatus integrated into an external surface of the housing and configured to persistently display content that is protected with a passcode, the marking apparatus including a security mechanism for storing the passcode that is separate and distinct from the processor and the storage, and wherein the security mechanism only allows the content to be changed in an instance where a supplied passcode matches the stored passcode.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the content is persistently displayed whether the device is in a powered on state and a powered off state or wherein the content is persistently displayed only when the device is in a powered on state.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the security mechanism comprises a trusted platform module (TPM) that is dedicated to the marking apparatus.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the passcode is a simple alphanumeric passcode, or wherein the passcode is a certificate authentication, or wherein the passcode is hashed, or wherein the passcode is an encrypted key.