Self contained device for displaying electronic information

• US 7,242,315 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATG DesignWorks, LLC
• Original Assignee: ATG DesignWorks, LLC
• Inventors: Mathews, Titus, Affolter, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/828,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.83, 257/99, 434/317, 434/308, 434/309, 361/681, 345/169, 345/156, 345/901
• US Class Current: 340/815.83
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 3/123 incorporating sound producing or light emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2241/16 Books or filing appliances combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers

Abstract

A periodical is shown having flexible pages whereon is affixed a thin flexible electronic display. The display includes a flexible membrane, control circuitry, and self-contained power source, which may be a thin flexible battery. A display may be affixed to one or more of the pages of the periodical for use in displaying dynamic information or video.

Claims

1. A method of displaying electronic graphical information in a magazine, the steps comprising:

providing one or more adjacent flexible pages bound together at a binding;

providing a flexible self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means, the self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means including;

an electronic image display device,

control circuitry operatively communicated to the electronic image display device for use in electronically displaying graphical information on the electronic image display device, and,

at least a first power cell operatively communicated to the control circuitry for use in supplying power to the control circuitry;

affixing the electronic image display device to at least one of the flexible pages; and

,

selectively displaying at least a first electronic image on the electronic image display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a flexible self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means, the self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means further comprising:

providing a sensor for use in determining the proximity of the one or more adjacent flexible pages; and

,

wherein before the step of selectively displaying at least a first electronic image on the electronic image display device, the step further comprising;

sensing the turning of a flexible page adjacent to the electronic image display device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

affixing the control circuitry to the binding.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

affixing the control circuitry to one of the flexible pages.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of providing a flexible self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means further includes:

providing electronic information storage means.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

selectively communicating the electronic information storage means to the control circuitry.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein before the step of selectively communicating the electronic information storage means to the control circuitry, the step further comprising:

preprogramming the electronic information storage means with at least one electronic graphical image.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of providing a flexible self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means, the self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means further comprising:

an electronic data receiving port operatively communicated to the control circuitry; and

,

further comprising the step of;

selectively operatively communicating the electronic information storage means to the control circuitry, and,

programming the electronic information storage means with at least one electronic graphical image, via electronic data receiving port.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained electronic graphical information displaying means is selectively, removably attached to the flexible pages, such that the electronic image display device is still capable of displaying the electronic graphical information when removed.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

preprogramming the electronic information storage means with at least one electronic graphical image; and

/or

re-programming the electronic information storage means with at least one different electronic graphical image.

11. A self-contained electronic graphical information displaying apparatus, comprising:

a thin, flexible electronic image display device fixedly attachable to an associated device;

electronic control circuitry operatively communicated to the electronic image display device;

at least a first power cell operatively communicated to the electronic control circuitry for use in supplying power to the electronic control circuitly, wherein the electronic image display device, circuitry, and power cell are contained within one housing, wherein the apparatus is selectively removable when attached to the associated device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry and the power cell are flexible.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

electronic information storage means being selectively removable with respect to the electronic control circuitry; and

,

user interface means operatively communicated to the electronic control circuitry.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

sensor means for use in determining the proximity of at least a first flexible page with respect to at least a second flexible page on an associated magazine, wherein the apparatus is selectively, removably attached to the magazine.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

audio transmitting means operatively communicated to the electronic control circuitry.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is programmed to, at predetermined intervals, transmit audio signals or video images.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the magazine has a binding and the control circuitry is located in the binding.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic image display device is still capable of displaying the electronic graphical information after removal, the apparatus further comprising:

at least one sensor capable of detecting the proximity of a person.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises means to display an electronic graphical image or emit a sound dependent upon the proximity of the person.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic image display device is still capable of displaying the electronic graphical information when removed.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic image display device is resiliently deformable without permanently affecting the displaying characteristics of the self-contained electronic displaying device.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display portion is disposed in front of the control circuitry and the power cell.

23. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wherein the electronic image display device comprises one or more light emitting devices, arranged in either a predetermined or random pattern, the light emitting devices being selectively illumined in a predetermined or random pattern.

24. A method of displaying electronic graphical information in an associated magazine having one or more associated pages, the steps comprising:

providing a thin, flexible self-contained electronic image display device, the device including;

a flexible electronic image display;

flexible control circuitry operatively communicated to the electronic image display for use in electronically displaying graphical information on the electronic image display; and

,

at least a first flexible power cell operatively communicated to the control circuitry for use in supplying power to the control circuitry;

preprogramming the electronic image display device with at least a first preprogrammed electronic graphical information message;

affixing the electronic image display device to the at least a first associated page; and

,

displaying the electronic graphical information message on the electronic image display device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of displaying the electronic graphical information message on the electronic image display device, includes:

automatically displaying the electronic graphical information message on the electronic image display device.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

selectively removing the electronic image display device from the associated magazine, such that the electronic image display device is still capable of displaying the electronic graphical information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of providing a thin self-contained electronic image display device, includes:

providing a thin self-contained electronic image display device having a user interface receiving associated user input; and

,

further comprising the step of;

automatically displaying the electronic graphical information message on the electronic image display device responsive to the input from the user interface means.

28. A method of displaying electronic graphical information on an associated device, the steps comprising:

providing a thin, flexible self-contained electronic image display device;

preprogramming the electronic image display device with at least a first preprogrammed electronic graphical information message;

affixing the electronic image display device to the associated device; and

,

displaying the electronic graphical infommtion message on the electronic image display device, wherein the electronic image display device is contained within one housing, wherein the housing is selectively removable when attached to the associated device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the electronic image display device is still capable of displaying the electronic graphical information when removed.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the display device has a viewing side and a non-viewing side, wherein substantially all of the non-viewing side is removably affixed to the associated device.