Electronic-ink based display system employing a plurality of RF-based activator modules in wireless communication with a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic display devices, each employing an electronic ink layer integrated within a stacked architecture

• US 7,735,735 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gelbman, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US12/154,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/383, 235/375, 235/492, 235/385, 340/5.91
• US Class Current: 235/451
• 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 display system for displaying graphical indicia within the space of a physical environment. The system includes a plurality of RF-based activator modules installed within the space of the physical environment, and a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic display devices installed within the space of the physical environment. Each RF-based activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signals within the space of the physical environment. Each remotely-updated electronic display device employs 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, and a programmed processor in electrical communication with the addressable display assembly and an antenna structure. A signal transmitting structure transmits signals from the antenna structure to the remote activator module. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the remote activator module, using the antenna structure. An on-board battery power structure, operably connected to the integrated circuit structure, supplies electrical power the integrated circuit structure. The antenna structure, integrated circuit structure, signal transmitting structure, signal receiving structure, on-board battery power structure are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of the addressable display assembly so as to form the remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device having a stacked construction.

Claims

1. An electronic-ink based display system for displaying graphical indicia within the space of a physical environment, said electronic-ink based display system comprising:

(A) a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) based activator modules installed within the space of said physical environment,

wherein each said RF-based activator module sends and receives electromagnetic signals, over the RF band, within the space of said physical environment; and

(B) a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic display devices installed within the space of said physical environment,

wherein each said remotely-updateable electronic display device includes;

(B1) 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 so 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;

(B2) at least one antenna structure for sending and receiving electromagnetic signals carrying information corresponding to at least one of instructions, programs, data and graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly;

(B3) 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 said at least one antenna structure, and using said programs to process said instructions and data for (i) determining the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly, (ii) controlling and coordinating the operation of said addressable display assembly, and (iii) generating output signals for instructing said addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia;

wherein identification information is stored in said storage element, and uniquely identifies said electronic-ink based display device among said plurality of electronic-ink based display devices arranged in said electronic-ink based display system, so that at least one said RF-based activator module can send electromagnetic signals to said at least one antenna structure on at least one specified remotely-updateable electronic display device and update one or more of said instructions, programs, data and said graphical indicia;

(B4) a signal transmitting structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said at least one antenna structure, for transmitting electromagnetic signals from said at least one antenna structure, to at least one RF-based activator module;

(B5) a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said at least one antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic signals from said RF-based remote activator module, using said at least one antenna structure;

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

(B6) an on-board battery power structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure, for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit structure;

wherein said addressable display assembly is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from one or more of said plurality of said RF-based activator modules by said at least one antenna structure and said signal receiving structure;

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

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 at least one antenna structure, said integrated circuit structure, said signal transmitting structure, said signal receiving structure and said on-board battery power structure are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of said addressable display assembly so as to form said remotely-updateable electronic display device having a stacked construction.

2. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein each said RF-based activator module receives electromagnetic signals from at least one antenna structure of at least one said remotely-updateable electronic display device, carrying a variety of information, including the status of the graphical indicia displayed by said remotely-updateable electronic display device, as well as any other information suitable to be employed by said RF-based activator module.

3. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said signal transmitting structure and said signal receiving structure are realized as a signal transceiving structure.

4. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein each said remotely-updateable electronic display device 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.

5. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said activation layer comprises an activation grid layer, 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.

6. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 5, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said programmed processor controls each pixel location in said activation grid layer to form at least one of human and machine readable graphical indicia within said layer of electronic ink.

7. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said activation layer has patterns designed to provide sufficient power at selected pixel locations to form said graphical indicia.

8. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 7, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, the said patterns include shapes selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral shape matrices, intersecting arcs, and linear and non-linear patterns.

9. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, 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, and a suspension of colored or charged particles or colloidal material.

10. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 9, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said fluid comprises a dielectric fluid.

11. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 9, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, a potential difference produced across said activation layer and said transparent electrode layer causes particles within the microcapsules of said layer of electronic ink, to migrate towards one of said electrodes, thereby changing the color of said microcapsules, and thus the pixel location, as viewed by an individual.

12. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 9, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said microcapsules can be filled with electrically-charged white colored particles suspended in a black or colored dye.

13. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said electronic ink is configured as a single color, such as black, white or clear, or as a fluorescent, iridescent, bioluminescent, incandescent, ultraviolet, infrared, or other wavelength specific radiation absorbing or emitting material.

14. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein each said RF- based activator module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device.

15. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 14, wherein, within each said RF-based programmed processor, said receiver and said transmitter in said RF-based activator module are combined into a single transceiver device for both sending and receiving electromagnetic signals.

16. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 15, wherein each said RF-based activator 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 remotely-updateable electronic display device.

17. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said transmitting antenna structure transmits an electromagnetic signal from said addressable display assembly to said RF-based activator module, wherein said transmitted electromagnetic signal carries information associated with one or more of the following:

the status of the graphical indicia displayed by said addressable display assembly, or the status or operating condition of said remotely-updateable electronic display device.

18. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said storage element comprises a volatile or non-volatile memory element, or combinations thereof, such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM.

19. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said programmed processor and said storage element co-operate to retrieve data stored in said storage element, corresponding to the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly.

20. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, said programmed processor initiates or executes one or more preprogrammed sequences stored locally within said storage element for determining which graphical indicia is displayed by said addressable display element, and generating output signals to activate said addressable display device to display said graphical indicia based on said executed preprogrammed sequences.

21. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein the graphical indicia displayed by the said addressable display assembly of each said remotely-updateable electronic display device, is at least one of textual information and graphic information.

22. The electronic-ink based display system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic display devices form a group of remotely-updateable electronic display devices that are remotely updated or altered to display different graphic indicia.