Electronic-ink based label system employing a plurality of remote activator modules in communication with a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink display labels each assigned unique encryption keys for allowing only a subset of said labels to receive a broadcasted message from a common encrypted message broadcast signal

• US 7,743,987 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• 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:
  US12/154,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 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 labeling system for displaying graphical indicia within the space of a physical environment. The system includes a plurality of remote activator modules installed within the space of the physical environment, and a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels installed within the space of the physical environment. Each remote activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signals within the space of the physical environment. Each electronic-ink label 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 to the integrated circuit structure. Each electronic-ink label is assigned a unique encryption key so that when a common encrypted message broadcast is transmitted as an electromagnetic signal to the electronic-ink labels, only a subset of the electronic-ink labels, assigned unique encryption keys, are allowed to receive the broadcasted messages.

Claims

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

(A) a plurality of remote activator modules installed within the space of said physical environment,

wherein each said remote activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signal within the space of said physical environment; and

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

wherein each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label 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 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/or 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 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 label among said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels arranged in said electronic-ink based labeling system,

wherein a unique encryption key is stored in said storage element, so that when a common encrypted message broadcast is transmitted as an electromagnetic signal to said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels, only a subset of said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels, assigned unique encryption keys, are allowed to receive the broadcasted message;

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

(B5) a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic signals from said 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, and 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 said remote activator module 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-ink label having a stacked construction.

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

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

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

5. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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.

6. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 5, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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.

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

8. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 7, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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 labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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.

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

11. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, said fluid comprises a dielectric fluid.

12. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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.

13. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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 labeling system of claim 1, wherein each said remote activator module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device.

15. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remote programmed processor, said receiver and said transmitter in said remote activator module are combined into a single transceiver device for both sending and receiving electromagnetic signals.

16. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein each said remote 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 electronic-ink label.

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

18. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein, within each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label, 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.

19. 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-ink label, is textual and/or graphic information.

20. The electronic-ink labeling system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signals transmitted and received between said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label and said remote activator module are radio frequency (RF) based electromagnetic signals.

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