Smart electronic label employing electronic ink

• US 6,753,830 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Tech-Knowledgy, Inc.
• Inventors: Gelbman, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US09/760,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 345/85, 345/87, 345/1, 345/2, 345/55, 345/56, 340/5.91, 340/5.92, 340/825.49, 705/67, 705/75
• US Class Current: 345/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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

The present invention provides for smart and dumb implementations of a stand-alone, remotely updateable, remotely alterable, flexible electronic label. The electronic label provides for displaying information in connection with a mammal, non-mammal, an item or location. The label includes a display assembly having electronic ink disposed on a support, one or more antennas for sending or receiving signals corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or selected indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, a storage element in circuit with the antenna for storing the instructions, programs, data and indicia, and one or more processors for intelligently determining the indicia to be displayed by the display assembly, for controlling and coordinating operation of the label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display assembly to display the indicia.

Claims

1. A stacked, layered electronic label suitable for displaying information, said label providing a combination comprising

one or more display layers including electronic ink comprising a bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material disposed on a support,

one or more activation grid layers for activating said imaging material, one or more antenna layers for sending or receiving signals corresponding to programs, instructions, data or indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, and

a processor layer including one or more processors and a storage element, said storage element storing one of indicia, data, programs and instructions, said processor layer in circuit with said display layer, said activation layer, and said antenna layer for determining intelligently indicia to be displayed by said display layer, for controlling and coordinating operation of said label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display layer to display the indicia through said imaging material,

wherein said display layer, said antenna layer, said activation grid layer, and said processor layer are stacked together to form said stacked electronic label;

said combination being cooperatively operable

a) through operation of said one or more antenna layers, to activate said bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material independent of any power source on said label,

b) to cause said imaging material to provide enduring activation thereof independent of maintenance of said signals, and

c) said signal activated, imaging material providing a display related to the intended function of said label, with said bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material allowing said display to remain visible and stable.

2. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic label is flexible and resilient; and

said electronic label operates without an on-board power source.

3. The electronic label of claim 2, wherein said display assembly is adapted to continue to display said indicia independent of power continuing to be supplied to said label.

4. The stacked electronic label of claim 2, wherein said one or more antenna layers comprises a power antenna layer for receiving a power signal from a source, and for generating an output power signal for powering the electronic label.

5. The electronic label of claim 2, further comprising an activator module for generating an output power signal for providing power off-board of said module.

6. The electronic label of claim 2, wherein said one or more antennas of said electronic label comprises a power antenna for receiving a power signal from a source, and for generating power necessary to power the electronic label.

7. The label of claim 2, further comprising a securing layer for securing said label assembly to a media item employed for storing or displaying selected information.

8. The label of claim 7, wherein said media item comprises at least one of a electromagnetic, optical, and pulp based storage device.

9. The label of claim 8, wherein said media item comprises one of a computer diskette, computer zip drive, computer DVD disk, magnetic tape, VHS tape, digital recording tape, MP3 type player, MP3 type recording device, digital camera, writable DVD disk, paper, binder, folder, and book.

10. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic label is battery-free.

11. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink comprises a gyricon material.

12. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink comprises a cholesteric material.

13. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink comprises one of a zenithal bi-stable device material and nematic material.

14. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink comprises a thermo-chromic material.

15. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink comprises surface stabilized, ferroelectric liquid crystals.

16. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic label is flexible and resilient.

17. The electronic label of claim 16, wherein the electronic label has a thickness range between about 100 microns and about 2000 microns.

18. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic label has a thickness range between about 100 microns and about 2000 microns.

19. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic label is incorporated in a supply and demand pricing system for instantaneously adjusting a price of an item depending on a purchased quantity of the item, wherein said price is displayed on said display layer.

20. The label of claim 19, further comprising means for altering said display of said label based upon a number of items purchased and the number of items in stock.

21. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic label is configured as an anti-theft device.

22. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic label is configured as a removable magnetic, flash memory or solid state device employed in conjunction with a recording media device.

23. The label system of claim 22, wherein said recording media device comprises one of a computer peripheral recording device, a home entertainment recording device, and an imprinting device.

24. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising an on board power source for supplying power to said label comprising one of a battery, storage capacitor and combinations thereof.

25. The stacked electronic label of claim 1, further comprising an activator module for activating said label assembly.

26. The stacked electronic label of claim 25, wherein said activator module comprises one of a processor, computer, LAN, WAN, computer network, Java box, cellular telephone network, pager network, satellite broadcast network, control and communication system, internet, intranet, GPS system, and radiowave generating system, and intelligent appliance.

27. The electronic label of claim 25, wherein output activator signals generated by said activator module correspond to software programs, commands/instructions, parameters, data or the indicia to be displayed by said display assembly.

28. The label of claim 25, wherein said activator module comprises means for altering information in said label assembly independent of contact between said label assembly and said activator module.

29. The label of claim 1, further comprising a protection layer coupled to said display layer for protecting said display layer and specifically to protect the electronic ink from physical or environmental damage.

30. The label of claim 1, further comprising an securing layer for securing said label assembly to an item, wherein said label displays information in connection with said item.

31. The label of claim 30, wherein said label assembly father comprises means for automatically changing information displayed by said display assembly to reflect information stored in the item, information about the item, information about when the item is to be returned, or information on the item.

32. The label of claim 1, wherein said label is integrally formed in a housing or packaging in which a media item is used or placed.

33. The label of claim 1, wherein said label is integrally formed with a media item and displays information in connection with said media item.

34. The label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer for securing the label to a monetary instrument, wherein said label records or represents a monetary or financial transaction.

35. The label of claim 34, wherein the monetary instrument includes one of a, bank check, deposit slip, withdrawal slip, stock certificate, bond, treasury note, deed, will, gambling chip, lottery ticket, ration card, food stamps, paper currency and paper notes.

36. The label of claim 34, further comprising an activator module for activating said label, wherein said activator module is integrally formed as part of a receiving device sized and dimensioned for communicating with said monetary instrument.

37. The label of claim 36, wherein said receiving device comprises one of a money counting machine, counterfeit inspection station, cash register, cash draw, cashier window, securities validation machine, bond validation machine, and an ATM machine.

38. The label of claim 34, wherein said monetary instrument comprises a gambling chip.

39. The label of claim 38, wherein the electronic label displays a monetary value in connection with said gambling chip.

40. The label of claim 39, further comprising means for changing the displayed monetary value.

41. The label claim 34, wherein said monetary instrument comprises currency, said currency having a strip woven therein.

42. The label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer for securing said label assembly to an item, and wherein said label assembly is sized and dimensioned for being secured with said securing layer to a card sized item.

43. The label of claim 42, wherein said card sized item is sized and dimensioned for placement into a suitable holder element.

44. The label of claim 43, wherein said holder element comprises one of a shirt pocket, wallet, purse, bill fold, business card case, credit card holder, bill fold, picture bolder, and checkbook.

45. The label of claim 42, wherein said card sized item comprises an item issued in connection with a;

least one of a permanent financial account, a point based account, a temporary monetary/financial account, a membership, a promotion service, a travel related service account, a charge account, a credit account, a debit account, a bonus account, and an identification card, a social security card, an electronic purse, electronic cash card, mass transit fare card, vending machine card, phone card, a drive license, a military identification card, an employee badge, an insurance card, electronic door lock key, parking garage pass and convention pass.

46. The label of claim 1, timber comprising a securing layer for securing said label assembly to an item used to hold or store at least one of a monetary balance, an account balance, a name, an account number, an organization or company name, identification indicia, and instructions.

47. The label of claim 1, wherein said label further comprises alteration means for automatically altering information displayed by said imaging material.

48. The label of claim 1, wherein said label is integrally formed with a card sized item and displays information connection with said card sized item.

49. The label of claim 48, wherein said card sized item is configured for storing software for automatically updating machine readable indicia to crease optical symbologies on said display layer, such that the card sized item is generally compatible with selected electronic indicia reading equipment.

50. The label of claim 1, wherein the label displays information in connection with an item, wherein said item comprises one of a turnstile, gaze, public parking garage access and egress gates, doorway, cash register, card reader, vending machine, electronic purse reader, electronic wallet reader, ATM machine, electronic door key, electronic fare card readers, door access readers, airport boarding card reading/issuing systems, security systems, access systems, convention badge readers, and gas pump readers.

51. The label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer for securing said label to an item, wherein said label is sized and dimensioned for securing with said securing layer to an information organizing item for organizing information.

52. The label of claim 51, wherein said information organizing item comprises one of a calendar, clay timer, phone book, address book, recipe book, planner, appointment scheduler, rolodex, dare book, agenda planner, guest book, and log book.

53. The label of claim 1, wherein said label assembly is adapted to display a plurality of different indicia.

54. The label of claim 1, wherein said display assembly is configured for displaying at least one of a track number, channel number, radio station indicator, volume indicator, temperature, time, and address.

55. The label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer for securing said label assembly to a tactile mechanism.

56. The label of claim 55, wherein said tactile mechanism comprises one of a switch, button, dial, knob, lever, key, detector, and locator.

57. The label of claim 1, further comprising a stylus adapted for contacting said label, wherein said display assembly displays indicia created by said stylus in said display assembly.

58. The label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer said label assembly to a gameboard for playing a game.

59. The label of claim 58, wherein said processor dynamically alters said indicia displayed by said label during said game.

60. The label of claim 59, wherein said label further comprises display altering means for altering said electronic ink to display multiple gameboard representations.

61. The label of claim 1, wherein said display altering means generates multiple different gameboard representations during operation of said label.

62. The label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer for securing said label assembly to one or more gamepieces employed in connection with a gameboard for playing a game or a game.

63. The label of claim 1, wherein said storage element is adapted to store digital audio information and digital video information.

64. The label of claim 63, further comprising means for synchronizing the display of indicia on said label with said stored digital audio information.

65. The label of claim 1, wherein said display layers comprises a plurality of layers having electronic ink, each said layer having a different property.

66. The label of claim 65, wherein said layers having different properties are arranged to provide one of a three-dimensional display, a color display, and a dynamic display.

67. The label of claim 1, further comprising a transparent electrode sheer connected to said display layers.

68. The label of claim 1, wherein said label is configured as one of a tag, card, and ticket.

69. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink forms one of a pixel-addressable display, a segment-addressable display, and a combination of both.

70. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising an on-board power source for providing power for one or more components of the label assembly.

71. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising a securing means for securing the label to an item.

72. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said information stored in said storage element comprises one of instructions for determining the indicia displayed by said display assembly and pixel or segment addresses corresponding to locations in said display assembly.

73. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said display assembly to display said indicia in human or machine readable form.

74. The electronic label of claim 1 further comprising identification information corresponding to the label and formed in the label when created.

75. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said storage element is configured to store selected information for display by said display assembly.

76. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive or mechanical device for securing said label assembly to the item.

77. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said storage element is configured for storing a software program for automatically updating machine readable indicia, and the item is a media item, so that the machine readable indicia during use is operated with machine indicia reading equipment.

78. The electronic label of claim 77, wherein said readable machine indicia comprises optical symbologies.

79. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the display layer comprises regions of color and regions of non-color.

80. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising securing means for securing the label assembly to an item employed to permanently record or represent a monetary or financial transaction.

81. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising securing means for securing said label assembly to an item, wherein said securing means comprises at least one of means for fabricating, weaving, pressing, lacing, sewing, molding, stitching, knitting, joining, gluing, bonding, mechanically fastening, and laminating the label assembly to the item.

82. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the item is a monetary instrument, and wherein said label assembly forms the raw stock from which the monetary instrument is created.

83. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said electronic ink is configured to provide a predetermined response to an external input signal or to a command from said processor.

84. The electronic label of claim 83, wherein said electronic ink comprises fluorescent ink, said fluorescent ink being configured for illuminating in response to an appropriate excitation energy wavelength from an external source, or in response to said processor output signal.

85. The electronic label of claim 83, wherein said electronic ink comprises ultra violet ink, said ultra violet ink being configured for illuminating in response to an appropriate excitation energy wavelength from an external source, or in response to said processor output signal.

86. The electronic label of claim 83, wherein said electronic ink comprises infrared sensitive ink, said infrared sensitive ink being configured for illuminating in response to an appropriate excitation energy wavelength from an external source, or in response to said processor output signal.

87. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said display assembly is adapted to continue to display said indicia independent of power continuing to be supplied to said label.

88. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein said one or more antenna layers comprise a power antenna for receiving a power signal from a source, and for generating an output power signal for powering the electronic label.

89. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising a securing layer for securing said label assembly to a media item employed for storing or displaying selected information.

90. The electronic label of claim 89, wherein said media item comprises at least one of a electromagnetic, optical, and pulp based storage device.

91. The electronic label of claim 89, wherein said media item comprises one of a computer diskette, computer zip drive, computer DVD disk, magnetic tape, VHS tape, digital recording tape, MP3 type player, MP3 type recording device, digital camera, writable DVD disk, paper, binder, folder, and book.

92. An electronic label system, comprising:

one or more stacked, layered electronic labels suitable for displaying information, said label providing a combination comprising

one or more display layers including electronic ink comprising a bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material disposed on a support,

one or more activation grid layers for activating said imaging material,

one or more antenna layers for sending or receiving signals corresponding to programs, instructions, data or indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, and

a processor layer including one or more processors and a storage element, said storage element storing one of indicia, data, programs and instructions, said processor layer in circuit with said display layer, said activation layer, and said antenna layer for determining intelligently indicia to be displayed by said display layer, for controlling and coordinating operation of said label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display layer to display the indicia through said imaging material,

wherein said display layer, said antenna layer, said activation grid layer, and said processor layer are stacked together to form said stacked electronic label

said combination being cooperatively operable

a) through operation of said one or more antenna layers, to activate said bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material independent of any power source on said label,

b) to cause said imaging material to provide enduring activation thereof independent of maintenance of said signals, and

c) said signal activated, imaging material providing a display related to the intended function of said label, with said bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material allowing said display to remain visible and stable.

93. The label system of claim 92, thither comprising an activator module for activating said label assembly.

94. The label system of claim 93, wherein said activator module comprises one of a processor, computer, LAN, WAN, computer network, Java box, cellular telephone network, pager network, satellite broadcast network, control and communication system, internet, intranet, GPS system, and radiowave generating system, and intelligent appliance.

95. The label system of claim 92, further comprising an activator module for activating said label assembly, wherein said activator module is adapted to activate said label assembly independent of movement of said label assembly.

96. The label system of claim 93, wherein said activator module is configured as a stand alone device capable of communication with a network.

97. The label system of claim 93, wherein said activator module is sized and configured as a portable, hand-held device.

98. The label system of claim 92, further comprising an external source for activating said electronic label.

99. The label system of claim 98, wherein said external source comprises one of a (LIPS system, a cellular phone network, a pager network, and a radiowave transmitter.

100. A stacked, layered electronic label suitable for displaying information, said label providing a combination comprising a plurality of layers, said plurality of layers including

at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein one of said first and second layers includes at least one of an electronic ink comprising a bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material disposed on a support, and an activation grid for activating said imaging material

wherein at least one of said first and second layers includes one or more processors, and at least one of a storage element and a device for sending or receiving signals corresponding to programs, instructions, data or indicia to be displayed by said first layer, said storage element storing one of indicia, data, programs and instructions, said one or more processors being in circuit with said first layer for determining intelligently indicia to be displayed, for controlling and coordinating operation of said label, and for generating output signals for instructing the first layer to display the indicia through said imaging material,

wherein said first layer and said second layer are stacked together to form said stacked electronic label,

said combination being cooperatively operable

a) through operation of said device for sending or receiving signals to activate said bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material independent of any power source on said label,

b) to cause said imaging material to provide enduring activation thereof independent of maintenance of said signals, and

c) said signal activated, imaging material providing a display related to the intended function of said label, with said bi-stable, non-volatile imaging material allowing said display to remain visible and stable.

101. The electronic label of claim 100, wherein said plurality of layers is adapted to continue to display said indicia independent of power continuing to be supplied to said label.

102. The electronic label of claim 100, wherein one said of said first and second layers further comprises a power antenna for receiving a power signal from a source, and for generating an output power signal for powering the electronic label.

103. The electronic label of claim 100, wherein said plurality of era further comprises a securing layer for securing said label assembly to a media item employed for storing or displaying selected information.

104. The electronic label of claim 100, wherein said label is flexible and resilient.

105. The electronic label of claim 100, wherein the electronic ink comprises one of a gyricon material, a cholesteric material, and a zenithal material.