Remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device employing an electronic-ink layer integrated within a stacked architecture

• US 7,871,001 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• 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:
  US12/154,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 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

A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device employing 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, which is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from the remote activator module by the antenna structure and the signal receiving structure. The addressable display assembly is responsive to output signals generated by the programmed processor, to display the determined graphical indicia. 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. A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device for displaying graphical indicia, comprising:

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;

an 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;

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 antenna structure, and using said programs to process said instructions and data for (a) determining the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly at any moment in time, (b) controlling and coordinating operation of said addressable display assembly, and (c) generating output signals for instructing said addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia;

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

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 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;

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

wherein said integrated circuit structure is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from said remote activator module by said 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 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-alterable electronic-ink based display device having a stacked construction.

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

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

4. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, which comprises a protection layer disposed over said layer of electronic ink in order to prevent said addressable display assembly from inadvertent physical trauma or environmental damage.

5. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said activation layer comprises an activation matrix, 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 device of claim 5, wherein said programmed processor controls, addresses, alters or changes each pixel location in said activation matrix to form at least one human and machine readable graphical indicia within said layer of electronic ink.

7. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 5, wherein 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.

8. The electronic-ink based display device of claim 7, wherein said activation matrix has patterns designed to provide sufficient power at selected pixel locations to form said graphical indicia.

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

10. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 7, wherein said fluid comprises a dielectric or emulsion fluid.

11. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 7, wherein 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 remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 11, wherein said microcapsules can be filled with electrically-charged white colored particles suspended in a black or colored dye.

13. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 12, wherein said programmed processor is configured to employ a combination of locally stored or generated instructions and externally received instructions so as to determine a subset of the locally stored information transmitted by said remote activator module, for display on said addressable display device.

14. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 5, wherein 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 based display device.

15. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 5, wherein 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.

16. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 15, wherein said fluid comprises a dielectric or emulsion fluid.

17. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 15, wherein said graphical indicia is displayed on the surface of said addressable display assembly, in human and/or machine readable form.

18. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 15, wherein said remote activator module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device.

19. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said layer of electronic ink comprises rotatable balls rotatable to expose a different colored surface area, and migratable between a forward viewing position and a rear non-viewing position.

20. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein 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.

21. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said graphical indicia is displayed on the surface of said addressable display assembly, in human and/or machine readable form.

22. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said remote activator module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device.

23. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 22, wherein said receiver and said transmitter in said remote activator module are combined into a single transceiver device for both sending and receiving electromagnetic signals.

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

25. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein 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.

26. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said programmed processor executes one or more preprogrammed sequences stored locally within said storage element to determine which graphical indicia is to be displayed by said addressable display element, and generates output signals to activate said addressable display device to display said graphical indicia based on said executed preprogrammed sequences.

27. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said programmed processor processes instructions received by said remote activator module, to generate output signals to activate said addressable display device to display said graphical indicia based on processed instructions.

28. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, wherein said transmitted and received electromagnetic signals are radio frequency (RF) based electromagnetic signals transmitted and received between said remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device and said remote activator module.

29. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 1, in combination with said remote activator module, to provide a remotely-controllable electronic-ink based display system.

30. A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device for displaying graphical indicia, comprising:

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;

an antenna structure for transmitting 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;

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 antenna structure, and using said programs to process said instructions and data for (a) determining the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly, (b) controlling and coordinating operation of said addressable display assembly, and (c) generating output signals for instructing said addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia;

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

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

wherein said integrated circuit structure is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from said remote activator module by said antenna structure and said signal transceiving 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 antenna structure, said integrated circuit structure, said signal transceiving structure, and said on-board battery power structure are arranged and stacked together to form said remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device having a stacked architecture.

31. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 30, wherein said signal transceiving structure comprises a signal transmitting structure and said signal receiving structure.

32. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 30, which comprises a protection layer disposed over said layer of electronic ink in order to prevent said addressable display assembly from inadvertent physical trauma or environmental damage.

33. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 30, wherein said activation layer comprises an activation matrix, 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.

34. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 30, wherein said storage element comprises a volatile or non-volatile memory element, or combinations thereof, such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM.

35. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 30, wherein said programmed processor executes one or more preprogrammed sequences stored locally within said storage element to determine which graphical indicia is to be displayed by said addressable display element, and generates output signals to activate said addressable display device to display said graphical indicia based on said executed preprogrammed sequences.

36. The remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device of claim 30, wherein said transmitted and received electromagnetic signals are radio frequency (RF) based electromagnetic signals transmitted and received between said remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device and said remote activator module.