Patent ID: 7871001
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G09F,G09G

Abstract:
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.