Patent ID: 7798404
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G09F,G09G

Abstract:
1. An electronic admission pass system for indicating the occurrence of events within a controlled environment, said electronic admission pass system comprising: (A) at least one remote activator module installed within the space of said controlled environment, and in communication with and receiving instructions from, a system tracking the occurrence of events in said controlled environment; wherein said at least one remote activator module transmits electromagnetic signals within said controlled environment; and (B) a plurality of updateable electronic-ink admission passes issued to a plurality of individuals who may be admitted within said controlled environment, wherein each said updateable electronic-ink admission pass 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 graphical indicia represents information related to the occurrence of events within said controlled environment, and 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 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 having access to said storage element, 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 issued updateable electronic-ink admission pass; (B4) a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said at least one antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic signals from said at least one remote activator module; wherein said received electromagnetic signals carry information corresponding to said programs, said instructions, said data or said graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly; and (B5) 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 at least one 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 at least one 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 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 updateable electronic-ink admission pass having a stacked construction.