Patent ID: 7762461
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G09F,G09G

Abstract:
1. A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device for displaying graphical indicia in connection with an object, said remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device comprising: an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material disposed between an activation grid matrix 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; a transmitting antenna layer for transmitting, to a remote activation module, electromagnetic signals carrying information corresponding to graphical indicia being displayed by said addressable display assembly; a receiving antenna layer for receiving, from said remote activation module, 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 layer 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 transmitting and receiving antenna layers, and using said programs to process said instructions and data for (i) determining the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly at any moment in time, (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; a signal transmitting layer, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said transmitting antenna layer, for transmitting electromagnetic signals from said transmitting antenna layer, to said remote activation module; a signal receiving layer, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said receiving antenna layer, for receiving electromagnetic signals from said remote activation module, using said receiving antenna layer; 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 layer, for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit layer; wherein said integrated circuit layer is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from said remote activation module by said receiving antenna layer and said signal receiving layer; 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 integrated circuit layer, said on-board battery power structure, said receiving antenna layer, said transmitting antenna layer, said signal transmitting layer, and said signal receiving layer 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-layer construction.