Patent ID: 7913908
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G09F,G09G

Abstract:
1. An electronic-ink based display tagging system, comprising: (A) a plurality of programmable electronic-ink display tags; and (B) a portable tag activation module for powering each said programmable electronic-ink display tag and programming determined display indicia to be displayed thereon; wherein each said programmable electronic-ink display tag is securable to an item, a location, or other suitable support structure, by way of a securing mechanism, and wherein said programmable electronic-ink display tag further includes: 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 (i) receiving radio-frequency (RF) power signals transmitted by said portable tag activation module, and (ii) 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 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; a signal transmitting structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said data antenna structure, for transmitting signals from said antenna structure, to said portable tag activation module; a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic signals from said portable tag activation module, using said antenna structure; 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; a power converter, supported on said integrated circuit structure, and operably connected to said antenna structure, for converting said received RF-power signals into electrical power signals and storing electrical charge for powering said integrated circuit structure, including said programmed processor, to process instructions and data to (i) determine the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly and (ii) activate said addressable display assembly to display said determined graphical indicia; wherein said integrated circuit structure is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from said portable tag activation 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, and said signal receiving structure are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of said addressable display assembly so as to form said programmable electronic-ink display tag having a stacked construction.