Smart electronic label employing electronic ink

Abstract

The present invention provides for smart and dumb implementations of a stand-alone, remotely updateable, remotely alterable, flexible electronic label. The electronic label provides for displaying information in connection with a mammal, non-mammal, an item or location. The label includes a display assembly having electronic ink disposed on a support, one or more antennas for sending or receiving signals corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or selected indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, a storage element in circuit with the antenna for storing the instructions, programs, data and indicia, and one or more processors for intelligently determining the indicia to be displayed by the display assembly, for controlling and coordinating operation of the label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display assembly to display the indicia.

1 . A smart electronic sign suitable for displaying information in connection with a mammal, non-mammal, an item or location, said label comprising 
 a display assembly including electronic ink disposed on a support,    one or more antennas for sending or receiving signals corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or selected indicia to be displayed by said display assembly,    a storage element in circuit with said one or more antenna for storing said instructions, programs, data and indicia, and    one or more processors in circuit with said display assembly, said storage element and said antenna for intelligently determining said indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, for controlling and coordinating operation of the label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display assembly to display the indicia.    
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . The electronic sign of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more antennas comprises a receiver for receiving the signals corresponding to programs, instructions, data or the selected indicia.  
     
     
         7 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . The electronic sign of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more antennas comprises a transmitter for transmitting signals from said electronic label.  
     
     
         10 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The electronic sign of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more antennas comprises a power antenna for receiving a power signal from a source, and for generating an output power signal, and said electronic label further includes a power converter in circuit with said power antenna for receiving said output power signals generated by said power antenna and for producing a converted output power signal suitable for powering the electronic label.  
     
     
         15 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . An electronic display sign system suitable for displaying information, said system comprising 
 an electronic label including    a display assembly including one or more layers of electronic ink,    one or more antennas for sending or receiving signals corresponding to selected indicia to be displayed by said display assembly,    one or more storage elements,    one or more processors in circuit with said display assembly and said antenna for generating output signals for instructing the display assembly to display the indicia, and    one or more activator modules for generating output activator signals for activating said electronic label.    
     
     
         38 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said activator module comprises a transmitter for transmitting said output activator signals.  
     
     
         39 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said activator module comprises 
 a receiver for receiving signals from said electronic label, and    a transmitter for transmitting said output activator signals to said electronic label.    
     
     
         40 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said activator module comprises a processor for processing instructions for transmission to said electronic label.  
     
     
         41 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said activator module comprises an interface for coupling to other computer processing and networking apparatus.  
     
     
         42 . The electronic sign system of  claim 41 , wherein said processing apparatus comprises at least one of a processor, computer, LAN, WAN, computer network, Java box, cellular telephone network, satellite broadcast network, control and communication system, internet, intranet, GPS system, and radiowave generating system, and intelligent appliance.  
     
     
         43 . (canceled)  
     
     
         44 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said activator module comprises means for generating an output power signal for providing power off-board of said module.  
     
     
         45 - 47 . (canceled)  
     
     
         48 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said one or more antennas comprise a transmitter for transmitting signals from said electronic label to said activator module.  
     
     
         49 - 53 . (canceled)  
     
     
         54 . The electronic sign system of  claim 37 , wherein said one or more antennas comprises a power antenna for receiving a power signal from said activator module and for generating an output power signal in response thereto, and wherein said electronic label further includes a power converter in circuit with said power antenna for receiving said output power signal generated by said power antenna and for producing a converted output power signal suitable for powering the electronic label.  
     
     
         55 - 56 . (canceled)  
     
     
         57 . An electronic sign suitable for displaying information in connection with an item or location, said label comprising 
 a display assembly including electronic ink disposed on a support,    one or more activation grids for activating said electronic ink in said display assembly,    a receiver for receiving signals corresponding to one of instructions, data and indicia for display by said display assembly,    a transmitter for transmitting signals from said electronic label,    a power antenna for receiving a power signal from a source, and for generating an output power signal for powering the electronic label,    a processor in circuit with said display assembly, said receiver, said transmitter, and said power antenna, for generating output signals corresponding to one of said instructions data and indicia for displaying the indicia with the display assembly, and    a storage element in circuit with said processor for storing said instructions, data, and indicia for display by said display assembly.    
     
     
         58 . The electronic sign of  claim 57 , further comprising a power converter in circuit with said power antenna for receiving said output power signals generated by said power antenna and for producing a converted output power signal suitable for powering the electronic label.  
     
     
         59 . The electronic label sign of  claim 57 , wherein said processor comprises means for actuating the activation grid, said activation grid in response thereto activating said electronic ink for forming said indicia in said display assembly.  
     
     
         60 . The electronic sign of  claim 57 , wherein said processor is adapted to execute programs stored in said storage element that employ data to determine the appropriate functions of said label, and to determine the set of information, displayed by said display assembly.  
     
     
         61 . The electronic sign of  claim 57 , wherein said output signals generated by said processor are based on instructions executed by said processor employing information stored in said storage element or received in real time from said activator or received from commonly available radio signal sources.  
     
     
         62 . (canceled)  
     
     
         63 . The electronic sign of  claim 57 , wherein said display assembly is adapted to continue to display said indicia independent of power continuing to be supplied to said label.  
     
     
         64 . The electronic sign of  claim 57 , further comprising an on board power source for supplying power to said label.  
     
     
         65 - 141 . (canceled)