Device and Method to Fix a Message on a Display

Abstract

Briefly, an intelligent label is disclosed that has two viewable surfaces. Each surface is constructed such that a permanent and irreversible message may be set into each surface independently. That is, a first message may be set into the first viewing surface of the electro-optic material, and another message may be set into the second viewing surface, for example, at a later time. Various constructions are described including a construction using two pairs of stimulating electrodes, and a second construction using a single pair of stimulating electrodes.

What is claimed, is: 
     
         1 . An electro-optic display, comprising:
 a first electro-optic layer and a second electro-optic layer in a vertical stack arrangement, the vertical stack arrangement having at least three independently addressable message surfaces, and each electro-optic layer comprises a material that changes color, quality, or transparency state when activated;   a first electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to the bottom surface of the first electro-optic layer;   a second electrode between and adjacent to the first and the second electro-optic layers, and operably coupled to the top surface of the first electro-optic layer and to the bottom surface of the second electro-optic layer,   a third electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to the top of the second electro-optic layer; and   wherein at least three of the surfaces of the first and second electro-optic layers are message surfaces; and   wherein the second electrode and first electrode cooperate, and the second electrode and third electrode cooperate, to set messages on the message surfaces by activating the respective message surfaces to cause a change in color, quality or transparency of the material.   
     
     
         2 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the vertical stack arrangement having four independently addressable message surfaces; and   wherein the four electro-optic layer surfaces adjacent to and operably coupled to the first, second and third electrodes, are each message surfaces.   
     
     
         3 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode or the third electrode comprise a pair of interdigitated electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic display is a flexible device, a thin-film device or a flexible-circuit device. 
     
     
         5 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 1 , wherein once set the messages are irreversible, permanent, near permanent, or permanent and irreversible. 
     
     
         6 . An electro-optic display, comprising:
 a first electro-optic layer and a second electro-optic layer in a vertical stack arrangement, the vertical stack arrangement having at least three independently addressable message surfaces, and each electro-optic layer comprises a material that changes color, quality, or transparency state when activated;   a first message surface on the bottom surface of the first electro-optic layer and a second message surface on the top surface of the first electro-optic layer;   a third message surface on the top surface or the bottom surface of the second electro-optic layer;   a first electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to the bottom surface of the first electro-optic layer;   a second electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to the top surface of the first electro-optic layer;   a third electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to the bottom surface of the second electro-optic layer;   a fourth electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to the top surface of the second electro-optic layer; and   an electrically insulating substrate between and adjacent to the second electrode and the third electrode;   wherein the first electrode cooperates with the second electrode to set a first or second message, and the third electrode cooperates with the fourth electrode to set a third message by activating the respective message surfaces to cause a change in color, quality or transparency of the material.   
     
     
         7 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 the vertical stack arrangement having four independently addressable message surfaces;   a fourth message surface;   wherein the third message surface is the bottom surface of the second electro-optic layer and the fourth message surface is the top surface of the second electro-optic layer; and   wherein the second electrode cooperates with the first electrode to set a first or second message, and the fourth electrode cooperates with the third electrode to set a third or fourth message.   
     
     
         8 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more of the first electrode, second electrode, third electrode or fourth electrode comprise a pair of interdigitated electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 6 , wherein the electro-optic display is a flexible device, a thin-film device or a flexible-circuit device. 
     
     
         10 . The electro-optic display according to  claim 6 , wherein once set the messages are irreversible, permanent, near permanent, or permanent and irreversible. 
     
     
         11 . An intelligent label device comprising:
 an electro-optic display comprising:
 a first electro-optic layer and a second electro-optic layer in a vertical stack arrangement, the vertical stack arrangement having at least three independently addressable message surfaces, and each electro-optic layer comprises a material that changes color, quality, or transparency state when activated; 
 electrode pairs corresponding to each message surface, wherein the electrode pairs are configured to independently set each message on a message surface by activating the respective message surface to cause a change in color, quality or transparency of the material. 
   
     
     
         12 . The intelligent label device according to  claim 11 , wherein the vertical stack arrangement has four independently addressable message surfaces. 
     
     
       13. The intelligent device of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more of (1) a processor, (2) a memory, (3) a sensor, (4) a clock or timer, (5) an actuator, (6) communication circuitry, or (7) a power source. 
     
     
         14 . The intelligent device of  claim 11 , further comprising print information. 
     
     
         15 . The intelligent device of  claim 11 , further being a flexible device, a thin-film device or a flexible-circuit device. 
     
     
         16 . The intelligent device of  claim 11 , further being in the form of a label, tag, payment card, package, or good. 
     
     
         17 . The intelligent device of  claim 11 , further comprising a second electro-optic display. 
     
     
         18 . The intelligent device of  claim 11 , wherein once set the messages are irreversible, permanent, near permanent, or permanent and irreversible. 
     
     
         19 . The intelligent device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the electrodes of the electrode pairs comprises a pair of interdigitated electrodes.