Self-powered electronic label
US8261971B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G2380/14
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic label system is provided which includes a data source having information to be displayed by an electronic label. An optical source such as an LED array broadcasts optical signals modulated with the data source data to plural electronic labels. Each electronic label has an optical receiver which receives the modulated optical signals and also receives unmodulated optical signals to supply power to an energy storage device. A mode switch switches the optical receiver between a signal reception mode and an energy storage device power-supplying mode. One or more bistable displays display the data received from the modulated optical signals. Through the use of bistable displays, the power consumption of the electronic label is greatly reduced while use of a single receiving element for receiving both the signal light and power storage light reduces the number of components needed to assemble the electronic label, thus reducing cost.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.