IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0214072
(2008-06-16)
|
등록번호 |
US-7815116
(2010-11-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Perkowski, Esq., P.C., Thomas J.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
168 |
초록
▼
An electronic tagging system for tagging a plurality of luggage items transported through a transportation system. The system includes a plurality of electronic-ink display labels coupled to a plurality of luggage items. Each electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representative of
An electronic tagging system for tagging a plurality of luggage items transported through a transportation system. The system includes a plurality of electronic-ink display labels coupled to a plurality of luggage items. Each electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representative of information relating to the status of the luggage item within the transportation system. One or more activation modules are provided throughout the transportation system for transmitting electromagnetic data signals to electronic-ink display labels and providing instructions to updateable electronic-ink display labels employed in the determination of graphic indicia to be displayed on electronic-ink display labels. Each electronic-ink display label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The electronic-ink display label includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in communication with storage element. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the activation module, using the antenna structure. The electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representing information which changes as the associated luggage item moves through the transportation system.
대표청구항
▼
Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. An electronic tagging system for tagging a plurality of luggage items transported through a transportation system, comprising: (A) a plurality of electronic-ink display labels attached to a plu
Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. An electronic tagging system for tagging a plurality of luggage items transported through a transportation system, comprising: (A) a plurality of electronic-ink display labels attached to a plurality of luggage items, wherein each said electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representative of information relating to the luggage item in said transportation system; and (B) one or more activation modules provided with said transportation system, for transmitting electromagnetic data signals to said electronic-ink display labels and providing instructions to said electronic-ink display labels employed in the determination of graphic indicia to be displayed on said electronic-ink display labels; wherein each said electronic-ink display label includes: (1) 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; (2) at least one antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic data signals carrying information corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly; (3) an integrated circuit structure having (i) a storage element for storing said instructions, programs and data, and (ii) a programmed processor 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; and (4) a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said at least one antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic data signals from at least one said activation module, using said at least one antenna structure; wherein said received electromagnetic data signals carry information corresponding to said programs, said instructions, said data or said graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly; wherein said integrated circuit structure is responsive to electromagnetic data signals received from at least one said activation module, by said at least one antenna structure and said signal receiving structure; and wherein said addressable display assembly is responsive to said output signals generated by said programmed processor, to display the determined graphical indicia which changes as said luggage item moves through said transportation system. 2. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna structure also receives electromagnetic power signals transmitted by at least one said activation module; and wherein said electronic-ink display label further comprises a power converter, operably connected to said at least one antenna structure, for converting said received electromagnetic 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. 3. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said electronic-ink display label further comprises an electrical power source for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit structure. 4. The electronic tagging system of claim 3, wherein said electrical power source is an electrical battery structure. 5. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna structure, said integrated circuit 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 electronic-ink based display label having a stacked construction. 6. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein at least one said activation module receives electromagnetic data signals from said at least one antenna structure of said electronic-ink display label, carrying information, including the status of the graphical indicia displayed by said electronic-ink display label. 7. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, which further comprises a signal transmitting structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure, and wherein said at least one antenna structure further transmits electromagnetic data signals from said at least one antenna structure, to at least one said activation module. 8. The electronic tagging system of claim 7, wherein said signal transmitting structure and said signal receiving structure are realized as a signal transceiving structure. 9. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said electronic-ink display label further comprises a protection layer disposed over said layer of electronic ink in order to prevent said addressable display assembly from inadvertent physical trauma and/or environmental damage. 10. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said activation layer comprises an activation grid, disposed on a support structure, to form a plurality of addressable pixel locations, wherein each said addressable pixel location is addressable by said programmed processor. 11. The electronic tagging system of claim 10, wherein said programmed processor controls each pixel location in said activation grid to form human and/or machine readable graphical indicia within said layer of electronic ink. 12. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said electronic ink comprises an arrangement of microcapsules disposed between said transparent electrode layer and said activation layer, and wherein each said microcapsule has disposed therein an electro-phoretic composition of a fluid, such as a dielectric or emulsion fluid, and a suspension of colored or charged particles or colloidal material. 13. The electronic tagging system of claim 12, wherein said fluid comprises a dielectric fluid. 14. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each said activation module employs a processor arranged with a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna device. 15. The electronic tagging system of claim 14, wherein said receiver and said transmitter in said activation module are combined into a single transceiver device for both sending and receiving electromagnetic data signals. 16. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein at least one said activation module is configured to transmit or receive, by way of electromagnetic signal transmission, commands, instructions, software programs, and parameters or variables associated with either (i) pixel address locations of said addressable display assembly, (ii) the graphical indicia displayed on the surface of said addressable display assembly, or (iii) instructions for subsequent use by said electronic-ink display label. 17. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said storage element comprises a volatile or non-volatile memory element, or combinations thereof, such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM. 18. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said storage element further stores identification information for uniquely identifying each said luggage item. 19. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each said electronic-ink display label is applied to at least one said luggage item. 20. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, which is employed by either a travel, postal or packaging concern, to label a variety of items, including luggage, letter and package items, respectively. 21. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said electronic-ink display labels are manually applied to luggage items by an airline transportation system. 22. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each said electronic-ink display label is configured as a disposable display tag. 23. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each said electronic-ink display label is configured as a re-usable display tag. 24. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each said electronic-ink display label is integrated into a piece of luggage. 25. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said one or more of said activator modules are placed in communication with a host processing system or with a standalone processing system. 26. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each said electronic-ink display label is updated each time said electronic-ink display label passes through the electromagnetic field of one said activator module. 27. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said graphical indicia displayed on each said electronic-ink display label represents a bar code symbol encoding the relevant information associated with its associated luggage item, so as to improve the level of routing automation in said transportation system. 28. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said activator modules are operably connected to an airline reservation system. 29. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said activator modules are mounted near or integrated into a luggage weight scale at a check-in counter. 30. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said activator modules is realized as a hand held device for use by a check-in attendant or curb-side baggage handler handling the luggage items of a passenger. 31. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said activator modules communicate with and simultaneously update several electronic-ink display labels. 32. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein said one or more of activator modules are mounted along or near conveyor belts that move luggage items between a check-in counter and an airplane. 33. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein each time a luggage item is moved from one conveyor belt or system to another conveyor belt or system, at least one said activator module automatically updates the electronic-ink display label to indicate the status of the luggage item within said transportation system. 34. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said activator modules are installed at a cargo bay entrance to a luggage compartment of an airplane. 35. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said activator modules are installed aboard a container used to load luggage items onto an airplane. 36. The electronic tagging system of claim 1, wherein, one or more of said activator modules are installed at a baggage pick-up conveyor belt, and at exit doors to an airport.
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