Rewritable label for recording time information

1. A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on an article, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer including a material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the time related information can be written, rewritten and viewed, wherein such time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article or a device associated with the article and such time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material, wherein each segment corresponds to a day of the week or a time of day;

b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and

c) electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.

2. A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on an article, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer including cholesteric liquid crystal material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the time related information can be written, rewritten and viewed, wherein such time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article and such time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material, wherein each segment corresponds to a day of the week or a time of day;

b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and

c) electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.

3. A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on a rental article, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer of a material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the return time related information can be written and viewed, wherein such return time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article and such return time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material, wherein each segment corresponds to a day of the week or a time of day;

b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and

c) electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the material includes cholesteric liquid crystal.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the rental article is a media cassette.

6. A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on a rental article, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a light transmissive substrate; a transparent conductor over such substrate; a layer including cholesteric liquid crystal material over the transparent conductor; a patterned dielectric layer over the layer including cholesteric liquid crystal material, wherein the dielectric layer has openings therethrough to the layer including cholesteric liquid crystal material; and a second conductor provided over the dielectric layer and in the openings to be in contact with the layer including the cholesteric liquid crystal material, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal material in contact with the second conductor is effective to be in at least first and second optical states so that the time related information can be written and viewed, wherein such time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article and such time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material;

b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and

c) electrically addressing selected segments to erase undesired previous time related information and writing appropriate time related information.

7. An article having a display portion for displaying time related information, wherein the display portion is an electrically rewritable cholesteric liquid crystal display that maintains the time related information in the absence of an electric field, and wherein the rewritable display is segmented, each segment corresponding to a day of the week or a time of day.

8. The article claimed in claim 7 , wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal display comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film.

9. The article claimed in claim 8 , wherein the polymer dispersed liquid crystal film is a dried gelatin-cholesteric liquid crystal emulsion.

10. The article claimed in claim 7 , wherein the article is a rented video recording, and the time related information is the return time when the recording is due to be returned to a rental agency.

11. The article claimed in claim 10 , wherein the display is adapted to selectively display the days of the week and AM and PM.

12. The article claimed in claim 7 , wherein the display comprises:

a flexible support;

a transparent conductor on the flexible support;

a film comprising a dried emulsion of cholesteric liquid crystal in gelatin located over the transparent conductor on the support;

a patterned dielectric layer located over the liquid crystal film, openings in the pattern defining image areas;

a set of conductors located over the dielectric layer, the conductors making contact with the liquid crystal film through the openings; and

a set of contacts for making electrical contact with the transparent conductor and the conductors of the set of conductors, respectively.

13. A system for renting an article, comprising:

a) a label affixed to the article including an electrically rewritable cholesteric liquid crystal display for displaying time related information related to the usage of the article, wherein the rewritable display is segmented, each segment corresponding to a day of the week or a time of day; and

b) apparatus for electrically writing the time related information on the display device.

14. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein display comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film.

15. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein the article is a rented video recording, and the time related information is the return time when the recording is due to be returned to a rental agency.

16. The system claimed in claim 15 , wherein the display is adapted to selectively display the days of the week and AM and PM.

17. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein the polymer dispersed liquid crystal film is a dried gelatin-cholesteric liquid crystal emulsion.

18. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein the display comprises:

a flexible light transmissive support;

a transparent conductor on the flexible support;

a film comprising a dried emulsion of cholesteric liquid crystal in gelatin located over the transparent conductor on the support;

a patterned dielectric layer located over the liquid crystal film, openings in the pattern defining image areas;

a set of conductors located over the dielectric layer, the conductors making contact with the liquid crystal film through the openings; and

a set of contacts for making electrical contact with the transparent conductor and the conductors of the set of conductors, respectively.

19. A method of renting an article, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a label including an electrically rewritable cholesteric liquid crystal display for displaying time related information related to the usage of the article, wherein the rewritable display is segmented, each segment corresponding to a day of the week or a time of day;

b) affixing the label to the article;

c) electrically writing time related information related to the usage of the article on the display; and

d) delivering the article to a renter.

20. The method claimed in claim 19 , wherein display comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal film.

21. The method claimed in claim 19 , wherein the article is a rented video recording, and the time related information is the return time when the recording is due to be returned to a rental agency.

22. The method claimed in claim 21 , wherein the display is adapted to selectively display the days of the week and AM and PM.

23. The method claimed in claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:

e) returning the article to a rental agency; and

d) rewriting time related information related to a subsequent use of the article.

24. The method claimed in claim 19 , wherein the polymer dispersed liquid crystal film is a dried gelatin-cholesteric liquid crystal emulsion.

25. The method claimed in claim 19 , wherein the display comprises:

a flexible light transmissive support;

a transparent conductor on the flexible support;

a film comprising a dried emulsion of cholesteric liquid crystal in gelatin located over the transparent conductor on the support;

a patterned dielectric layer located over the liquid crystal film, openings in the pattern defining image areas;

a set of conductors located over the dielectric layer, the conductors making contact with the liquid crystal film through the openings; and

a set of contacts for making electrical contact with the transparent conductor and the conductors of the set of conductors, respectively.

26. An article having a display portion for displaying time related information, wherein the display portion is an electrically rewritable cholesteric liquid crystal display that maintains the time related information in the absence of an electric field, the display portion comprising:

a flexible support;

a transparent conductor on the flexible support;

a film comprising a dried emulsion of cholesteric liquid crystal in gelatin located over the transparent conductor on the support;

a patterned dielectric layer located over the liquid crystal film, openings in the pattern defining image areas;

a set of conductors located over the dielectric layer, the conductors making contact with the liquid crystal film through the openings; and

a set of contacts for making electrical contact with the transparent conductor and the conductors of the set of conductors, respectively.

27. A system for renting an article, comprising:

a) a label affixed to the article including an electrically rewritable cholesteric liquid crystal display for displaying time related information related to the usage of the article; and

b) apparatus for electrically writing the time related information on the display device,

wherein the display comprises:

a flexible support;

a transparent conductor on the flexible support;

a film comprising a dried emulsion of cholesteric liquid crystal in gelatin located over the transparent conductor on the support;

a patterned dielectric layer located over the liquid crystal film, openings in the pattern defining image areas;

a set of conductors located over the dielectric layer, the conductors making contact with the liquid crystal film through the openings; and

a set of contacts for making electrical contact with the transparent conductor and the conductors of the set of conductors, respectively.

28. A method of renting an article, comprising:

a) providing a label including an electrically rewritable cholesteric liquid crystal display for displaying time related information related to the usage of the article;

b) affixing the label to the article;

c) electrically writing time related information related to the usage of the article on the display; and

d) delivering the article to a renter,

wherein the display comprises:

a flexible support;

a transparent conductor on the flexible support;

a film comprising a dried emulsion of cholesteric liquid crystal in gelatin located over the transparent conductor on the support;

a patterned dielectric layer located over the liquid crystal film, openings in the pattern defining image areas;

a set of conductors located over the dielectric layer, the conductors making contact with the liquid crystal film through the openings; and

a set of contacts for making electrical contact with the transparent conductor and the conductors of the set of conductors, respectively.