PRINTING LEDS, BATTERY, AND DRIVER CIRCUIT ON THIN SUBSTRATE FOR PACKAGING
On a flexible substrate is printed, LEDs, a battery, a flasher, and an actuator. The actuator may be a photo-switch that causes the battery and flasher to periodically energize the LEDs when a sufficient ambient light impinges on the actuator. The substrate may be an insert in a transparent package containing a product, such as a razor. When the package is in the front of a display in a store, the ambient light causes the LEDs to flash, such as every 10-30 seconds to attract consumers to the product. The substrate may also form part of the outer surface of the package. The flasher may simply flash the LEDs or create a dynamic display by energizing different groups of the LEDs at different times.
1 . A light emitting package for a product comprising:
a package of a product, the package containing a product for sale to a consumer in a store, wherein a portion of the package comprises:
a substrate;
printed light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the substrate,
a printed battery on the substrate;
a printed flasher circuit on the substrate; and
a printed actuator on the substrate configured to cause the battery and flasher to periodically energize the LEDs upon a triggering event occurring to attract the consumer's attention.
2 . The package of claim 1 wherein the actuator is triggered in response to ambient light for causing the battery and flasher to periodically energize the LEDs when sufficient ambient light impinges on the actuator.
3 . The package of claim 1 wherein the portion of the package containing the LEDs comprises an insert in a transparent or translucent outer package portion.
4 . The package of claim 1 wherein the portion of the package containing the LEDs comprises a portion of an outer package layer.
5 . The package of claim 1 wherein the substrate is flexible.
6 . The package of claim 1 wherein the LEDs are printed in selectable groups of LEDs, and wherein the flasher circuit addresses the different groups of the LEDs at different times to create an animated display.
7 . The package of claim 1 further comprising a mask layer having openings, wherein the mask layer overlies the LEDs to define a light emission pattern viewable by the consumer.
8 . The package of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprising a proximity sensor that detects a presence of a person proximate the package.
9 . The package of claim 8 wherein the proximity sensor detects at least one of infrared, sounds, or motion.
10 . The package of claim 1 wherein the actuator detects a magnetic field.
11 . The package of claim 12 wherein the magnetic field is generated by a magnet positioned in a display area for the package, and the actuator causes the battery and flasher to periodically energize the LEDs when the package is sufficiently proximate to the magnet.
12 . The package of claim 1 wherein the flasher circuit comprises active devices, wherein the active devices are printed as singulated dies and connected in parallel.
13 . The package of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises active devices, wherein the active devices are printed as singulated dies and connected in parallel.
14 . The package of claim 1 wherein the flasher circuit is programmable by interconnecting devices printed on the substrate.
15 . The package of claim 1 wherein the actuator is programmable by interconnecting devices printed on the substrate.
16 . A method for attracting a consumer to a packaged product comprising:
providing a package of a product, the package containing a product for sale to a consumer in a store, wherein a portion of the package comprises:
a substrate;
printed light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the substrate,
a printed battery on the substrate;
a printed flasher circuit on the substrate; and
a printed actuator on the substrate configured to cause the battery and flasher to periodically energize the LEDs upon a triggering event occurring to attract the consumer's attention; and
triggering the actuator by the triggering event to periodically energized the LEDs.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the actuator is a proximity sensor and the step of triggering comprises a person being sufficiently proximate to the package to trigger the proximity sensor.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the actuator is a magnetic sensor and the step of triggering comprises a magnet being sufficiently proximate to the package to trigger the magnetic sensor.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein the flasher circuit comprises active devices, wherein the active devices are printed as singulated dies and connected in parallel.
20 . The method of claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises active devices, wherein the active devices are printed as singulated dies and connected in parallel.