Method and apparatus for electronically displaying information

1. An e-paper system, comprising:

an e-paper,

wherein the e-paper has a plurality of electrode regions configured to independently receive charge, retain charge, and have charge removed therefrom, and

wherein transferring charge to and/or removing charge from one or more electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions controls an output state of the e-paper;

a driver,

wherein the driver comprises:

a control unit;

a plurality of driver contacts,

wherein the control unit is configured to selectively and independently charge each driver contact of the plurality of driver contacts; and

a contact element,

wherein the contact element has a plurality of conductive elements,

a mechanical driver,

wherein the mechanical driver is configured to slidably move the driver with respect to the e-paper in a first direction, and

wherein as the driver slidably moves with respect to the e-paper, the plurality of conductive elements are changeably positioned with respect to the plurality of electrode regions of the e-paper to transfer charge to or remove charge from one or more of the electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions of the e-paper based on a linear position along the e-paper with respect to the first direction.

2. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the contact element comprises:

a rotating element,

wherein the rotating element comprises the plurality of conductive elements,

wherein when the driver slidably moves with respect to the e-paper, the rotating element rotates,

wherein as the rotating element rotates the plurality of conductive elements are changeably positioned with respect to the plurality of electrode regions of the e-paper to transfer charge to or remove charge from one or more of the electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions of the e-paper based on a rotational position of the rotating element and the linear position along the e-paper with respect to the first direction,

wherein at a first rotational position and a first linear position, a first subset of the conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements of the rotating element electrically connects a first subset of driver contacts of the plurality of driver contacts with a first subset of electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions, and

wherein at a second rotational position and a second linear position, a second subset of the conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements of the rotating element electrically connects a second subset of driver contacts of the plurality of driver contacts with a second subset of electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions.

3. The system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the rotating element comprises a cylinder with consecutive conductive and non-conductive layers.

4. The system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the conductive regions of the rotating element are coated with low friction conductive material.

5. The system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the rotating element comprises conductive beads lined up together with non-conductive elements in between.

6. The system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the plurality of driver contacts comprises:

an array of thin film transistors.

7. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of driver contacts comprises:

a printed circuit board,

wherein the plurality of driver contacts are positioned on the printed circuit board.

8. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a wiper,

wherein the wiper removes charge from the plurality of electrode regions as the driver slidably moves with respect to the e-paper.

9. The system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the wiper is conductive and moveably attached to the driver, and

wherein when the wiper touches the e-paper the wiper erases an image on the e-paper.

10. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the driver holds the e-paper in-between a first portion of the driver and second portion of the driver,

wherein the first portion of the driver is positioned on a first side of the e-paper,

wherein the plurality of electrode regions are on the first side of the e-paper,

wherein the second portion of the driver is positioned on a second side of the e-paper, and

wherein the second portion of the driver applies pressure to the second side of the e-paper to ensure a contact between the first portion of the driver and the first side of the e-paper.

11. The system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first portion of the driver has the plurality of conductive elements that connects the plurality of driver contacts and the plurality of electrode regions.

12. The system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first portion of the driver and the second portion of the driver encircle the e-paper.

13. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the e-paper is flexible.

14. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the system is adapted to be attached to an edge of a shelf, such that:

the driver is stationary with respect to the edge of the shelf, and

the e-paper moves along the edge of the shelf over the e-paper.

15. An e-paper display, comprising:

the e-paper system of claim 1 .

16. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the contact element comprises:

a rotating element,

wherein the rotating element comprises the plurality of conductive elements,

wherein when the driver slidably moves with respect to the e-paper, the rotating element rotates,

wherein as the rotating element rotates the plurality of conductive elements are changeably positioned with respect to the plurality of electrode regions of the e-paper to transfer charge to or remove charge from one or more of the electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions of the e-paper based on a rotational position of the rotating element and the linear position along the e-paper with respect to the first direction,

wherein at a first rotational position and a first linear position, a subset of the conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements of the rotating element electrically connects with a subset of driver contacts of the plurality of driver contacts such that the subset of driver contacts of the plurality of driver contacts transfers charge to or receives charge from the subset of the conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements, and

wherein at a second rotational position and a second linear position, the subset of the conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements of the rotating element electrically connects with a subset of electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions such that the subset of the conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements transfers charge to or receives charge from the subset of electrode regions of the plurality of electrode regions.

17. The system according to claim 16 ,

wherein the rotating element comprises a cylinder with film that has consecutive conductive and non-conductive regions surrounding the surface of the cylinder.

18. The system according to claim 17 ,

wherein the surface of the cylindrical element has a pattern of conductive and non-conductive regions.

19. The system according to claim 17 ,

wherein the surface of the cylindrical element has only conductive regions that are spaced apart.

20. A system for displaying information, comprising:

one or more e-paper displays,

wherein each of the one or more e-paper displays comprises:

e-paper; and

a driver,

wherein the driver writes on two or more e-papers aligned together;

a communications module, and

wherein the communications module provides a first signal to the driver as to what to write on the two or more e-papers; and

a command module,

wherein the command module provides a second signal to the communications module, and

wherein the second signal provides one or more updates for the driver to write on the two or more e-papers.