Device and method to fix a message on a display
Briefly, an intelligent label is disclosed that has two viewable surfaces. Each surface is constructed such that a permanent and irreversible message may be set into each surface independently. That is, a first message may be set into the first viewing surface of the electro-optic material, and another message may be set into the second viewing surface, for example, at a later time. Various constructions are described including a construction using two pairs of stimulating electrodes, and a second construction using a single pair of stimulating electrodes.
1. A method for setting messages on an electro-optic display for presentation, comprising:
providing the electro-optic display, the electro-optic display comprising a single electro-optic layer comprising a material that irreversibly changes color, quality, or transparency from a first state to a permanent second state and a first electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to a first message surface of the electro-optic layer and second electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to an opposing second message surface, each message surface in a first state and can be independently activated to present a message;
applying at a first time a first signal across the electrodes to set a first message on the first message surface, the first message is set in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; and the second state has a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state;
applying at a second time a second signal across the electrodes to set a second message on the second message surface, the second message is set in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; and the second state has a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state; and
wherein the second signal has a polarity different from the first signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is applied at a lower voltage than the first signal or applied at a higher voltage than the first signal.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is applied for a shorter duration than the first signal or applied for a longer duration than the first signal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first or second signals are continuous, or the first or second signals are not continuous.
5. A method for setting messages on an electro-optic display for presentation, comprising:
providing the electro-optic display, the electro-optic display comprising a single electro-optic layer comprising a material that irreversibly changes color, quality, or transparency from a first state to a permanent second state and a first electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to a first message surface of the electro-optic layer and second electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to an opposing second message surface, each message surface in a first state and can be independently activated to present a message;
applying at a first time a first signal across the electrodes to set a first message on the first message surface;
applying at a second time a second signal across the electrodes that cooperates with the first signal to set the first message in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; the second state having a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state;
applying at a third time a third signal across the electrodes to set a second message on the second message surface, the second message is set in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; the second state having a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state; and
wherein the second signal and the third signal have a different polarity from the first signal.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second signal is applied at a lower voltage than the first signal or at a higher voltage than the first signal.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second signal is of a shorter duration than the first signal or a longer duration of the first signal.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first or second signals are continuous, or the first or second signals are not continuous.
9. A method for setting messages on an electro-optic display for presentation, comprising:
providing the electro-optic display, the electro-optic display comprising a single electro-optic layer comprising a material that irreversibly changes color, quality, or transparency from a first state to a permanent second state and a first electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to a first message surface of the electro-optic layer and second electrode adjacent to and operably coupled to an opposing second message surface, each message surface in a first state and can be independently activated to present a message;
applying at a first time a first signal across the electrodes to set a first message on the first message surface;
applying at a second time a second signal across the electrodes that cooperates with the first signal to set the first message in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; the second state having a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state;
applying at a third time a third signal across the electrodes to set a second message on the second message surface;
applying at a fourth time a fourth signal across the electrodes that cooperates with the third signal to set the second message in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; the second state having a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state; the second message is set in a permanent second state that is irreversible to its first state; the second state having a color, quality, or transparency different from the first state; and
wherein the second signal and the third signal have a different polarity from the first signal and the fourth signal.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second or fourth signals are of a lower voltage than the first or third signals or a higher voltage than the first or third signals.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second or fourth signals are of a shorter duration than the first or third signals or a longer duration of the first or third signals.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second or fourth signals are continuous, or the second or fourth signal are not continuous.