MX2008003794A - Product display system and container - Google Patents

Abstract

There is a product display system and container for holding contents. The container includes a housing configured to contain the product;a power source coupled to the housing and configured to provide electrical power;an electronic paper display coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the power source, and configured to visually display first and second images;a processor in electrical communication with the electronic paper display and configured to control display of the first and second images;and/or a memory module in communication with the electronic paper display and configured to store information regarding the first and second images. There is an activation module in electrical communication with the electronic paper display, the processor, and the power source, wherein the activation module is configured to selectably restrict power consumption from the power source. There is also a solar cell for recharging the power source.

Description

PRODUCT DISPLAY SYSTEM AND CONTAINER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to containers, specifically to containers and product display systems that have changing and / or changeable displays. In a retail environment, the ability to excel from previous competitors is vital to have satisfactory sales. Various methods, systems and services are used to increase the visibility of products. Such include signals, viewing orientation, lights, bright colors and three-dimensional visualizations associated with the products. US Patent Application No. 2004/0246684 by Karaki discloses a sheet computer, camouflaged computer, display device, manufacturing methods and electronic devices thereof that eliminate the inconvenience in the speed of operation, caused due to clock delays of a system clock and that it is capable of high-speed operation. To achieve this objective, a display circuit and peripheral circuits connected to the display circuit on the same substrate are manufactured and the peripheral circuits constitute an asynchronous system without global synchronization. In the asynchronous system, the processes that constitute minimum function circuits perform a link establishment through channels and activate events actively or passively. The asynchronous system does not use global synchronization and therefore it is possible to apply lower energy consumption and a higher operating speed. U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0041091 by Sawyer discloses a drive capable of printing a label on an optical medium unit. The drive mechanism includes a first head that communicates in optical form with the medium on a first side and a second label print head for applying a visual label associated with the optical medium unit on a second side while the medium is located. in an operative position. The first head includes a read-only optical head or read-write head. The second label print head includes a movable or fixed print head, thermal ink jet or laser print head. The second head can be communicated through electrical contacts or a wireless interface with a circular film having addressable elements and providing a visual presentation by means of liquid crystal elements. U.S. Patent No. 6,333,754 to Oba et al., Discloses an image display apparatus, a method for displaying an image and an image display means that can provide an image of a wide viewing angle and high stability of the particles with repeated use. In electronic documents containing a display substrate formed of a perforated transport film, a non-display substrate formed of a film having a two-layered structure containing a load transport film having a layer of film formed thereon. electrodes having a thickness of approximately 50 mm, and conductive black particles and insulating white particles contained therebetween, an electric field is generated at a position corresponding to image data by a recording head in order to move the black particles together to the total surface of the display substrate towards the non-display substrate, whereby a black and white contrast image is formed on the display substrate. Some problems associated with such methods and devices include inefficient power consumption, visually overly aggressive visualizations once they are given an initial quick glance, inability to adapt to various products, inability to generalize to multiple products and failure to direct attention and / or keep the customer's attention directly on the product that can be purchased.

What is needed is a product display system and / or a container that solves one or more of the problems described herein and / or one or more of the problems that someone skilled in the art may become aware of after becoming familiar with this specification. The present invention can be applied in a variety of ways to a variety of different industries. In one modality, the PRODUCT AND RECIPIENT DISPLAY SYSTEM can be used in a variety of stores, commercial establishments, wholesale warehouses, and so on. A product of any kind can be placed inside the container and the display system can be adapted to show and / or draw attention to the product. The PRODUCT AND RECIPIENT DISPLAY SYSTEM can be used anywhere the product may be on display. The PRODUCT AND RECIPIENT DISPLAY SYSTEM will significantly improve the aesthetic appearance and / or commercialization capacity of any product. The PRODUCT AND RECIPIENT DISPLAY SYSTEM can be applied to a variety of industries ranging from large manufacturers to a person selling or distributing a product at the corner of a street. A non-limiting example may be manufacturers of products that wish to have their product displayed using the invention in the retail and / or wholesale stores. Additionally, an advertising and / or marketing company may wish to use the PRODUCT AND RECIPIENT DISPLAY SYSTEM to promote a product and / or event. The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by the containers currently available. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a product and / or container display system with a changing display. In one embodiment, there is a container for containing a product. The container includes a housing configured to contain the product; a power source coupled to the housing and configured to provide electrical power; an electronic document screen coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the power source, and configured to visually display a first image and a second image; a processor in electrical communication with the electronic document screen and configured to control the display of the first and second images; and / or a memory module in communication with the electronic document screen and configured to store information with respect to the first and second images. There may also be an activation module in electrical communication with at least one of the group consisting of the electronic document screen, the processor and the power source, wherein the activation module is configured to selectively restrict the consumption of energy from the energy source. The activation module may include a light detector. The activation module can allow energy consumption when light is detected and can restrict energy consumption when no light is detected. There may also be a solar cell electrically coupled to the power source and configured to provide power to the power source when it is exposed to light. There may be an interface module that may be a tab that may be in removable communication with the memory module. There may be a second electronic document screen coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the power source and / or configured to visually display a third image; and a fourth image. There may be a protective coating disposed on the electronic document screen.

In another modality there may be a product display system for joining to a product. The product display system may include a power module configured to provide power; a display module in electrical communication with the power module and configured to selectively display visual information; an operation module in communication with the display module and configured to control the display module; and / or a coupling module coupled to each of the energy module, the display module and the operation module and configured to couple the product display system to the product. The coupling module can be indirectly coupled to the energy module. The coupling module may include an adhesive layer coupled to the display module; and / or a release layer coupled to the adhesive layer and configured to be removed without substantially removing the adhesive layer, thereby exposing the adhesive layer. There can also be a back lighting module arranged behind the display module and configured to emit light through the display module. There may be an interface module removably attached to the operation module and in communication with it. The interface module may include a perforated tab extending from the operation module. The energy module can include a sheet type battery. In yet another modality, there is a product display system to contain a product. The product display system may include a power module configured to provide power; display module in energy communication with the power module and configured to selectively present visual information; an operation module in communication with the display module and configured to control the display module; and / or a housing module coupled to the display module and configured to contain the product. The product display system may further include a recharging module in electrical communication with the power module and / or configured to supply power to the power module. The display module can substantially hide the accommodation module. The display module may include a protective cover. There may also be an interface module removably attached to the operation module and in communication with it. The display module can include an electronic document. The reference, throughout this specification, to characteristics, advantages or similar language does not imply that all the features and advantages that can be realized with the present invention must be or are in each modality of the invention. On the other hand, it is understood that the language referring to features and advantages means that a specific aspect, advantage or characteristic described in relation to a modality is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the discussion of characteristics and advantages and similar language, throughout this specification can refer, but not necessarily, to the same modality. In addition, the aspects, advantages and described features of the present invention can be combined in any suitable form in one or more embodiments. One of skill in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the features or specific advantages of a particular embodiment. In other examples additional features and advantages can be recognized in certain embodiments which may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by practicing the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the advantages of the invention to be easily understood, a particular description of the invention briefly described in the foregoing will be presented by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. On the understanding that these drawings represent only typical embodiments of the invention and that therefore should not be considered limiting of their scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a container having a changing display according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a modular view of a container having a changing display according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a sheet-type battery according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates a thin screen according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 illustrates a solar cell according to an embodiment of the invention. For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, a specific language will be used to describe them. However, it will be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended with them. Any alteration and further modification of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional application of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which may occur to someone with relevant skill in the art and who has possession of this description. , will be considered within the scope of the invention. The reference throughout this specification to "some modality", "a modality" or similar language means that a particular aspect, structure or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. In this way, the appearance of the phrases, "some modality", "a modality" and similar language throughout this specification can refer, although not necessarily, to the same modality, different modalities or parts of components of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, the reference to the wording "one modality", or similar, for two or more characteristics, elements, etc., does not mean that the characteristics are related, are different or are the same, etc. The use of the term "a modality" or similar wording is only a convenient phrase to indicate optional features that may or may not be part of the claimed invention. Each declaration of a modality shall be considered independent of any other declaration of a modality notwithstanding any use of similar or identical language characteristic of each modality. Therefore, in the cases in which a modality is identified as "another modality", the modality identified is independent of any other modality characterized by the language "other modality". It will be considered that the independent modalities may combine with each other, in whole or in part, as the claims and / or technique may indicate, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly. Finally, the fact that the term "one modality", or similar, does not appear at the beginning of each sentence in the specification, as in the practice of some practitioners, is only a convenience for clarity of the reader. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate, by reference, the wording "one modality" and the like at the beginning of each sentence in the present in cases where it is logically possible and appropriate. Many of the functional units described in this specification have been designated as modules in order to emphasize more particularly their application independence. For example, a module can be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising VLSI circuits or custom door arrays, commercial semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors or other individual components. A module can also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field-programmable gate arrays, programmable logic devices or the like. The modules can also be implemented in software for the execution of various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for example, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions that may, for example, be organized as an object, procedure or function. However, the executables of an identified module need to be physically located together, but may comprise different instructions stored in different locations that, when put together in a logical manner, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module. In fact, an executable code module may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed in several different code segments, between different programs, and through various memory devices. Similarly, operation data within the modules can be identified and illustrated herein, and can be represented in any possible way and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operation data can be collected as a single data set, or distributed in different locations in different storage devices, and can exist, at least partially, simply as electronic signals in a system or network. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a product display system having a changing display according to an embodiment of the invention and a block diagram illustrating a modular view of a container having a changing display according to a mode of the invention. invention, respectively. A container or product display system 100 is shown having a first image 110 and a second image 113, each presented in a display module 120. A container 100 may contain an object or objects and / or other content such as written materials. The display module 120 is coupled to an operation module or control module 130. The operation module 130 may include a processor or processor module, memory or memory module and / or transducer or transducer module.

In a non-limiting example, a memory module may include a set of instructions associated with an image and the processor module may control the transducer module to alter the display module 120 according to the instruction set of the memory module, thus forming a desired image in the display module 120. Taken together, the operation module 130 and the display module 120 may be what is known in the art as an electronic document, such as that described in US Patent No. 6,865,012 to Liang et al. and 6,914,713 to Chung et al., whose patent specifications are incorporated herein by reference. The electronic document in general can be described as a multiplicity of cells each including a liquid and one or more particles in response to a stimulus such as a voltage or magnetic field. Typically, the particle includes a plurality of stable states that include one in which the particle is visible and one in which the particle is not visible. Therefore, a user can use a stimulus to alter the particle to one state or another, where the particle can stay until it is stimulated otherwise. Therefore, a series of images can be generated by altering the states of a plurality of particles. In some examples, the electronic document can include a plurality of colors, it can be flexible, it can present a non-emissive image and / or present an image without consuming energy continuously. The operation module 130 may include a set of instructions and / or logic control, such that the operation module 130 may cause the images to change according to a defined pattern. In a non-limiting example, the operation module 130 may cause an increase in the frequency of image changes for a few seconds of each minute, thereby calling for increased attention on the product display system 100 during that time. Also shown is a backlight module 132 that can be configured to emit light through the display module 120 and / or the operation module 130. The back lighting module 132 may include parameters that may be variable, such as, but not limited to, brightness, color and strobe frequency. The backlight module 132 can be configured to not shine through the display module 120 and / or the operation module 130, but instead provide a resplendent margin around them to advantageously attract more attention to the product display system 100. The electronic document 120 and 130 or display module 120 and the operation module 130 are shown electronically coupled to a power source or power module 140, such as, but not limited to, a thin film sheet type battery, a button-type battery, a power supply, a DC power source, an AC power source and / or any combination thereof. A power module 140 may include one or more power sources, such as, but not limited to, batteries. In another non-limiting example, an energy module is a solar cell. It is preferable that the power module 140 is coupled, at least indirectly, to the housing or coupling module 102. An example of such a battery can be found in U.S. Patent No. 6,608,464 to Lew et al., The specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. The power source 140 is coupled to a product or product housing 102, such as, but not limited to, a CD / DVD case, a book, a greeting card, a billboard, a cereal box, a notice, and a cardboard / box for toy / game. The power module 140 may include a power indicator, such as a battery level indicator such as those sold under the name SAA1501T by Phillips Electronics, which has its office located at Groenewoudseweg 1, 5621 BA, Eindhoven in the Netherlands. An energy indicator may be in a thin band coupled to a surface of a product and / or a surface of a product display system 100. A recharging module 150 coupled to the housing 102 and to the power source 140 is also known. The recharging module 150 is configured to provide power or recharge the power module 140. In a non-limiting example, the recharging module 150 is a thin solar panel or photovoltaic thin film cell configured to provide a power source to the power module 140 such as by recharging a battery in the power module 140. A non-limiting example of a photovoltaic thin film cell includes the photovoltaic thin film cell described in U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0183768 by Roscheisen et al., The specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. An activation module 160 is shown arranged in a front part of the container. An activation module 160 may include a sensor such as, but not limited to, a light detector, motion detector or pressure detector coupled to one or more of the display module 120, operation module 130 and power module 140. such that it regulates the energy consumption of the energy module 140. The activation module 160 may be in communication with the operation module 130 and / or may initiate or activate one or more changes in the visual presentation 120 which include, but are not limited to, changing an image and changing a display frequency of images. In a non-limiting example, the activation module 160 may be a light sensor that can restrict the energy flow of the energy module 140 when no light is detected and / or is detected only below a defined threshold. Therefore, when a product is being sent, stored or can not be visibly displayed, energy is not consumed. In another non-limiting example, an activation module can restrict the energy that is extracted from the power module 140 until an action is performed, such as, but not limited to, removing a tape from the activation module 160. In another non-limiting example, the activation module 160 may include a pressure sensor, such as, but not limited to, contact points, a button, switch, or toggle switch that can be actuated by squeezing. Therefore, in a non-limiting example, a viewer can be shown a visual presentation that can increase its activity when a "press me" button is pressed. Activation of such may cause a display module to change one or more images and may cause the images to change a plurality of times over a period of time. In another example, driving the activation module 160 may cause the audio module 190 to emit or not to emit a sound. It may also be included in cases in which the visual presentation may change the images on a first frequency and the actuation of the activation module 160 may cause the visual presentation to change the images at a second frequency. In a non-limiting example, the second frequency is greater (faster) than the first frequency. In another example, there may be a flap, such as, but not limited to, the front panel of a greeting card, wherein the flap opening may trigger the activation module 160 and may result in one or more image changes, as described in the above. Therefore, a product display system 100 may have a plurality of activity levels, such as, but not limited to, storage level, where the images do not change and energy is substantially not consumed; a level of display where the images change at a sufficient speed to attract attention, and an improved level where the images change more rapidly and / or images not previously displayed can be displayed with the activation of a sensor in a module 160 of activation by a spectator. Attached to the operation module 130 is an interface module or interface tab 170. The interface tab 170 is configured to allow an operator to interact with the operation module 130 through a programming module 180 to perform one or more tasks, such as, but not limited to, programming, diagnostics, load memory / release, and change operation parameters. In a non-limiting example, the interface tab 170 is a web of material that includes conductive wires in electrical communication with the operation module 130. There may be a perforation along the interface tab 170, such that the interface tab 170 can be easily removed from the container 100. The interface tab 170 may be configured to be coupled with a programming module 180 which may be another device coupled to a computer to facilitate operator functions. An interface tab 170 can be configured to receive data from the Internet, a console, a desktop computer, etc. In addition, an interface tab 170 can be configured to receive information through a variety of file types, such as, but not limited to, jpg, TIFF, GIG, drawing files, EPW, WAV, MP3, etc. Still further, an interface module 170 can be an I / O device that can allow interconnection of the operation module by any means of communication, including, but not limited to, RF and electrical IR communication. An audio module 190 configured to emit sound is also shown. The audio module 190 is shown in a front part of the product display system 100, but can be arranged anywhere. Preferably, the audio module 190 is disposed on the product display system 100, such that the sound of the audio module is not substantially distorted and / or turned off. In a non-limiting example, the audio module 190 is coupled to an upper front portion of the display module 120. In a non-limiting example, the audio module 190 may be in communication with the operation module 130, the power module 140 and / or the activation module 160. Accordingly, the audio module 190 can be controlled in ways similar to the control of the display module 120, as described herein. In a non-limiting example, the audio module 190 includes a memory for storing audio playback instructions. The display module 120 may include a protection member, such as a cover and / or protective cover. Such can be, but is not limited to, a sleeve coupled to the housing within which other components of the product display system 100 can be arranged. Examples of protection members include, but are not limited to, sheets or sheets of substantially transparent or translucent plastic.

In operation, a user may couple a product display system 100 to a container such as by a pressure adhesive or may have a product display system 100 having a container attached. In a non-limiting example, a product display system may include an adhesive layer coupled to a module of the product display system 100, such as the energy module 140, and may further include a release layer coupled to the adhesive layer. , so that the release layer can be removed, thereby exposing the adhesive layer which can then be placed on a surface of a container, thereby coupling the product display system to the container. In another non-limiting example, the coupling module and / or the adhesive layer can be arranged on a front surface of the display module 120, in such a way that the module 120 of display may be coupled to a surface, such as, but not limited to, by coupling to a glass plate. The product display system 100 can be programmed with a first image 110 to be displayed and a second image 112 to be displayed. An object or other content may be included in the product display system 100, such as, but not limited to, placing a particular DVD within the housing 102. The product display system 100 may be sent to a vendor location, such as, but not limited to, a retailer, where the product display system 100 can be viewed and offered for sale packaged with the contents of the accommodation. The activation module 160 can be used to conserve energy in the power module 140, for example by only allowing the electronic document to switch between the first and second images 110 and 112 in circumstances in which the product display system 100 is at least partially visible by a potential buyer. There may be a plurality of display modules 120 coupled to a container. In a non-limiting example, there is a pair of display modules 120, each controlled by a single operation module 130. A display module 120 can only cover a small portion of a container. In another example, a display module 120 can enclose, wrap or substantially contain a container. In a further example, a container can be a DVD case, as is commonly known in the art, and a product display system can be slid between a protective element on the DVD case and the product display system can be wrapped around, substantially covering a greater part of the exposed surface of the closed container. In yet a further example, a product display system 100 can hide the product or a container, wherein the product / container is substantially covered and / or nested within the product display system 100, such as in cases where the product display system 100 can be configured as a bag. In still yet a further example, there may be a product that is a greeting card having an opening through a front panel, wherein the display member 120 may be attached to the front of a rear panel and may be viewed through of the opening of the front panel. In addition, an activation module 160 may detect an opening of the greeting card and may cause a second image to be displayed and / or a series of images to be displayed. Figure 3 illustrates a sheet type battery 140 according to one embodiment of the invention. A substrate 10 in layers in FIGURE 3 has a top substrate 12, a bottom substrate 14 and three sheet-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 between the substrates 12 and 14. IC 24 and 26 are disposed on the upper substrate 12 as parts electric, and the voltages of ICs 24 and 26 are, for example, 5.0 V and 2.0 V, respectively. A reference number 28 is an IC that is disposed on the lower substrate 14. In FIGURE 3, batteries 16, 18 and 20 are referred to, from bottom to top, the first sheet type battery 16, the second sheet type battery 18 and the third sheet type battery 20. In this embodiment, the voltages of the first sheet type battery 16, the second sheet type battery 18 and the third sheet type battery 20 are 2.0 V, 1.3 V and 1.7 V, respectively, and the sheet type batteries 16, 18 and 20 are they connect in series. The sheet-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 are arranged at the same time as they make firm contact between the upper substrate 12 and the lower substrate 14. The reference numerals 32, 34 and 36 are electrode plates for the leaf type batteries 16, 18 and 20, respectively, and the reference numbers 41, 42 and 43 are battery means. The electrode plate 34 is used for both a cathode of the first sheet type battery 16 as well as for an anode of the second sheet type battery 18, and the electrode plate 36 is used for both a cathode of the second sheet type battery 18 as well as for an anode of the third sheet type battery 20. In the substrate 10 in layers, holes 50 and 51 are formed for power connection cables 24A and 24B of the IC 24, and holes 53 and 54 for power connection cables 26A and 26B of the IC 26. The hole 50 reaches a plate 38 cathodic of the third battery 20 blade type, while the hole 51 reaches an anodic plate 32 of the first battery 16 blade type. The power connection cable 24A is inserted through the hole 50 in the electrode plate 38. The power connection cable 24B is inserted through the hole 51 to the electrode plate 32. The 5.0 V voltage is therefore supplied to the IC 24. Now, observing the hole 53, it reaches the cathode plate 34 of the second sheet-type battery 18, while the hole 54 reaches the electrode plate 32 of the plate Anodic 32 of the first battery 16 blade type. The power connection cable 26A of the IC 26 is inserted through the hole 53 in the electrode plate 34. The power connection cable 26B is inserted through the hole 54 to the electrode plate 32. The 2.0 V voltage is therefore applied to the IC 26. Although not shown in the drawing, an orifice reaches the cathode plate 34 of the second sheet type battery 18 in a case where 3.3 V is required. 10 in layers, which is structured as described above, the sheet-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 are sandwiched between the upper substrate 12 and the lower substrate 14 in the layers, and in this way the substrate 10 is structured in layers with a substrate and integrated batteries. In this way, the energies can be supplied directly from the sheet-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 to the substrates 12 and 14. In particular, the sheet-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 are connected in series and in layers, and the plates 32 , 34, 36 and 38 of necessary electrodes can be connected through the holes 50, 51, 53 and 54; therefore, a plurality of voltages corresponding to depths of the holes can be extracted. The sheet-like batteries 16, 18 and 20 of the substrate 10 can be designed in such a way so as to adjust the proper capacity for the respective loads. Because the sheet-like batteries 16, 18 and 20 are integrated as the substrate 10 in layers, battery exchange is difficult; however, a secondary battery is used as a sheet-type battery and a charging circuit (not shown) can be provided within a device in which the substrate is incorporated in layers. This means that the leaf type batteries can be recharged and that the leaf type batteries can be reused. According to the present embodiment, the voltages for the substrates can be implemented without a DC converter; consequently, the electronic device can be thinner and at the same time the structure of the circuit can be simplified. In the above description, the three blade-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 are presented, but the number of the blade-type batteries is not limited to three, and can be any more than one. The voltages of the blade type batteries may be uniform or may be different. In FIGURE 3, the sheet-type batteries 16, 18 and 20 are sandwiched between the upper substrate 12 and the lower substrate 14, but any of the substrates 12 and 14 can be omitted. Figure 4 illustrates a thin screen 120 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. There is an electrophoretic screen (EPD) that is a non-emitting device based on the phenomenon of electrophoresis of charged pigment particles suspended in a solvent. Such a screen usually comprises two plates with electrodes placed opposite each other, separated by the use of spacers. One of the electrodes, typically on the display side, is transparent. For the passive type of the EPD, it is required that the row and column of electrodes on the upper plates (the display side) and lower plates, respectively, drive the displays. Instead, a thin film transistor arrangement is required (TFT) on the bottom plate and a transparent conductive plate without design, common, on the upper display substrate for the active type EPDs. An electrophoretic fluid composed of a colored dielectric solvent with charged pigment particles dispersed therein is contained between the two electrodes. When a voltage difference between the two electrodes is imposed, the particles with pigment migrate by attraction towards the plate of opposite polarity to the particles with pigment. In this way, the color shown on the transparent plate, determined by selectively loading the plates, can be either the color of the solvent or the color of the particles with pigment. The reversal of the polarity of the plate will cause the particles to migrate back to the opposite plate, thus inverting the color. The intermediate color density (or shades of gray) due to the density of intermediate pigment in the transparent plate can be obtained by controlling the charge of the plate through a range of voltages. The EPDs of different pixel or cell structures have been previously described, for example, the EPD type subdivision (MA Hopper and V. Novotny, IEEE Trans. Electr. Dev., 26 (8): 1148-1152 (1979)) and microencapsulated EPD (US Patents Nos. 5,961,804, 5,930,026 and 6,017,584). FIGURE 4 illustrates an electrophoretic screen prepared by an alternative process. In this process, a microbending arrangement (80) is formed directly on a first non-conductive substrate (81). Useful non-conductive substrates may include, but are not limited to, glass, metal foils or films coated or laminated with a non-conductive or dielectric layer, and plastic films such as epoxy resins, polyimide, polysulfone, polyarylether, polycarbonate (PC) , polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate (PEN), poly (cyclic olefin) and compounds thereof. The microbends can be formed by any of the methods described in Section I. After the formation of the microbends, a first conductive layer (82) is formed on the surface (83) of the microbends, which includes the surface (83a) lateral, the lower surface (83b) and the upper surface (83c) of the subdivision walls (85). In one embodiment, the first conductive layer can be formed only on the lateral surface (83a) and the lower surface (83b). In another embodiment, the first conductive layer can be formed on the lateral surface (83a), lower surface (83b) and upper surface (83c) of the subdivision walls and, in this case, the first conductive layer on the surface (83c) Top of the subdivision walls can be removed later. Figure 5 illustrates a solar cell 150 according to one embodiment of the invention. An IB-IIIA-VIA alloy layer can be used in the active photovoltaic cell layer. The solar cell 200 usually includes a substrate or base layer 202, a base electrode 204, a layer 206 of IB-IIIA-VIA, a window layer 208 and a transparent electrode 210. The base layer 202 can be manufactured from a thin flexible material, suitable for roll-to-roll processing. By way of example, the base layer can be fabricated from a sheet of metal, such as titanium; a polymer, such as polyimide or metallized plastic. The base electrode 204 is made of an electrically conductive material. By way of example, the base electrode 204 can be a layer of stainless steel or molybdenum, for example, from about 0.5 micron to about 1 micron thick. By way of example, and without limitation, layer 206 of IB-IIIA-VIA may include material of the general formula CuInx-xGax (S or Se) 2. The layer 206 of IB-IIIA-VIA can be manufactured by precipitating a film of a melted mixture, for example, barely 1 to 10 microns thick on the base electrode 204. The film can be cooled to solidify layer 206 of layer IB-IIIA-VIA 206 may be from about 1 micron to about 4 microns thick after cooling. With the use of a melted mixture of the type described in the above, the layer 206 of IB-IIIA-VIA can be formed at a temperature compatible with the underlying substrate 202 and electrode 204. An adhesion layer 203 can facilitate attachment of the electrode 204 to the substrate 202. After annealing, the film can be exposed, optionally, to selenium vapor at about 300-500 degrees C for approximately 3045 minutes to ensure adequate stoichiometry of Se in the movie. In order to carry out such exposure of Se vapor, the film, if precipitated on a flexible substrate, can be wound on a coil and the coil can be coated in such a way that the entire roll is exposed at the same time, substantially increasing the scalability of the film. Se vapor exposure process through such a high volume batch process, for example, as described above. Window layer 208 is typically used as an interface between the bandwidths of the different materials that make up layer 206 of IB-IIIA-VIA. By way of example, the window layer may include cadmium sulfide (CdS), zinc sulfide (ZnS), or zinc selenide.

(ZnSe) or some combination of two or more of them. The layers of these materials can be precipitated, for example, by chemical bath deposition, typically for a thickness of about 50 nm to about 100 nm. The transparent electrode 210 may include a conductive, transparent oxide layer 209, for example, zinc oxide (ZnO) or zinc oxide mixed with aluminum (ZnO: Al), which can be deposited using any of a variety of means including, but not limited to, ion bombardment, evaporation, CBD, electroplating, CVD, PVD, ALD and the like. If the substrate is flexible and the deposition technique is ALD or CBD or the like, a flexible wound / wound substrate can be exposed, such that the entire roll is processed at a time, for example, as described above. The transparent electrode 210 may further include a layer of metal (e.g., Ni, Al or Ag), fingers 211 to reduce the overall strength of the sheet. An optional encapsulating layer (not shown) provides environmental resistance, for example, protection against exposure to water or air. The encapsulant can also absorb UV-light to protect the underlying layers. Examples of suitable encapsulating materials include one or more layers of polymers, such as tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride (THV) copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene vinyl acetate.

(EVA), and / or Mylar ©. Mylar is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del. You can also use inorganic materials, such as glass and plastic sheets, metallized plastic sheets and metal sheets for the encapsulating layer. The encapsulating layer may also include nitrides, oxides, oxynitrides or other inorganic materials. Alternatively, the encapsulants may include Tefzel® (DuPont), tefdel, thermoplastics, polyimides, polyamides, plastics composites and nano-laminated glasses (e.g., barrier film), and combinations of the foregoing. For example, a thin layer of EVA / polyimide (relatively inexpensive) can be laminated to a thick layer of PET (much more expensive). It is understood that the preferred embodiments described above are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention can be represented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The modality described will be considered in all respects as illustrative and not as restrictive. Therefore, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that fall within the meaning and scope of equivalency of the claims will be adopted within its scope. Thus, although the present invention has been fully described with particularity and detail in relation to what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that it can be perform numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, condition, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS 1. A product display system for containing a product, characterized in that it comprises: a housing configured to contain the product; a power source coupled to the housing and configured to provide electrical power; an electronic document screen coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the power source, and configured to visually display a first image; a second image; a processor in electrical communication with the electronic document screen and configured to control the display of the first and second images; and a memory module in communication with the electronic document screen and configured to store information with respect to the first and second images. The product display system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises an activation module in electrical communication with at least one of the group consisting of the electronic document screen, the processor and the power source, wherein the activation module selectively restricts the energy consumption of the energy source. 3. The product display system according to claim 2, characterized in that the activation module comprises a light detector and wherein the activation module allows energy consumption when light is detected by the light detector and restricts the Energy consumption when no light is detected by the light detector. 4. The product display system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a solar cell electrically coupled to the power source and configured to provide power to the power source when exposed to light. 5. The product display system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises an interface module in detachable communication with the memory module. The product display system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a second electronic document screen coupled to the housing, electrically coupled to the power source, and configured to visually display a third image; and a fourth image. The product display system according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises an audio module in electrical communication with the energy module. 8. A product display system for joining a product, characterized in that it comprises: an energy module configured to provide energy; a display module in electrical communication with the power module and configured to selectively present visual information; an operation module in communication with the display module and configured to control the display module; and a coupling module coupled to each of the power module, the display module and the operation module and configured to couple the product display system to the product. 9. The product display system according to claim 8, characterized in that the product is selected from the group of products consisting of CDs, DVDs, billboards, cereal boxes and greeting cards. 10. The product display system according to claim 8, characterized in that the coupling module comprises: an adhesive layer coupled to the display module; and a release layer coupled to the adhesive layer and configured to be removed without substantially removing the adhesive layer, thereby exposing the adhesive layer. 11. The product display system according to claim 8, further characterized in that it comprises a rear lighting module arranged behind the display module and configured to emit light through the display module. 12. The product display system according to claim 8, further characterized in that it comprises an interface module removably coupled to the operation module in communication therewith. 13. The product display system according to claim 12, characterized in that the interface module comprises a perforated tab extending from the operation module. 14. The product display system according to claim 8, characterized in that the energy module comprises a sheet-type battery. 15. A product display system for containing a product, characterized in that it comprises: an energy module configured to provide energy; a display module in energy communication with the power module and configured to selectively present visual information; an operation module in communication with the display module and configured to control the display module; and a housing module coupled to the display module and configured to contain the product. 16. The product display system according to claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises a recharging module in electrical communication with the energy module and configured to supply power to the energy module. 17. The product display system according to claim 15, characterized in that the housing module substantially comprises being hidden by the display module. 18. The product display system according to claim 15, characterized in that the display module comprises a protective cover. 19. The product display system according to claim 15, further characterized in that it comprises an interface module removably coupled to the operation module in communication therewith. 20. The product display system according to claim 15, characterized in that the display module comprises an electronic document. 21. The product display system according to claim 2, characterized in that the activation module also comprises actuating by pressing and with the drive causes a display to change from the first to the second image. 22. The product display system according to claim 2, further characterized in that it comprises a fin in communication with the activation module, wherein the activation module further comprises actuating by pressing and moving the fin activates the activation module, consequently, a visualization changes from the first image to the second image.