Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic dashboard that has (1) a first set of indicators with front and back electro-optic layers having different operable properties and (2) a second set of indicators with a front and back electro-optic layers having different operable properties. Of the four electro-optic layers, at least one of the layers has different operable properties as compared to the others. For each indicator, its optical state is a composite of the optical states of that indicator's front electro-optic layer and back electro-optic layer.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display needs.

Abstract: An intelligent audible device is provided that is constructed to monitor for an event, such as actual or elapse time, or a sensor exceeding a threshold. Responsive to the event, a sound input transducer is activated, and an output sound signal representing an intended message is projected into the local environment by a sound output transducer. The sound input transducer captures the actual sound projected into the local environment. The captured actual sound is processed and compared to the output sound signal. In this way it may be confidently determined if the intended message was actually properly projected into the local environment.

Abstract: A verifiable display is provided that enables the visual content of the display to be detected and confirmed in a variety of ambient lighting conditions, environments, and operational states. In particular, the verifiable display has a display layer that is capable of visually setting an intended message for human or machine reading, with the intended message being set using pixels. Depending on the operational condition of the display and the ambient light, for example, the message that is actually displayed and perceivable may vary from the intended message. To detect what message is actually displayed, a light detection layer in the verifiable display detects the illumination state of the pixels, and in that way is able to detect what message is actually being presented by the display layer.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display is used in an intelligent container system for monitoring and evaluating actions taken at the container system. In this way, relationships between displayed information and actions may be determined. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display needs, including novel applications on intelligent container systems.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display need.

Abstract: In one configuration, an optical state monitor is augmented or comprises one or more indicator-sensors that self-generate different optical profiles (signatures) in response to an item or its environment; wherein wherein the indicator-sensors cooperate with the electromagnetic radiation detectors of the optical state monitor in the detection and determination of the condition(s) of the item or its environment, or of the indicator-sensor and its environment. Of particular interest are indicator-sensors that are thin, flexible, patternable and printable (or otherwise deposited) as films or additive layers to electromagnetic detection layers or other structures of the optical state monitor.

Abstract: An intelligent audible device is provided that is constructed to monitor for an event, such as actual or elapse time, or a sensor exceeding a threshold. Responsive to the event, a sound input transducer is activated, and an output sound signal representing an intended message is projected into the local environment by a sound output transducer. The sound input transducer captures the actual sound projected into the local environment. The captured actual sound is processed and compared to the output sound signal. In this way it may be confidently determined if the intended message was actually properly projected into the local environment.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display needs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical state monitor includes an a light source detection layer for detecting electromagnetic radiation from an associated good. The optical state monitor uses a processor to evaluate the detected radiation, and make a comparison to a pre-defined optical state profile for the good. By making this comparison, the optical state detector is able to determine a quality for the good. In a particular construction, the optical state detector has an integral light source, and the light detection layer is printed as a thin film device. In this way, a stand-alone self-contained sensor is constructed for determining the good's current quality.

Abstract: A verifiable display is provided that enables the visual content of the display to be detected and confirmed in a variety of ambient lighting conditions, environments, and operational states. In particular, the verifiable display has a display layer that is capable of visually setting an intended message for human or machine reading, with the intendended message being set using pixels. Depending on the operational condition of the display and the ambient light, for example, the message that is actually displayed and perceivable may vary from the intended message. To detect what message is actually displayed, a light detection layer in the verifiable display detects the illumination state of the pixels, and in that way is able to detect what message is actually being presented by the display layer.

Abstract: An intelligent audible device is provided that is constructed to monitor for an event, such as actual or elapse time, or a sensor exceeding a threshold. Responsive to the event, a sound input transducer is activated, and an output sound signal representing an intended message is projected into the local environment by a sound output transducer. The sound input transducer captures the actual sound projected into the local environment. The captured actual sound is processed and compared to the output sound signal. In this way it may be confidently determined if the intended message was actually properly projected into the local environment.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display need.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display needs.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display is used in an intelligent container system for monitoring and evaluating actions taken at the container system. In this way, relationships between displayed information and actions may be determined. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display needs, including novel applications on intelligent container systems.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical state monitor includes an a light source detection layer for detecting electromagnetic radiation from an associated good. The optical state monitor uses a processor to evaluate the detected radiation, and make a comparison to a pre-defined optical state profile for the good. By making this comparison, the optical state detector is able to determine a quality for the good. In a particular construction, the optical state detector has an integral light source, and the light detection layer is printed as a thin film device. In this way, a stand-alone self-contained sensor is constructed for determining the good's current quality.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical state monitor includes an a light source detection layer for detecting electromagnetic radiation from an associated good. The optical state monitor uses a processor to evaluate the detected radiation, and make a comparison to a pre-defined optical state profile for the good. By making this comparison, the optical state detector is able to determine a quality for the good. In a particular construction, the optical state detector has an integral light source, and the light detection layer is printed as s thin film device. In this way, a stand-alone self-contained sensor is constructed for determining the good's current quality.

Abstract: Briefly, a method for verifying the visual perceptibility of a display is provided. An intended message is written to a bistable display. Pixels that comprise portions of the message are measured and evaluated to determine if the message actually displayed on the bistable display was perceptible by a human or a machine. In some cases, information regarding the message actually perceivable from the display may be stored for later use. Responsive to determining that a message is perceivable or not perceivable, alarms may be set, one or more third parties notified, or additional display features may be set.

Abstract: An intelligent audible device is provided that is constructed to monitor for an event, such as actual or elapse time, or a sensor exceeding a threshold. Responsive to the event, a sound input transducer is activated, and an output sound signal representing an intended message is projected into the local environment by a sound output transducer. The sound input transducer captures the actual sound projected into the local environment. The captured actual sound is processed and compared to the output sound signal. In this way it may be confidently determined if the intended message was actually properly projected into the local environment.

Abstract: Described herein is a polymorphic display, which is a unitary apparatus constructed such that a wide variety of electro-optic functions are enabled. The polymorphic display, even when having multiple pixels, enables sharing of selected structures among the pixels. In a multi-pixel construction, there is a set of pixels in the display that exhibit one set of operable properties, such as particular stability, sequencing, and switching properties, and another set of pixels that are different from the first set. That is, they have different stability, sequencing, or switching properties. In such a way, a highly flexible polymorphic display may be construed to satisfy a wide range of display need.