Abstract: A method of authorizing a negotiable instrument includes automatically receiving a request for the instrument, identity data identifying a requester, and a location of a requester. If the location is within location range for the identity data, a verification code is transmitted to the client. An input code is received from a personal mobile device at a location. If the input code matches the verification code and the device is near the requester, a reference code of the negotiable instrument is transmitted to the client and is stored. A method of performing a financial transaction indicated by the instrument includes automatically receiving the reference code, receiving identifying data of a bearer of the negotiable instrument; determining whether the received identifying data correspond to a request for the instrument; and, if so, producing a transaction record corresponding to the request and invalidating the reference code. Systems are also described.

Abstract: A method of authorizing a negotiable instrument includes automatically receiving a request for the instrument, identity data identifying a requester, and a location of a requester. If the location is within location range for the identity data, a verification code is transmitted to the client. An input code is received from a personal mobile device at a location. If the input code matches the verification code and the device is near the requester, a reference code of the negotiable instrument is transmitted to the client and is stored. A method of performing a financial transaction indicated by the instrument includes automatically receiving the reference code, receiving identifying data of a bearer of the negotiable instrument; determining whether the received identifying data correspond to a request for the instrument; and, if so, producing a transaction record corresponding to the request and invalidating the reference code. Systems are also described.

Abstract: The invention features electronic skin including an active layer formed of bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material and articles comprising the skin, the electronic skin having uniform gray scale reflectivity. Also featured is method for producing suitable reduction pulses that will provide a display (e.g., the electronic skin) with uniform gray scale reflectivity. Reduction pulses of narrow width are used to create uniform levels of gray in the electronic skin to overcome display imperfections that cause discontinuity in the gray scale reflectivity.

Abstract: The invention features electronic skin including an active layer formed of bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material and articles comprising the skin, the electronic skin having uniform gray scale reflectivity. Also featured is method for producing suitable reduction pulses that will provide a display (e.g., the electronic skin) with uniform gray scale reflectivity. Reduction pulses of narrow width are used to create uniform levels of gray in the electronic skin to overcome display imperfections that cause discontinuity in the gray scale reflectivity.

Abstract: A display for use on medical dispensing equipment, and the resulting medical device and its method of display. In particular, provided are a number of specific embodiments of such a display on a medical device, including a film display for use on pill bottles and pill dispensers that utilize colored images as a dosage reminder for the user, a conformable bistable reflective display for use on drug delivery devices, and a conformable bistable reflective display for use on blood glucose meters.

Abstract: A remote display for use with a portable electronic communications device such as a cell phone is disclosed to provide information on a larger remote reflective cholesteric display. The portable communications device may connect with the remote display by wire or wirelessly. The remote display is separate from the portable communications device but can interact with it. Moreover, the remote display may serve multiple purposes, such as providing a user interface, displaying images, and collecting solar power whereby a photovoltaic material behind the display generates electrical energy from light incident on the cholesteric liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A graphics controller for a color display system having a bistable liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix includes a memory device for storing color data and status bits corresponding to each of the pixels, and a generating device for generating voltage data corresponding to the pixels based on the color data and the status bits for each of the pixels. In an exemplary case, the bistable LCD is a Cholesteric LCD. Preferably, the generating device has a first mode of operation in which the data corresponding to the pixels is generated for each corresponding pixel and a second mode of operation in which no data is generated; the generating device switches from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when all of the status bits for all of the pixels are zeros.

Abstract: An operating method for a color display system including an active matrix bistable liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix based on color data and status bits corresponding to each of the pixels stored in a memory includes steps for generating voltage data corresponding to the pixels based on the color data and the status bits stored for each of the pixels, converting the voltage data to drive signals suitable for driving the active matrix bistable LCD, and applying the drive signals to the active matrix bistable LCD. In an exemplary embodiment, the active matrix bistable LCD is a Cholesteric LCD. Advantageously, the generating, converting, and applying steps are repeated for a corresponding pixel N times, where N is an integer established by the status bits.

Abstract: A low power color display system includes a memory which, stores color data and status bits corresponding to a plurality of pixels, status logic, which generates the status bits responsive to receipt of color data for a respective one of the pixels, a data generator, which generates voltage data corresponding to the pixels based on the color data and the status bits for each of the pixels, driver circuitry, which generates voltage signals responsive to receipt of the voltage data for each of the pixels, and a bistable liquid crystal display (LCD) having multiple cells arranged in a matrix, each cell corresponding to a pixel, the LCD being responsive to the voltage signals. Preferably, the system also includes a power supply which provides power to the driver circuitry, and a power manager, the latter turning the power supply ON when the data generator is in the first operating mode and turning the power supply OFF when the data generator is in the second operating mode.

Abstract: A graphics controller for a color display system having a bistable liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix includes a memory device for storing color data and status bits corresponding to each of the pixels, and a generating device for generating voltage data corresponding to the pixels based on the color data and the status bits for each of the pixels. In an exemplary case, the bistable LCD is a Cholesteric LCD. Preferably, the generating device has a first mode of operation in which the data corresponding to the pixels is generated for each corresponding pixel and a second mode of operation in which no data is generated; the generating device switches from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when all of the status bits for all of the pixels are zeros.