Active labels for products

Abstract

A label for a product including an electronic display such as a liquid crystal display for displaying label information. The label information may include a company name or logo that identifies the source of the product, product information such as the material content of the product or care instructions, and manufacturer information. The label information can be contained in multiple screen images which can be stepped through by pressing a button or touch-sensitive area of the display. The display can also be programmed to display a series of related images in sequence to produce an animated logo.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A label for a product comprising: 
 a) a base adapted to be affixed to said product;    b) an electronic display panel affixed to said base and not associated with the inherent functioning of the product; and    c) a programmable circuit operatively connected to said display panel, said programmable circuit being programmed to output label information to said display panel for display thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The label according to    claim 1    wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         3 . The label according to    claim 2    wherein said liquid crystal display includes a backlight.  
     
     
         4 . The label according to    claim 3    further including a power switch to alternately turn the power to said backlight on and off.  
     
     
         5 . The label according to    claim 2    further including a plurality of screen images associated with said display panel which can be selectively displayed on the display panel by the user.  
     
     
         6 . The label according to    claim 5    further including an input device to manually change the screen image.  
     
     
         7 . The label according to    claim 5    wherein said screen images include a logo screen.  
     
     
         8 . The label according to    claim 5    wherein said screen images include at least one product information screen.  
     
     
         9 . A method for labeling a product that does not include a display as an inherent feature of the product, said method comprising: 
 a) attaching an electronic display to the product; and    b) programming the electronic display to display label information.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to    claim 9    wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to    claim 9    wherein the step of programming said display comprises programming the display to display multiple screen images.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein the electronic display includes an input device to manually change said screen images.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein said screen images change automatically without input from the user.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 12    wherein said input device comprises a pressure-activated button on said display.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 12    wherein said input device comprises a touch screen.  
     
     
         16 . A method for labeling a product, said method comprising: 
 a) attaching an electronic display to the product, wherein said electronic display is not associated with the inherent functioning of the product; and    b) programming the electronic display to display label information.    
     
     
         17 . The label according to    claim 16    wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         18 . The label according to    claim 17    wherein said liquid crystal display includes a backlight.  
     
     
         19 . The label according to    claim 18    further including a power switch to alternately turn the power to said backlight on and off.  
     
     
         20 . The label according to    claim 17    further including a plurality of screen images associated with said display panel which can be selectively displayed on the display panel by the user.  
     
     
         21 . The label according to    claim 20    further including an input device to manually change the screen image.  
     
     
         22 . The label according to    claim 20    wherein said screen images include a logo screen.  
     
     
         23 . The label according to    claim 20    wherein said screen images include at least one product information screen.