Recording rewritable time related information on a label

Abstract

A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label, includes the steps of providing an electrically rewritable label associated with an article which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer including a material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the time related information can be written, rewritten and viewed, wherein such time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article or a device associated with the article and such time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material, and electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on an article, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer including a material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the time related information can be written, rewritten and viewed, wherein such time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article or a device associated with the article and such time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material;    b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and    c) electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.    
     
     
         2 . A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on an article, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer including cholesteric liquid crystal material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the time related information can be written, rewritten and viewed, wherein such time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article and such time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material;    b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and    c) electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.    
     
     
         3 . A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on a rental article, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a layer of a material which is effective in at least first and second optical states so that the return time related information can be written and viewed, wherein such return time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article and such return time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material;    b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and    c) electrically addressing selected segments to write or rewrite appropriate time related information.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the material includes cholesteric liquid crystal.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the rental article is a media cassette.  
     
     
         6 . A method of recording rewritable time related information on a label which can be provided on a rental article, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an electrically rewritable label which includes a plurality of rewritable segments, each such segment having a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode over such substrate, a layer including cholesteric liquid crystal material, a dielectric layer having openings, and a second conductor provided over the dielectric layer and into the openings to be in contact with the cholesteric liquid crystal bearing layer and which is effective at the position in such openings to be in at least first and second optical states so that the return time related information can be written and viewed, wherein such return time related information relates to usage or potential usage of the article and such return time related information can be electrically changed by providing appropriate electrical fields to the material;    b) providing the label to be associated with the article; and    c) electrically addressing selected segments to erase undesired previous return time related information and writing appropriate return time related information.