Display change on electronic paper without recovery process

Abstract

A device (14) for displaying changeable information (I1,2) on an electronic paper (6) in a passenger cabin (2) of a vehicle (4), with the electronic paper (6), includes a control unit (16) controlling the paper (6) during operation (B), which has a usage variable (V), wherein the usage variable (V) has at least one first usage value (N1) when the paper (6) is potentially viewable by passengers (12) in the passenger cabin (2), and the usage variable (V) has at least one second usage value (N2) when the paper (6) is not viewable by passengers (12) in the passenger cabin (2) and / or when it can be assumed that passengers (12) will not be disturbed by the performance of a recovery operation (E) on the paper (6), wherein the control unit (16) is configured to respond to a request (A) to change the information (I1,2) From a first (I1) to a second piece of information (I2): to check which of the use values ​​(N1,2) is currently available, and if the first use value (N1) is currently available, to move the paper (6) to display the second piece of information (I2) immediately after the first piece of information (I1) without an intermediate recovery process (E). In a procedure for operating the facility (14), the control unit (16) checks, in response to the request (A) to change the information (I1,2) displayed on the paper (6) from a first (I1) to a second information (I2), which of the usage values ​​(N1,2) is currently available, and if the first usage value (N1) is currently available, it controls the paper (6) to display the second information (I2) immediately after the first information (I1) without an intermediate recovery process (E).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to changing the display of information on an electronic paper.

[0002] From US patent 11,620,959 B2, improved push-pull driver waveforms are known for driving an electrophoretic medium with four particles, including four different types of particles, for example, one set of scattering particles and three sets of subtractive particles. Methods for identifying a preferred waveform for a target color state when using a voltage driver with at least five different voltage levels are also known.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to propose improvements with regard to changing the display of an electronic paper.

[0004] The problem is solved by a device according to claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention and of other invention categories will become apparent from the further claims, the following description and the accompanying figures.

[0005] The device is designed to display changeable information. The information is displayed on or reproduced by an electronic paper. This electronic paper is located in the passenger cabin of a vehicle. The vehicle is typically an aircraft, but could also be a bus, train, etc.

[0006] "Changeable" is to be understood as follows: At successive time intervals (lasting at least a few minutes or at least one hour), two different pieces of information are to be displayed on or reproduced from the paper. The information to be displayed in each time interval is, in particular, static image information, i.e., a still image, and therefore contains no image content that changes (during the time interval). Specifically, the information does not contain or is not moving images / animations / films / videos, etc.

[0007] The information is any image content or display content that can be represented on paper, and can include, for example, text and / or images and / or graphics, etc.

[0008] In other words, the electronic paper should display a constant sequence of information / image content / images / etc. Put another way, the displayed still image should change to a different, modified still image from time to time.

[0009] The facility includes electronic paper.

[0010] The device also includes a control unit. This unit is communicatively and technically connected to the paper in such a way that, during operation of the device, it controls the paper so that it displays the respective information.

[0011] The control unit has a usage variable; that is, such a variable exists within the control unit, or at least the control unit can access such an (external) variable or its values, for example, via a suitable interface. In other words, the usage variable is available to the control unit. Specifically, the usage variable is determined within the control unit.

[0012] The usage variable has at least one initial use value. It currently has this value whenever the document is potentially visible to passengers in the passenger cabin.

[0013] The usage variable has at least one second use value if the paper is not potentially visible to passengers in the passenger cabin and / or if it can be assumed that passengers are not potentially bothered by the performance of a recreation process (see below) on the paper.

[0014] In particular, the usage variable has the second usage value when there are no passengers in the passenger cabin.

[0015] “Potential” means that there is at least a possibility that passengers could view the electronic document or be disturbed by the recovery process.

[0016] The control unit is configured to respond to a request to change the information displayed on the paper from a first to a second piece of information as follows. The request means that the second piece of information should now be displayed instead of the first. It is therefore assumed that when the request arrives, the first piece of information is currently displayed on the paper, and a changed second piece of information should now be displayed. The second piece of information differs from the first, meaning it represents a different image to be displayed. In other words, the paper needs to be "reprogrammed" with regard to its otherwise static display.

[0017] The control unit is configured to react as follows: It is configured to check which of the usage values ​​is currently present. If the current check shows that the first usage value is currently present, the control unit is configured to immediately move the paper to display the second piece of information after the first piece of information has been displayed, without moving the paper to a recovery position between the two displays of the two pieces of information.

[0018] The recovery process is one that brings the paper into a defined state, namely to completely remove / delete / neutralize the previously displayed first image content / information, at least to the extent that the same image content is not needed for the second image content / information.

[0019] Such a recovery process is also called a "recovery process" and consists in particular of the arrangement of indicator particles in the paper in a predetermined / specific way.

[0020] In other words, the recovery process removes so-called burn-in effects / afterglow effects (e.g., the unwanted persistence of image information) and / or restores the paper's color representation to a specific target state. However, such a recovery process is often accompanied by the display of information that is undesirable for passengers (image changes / flickering / glow / patterns that are potentially perceived as visually unappealing / unsightly / disturbing) and / or lasts an undesirably long time (e.g., at least 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds).

[0021] In other words, according to the invention, if passengers might potentially feel disturbed, a recovery process that could potentially cause such disturbance is omitted. A possible reduction in image quality when displaying the second piece of information immediately after the first (compared to the display after a recovery process) is accepted. This is because it is assumed that the reduced image quality might be perceived by passengers as potentially less disturbing than the recovery process itself.

[0022] The invention is transferable from vehicles, in particular, to electronic documents in other applications / locations, such as documents found in public, like electronic documents in interiors / shop windows / in public spaces (advertising boards, signs), etc. Passengers are then to be understood as passers-by / users / other persons.

[0023] The invention achieves the display of various pieces of information on the paper without exposing passengers to potentially disturbing appearances of the paper, either completely or only for a shorter period (compared to the recovery process).

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the paper is capable of displaying at least three colors. This means the paper can display at least three different colors, and not just black and white. With such (color) papers, recovery processes are particularly visually unappealing / disturbing for viewers and / or take an uncomfortably long time.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of this design, the paper contains a plurality of display elements. Each display element contains differently colored particles to represent the at least three colors mentioned. The (reproduced) color of the display element depends on the layering of the particles within the display element. In other words, the color appearance is changed by rearranging the particles, i.e., by changing their distance from the visible surface of the paper.

[0026] The recovery process involves multiple successive re-shifts, resulting in alternating displays of different colors and / or brightness levels, to arrange the particles into a predetermined layer within the display element. In other words, this involves multiple successive flickering / glows / pattern displays, which passengers might find unsightly or even disturbing.

[0027] Such recovery processes, in particular, should be avoided with regard to increasing the visual comfort of passengers in relation to the paper.

[0028] Such display elements are, in particular, the paper's display pixels. The paper is then designed in the form of a pixel or matrix display.

[0029] Different colored particles are, for example, four different types of particles in the colors "reflective white," "cyan," "magenta," and "yellow." With such a display element, the change in the displayed information takes a particularly long time, approximately 30 seconds. One such paper is the so-called "ACeP" (Advanced Color electronic Paper), see, for example, https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wiki / Elektronisches_Papier or the citation "14" there: "E INK ANNOUNCES ADVANCED COLOR EPAPER, A BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR COLOR EPD APPLICATIONS," https: / / web.archive.org / web / 20160924134807 / http: / / www.einkgroup.com / news.php?recordld=595, accessed on September 17, 2024.

[0030] The invention is particularly effective with such paper because it significantly reduces the undesirably long switching times between the display of different information and avoids the recovery processes that are perceived as potentially unappealing from an optical perspective.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is also configured to respond to the request as follows: If the current check (see above) indicates that the second usage value is currently in effect, the control unit is configured to first direct the paper to the recovery process after displaying the first information, and only then direct the paper to display the second information. In other words: Is it currently ensured, based on the second usage value, that - the paper is not visible to passengers in the passenger cabin and / or - it can be assumed that passengers will not be bothered by the paper's recovery process?

[0032] The display change is then carried out in such a way that, after the first piece of information is displayed, a recovery process is performed to remove any burn-in effects, color defects, etc. from the paper. Only then is the second piece of information displayed again in full quality.

[0033] Thus, if passengers are not disturbed, a high-quality display change from the first to the second piece of information can take place.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is further configured to proceed as follows: The control unit checks whether at least two different pieces of information have been displayed without an intervening recovery process. If so, the control unit is configured to initiate a recovery process on the paper at a later time.

[0035] In other words, the control unit "remembers" that at least two different pieces of information were displayed without an intervening recovery process, which could mean that burn-in effects, unwanted residual representations of previous image content, color deviations, etc., have since appeared on the paper. In this case, the control unit registers a "pre-booking" for a later recovery process in order to return the paper to its neutral initial state / display state.

[0036] In particular, the later time can be chosen so that passengers are disturbed as little as possible – depending, for example, on the probability / potential degree of misrepresentations. In other words, a criterion for the later time can be, for example, a trade-off between potential misrepresentations and the passengers' tolerance of a recovery process.

[0037] The later time can also be chosen based on a specific number of image changes, e.g. by ensuring that the recovery process is carried out no later than before the third / fifth / tenth display change.

[0038] In other words, a criterion is chosen where the interest - to subject the paper to a recovery process, - the interest in exposing passengers to the potentially unsightly and / or lengthy recovery process outweighs the other considerations.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the later point in time is one at which the second use value is present. In other words, the control unit waits until no passengers can view the paper and only then performs the recovery process. This ensures that if, later still—after the recovery process—passengers enter the passenger cabin who could potentially view the paper, it has already undergone a recovery process and been reset to its initial state, thus enabling a high-quality display of information.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the utility value is determined based on the vehicle's current operating phase. Such an operating phase could be, for example, the "vehicle empty" phase (no passengers), "vehicle idle / maintenance work (e.g., cleaning the passenger cabin)," or "vehicle in regular operation" (passengers in the passenger cabin). From such operating phases, it can be inferred whether passengers might potentially view the paper and be disturbed by a recreational activity (then the first utility value applies) or not (then the second utility value applies). Thus, the utility value can be determined particularly easily.

[0041] If the invention were transferred away from vehicles, a first use value would be given, for example, during the opening hours of a shop, for example during the day, or when a comparatively large number of pedestrians are potentially to be found in a pedestrian zone or road users on a street and could potentially view the advertisements in the shops, shop windows, pedestrian zones or billboards / traffic signs.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle is an aircraft. Particularly in aircraft, passengers should ideally not be exposed to the processes of relaxation due to the expected comfort, so the invention can be used particularly effectively here.

[0043] In conjunction with determining the usage value based on the current operating phase, these operating phases are referred to as flight phases. For example, the first usage state is selected during the flight phases "flight phase," possibly also "take-off / landing." The second usage state is selected, for example, during the flight phases "boarding / deboarding," or alternatively, "take-off / landing," and "downtime." During "downtime," for instance, cleaning of the passenger cabin is carried out by cleaning staff without passengers present. This is a particularly advantageous time for relaxation. During boarding / deboarding, passengers are generally not paying attention to displays on certain documents / indicators, so relaxation is also possible during this time.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is at least part of a cabin management system or is the cabin management system for the passenger cabin. In an aircraft, such a cabin management system is also called a "CMS" (cabin management system) and is responsible, for example, for controlling climate, lighting, displays (signs), etc. Such a cabin management system can be particularly easily adapted to take over the functionality of the control unit in order to implement the invention.

[0045] The problem of the invention is also solved by a method according to claim 10.

[0046] This serves to operate the device according to the invention. In the method, the control unit, upon request to change the information displayed on the paper from a first to a second piece of information, performs the following: The control unit checks which of the usage values ​​is currently present. If the first usage value is currently present, the control unit immediately moves the paper to display the second piece of information after the first, without moving the paper for an intermediate recovery process between the display of the two pieces of information.

[0047] The method and at least some of its possible embodiments, as well as their respective advantages, have already been explained in substance in connection with the device according to the invention. In particular, the preferred embodiments mentioned above in connection with the device also constitute preferred embodiments of the method.

[0048] The invention is based on the following findings, observations, and considerations and further comprises the following preferred embodiments. These embodiments are sometimes referred to simply as "the invention." The embodiments may also include parts or combinations of the embodiments mentioned above, correspond to them, and / or may include previously unmentioned embodiments.

[0049] According to the invention, a subsequent recovery process for EPD displays (electronic paper displays) is particularly effective. Specifically, to shorten the switching time between two images (display of two pieces of information) shown on an EPD display, the recovery process is performed at a later time.

[0050] The invention is based on the practical observation that an image change on an EPD (electronic paper display) takes approximately 30 seconds in full color, during which the respective primary colors are displayed sequentially. This switching process is perceived as a colorful flicker and is neither pleasant nor aesthetically pleasing. The idea of ​​the invention is therefore to make this image change faster and more visually appealing, without causing image burn-in.

[0051] It is also known from practical experience that, to prevent burn-in on an EPD display, all pigments (particles in the display elements) are individually moved to a "neutral layer" during an image change (switching from one piece of information to another, i.e., after the first piece of information has been displayed), in order to then build up a new image (second piece of information) from this position. This switching process takes approximately 30 seconds for a full-color display and involves several color changes to reach the new state.

[0052] The invention is based on the following concept: When passengers are exposed to the EPD display (potentially viewing it), for example during boarding, takeoff / landing, or the flight phase, the next image is built up as directly as possible (without an intermediate recovery process) when the image changes. The pigments are not moved to the neutral plane as before, but are lifted directly to the new position for their respective pixels. This disregards burn-in effects in order to improve visual appeal, accelerate image changes, and display more images (in the same amount of time).

[0053] If the aircraft is on the ground (downtime) and being cleaned, a recovery process is run to reduce or prevent burn-in effects. During this process, all pigments in the respective pixels are simultaneously moved to the neutral layer. This process is carried out when there are no passengers on board.

[0054] This results in a smoother, more pleasing image transition, a more pleasant viewing experience. Passengers can remain facing the display even during the image change. More images can be shown. Recovery still occurs (albeit later).

[0055] According to the invention, the recovery process does not occur after every image change (between the display of two different pieces of information), but only during a specific phase of the overall operation of the display. This rescheduling of the process enables faster and smoother switching times.

[0056] According to the invention, the following procedure is particularly advantageous: The Cabin Management System (CMS) controls various systems within the cabin. In an aircraft, this CMS also manages the EPD display or similar indicators. This system "knows" the aircraft's current phase, such as boarding or cleaning. This information forms the basis for the subsequent recovery process. The application described here takes this information—for example, that boarding / deboarding is taking place—and offloads the recovery process. The subsequent recovery process can be initiated when the aircraft is being cleaned or is in the takeoff / landing phase.

[0057] The invention is particularly useful for cabin design in aircraft cabins. It can also be used for displays in trains, buses, or in public spaces.

[0058] Further features, effects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. These figures are shown in a schematic diagram: Fig. 1. A section of a passenger cabin of an aircraft with a furnishing, Fig. 2 a temporal sequence of advertisements on paper Fig. 1, Fig. 3 an alternative chronological sequence of the advertisements accordingly Fig. 2, Fig. 4 another alternative temporal sequence of such advertisements.

[0059] Fig. Figure 1 shows a highly symbolic section of a passenger cabin 2 of a vehicle 4, in this case a passenger aircraft. Inside the passenger cabin 2 is an electronic paper 6, here in the form of a pixel-based screen or matrix display, which is mounted on a partition 8 in the passenger cabin 2.

[0060] The paper is pixel-oriented and therefore contains a large number of display elements 24, which are only symbolically indicated here. These represent cells of the paper 6 or the display based on it.

[0061] Paper 6 is a so-called "four-color" paper, which contains "white reflective" as well as "cyan", "magenta" and "yellow" colored particles as four basic colors and can therefore represent the corresponding basic colors as well as mixed colors.

[0062] Each of the display elements 24 is filled, in a manner not shown, with a multitude of particles of the four types / colors described above. The color of the respective display element, as a viewer, e.g., passenger 12, visually perceives display element 24, depends on the layering of the particles within display element 24.

[0063] A recovery process E can be carried out on the paper 6. The recovery process E is one in which the particles are arranged in a predefined layering in the display element 24 by repeatedly and successively activating the paper 6 or the display elements 24 and thereby displaying different information.

[0064] Facing the partition 8 is a large number of passenger seats 10 (only three shown), on which passengers 12 can sit (and are currently seated).

[0065] Passenger cabin 2, or vehicle 4, contains a device 14 (indicated by a dashed outline). The paper 6 is part of the device 14. The device 14 also contains a control unit 16, here in the form of a cabin management system (CMS). The control unit 16 contains a usage variable V. The usage variable V can have a first usage value N1. This applies whenever there is a potential possibility that passengers 12 could view the paper 6. The usage variable V can also assume a second usage value N2. This occurs whenever the paper 6 is not visible to passengers in passenger cabin 2, or when it can be assumed that the passengers will not be disturbed by the recovery process E on the paper 6 and will tolerate it.

[0066] In the example, the control unit 16 is designed as cabin management system CMS 26 of passenger cabin 2 or vehicle 4.

[0067] The use value N1,2 is determined here based on a current operating phase B of vehicle 4. In the example Fig. 1 is considered operating phase B, the flight phase, i.e., the aircraft is in regular flight, transporting 12 passengers in passenger cabin 2. In the example below, operating state B is a "downtime," meaning the 12 passengers have left the aircraft and only cleaning personnel (not shown) are present. This is not indicated by the duration of the recovery process E or by the changing display during this process (see Fig. 3) is disturbed.

[0068] Initially, information I1 is displayed on paper 6. Control unit 16 is configured for the following procedure: Device 14 now contains (shown here only symbolically) a request A to change the information I1 displayed on paper 6: From now on, information I2 should be displayed on paper 6 instead.

[0069] Fig. Figure 2 shows the change from the display of information I1 to information I2 on paper 6 as a temporal progression from top to bottom.

[0070] Upon receiving request A, control unit 16 checks which of the usage values ​​N1,2 is currently available. Currently, the first usage value, N1, is available. Control unit 16 therefore controls paper 6 such that it switches directly from displaying information I1 to displaying information I2, without the paper being used to execute the recovery process E between displaying these two pieces of information I1,2.

[0071] This allows for a rapid switch from displaying information I1 to displaying information I2. Information I1 shows a symbol 18, in this case an airplane, in the lower left corner of the image, black on an orange background 20. Switching to displaying information I2 requires only a single intermediate image 22. This intermediate image 22 is necessary to switch the electronic paper 6 between information I1 and I2: For a brief period of less than 5 seconds, symbol 18 is displayed twice in white on the orange background 20.

[0072] In information I2, the symbol 18 is displayed further to the right in the image, now again black on an orange background 20.

[0073] For passengers 12, who are looking at paper 6 during the switchover, it is evident that only the intermediate image 22 is briefly visible between the display of the two pieces of information I1,2, which is generally not perceived as disturbing by them.

[0074] The control unit 16 is also configured to perform the following procedure. If it receives a request A as described above and – contrary to the above – the second usage value N2 is currently present: Then, after displaying information I1, the control unit 16 first directs the paper 6 to the recovery process E. Only then does it direct the paper 6 to display information I2.

[0075] Fig. Figure 2 thus shows a procedure for operating the device 14. In this procedure, the request A to change the display of the first information I1 to the second information I2 on paper 6 is initially present. The control unit 16 then checks which of the usage values ​​N1,2 is currently present. If the first usage value N1 is currently present, which is the case here, the control unit 16 controls paper 6 to display the second information I2 immediately after the first information I1, without an intermediate recovery process E, i.e., without controlling paper 6 to execute the recovery process E in the meantime.

[0076] Fig. Figure 3 again shows the temporal progression of the display on paper 6 from top to bottom. First, information I1 is displayed. Then the recovery process E begins. This proceeds as follows: In a first step E1, the symbol 18 is displayed in white on the still orange background 20. In a step E2, the background 20 is switched to cyan, in a step E3 to yellow, and in a step E4 to white. Now a neutral plane is reached in the paper 6, meaning that all the differently colored particles in the display elements 24 are arranged in a predefined layering within the display element 24, and each of the display elements 24 now appears reflective white.

[0077] Only now does the control unit 16 control the paper 6 to display the information I2, which is why in an intermediate step 22 the symbol 18 is first displayed in black on a white background and only then is the background 20 colored orange.

[0078] Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment (dashed line). Here, after the display of information I2, further information I3, 4, 5, ... is displayed immediately without any intermediate recovery processes E. The device 14 is then configured to access the document 6 for recovery process E at a later time ts, here when the aircraft has landed and all passengers 12 have left passenger cabin 2. The now alternating display of the recovery steps E1 to E4 and their total duration of 30 seconds is shown. Fig. 3 can no longer disturb passengers 12. The later time ts is therefore chosen as the one at which the utility value N2 exists.

[0079] Fig. Figure 4 shows a recovery process E starting from the representation of information I2 on paper 6, after the two different pieces of information I1,2 were represented on paper 6 immediately one after the other (without recovery process E).

[0080] Steps E1 to E4 correspond analogously to those from Fig. 3, but finally in step E 5 a completely black image is displayed and in step E 6 another completely white image is displayed, after step E4 has also reached the neutral plane. Reference symbol list 2 passenger cabins 4 vehicles 6 sheets of paper 8 Partition wall 10 passenger seats 12 passengers 14. Establishment 16 Control unit 18 Symbol 20 Background 22 Intermediate image 24 Display element 26 CMS V Usage variable N1,2 Use value I1,2 Information A requirement E Recovery process ts time (later) B Operation P Operational phase QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 11,620,959 B2

[0002] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wiki / Elektronisches_Papier or the citation there “14”: “E INK ANNOUNCES ADVANCED COLOR EPAPER, A BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR COLOR EPD APPLICATIONS”, https: / / web.archive.org / web / 20160924134807 / http: / / www.einkgroup.com / news.php?recordld=595”, accessed on 17.09.2024

[0029]

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