Electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device employing and activator module mounted beneath the surface of an electronic-ink display structure

An electronic-ink based writing/drawing and display device, comprising:

• an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material disposed between an activation layer and a transparent electrode layer located above said layer of electronic ink, for activating said layer of electronic ink at particular locations to display graphical indicia on the surface of said addressable display assembly, wherein said layer of electronic ink does not require electrical power to maintain the display of said graphical indicia;
• an integrated circuit structure having (i) a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, including graphical input data provided by an activator module, and (ii) a programmed processor using said programs to process said instructions and data for (i) determining graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly, (ii) controlling and coordinating operation of said addressable display assembly, and (iii) generating output signals for instructing said addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia;
• an electrical power source for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit structure;
• and
• wherein said addressable display assembly is responsive to said output signals generated by said programmed processor, to display the determined graphical indicia;
• and
• wherein said activator module is mounted beneath the surface of said addressable display assembly to (i) determine graphical indicia to be selected and/or displayed on said addressable display assembly, (ii) allow graphical indicia displayed on said addressable display assembly to be modified in real-time by a user of said device, and (iii) allow graphical indicia to be displayed on said addressable display assembly while graphical input data is being provided to said programmed processor by said activator module, so that said user is enabled to write and/or draw on the surface of said addressable display assembly while graphical indicia is being displayed thereon.