# US 8,542,429 B1 · Techniques for protecting imaging access of electronic paper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,429 B1 - Document ID: US8542429B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/416,190 - Filed: 2012-03-09 - Published: 2013-09-12 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-09 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Napoleon J. Leoni; Omer Gila; Henryk Birecki - Inventors: Napoleon J. Leoni; Omer Gila; Henryk Birecki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542429B1 ## CPC - G06K 19/077: Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier - B42D 25/415: using chemicals (B42D25/445 takes precedence) - G02F 1/167: by electrophoresis - G09F 9/372: {the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field} - G02F 1/133308: {Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract Techniques for protecting imaging access of electronic paper are described herein. For example, an electronic paper device with protected imaging access includes a substrate, an e-paper surface disposed on the substrate, a removable cover to prevent alteration of the e-paper surface when the cover is disposed over the e-paper surface, and a reversible locking mechanism engaging with the cover to secure the cover in place over the e-paper surface. A method for secure writing to e-paper is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic paper device with protected imaging access comprising: a substrate; an e-paper surface disposed on the substrate; a removable cover to prevent alteration of the e-paper surface when the cover is disposed over the e-paper surface; and a reversible locking mechanism engaging with the cover to secure the cover in place over the e-paper surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the removable cover is for prevention of alteration of the e-paper surface using an ion head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the cover is a transparent window. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the locking mechanism is mechanically actuated to release the cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the locking mechanism comprises a bistable flexural mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the locking mechanism engages edges of the cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the locking mechanism comprises magnetic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, in which the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of magnets with varying polarities. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the reversible locking mechanism comprises at least one cantilevered latch with a tab that engages with an indentation in a mating component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, in which the reversible locking mechanism comprises a cantilevered latch formed in the substrate and the indentation is in the cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, in which the reversible locking mechanism comprises a cantilevered latch formed in the cover and the indentation is in the substrate. ### Claim 12 A card writer for secure writing to e-paper comprising: a base; an actuator for actuating a reversible locking mechanism of a removable cover covering an e-paper surface; and a writing head to write to the e-paper surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, in which the writing head is an ion head. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, in which the actuator comprises a protrusion that mechanically engages a cantilevered latch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, in which the actuator comprises a magnet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, in which the actuator is for simultaneously engagement of two separate reversible locking mechanisms of the removable cover. ### Claim 17 A method for secure writing to e-paper comprising: activating an actuator to unlock a reversible locking mechanism of a removable cover covering an e-paper surface; removing the cover to expose the e-paper; altering markings on the e-paper; and replacing the cover and locking the cover in place. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, in which altering markings comprises erasing current markings on the e-paper and writing new markings on the e-paper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, in which activating an actuator to unlock the cover comprises pressing the e-paper over protrusions to disengage cantilevered latches to allow the cover to slide off the e-paper. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, in which activating an actuator to unlock the cover comprises simultaneously engaging multiple latches holding the cover in place.