1. A display system comprising:
a display;
a write-once solid-state memory with image content stored in the write-once memory; and
a display controller adapted to read the write-once memory and to cause the display to present the image content.
2. The display system of claim 1 wherein the display is a flexible display.
3. The display system of claim 1 wherein the display is a flat panel display.
4. The display system of claim 1 further comprising an interface to the write-once solid-state memory for writing the image content to the memory.
5. The display system of claim 1 wherein any of the write-once memory, and the display controller are mounted on the back of the display.
6. The display system of claim 1 wherein the display controller further comprises a timer causing the display controller to display the image content at a predetermined time.
7. The display system of claim 1 wherein the display is an OLED display.
8. The display system of claim 1 wherein the image content is at least one of a motion image sequence, a still image, a group of still images and a stream of image information.
9. The display system of claim 1 further comprising an audio system to generate audio signals based upon audio content stored in the write-once memory and display controller.
10. The display system of claim 1 wherein the image content is customized.
11. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display is a passive-matrix display.
12. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display is a reflective display.
13. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display uses bi-stable cholesteric materials to form images.
14. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display is a color display.
15. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display controller is a non-programmable state machine.
16. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display controller comprises a non-programmable logic circuit.
17. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display controller comprises only a memory interface and display deriver.
18. The display system of claim 1, further comprising an external interface adapted to receive at least one of image content and audio content and to store the received content in the write-once solid-state memory.
19. A display system comprising:
a display;
a write-once solid-state memory with image content stored in the write-once memory; and
a display controller adapted to read the write-once solid-state memory and to cause the display to present the image content, and
a folded surface on which any of the display, write-once solid-state memory, and display controller are mounted.
20. The display system of claim 19, further comprising a switch for activating the display controller.
21. The display system of 20, wherein the operation of unfolding the surface actuates the switch.
22. The display system of claim 19, further comprising an audio circuit to generate audio signals based upon audio content stored in the write-once memory and display controller.
23. A display system comprising:
a display;
a memory interface adapted to receive more than one type of write-once solid-state memory with each type of write-once solid-state memory having a different capacity for receiving image content; and
a display controller adapted to read image content stored a write-once solid-state memory received by the memory interface and to cause the display to present the image content.
24. The display system of claim 23, wherein the memory location is adapted to receive more than one type of write-once solid-state memory, with each memory type having different image content storage capacity.
25. The display system of claim 23, wherein the write-once solid-state memory has image content recorded therein before the write-once solid-state memory is received by the image interface.
26. The display system of claim 23, wherein the write-once solid-state memory has image content recorded therein before the write-once solid-state memory is received by the memory interface.
27. The display system of claim 23, wherein the display system takes the form of a tradable card.
28. The display system of claim 23, wherein the display system takes a form consistent with a sports card and wherein the image content in the memory has sports-related image content stored therein.
29. The display system of claim 23 further comprising a surface on which at least one of the display, the memory and the display controller are mounted.
30. A method for assembling a display system comprising:
providing a display;
providing a write-once solid-state memory; and
providing a display controller with the display controller, write-once solid-state memory, and display being functionally associated so that the display controller can read the write-once memory and can cause the display to present the image content stored in the write-once memory.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of writing image content into the write-once solid-state memory.
32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of receiving customized image content and writing the customized image content into the write-once solid-state memory.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein image content is obtained in a first form, and further comprising the steps of converting the image content into a second form, and writing the converted image content into the write-once solid-state memory.
34. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of storing the obtained image content in an archival storage medium.
35. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of providing a write-once solid-state memory comprises recording image content in the write-once solid-state memory and then functionally joining the write once solid-state memory to the display and display controller.
36. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of providing a write-once solid-state memory comprises determining a storage capacity requirement for storing a particular image content in a memory, selecting a write-once solid-state memory having sufficient storage capacity to store the image content, storing the image content in the selected write-once solid-state memory and functionally associating the selected write-once solid-state memory with the display and with the display controller.
37. A method of vending a display system having a display, a write-once solid-state memory and a display controller for reading the write-once memory and displaying the image content on the display, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining image content;
storing the image content in the write-once solid-state memory;
selling the display system; and
delivering the display system.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of obtaining content comprises capturing the image content.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of obtaining the content comprises capturing audio and image content at a first location and the step of delivering the display system comprises delivering the display system to the first location.
40. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of obtaining the content comprises capturing audio and image content at a first location and the step of delivering the display system comprises delivering the display system of the second location.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of providing a write-once solid-state memory comprises recording image content in the write-once solid-state memory and then functionally joining the write once solid-state memory to the display and display controller.
42. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of providing a write-once solid-state memory comprises determining a storage capacity requirement for storing a particular image content in a memory, selecting a write-once solid-state memory having sufficient storage capacity to store the image content, storing the image content in the selected write-once solid-state memory and functionally associating the selected write-once solid-state memory with the display and with the display controller.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of selling the display system comprises providing determining a selling price based at least in part upon the memory capacity of the selected write-once solid-state memory.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A communication device, comprising:
a power source;
a backup power source that is charged by the power source and, when the power source is interrupted, supplies electric power in place of the power source;
a conversion circuit unit that is connected to the power source and the backup power source, converts signal of different forms mutually, and, when receiving a mode switching signal, switches to a low power consumption mode in which the power consumption is lower;
mode switching means for, when detecting that the power source is interrupted, outputting the mode switching signal; and
a microcomputer for communicating with an external device through the conversion circuit unit according to a predetermined protocol.
2. The communication device according to claim 1,
wherein the conversion circuit unit converts a differential voltage signal and a digital signal mutually and the microcomputer communicates according to the CAN protocol.
3. The communication device according to claim 2,
wherein the mode switching means is constructed with a circuit.
4. The communication device according to claim 2,
wherein the mode switching means is constructed with a program in the microcomputer.
5. A communication device comprising:
a power supply;
a backup power supply that is charged by the power source and supplies electric power when the power supply is interrupted;
a conversion circuit unit that is connected to the power supply and the backup power supply, converts signals of different forms mutually, and, when receiving a mode switching signal, switches to a low power consumption mode in which power consumption is lower;
power supply interruption detecting means for, when detecting that the power supply is interrupted, outputting a first control signal;
a microcomputer for communicating with an external device through the conversion circuit unit according to a predetermined protocol and, when not using the conversion circuit unit, outputting a second control signal; and
mode switching means for, when at least either the first control signal or the second control signal is outputted, outputting the mode switching signal.
6. The communication device according to claim 5,
wherein the conversion circuit unit converts a differential voltage signal and a digital signal mutually, and the microcomputer communicates according to a CAN protocol.
7. The communication device according to claim 6,
wherein each of the power supply interruption detecting means and the mode switching means is constructed with a circuit.
8. The communication device according to claim 6,
wherein each of the power supply interruption detecting means and the mode switching means is constructed with a program in the microcomputer.
9. The communication device according to claim 1,
wherein the conversion circuit unit halts output of the differential voltage signal when the mode is switched to the low power consumption mode.
10. The communication device according to claim 1,
wherein the microcomputer controls a passive safety means connected to the power supply and the backup power supply.
11. A passive safety device, comprising:
a communication device according to claim 1; and
a passive safety means for vehicle that is connected to the power supply and the backup power supply and, when the power supply is interrupted, is driven by the backup power supply.
12. An integrated circuit (IC) for providing air bag control and for ensuring a capacity of a backup power supply in an air bag system, the air bag system including a battery, a power supply, a booster circuit, a microcomputer, and an air bag activation device, the IC comprising:
a communication unit connected to the power supply and the backup power supply, the communication unit communicating according to a CAN protocol; and
a power supply interruption detection unit detecting a power supply interruption and switching a mode of the communication unit,
wherein, when the booster circuit is interrupted, the power supply interruption detection circuit unit outputs a signal to change the mode of the communication unit to a stand-by mode to reduce power consumption of the communication unit to preserve a power supply of the backup power supply for reliably operating the air bag activation device.
13. The IC according to claim 12,
wherein the power supply interruption detection unit is constructed with a high reliability circuit.
14. The IC according to claim 12,
wherein the communication unit halts output of a differential voltage signal when the mode is switched to the standby mode.
15. The IC according to claim 12,
wherein the microcomputer is further coupled to the backup power supply and the IC, the microcomputer configured to control the activation of the airbag device.