INTELLIGENT LABEL

An electronic timing label for indicating the expiration of a time period associated with a particular article. The label comprises a pulse generator and a binary counter. The pulse generator is configured to generate a series of pulses at a predetermined pulse rate, and the counter is configured to count from an initial count number in response to the series of pulses and to generate an expiration signal upon reaching a final count number. The number of counts between the initial and final count numbers, and the pulse rate, are chosen to establish a counting time for the counter which corresponds to the time period associated with the article. The label also comprises a display for indicating the expiration of the time period, a programming port for directing programming pulses to the counter, and some mechanism for affixing the label to an application surface associated with the article.