System for portable measurement of weight of foodstuffs electronic device using the system, and electronic device assembly using the system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10429232-B2
Application number	US-201715489748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2017
Priority date	Apr 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A weight measurement system includes a load-bearing member, a sensing module, a processor, and a prompting module. The load-bearing member supports an object and is made of an elastic material. The sensing module is electromagnetically coupled with the load-bearing member. The processor is electrically connected to the sensing module. The prompting module is electrically connected to the processor. The sensing module outputs a sensing signal to the processor upon detecting a deformation of the load-bearing member caused by the object. The processor processes the sensing signal and outputs a weight signal to the prompting module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A weight measurement system comprising:
a load-bearing member, configured to support an object, the load-bearing member comprising an elastic region made of an elastic material;
a sensing module electromagnetically coupled with the load-bearing member;
a processor electrically connected to the sensing module; and
a prompting module electrically connected to the processor;
wherein the sensing module is configured to detect a deformation of the elastic region of the load-bearing member and output a sensing signal to the processor upon detecting a deformation of the elastic region of the load-bearing member caused by the object, the processor processes the sensing signal and outputs a weight signal to the prompting module.

2. The weight measurement system of claim 1 , further comprising a capturing module and a health management module, wherein:
the capturing module is electrically connected to the processor, the capturing module is configured to detect a type of the object;
the health management module is electrically connected to the prompting module, the health management module records the measurement, and calculates and outputs nutrients or calories of the object combined with a type of the object to the prompting module;
the health management module is further configured to record a time of weight measurement, monitor and analyze a diet of the user and give advice on the diet combined with nutrients or calories of the object in each measurement.

3. The weight measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the prompting module is one or a combination of an audio player, a display unit, and a light emitting diode (LED).

4. The weight measurement system of claim 3 , wherein the prompting module is configured to output first prompting information when a weight measurement of the object is in progress, output a measurement result when the weight measurement is finished, and output second prompting information when the object is overweight.

5. The weight measurement system of claim 4 , wherein the first prompting information is one of a first prompting sound, first displayed information, and first flash information; the second prompting information is one of a second prompting sound, second displayed information, and second flash information.

6. The weight measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the load-bearing member is made of conductive material.

7. The weight measurement system of claim 6 , wherein the load-bearing member is made of metallic material.

8. The weight measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the sensing module comprises one or more sensing coils and is spaced apart from the load-bearing member.

9. The weight measurement system of claim 8 , wherein the sensing module is inductively coupled and/or capacitively coupled with the load-bearing member; when the load-bearing member is deformed, an inductive coupling relationship and/or a capacitive coupling relationship between the sensing module and the load-bearing member is changed, and the sensing module generates an activating voltage and outputs the sensing signal.

10. The weight measurement system of claim 9 , wherein the processor receives the sensing signal, calculates a voltage value indicated by the sensing signal, and outputs the weight signal corresponding to a weight of the object according to the voltage value.

11. An electronic device comprising:
a main body including a front cover and a rear cover facing away from the front cover;
a display unit positioned on the front cover; and
a weight measurement system, the weight measurement system comprising:
a load-bearing member being a part of the rear cover of the main body, the load-bearing member configured to support an object, the load-bearing member comprising an elastic region made of an elastic material;
a sensing module positioned in an interior of the main body and electromagnetically coupled with the load-bearing member;
a processor electrically connected to the sensing module; and
a prompting module electrically connected to the processor;
wherein the sensing module is configured to detect a deformation of the elastic region of the load-bearing member and output a sensing signal to the processor upon detecting a deformation of the elastic region of the load-bearing member caused by the object, the processor processes the sensing signal and outputs a weight signal to the prompting module.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the weight measurement system further comprises a capturing module and a health management module, wherein:
the capturing module is electrically connected to the processor, the capturing module is configured to detect a type of the object;
the health management module is electrically connected to the prompting module, the health management module records the measurement, and calculates and outputs nutrients or calories of the object combined with a type of the object to the prompting module;
the health management module is further configured to record a time of weight measurement, monitor and analyze a diet of the user and give advice on the diet combined with nutrients or calories of the object in each measurement.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the prompting module is one or a combination of an audio player, a display unit, and a light emitting diode (LED), the prompting module is configured to output first prompting information when a weight measurement of the object is in progress, output a measurement result when the weight measurement of the object is finished, and output second prompting information when the object is overweight.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first prompting information is one of a first prompting sound, first displayed information, and first flash information; the second prompting information is one of a second prompting sound, second displayed information, and second flash information.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the load-bearing member is made of conductive material.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the load-bearing member is made of metallic material.

17. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the sensing module comprises one or more sensing coils and is spaced apart from the load-bearing member.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the sensing module is inductively coupled and/or capacitively coupled with the load-bearing member, when the load-bearing member is deformed, an inductive coupling relationship and/or a capacitive coupling relationship between the sensing module and the load-bearing member is changed, and the sensing module generates an activating voltage and outputs the sensing signal.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the processor receives the sensing signal, calculates a voltage value indicated by the sensing signal, and outputs the weight signal corresponding to a weight of the object according to the voltage value.

20. An electronic device assembly comprising:
an electronic device;
an accessory member configured to accommodate the electronic device, the accessory member comprising a transmitting module; and
a weight measurement system, the weight measurement system comprising:
a load-bearing member, positioned inside the accessory member, the load-bearing member configured to support an object and made of an elastic material;
a sensing module, positioned inside the accessory member and electromagnetically coupled with the load-bearing member;

a processor electrically co

Assignees

• Chiun Mai Communication Systems Inc

Inventors

• Lin Yen-Hui
• Chien How-Wen

Classifications

• G08B5/36

  using visible light sources · CPC title

• G01G3/12 Primary

  wherein the weighing element is in the form of a solid body stressed by pressure or tension during weighing · CPC title

• G08B21/182 Primary

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title

• G01G19/62 Primary

  Over or under weighing apparatus · CPC title

• G01G3/147

  involving digital counting · CPC title