Smart Phone Scale

• US 20140224551A1
• Filed: 04/12/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velox Robotics LLC
• Original Assignee: RAF Technology, Incorporated (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Turner, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 1/18 Balances involving the use of a pivoted beam, i.e. beam balances
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/002 Means for correcting for obliquity of mounting for pendulum-weight apparatus G01G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/14 Devices for determining tare weight or for cancelling out the tare by zeroising, e.g. mechanically operated in connection with automatic loading G01G13/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/00 Weighing apparatus characterised by the use of elastically-deformable members, e.g. spring balances
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/006 with pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/04 with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid pressure gauges per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 9/00 Methods of, or apparatus for, the determination of weight, not provided for in groups G01G1/00 - G01G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A weighing assembly (100,500,600) includes a portable computing device (“PCC”) (112) such as a smart phone, pad computer, laptop computer, or the like. The weighing assembly utilizes one or more features of the portable computing device in order to weigh an item, under control of a scale application program or “app” executable in the portable computing device. Some embodiments may utilize an internal barometric pressure sensor of the PCC. Other embodiments may utilize orientation or position sensors of the PCC for weighing an item. Other embodiments may utilize a compressible foot element (1004), all for weighing an item. Preferably, a user interface (114) of the PCC, such as a touch screen, may be used to interact with the scale application program for calibration and other functions.

Claims

1. A portable weighing assembly comprising:

a smart phone having a built-in barometer; and

a substantially airtight enclosure sized to enclose the smart phone;

wherein the enclosure is arranged to receive an item placed on the enclosure for weighing, and to transfer a weight of the placed item so as to increase a barometric pressure inside the enclosure, for sensing by the smart phone barometer.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is formed of a flexible material.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure includes a substantially transparent window portion to enable viewing a display screen of the smart phone.

4. The assembly of claim 1 including a weighing application program stored in machine-readable memory in the smart phone, the weighing application program including code executable by a processor in the smart phone to cause the processor to interface with the barometer in the phone, and to translate a barometer reading to a weight.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the weighing application program includes code for calibrating the weighing function.

6. A portable weighing assembly comprising:

a substantially airtight container comprising a chamber configured to encase a mobile communication device, wherein the container is configured to respond to a downward force to be exerted on the container by increasing a barometric pressure with the chamber.

7. The portable weighing assembly of claim 6, further comprising at least one foot assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston, wherein the piston is configured to extend into the cylinder responsive to the downward force.

8. The portable weighing assembly of claim 7, further comprising at least one channel in communication with the chamber, wherein the channel conducts gases from the cylinder responsive to extension of the piston into the cylinder responsive to the downward force and wherein addition of the gases to the chamber increase a barometric pressure within the chamber.

9. The portable weighing assembly of claim 8, wherein the mobile communication device is disposed within the chamber and includes a barometric pressure sensor and a weighing application configured to access data generated by the barometric pressure sensor and wherein the weighing application is configured to calculate a weight of an item placed on the container based on the barometric pressure data.

10. The portable weighing assembly of claim 9, further comprising an item receptacle configured to receive an item for weighing.

11. The portable weighing assembly of claim 10, wherein the item receptacle is integral with the weighing assembly.

12. The portable weighing assembly of claim 10, wherein the item receptacle is removable.

13. A method for weighing an item, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile communication device, an initial sensor reading from a sensor integral with the mobile communications device;

receiving, by the mobile communications device, a subsequent sensor reading from the sensor, wherein the subsequent sensor reading is responsive to a downward force exerted on the mobile communications device;

comparing, by the mobile communications device, the initial sensor reading and the subsequent sensor reading; and

determining, by the mobile communications device, a weight of an item associated with the downward force based on the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor is at least one of a barometer, a load cell or an orientation sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining is further based on identifying, by the mobile communications device, a plurality of sensor readings based on known item weights.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the initial sensor reading is set to zero.

17. A computer-readable memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving an initial sensor reading from a sensor integral with a mobile communications device;

receiving a subsequent sensor reading from the sensor, wherein the subsequent sensor reading is responsive to a downward force exerted on the mobile communications device;

comparing the initial sensor reading and the subsequent sensor reading; and

determining a weight of an item associated with the downward force based on the comparison.

18. The computer-readable memory device of claim 17, wherein the sensor is at least one of a barometer, a load cell or an orientation sensor.

19. The computer-readable memory device of claim 17, wherein the determining is further based on identifying a plurality of sensor readings based on known item weights.

20. A portable weighing assembly comprising:

a smart phone having a built-in orientation sensor;

a compressible elastic foot extending from an underside of the smart phone and arranged for changing an orientation of the smart phone as the foot is compressed responsive a weight of an item placed on top of the smart phone for weighing; and

a weighing application program stored in machine-readable memory in the smart phone, the weighing application program including code executable by a processor in the smart phone to cause the processor to interface with the orientation sensor in the phone, and to translate a change in orientation in the orientation of the smart phone to a weight of the item placed on top of the smart phone for weighing.