CONFIGURABLE ELECTRONIC KITCHEN SCALE ACCESSORY

• US 20140318874A1
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Moses, Daniel, Cassett, Tia Manning, Mudrick, Candice Ruth, Aleksic, Milivoje, Farasati, Pouyan
• Application Number:
  US14/074,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318874A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 35/00 Food or foodstuffs not provided for in groups A23L5/00 – A23L33/00; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/56 combined with handles of tools or household implements
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/23 Support or suspension of weighing platforms G01G21/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods for a configurable kitchen scale accessory are disclosed. The scale may include a detachable transparent measurement panel detachably secured to a frame. The frame may include a plurality of force sensors. The scale may be configured to determine a weight of a measured ingredient placed on the measurement panel and display the weight or an equivalent volume of the measured ingredient by utilizing conversion tables stored within an electronic memory of the scale. The scale may be further configured to connect to an interactive display to transmit weights and volumes and receive a list of ingredients for a selected recipe.

Claims

1. A configurable electronic scale, comprising:

a frame structure;

a measurement panel mounted on the frame structure;

at least one force sensor coupled to the frame structure and configured to measure a weight of an item placed on the measurement panel; and

a processor configured to convert the measured weight of the item into an equivalent volume and provide an indication of the amount of the item placed on the scale.

2. The scale of claim 1, wherein the scale further comprises a scale display mounted on the frame structure to display one or both of the weight and volume of the item.

3. The scale of claim 1, wherein the measurement panel comprises bezel-less transparent glass.

4. The scale of claim 1, wherein the measurement panel is detachably secured to the frame structure by a plurality of magnets.

5. The scale of claim 1, wherein the at least one force sensor comprises four force sensors mounted on each corner of the frame structure.

6. The scale of claim 5 wherein the processor is further configured to detect input from the force sensors and determine the weight of an item placed on the measurement panel.

7. The scale of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to access a conversion table stored within an electronic memory of the scale.

8. The scale of claim 1, wherein the scale is connected to an external interactive display.

9. The scale of claim 8, wherein the scale is connected to the external interactive display by a wireless connection.

10. The scale of claim 1, wherein the scale is configured to process voice commands.

11. A measurement system, comprising:

a display configured to display a recipe comprising at least one ingredient and a corresponding recipe ingredient amount; and

a scale in communication with the display, wherein the scale is configured to;

receive the recipe ingredient amount from the display,

measure an amount of ingredient placed on the scale by a user,

provide an indication of the amount of ingredient placed on the scale.

12. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein the recipe ingredient amount is specified as a volume, and wherein the display is further configured to convert the volume to a corresponding weight, and to send the corresponding weight to the scale.

13. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein the scale is further configured to scale a required measured amount of a second ingredient of a recipe based on a measured amount of a first ingredient of the recipe.

14. The measurement system of claim 13, wherein the scale is further configured to correct a required amount of the first ingredient of a recipe based on a measured amount of the second ingredient of the recipe.

15. A measurement system, comprising:

an interactive display configured to display a recipe comprising a plurality of ingredients, each of the plurality of ingredients having a corresponding recipe ingredient amount; and

a scale in communication with the display, wherein the scale is configured to;

measure an amount of a key ingredient placed on the scale by a user, wherein the key ingredient is one of the plurality of ingredients, and

provide the measured key ingredient amount to the display,

wherein the display is configured to scale the corresponding recipe ingredient amounts according to a ratio between an amount specified in the recipe for the key ingredient and the measured key ingredient amount.

16. The measurement system of claim 15, wherein the recipe ingredient amount is specified as a volume, and wherein the display is further configured to convert the volume to a corresponding weight value, and to send the corresponding weight value to the scale.

17. The measurement system of claim 15, wherein the recipe ingredient amount is specified as a volume and wherein the scale is further configured to convert the volume to a corresponding weight value, and to send the corresponding weight value to the interactive display.

18. The measurement system of claim 15, wherein the recipe ingredient amount is specified as a weight and wherein the scale is further configured to convert the weight to a corresponding volume value, and to send the corresponding volume value to the interactive display.

19. The measurement system of claim 15, wherein the scale is further configured to scale a required measured amount of a second ingredient of a recipe based on a measured amount of a first ingredient of the recipe.

20. The measurement system of claim 19, wherein the scale is further configured to correct a required amount of the first ingredient of a recipe based on a measured amount of the second ingredient of the recipe.

21. A method for weighing a series of recipe ingredients, comprising:

providing a configurable scale having a scale display and a measurement panel detachably secured to a frame structure, wherein a set of force sensors are configured to detect a weight of a first ingredient placed on the measurement panel;

receiving a configuration instruction from an interactive display;

weighing the first ingredient and displaying one or both of a weight and a volume of the first ingredient on the scale display;

transmitting one or both of the weight and volume of the first ingredient to the interactive display;

scaling a required weight or volume of a second ingredient based on the weight or volume of the first ingredient;

weighing the second ingredient and displaying one or both of a weight and a volume of the second ingredient on the scale display; and

transmitting one or both of the weight and volume of the second ingredient to the interactive display.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a configuration instruction includes receiving a task list of ingredients to be weighed.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying a name of an ingredient to be weighed on the scale display based on the task list.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a configuration instruction includes receiving a key ingredient instruction.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the second ingredient is weighed while the first ingredient remains on the measurement panel.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising adapting a recipe by scaling the weight or volume of the first ingredient based on the weight or volume of the second ingredient.