FOODWARE SYSTEM HAVING VISUAL STIMULATING, SENSING AND/OR DATA PROCESSING COMPONENTS

• US 20170332845A1
• Filed: 08/08/2017
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illumidine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: James F. Kramer
• Inventors: Kramer, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/025 with means for amusing or giving information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2238 with illumination means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2244 with sound emitting means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/225 vessels with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/00 Table-ware crumb trays A47L13/52; table knives B26B
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/023 Forks; Forks with ejectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/04 Spoons; Pastry servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0306 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0309 Illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/28 Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An active foodware system includes a dining plate unit that provides visual stimuli by having a power source and a visual stimulating component to provide light emanating from the dining plate unit. Other devices can provide auditory and haptic stimuli, as well as sensing and processing. The dining plate unit can be a single component where the device and circuitry are all contained in the unit and protected from water, or can be two components: an upper translucent dining plate, and an underplate comprising the devices and circuitry for directing light through the upper translucent dining plate.

Claims

1. An active foodware system comprising:

a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving solid food and preventing spillage from said dining surface; and

a visual stimulating component for emitting light from said region for providing a user with information or entertainment while dining.

2. The active foodware system according to claim 1, wherein said visual stimulating component comprises at least one from the group consisting of a plurality of light sources, a graphical display, a light guide, a translucent film, an electroluminescent wire, and a fluorescent light;

wherein when said visual stimulating component comprises said plurality of light sources, said plurality of light sources is for providing other than a single simple geometric form or for emitting light from said region for a plurality of said dining surfaces; and

wherein when said visual stimulating component comprises said graphical display, said graphical display is substantially vertically arranged or said active foodware system further comprises an articulation for changing the angle of said graphical display.

3. The active foodware system according to claim 1 further comprising a sound-generating component for synchronizing sound with said visual stimulating component.

4. The active foodware system according to claim 1 further comprising a mating structure for removably mating with said dining plate and positioning it for dining.

5. The active foodware system according to claim 4, wherein said mating structure comprises a light source, and said dining plate comprises a translucent portion or a light guide for positioning in functional relation to said light source.

6. An active foodware system comprising:

a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving solid food and preventing spillage from said dining surface;

a visual stimulating component; and

a sensing component for sensing;

wherein said visual stimulating component is for providing stimulation related to said sensing;

wherein said sensing component is for sensing at least one of weight of said food, position, proximity, pressure, center of mass, calories, moisture, light, color, reflectivity, opacity, density, temperature, velocity, acceleration, heart rate of a diner, blood pressure, and an active foodware member of a place setting other than a utensil;

wherein when said sensing component is for sensing said weight of said food from under said dining plate, said sensing component is for sensing while said diner is dining or said active foodware system further comprises a dining communication component for wirelessly communicating said weight while said diner is dining or said active foodware system further comprises a mating structure for removably mating with said dining plate and positioning it for dining;

wherein when said sensing component is for sensing said temperature of said food, said active foodware system further comprises a temperature communication component for wirelessly communicating said temperature or said active foodware system comprises said mating structure; and

wherein when said sensing component is for sensing said heart rate, said blood pressure, or said active foodware member of a place setting where said active foodware member of a place setting is a drinking vessel, said dining plate comprises said sensing component or said active foodware system further comprises a mechanical structure in functional relation to said dining plate and said mechanical structure comprises said sensing component.

7. The active foodware system according to claim 6 comprising said mating structure, said mating structure comprising said sensing component.

8. The active foodware system according to claim 6, wherein said visual stimulating component is for providing stimulation to said diner to provide encouragement to eat, rewards for eating, minatory messages, educational messages, or directions concerning food selection.

9. The active foodware system according to claim 6 further comprising a wireless communication component for wirelessly communicating sensing data from said sensing component or for wirelessly communicating electrical power, wherein when said sensing component is for sensing said weight from under said dining plate, said wireless communication component is for wirelessly sending said weight while said diner is dining.

10. The active foodware system according to claim 6 further comprising a data processing component for wirelessly receiving and processing sensing data from said sensing component, wherein when said sensing component is for sensing said weight from under said dining plate, said data processing component is for wirelessly receiving and processing said weight while said diner is dining.

11. The active foodware system according to claim 6 comprising a camera for sensing said food or said diner.

12. The active foodware system according to claim 6, wherein said sensing component comprises an infrared sensor for sensing said light, said calories, said moisture, said color, said reflectivity, or said opacity of said food.

13. The active foodware system according to claim 6 further comprising a heating source, wherein said sensing component is for sensing said temperature for controlling said heating source for maintaining a desired temperature of said food, and wherein said temperature communication component is for wirelessly communicating said temperature.

14. The active foodware system according to claim 6 further comprising a wireless controller for controlling said active foodware system.

15. The active foodware system according to claim 6 further comprising a data processing component for receiving external data from computer memory external to said active foodware system, and for processing said external data with said data from said sensing component for providing processed data.

16. The active foodware system according to claim 7, wherein said sensing component is for sensing said weight of said food.

17. The active foodware system according to claim 16 further comprising a camera for sensing said food or said diner.

18. The active foodware system according to claim 16 configured for sensing calories.

19. The active foodware system according to claim 16 further comprising:

a plurality of said dining surfaces each supported by a separate said dining plate, each said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding it, each said dining surface recessed for receiving solid food and preventing spillage from it; and

a plurality of sensing components for sensing weight of said food, each said sensing component associated with a different said dining surface;

wherein said mating structure is for removably mating with said separate dining plates and positioning them for dining and to the side of each other, said mating structure further comprising said plurality of sensing components.

20. The active foodware system according to claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of sensing components comprises a separate load cell for sensing said weight.

21. The active foodware system according to claim 19 further comprising a data processing component for wirelessly receiving said weight from said plurality of sensing components, and for processing said weight for providing related stimulation.

22. An active foodware system comprising:

a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving solid food and preventing spillage from said dining surface;

a visual stimulating component; and

a communication component for wirelessly communicating data or electrical power;

wherein said visual stimulating component is for providing stimulation related to said communicating;

wherein (1) said communication component is for communicating (A) with an active foodware member of a place setting, or (B) with a sensing component for sensing said food or information about a diner or said active foodware member of a place setting, or (C) with a server computer, or (D) while said diner is dining;

or (2) said active foodware system further comprises a mating structure for removably mating with said dining plate and positioning it for dining and said mating structure comprises said communication component;

wherein when said communication component is for communicating with said active foodware member of a place setting where said active foodware member of a place setting is said dining plate, said active foodware system comprises said mating structure;

wherein when said communication component is for communicating with said sensing component and said sensing component is for sensing weight of said food from under said dining plate, said sensing component is for sensing while said diner is dining or said communication component is for communicating said weight while said diner is dining or said active foodware system comprises said mating structure;

wherein when said communication component is for communicating with said server computer, said dining plate comprises said communication component or said active foodware system comprises said mating structure; and

wherein when said communication component is for communicating while said diner is dining, said dining plate comprises said communication component or said active foodware system further comprises a mechanical structure in functional relation to said dining plate and said mechanical structure comprises said communication component.

23. The active foodware system according to claim 22, wherein said communication component is for communicating with said sensing component, and said sensing component is for sensing at least one of weight of said food, position, proximity, pressure, center of mass, calories, moisture, light, color, reflectivity, opacity, density, temperature, velocity, acceleration, heart rate of a diner, and blood pressure.

24. A method employing a dining surface supported by a dining plate, said dining surface being recessed in relation to a region surrounding said dining surface, said dining surface recessed for receiving solid food and preventing spillage from said dining surface, said method comprising the steps of:

placing said food on said dining plate;

a sensing component providing sensing data; and

a visual stimulating component providing stimulation related to said sensing data;

wherein when said sensing component is sensing weight of said food from under said dining plate, said method further comprises the step of sensing said weight while a diner is dining, or said method further comprises the step of wirelessly communicating said weight while a diner is dining, or said method employs a mating structure for removably mating with said dining plate and positioning it for dining and said method further comprises the step of mating said dining plate with said mating structure; and

wherein when said sensing component is sensing other than weight of said food from under said dining plate, said dining plate or a mechanical structure in functional relation to said dining plate has a communication component and said method further comprises the step of wirelessly communicating said sensing data.

25. The method according to claim 24, said sensing component sensing at least one of weight of said food, position, proximity, pressure, center of mass, calories, moisture, light, color, reflectivity, opacity, density, temperature, velocity, acceleration, heart rate of a diner, blood pressure, and an active foodware member of a place setting.

26. The method according to claim 24, said active foodware system further employing a data processing component, and further employing computer memory external to said active foodware system, said method further comprising the steps of:

transferring data from said computer memory to said data processing component;

said data processing component processing said data from said computer memory with said sensing data to provide processed data; and

displaying, playing, or operating said processed data.

27. The method according to claim 26, said active foodware system further employing a mobile computing device providing said data processing, said displaying, said playing, said operating, auditory feedback, or vibrotactile feedback.

28. The method according to claim 24, said active foodware system employing a camera sensing said food or said diner.

29. The method according to claim 24, said active foodware system further employing a wireless device providing auditory or vibrotactile feedback.

30. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of eating said food from said dining plate.