Integrated electronic scale, and a system and method which uses the scale automatically to compute postal/carrier rates

• US 6,249,778 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vaghi Family Intellectual Properties LLC
• Original Assignee: Vaghi Family Intellectual Properties LLC
• Inventors: Vaghi, Nino Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/223,172
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.15, 177/168, 177/170, 177/210.R, 177/211, 177/212, 177/225, 177/229, 177/230, 177/231, 177/238, 177/243, 705/401, 705/407, 705/408
• US Class Current: 705/407
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00233 Housing, e.g. lock or hardened casing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 Measuring the weight of mailpieces

Abstract

An electronic scale integrally formed within the housing of a piece of office equipment increases a user'"'"'s work space in a home or business environment. The piece of equipment may be a personal computer or one of its peripheral devices. A mailing system automatically computes postal and/or private carrier rates for items of mail based on weight signals derived from the electronic scale. Since the scale is integrated into the computer, all mailing tasks are performed at a user'"'"'s desk using the least space possible. The system is performed in accordance with a computer program which steps a user through the postage-computing method using one or more interactive display screens.

Claims

1. An electronic scale integrally formed within a flat-panel display, comprising:

a platform for supporting an item; and

a weighing unit mounted at least partially within a housing of said flat-panel display, said weighing unit including;

at least one support member in contact with said platform, at least a portion of said platform being exposed along an exterior surface of said housing; and

a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position adjacent said support member, said support member impinging upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform to cause said force transducer to output a weight signal indicative of a weight of said item.

2. The electronic scale of claim 1, wherein said support member is removably connected to said platform, to thereby allow at least a second platform of different dimensions to be connected to said support member.

3. The electronic scale of claim 1, further comprising:

a display mounted to the housing of said flat-panel display; and

signal lines for conveying said weight signal to said display so that said display displays the weight of said item.

4. The electronic scale of claim 1, wherein said platform forms a bottom surface of a container having side walls connected to said platform for holding said item.

5. The electronic scale of claim 1, wherein said weighing unit includes a pivot mount fixed to an interior surface of said housing, said support member having a first end rotatably connected to said pivot mount and a second end in contact with a bottom surface of said platform, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support member impinges upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

6. The electronic scale of claim 5, wherein said housing of said flat-panel display includes a base, and wherein said pivot mount is fixed to an interior surface of said base and the second end of said support member is connected to said platform through a slot in said base.

7. An electronic scale integrally formed within a housing of a printer, comprising:

a platform for supporting an item;

a weighing unit mounted at least partially within a housing of said printer, said weighing unit including;

a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position underneath said platform, and

two support members for supporting said platform, each of said two support members having a first end connected to said platform and a second end within an interior of said housing, said support members deflecting to allow said platform to impinge upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform, said force transducer outputting weight signals corresponding to a weight of said item.

8. The electronic scale of claim 7, further comprising:

two bias springs mounted on respective ones of said two support members, said bias springs compressing to allow said platform to impinge upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform.

9. A system for computing a postal or carrier rate, comprising:

a piece of office equipment selected from the group consisting of a flat-panel display unit, a CRT monitor, a CPU unit of a personal computer, and a printer,

an electronic scale integrally formed within a housing of said piece of office equipment, said electronic scale including;

(a) a platform for supporting an item; and

(b) a weighing unit mounted at least partially within the housing of said piece of office equipment, said weighing unit including;

(i) at least one support member in contact with said platform, at least a portion of said platform being exposed along an exterior surface of said housing, and

(ii) a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position adjacent said support member, said support member impinging upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform to cause said force transducer to output a weight signal indicative of a weight of said item; and

a processor for computing a postal or carrier rate for said item based on said weight signal.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a printer for printing one of a label or envelope bearing a mark indicative of said postal or carrier rate.

11. A method for computing a postal or carrier rate, comprising:

integrating an electronic scale into a housing of a piece of office equipment selected from the group consisting of a flat-panel display unit, a CRT monitor, a CPU unit of a personal computer, and a printer;

weighing an item on said electronic scale to derive a weight signal;

conveying a weight signal to a processor;

entering at least one parameter relating to a method of delivering said item; and

computing a postal or carrier rate based on said weight signal and said at least one parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

printing one of a label or envelope bearing a mark indicative of said postal or carrier rate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said computing step is performed in accordance with a computer program which causes a computer display to generate at least one display screen for allowing a user to enter said at least one parameter upon request, said computer further causing said computer display to display a weight of said item and said postal or carrier rate.

14. An electronic scale integrally formed within a CRT monitor, comprising:

a platform for supporting an item; and

a weighing unit mounted at least partially within a housing of said CRT monitor, said weighing unit including;

at least one support member in contact with said platform, at least a portion of said platform being exposed along an exterior surface of said housing; and

a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position adjacent said support member, said support member impinging upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform to cause said force transducer to output a weight signal indicative of a weight of said item.

15. The electronic scale of claim 14, wherein said support member is removably connected to said platform, to thereby allow at least a second platform of different dimensions to be connected to said support member.

16. The electronic scale of claim 14, wherein said platform forms a bottom surface of a container having side walls connected to said platform for holding said item.

17. The electronic scale of claim 14, wherein said weighing unit includes a pivot mount fixed to an interior surface of said housing, said support member having a first end rotatably connected to said pivot mount and a second end in contact with a bottom surface of said platform, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support member impinges upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

18. The electronic scale of claim 17, wherein said housing of said CRT monitor includes a base, and wherein said pivot mount is fixed to an interior surface of said base and the second end of said support member is connected to said platform through a slot in said base.

19. The electronic scale of claim 14, wherein said CRT monitor has a display screen, and wherein said weighing unit includes two support members and two pivot mounts fixed to an interior surface of said housing, each of said support members having a first end rotatably connected to a respective one of said pivot mounts and a second end connected to one of two opposing sides of said platform, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support members move under weight of said item on said platform.

20. The electronic scale of claim 19, wherein the second end of said two support members are rotatably connected to respective ones of said pivot mounts to allow said platform to rotate into a level position.

21. The electronic scale of claim 19, wherein said two support members include a third support member, disposed beneath said platform, for connecting said two support arms, said third support member impinging upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

22. An electronic scale integrally formed within a CPU unit of a personal computer, comprising:

a platform for supporting an item; and

a weighing unit mounted at least partially within a housing of said CPU unit of said personal computer, said weighing unit including;

at least one support member in contact with said platform, at least a portion of said platform being exposed along an exterior surface of said housing; and

a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position adjacent said support member, said support member impinging upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform to cause said force transducer to output a weight signal indicative of a weight of said item.

23. The electronic scale of claim 22, wherein said support member is removably connected to said platform, to thereby allow at least a second platform of different dimensions to be connected to said support member.

24. The electronic scale of claim 22, wherein said platform forms a bottom surface of a container having side walls connected to said platform for holding said item.

25. The electronic scale of claim 22, wherein said weighing unit includes a pivot mount fixed to an interior surface of said housing, said support member having a first end rotatably connected to said pivot mount and a second end in contact with a bottom surface of said platform, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support member impinges upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

26. The electronic scale of claim 25, wherein said housing of said CPU unit includes a base, and wherein said pivot mount is fixed to an interior surface of said base and the second end of said support member is connected to said platform through a slot in said base.

27. An electronic scale integrally formed within a printer, comprising:

a platform for supporting an item; and

a weighing unit mounted at least partially within a housing of said printer, said weighing unit including;

at least one support member in contact with said platform, at least a portion of said platform being exposed along an exterior surface of said housing; and

a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position adjacent said support member, said support member impinging upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform to cause said force transducer to output a weight signal indicative of a weight of said item.

28. The electronic scale of claim 27, wherein said printer has a discharge area for holding paper after printing, said platform located adjacent said discharge area, and

wherein said weighing unit is within said printer and includes a pivot mount fixed to an interior surface of said area, said support member having a first end rotatably connected to said pivot mount and a second end in contact with a bottom surface of said platform, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support member impinges upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

29. The electronic scale of claim 27, wherein said printer has a discharge area for holding paper after printing,

wherein said weighing unit is within said printer and includes a pivot mount fixed to an interior surface of said area, said support member having a first end rotatably connected to said pivot mount and a second end in contact with a bottom surface of said platform, and

wherein said platform is at least substantially coextensive with said discharge area, so that when said paper is discharged from said printer said paper is in a position to be weighed while resting in said discharge area, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support member impinges upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

30. The electronic scale of claim 27, wherein said support member is removably connected to said platform, to thereby allow at least a second platform of different dimensions to be connected to said support member.

31. The electronic scale of claim 27, wherein said platform forms a bottom surface of a container having side walls connected to said platform for holding said item.

32. The electronic scale of claim 27, wherein said weighing unit includes a pivot mount fixed to an interior surface of said housing, said support member having a first end rotatably connected to said pivot mount and a second end in contact with a bottom surface of said platform, said force transducer outputting said weight signal when said support member impinges upon said force transducer under weight of said item on said platform.

33. The electronic scale of claim 32, wherein said housing of said printer includes a base, and wherein said pivot mount is fixed to an interior surface of said base and the second end of said support member is connected to said platform through a slot in said base.

34. An electronic scale integrally formed within a housing of a CPU unit of a personal computer, comprising:

a platform for supporting an item;

a weighing unit mounted at least partially within a housing of said CPU unit of said personal computer, said weighing unit including;

a force transducer mounted within said housing at a position underneath said platform, and

two support members for supporting said platform, each of said two support members having a first end connected to said platform and a second end within an interior of said housing, said support members deflecting to allow said platform to impinge upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform, said force transducer outputting weight signals corresponding to a weight of said item.

35. The electronic scale of claim 34, further comprising:

two bias springs mounted on respective ones of said two support members, said bias springs compressing to allow said platform to impinge upon said force transducer when said item is placed on said platform.