Food product scale with customer voice prompting and related methods
First Claim
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1. A scale system for use by store customers in weighing food products, comprising:
- a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed, the weighing station having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals;
a controller for receiving weight indicative signals from the mechanism, the controller operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for that item;
a detection unit for detecting a customer within an area in proximity to the weighing station;
a voice module having an associated audio output device for outputting messages in an audible manner;
wherein the detection unit operates to detect if the customer is within a first range of the weighing station and to detect if the customer is within a second range of the weighing station, and the voice module stores first and second messages and operates to output the first message if the customer is detected within the first range and to output the second message if the customer is detected within the second range.
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Abstract
A food product scale system includes a customer detecting functionality and a voice functionality for outputting one or more audible voice messages when a customer is detected. When a customer is at a first distance from a weighing station of the scale a customer attracting message may be output and when the customer is at a second, closer distance from the weighing station an instruction message may be output. Other electronic devices may utilize a similar staged message feature.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A scale system for use by store customers in weighing food products, comprising:
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a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed, the weighing station having an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals; a controller for receiving weight indicative signals from the mechanism, the controller operable to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for that item; a detection unit for detecting a customer within an area in proximity to the weighing station; a voice module having an associated audio output device for outputting messages in an audible manner; wherein the detection unit operates to detect if the customer is within a first range of the weighing station and to detect if the customer is within a second range of the weighing station, and the voice module stores first and second messages and operates to output the first message if the customer is detected within the first range and to output the second message if the customer is detected within the second range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19)
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16. A scale system for weighing and pricing items, comprising:
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a weighing unit including a weighing station for receiving items to be weighed, a mechanism for producing weight indicative signals when items are placed on the weighing station and a control portion that operates to establish a price for a weighed item based in part upon a weight indicative signal produced for that item; a detection unit for detecting a person within a set distance from the weighing station, the detection unit comprises an ultrasonic ranging unit including at least one ultrasonic transducer and a control portion for evaluating range, the weighing station sits atop a first housing and the ultrasonic transducer is located in a second housing that is located higher than the weighing station, a support member extends upward from the first housing to support the second housing; a voice module having at least one stored message and an associated audio output device for outputting the message in an audible manner, the voice module operates to output the message when the detection unit detects the person within the set distance. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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20. In a store including a perishables food department having a self-service scale and associated label printing mechanism located therein, a method of promoting customer use of the self-service scale comprising the steps of:
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detecting a customer at a first location spaced from the scale using a detection unit that generates a first detect signal in response to such detection; outputting a first audible message for attracting the customer closer to the scale in response to the first detect signal; detecting the customer at a second location nearer the scale than the first location using the detection unit, the detection unit generates a second detect signal in response to such detection; and outputting a second audible message including one or more instructions for using the scale in response to the second detect signal. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A self-service electronic device adapted to promote usage thereof by persons in proximity to the device, the device comprising:
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a user interface for receiving information from a person; a detection unit configured to generate a first detect signal in response to detecting a person at a first location relative to the user interface and configured to generate a second detect signal in response to detecting a person at a second location relative to the user interface, the second location closer to the user interface than the first location; and a voice module having at least first and second stored messages and an associated audio output device for outputting messages in an audible manner, the voice module operates to output the first message in response to the first detect signal and to output the second message in response to the second detect signal, where the first message comprises a message to attract persons closer to the user interface and the second message comprises a message instructing persons on use of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method comprising:
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locating a self-service scale device within a perishables department of a store, the self-service scale having an associated label printing mechanism located therein, an associated customer detection unit and an associated voice module; operating the detection unit to provide customer detection for a customer within a first distance of the self-service scale and the provide customer detection for a customer within a second distance of the self-service scale, the second distance shorter than the first distance; operating the voice module such that a first audible message is output responsive to customer detection within the first distance and a second audible message is output responsive to customer detection within the second distance; upon customer detection within the second distance, an interlock is initiated to prevent output of the first message even upon subsequent customer detection within the first distance.
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Specification