Electronic scales and method for controlling food intake and/or the amount of calories consumed using a sensor and weight-checking routine
First Claim
1. Electronic scales for efficient monitoring of the number of calories consumed, with at least one weight sensor or force sensor, a data processing unit with memory means, a control and input keyboard and a display device, the scales having an active bearing surface (5) which is functionally connected to the weight or force sensor(s) and which is adapted to holding a plate,wherein the data processing unit (2) is equipped with a program which for any dish, in the form of liquid and/or solid food, based on the weighed amount of food and the weight-referenced calorie content of this food which has been stored or a manually input, computes the calorie equivalence value, adds the latter to the calorie equivalence values of the other dishes of a meal and computes the total value of the calories of foods consumed daily, and stores, displays and/or prints out this value and that the memory means (2) are suited to containing preprogrammed setpoints which are computed from the data inputs and measurements of a calibration period and are used as comparison or reference values during the period of calorie monitoring,wherein the bearing surface (5) and the weight or force sensors assigned to it are designed such that plates of different sizes and shapes are accurately weighed, andwherein the program contains a routine which checks during each weight measurement phase that each weight or force sensor is loaded and is delivering a correct measurement signal which contributes to an effective measurement result.
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Abstract
Electronic scales to efficiently control the amount of calories consumed include at least one weight or force sensor, a data processing unit having a memory unit, a control and input keyboard and a display device. The scales include an active bearing surface functionally connected to the weight or force sensor(s) and adapted to receive a plate of food or similar container, and the data processing unit is installed with a program which calculates the equivalent calorie value for each meal, in the form of liquid and/or solid food, based on the amount of weighed food and the stored or manually input weight-related calorie content of the meal, finally, the other food of a meal is added to the equivalent calorie content and a total value of calories of the daily consumed meal is calculated. The value is stored, displayed and/or printed out and the storage unit stores pre-programmed desired values.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Electronic scales for efficient monitoring of the number of calories consumed, with at least one weight sensor or force sensor, a data processing unit with memory means, a control and input keyboard and a display device, the scales having an active bearing surface (5) which is functionally connected to the weight or force sensor(s) and which is adapted to holding a plate,
wherein the data processing unit (2) is equipped with a program which for any dish, in the form of liquid and/or solid food, based on the weighed amount of food and the weight-referenced calorie content of this food which has been stored or a manually input, computes the calorie equivalence value, adds the latter to the calorie equivalence values of the other dishes of a meal and computes the total value of the calories of foods consumed daily, and stores, displays and/or prints out this value and that the memory means (2) are suited to containing preprogrammed setpoints which are computed from the data inputs and measurements of a calibration period and are used as comparison or reference values during the period of calorie monitoring, wherein the bearing surface (5) and the weight or force sensors assigned to it are designed such that plates of different sizes and shapes are accurately weighed, and wherein the program contains a routine which checks during each weight measurement phase that each weight or force sensor is loaded and is delivering a correct measurement signal which contributes to an effective measurement result.
- 10. Process for monitoring the food consumption of an individual within the framework of a diet and using electronic scales for efficient monitoring of the number of calories consumed, with at least one weight sensor or force sensor, a data processing unit with memory means, a control and input keyboard and a display device, the scales having an active bearing surface (5) which is functionally connected to the weight or force sensor(s) and which is adapted to holding a plate, the data processing unit (2) equipped with a program which for any dish, in the form of liquid and/or solid food, based on the weighed amount of food and the weight-referenced calorie content of this food which has been stored or a manually input, computes the calorie equivalence value, adds the latter to the calorie equivalence values of the other dishes of a meal and computes the total value of the calories of foods consumed daily, and stores, displays and/or prints out this value and that the memory means (2) are suited to containing preprogrammed setpoints which are computed from the data inputs and measurements of a calibration period and are used as comparison or reference values during the period of calorie monitoring, wherein the process in terms of time comprises three successive phases, specifically a first calibration period of limited duration, a subsequent effective diet period and finally a long-term stabilization period, during all three periods the daily calorie equivalence values of the foods consumed being computed by means of the electronic scales (1), by weighing the individual foods of each meal, computing the corresponding calories and adding up the latter for each day of these three periods, in the third period or stabilization period the efficiency or the correctness of the number of calories consumed daily being monitored by regularly determining the body weight by weighing, and if necessary being empirically corrected to maintain the desired body weight.
Specification