Successive tare scale system and method

• US 9,389,117 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perfect Company Limited (Perfect Resources (M) Sdn. Bhd.)
• Original Assignee: The orange chef company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Merea, Santiago
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W
• Application Number:
  US13/909,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20140356492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A23L 5/00 Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/415 combined with recording means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system configured to determine masses, weights, and/or other quantities of individual ingredients added to a food dish during preparation. At least some of the components of the system may be configured to be used in a food preparation area. The system may include a scale, a client computing device, external resources, and/or other components. The system may be configured to weigh and/or determine the mass of individual ingredients of the dish as the ingredients are added to the dish. The system may be configured to determine the individual mass and/or weight of each ingredient based on the masses and/or weights of individual ingredients previously added to the dish and/or a current mass and/or weight of the dish as a given ingredient is added.

Claims

1. A system configured to determine user-created recipes based on indications of individual ingredients added to a dish and determinations of masses of individual ingredients added to the dish during preparation, the system comprising:

a scale configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the individual ingredients including a first ingredient and a second ingredient, the second ingredient being added to the dish after the first ingredient, and

one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to;

obtain ingredient information indicating which individual ingredient is currently being added to the dish, the ingredient information obtained from a user via a user interface, the ingredient information indicating whether the first ingredient or the second ingredient is being added to the dish;

determine the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the mass determinations based on the output signals from the scale,

wherein, responsive to the obtained ingredient information indicating that the first ingredient is being added to the dish, determine a first mass of the first ingredient, and

responsive to the obtained ingredient information indicating that the second ingredient is being added to the dish, determine a second mass of the second ingredient based on the first mass of the first ingredient and a total mass of the dish; and

facilitate electronic storage of information that indicates both the individual ingredients and the determined masses of the individual ingredients in the dish in a new electronic recipe, such that information indicating the first ingredient, the first mass of the first ingredient, second ingredient, and the second mass of the second ingredient is stored in the new electronic recipe.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the scale is configured to receive, hold, and weigh the individual ingredients.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish are the weights of the individual ingredients added to the dish.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to tare the scale before the first individual ingredient is added to the dish and before the second individual ingredient is added to the dish.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to determine a weight of the second ingredient by subtracting a total weight of the first ingredient from a total weight of the dish.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the new electronic recipe is a customization of a previously stored electronic recipe, wherein the previously stored electronic recipe includes information indicating the first ingredient, a predetermined third mass of the first ingredient that is different from the first mass, the second ingredient, and a predetermined fourth mass of the second ingredient that is different from the second mass.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to facilitate selection, viewing, and following of the stored new electronic recipe via the user interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to determine nutritional information for the dish, the nutritional information comprising information related to one or more of calories, vitamins, or minerals in the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to facilitate presentation of the nutritional information for the dish via the user interface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the dish includes one or more of a plate, a bowl, a cup, or a tray.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the user provides the ingredient information without reference to a pre-existing recipe.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the new electronic recipe is an experimental recipe determined by the user during preparation.

11. A method for determining user-created recipes based on indications of individual ingredients added to a dish and determinations of masses of individual ingredients added to the dish during preparation, the method comprising:

generating output signals conveying information related to the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the individual ingredients including a first ingredient and a second ingredient, the second ingredient being added to the dish after the first ingredient, and

obtaining ingredient information indicating which individual ingredient is currently being added to the dish, the ingredient information obtained from a user via a user interface, the ingredient information indicating whether the first ingredient or the second ingredient is being added to the dish;

determining the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the mass determinations based on the output signals,

wherein, responsive to the obtained ingredient information indicating that the first ingredient is being added to the dish, a first mass of the first ingredient is determined, and

responsive to the obtained ingredient information indicating that the second ingredient is being added to the dish, a second mass of the second ingredient is determined based on the first mass of the first ingredient and a total mass of the dish and

electronically storing information that indicates both the individual ingredients and the determined masses of the individual ingredients in the dish in a new electronic recipe, such that information indicating the first ingredient, the first mass of the first ingredient, second ingredient, and the second mass of the second ingredient is stored in the new electronic recipe.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, holding, and weighing the individual ingredients.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish are the weights of the individual ingredients added to the dish.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising taring the scale before the first individual ingredient is added to the dish and before the second individual ingredient is added to the dish.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a weight of the second ingredient by subtracting a total weight of the first ingredient from a total weight of the dish.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the new electronic recipe is a customization of a previously stored electronic recipe, wherein the previously stored electronic recipe includes information indicating the first ingredient, a predetermined third mass of the first ingredient that is different from the first mass, the second ingredient, and a predetermined fourth mass of the second ingredient that is different from the second mass.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising facilitating selection, viewing, and following of the stored new electronic recipe via the user interface.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining nutritional information for the dish, the nutritional information comprising information related to one or more of calories, vitamins, or minerals in the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising facilitating presentation of the nutritional information for the dish via the user interface.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the dish includes one or more of a plate, a bowl, a cup, or a tray.

31. The method of claim 11, wherein the user provides the ingredient information without reference to a pre-existing recipe.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the new electronic recipe is an experimental recipe determined by the user during preparation.

21. A prompted recipe preparation system configured to determine user-created recipes based on prompts given to a user to cease adding individual ingredients to a dish during preparation, the system comprising:

a scale configured to generate output signals conveying information related to masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the individual ingredients including a first ingredient and a second ingredient, the second ingredient being added to the dish after the first ingredient;

a user interface configured to receive entry and/or selection of an electronic recipe for preparation by the user, the electronic recipe specifying target masses of the individual ingredients in the dish, such that the electronic recipe specifies a first target mass for the first ingredient and a second target mass for the second ingredient,

wherein the user interface is configured to receive entry and/or selection of ingredient information indicating which individual ingredient is currently being added to the dish during preparation, the ingredient information indicating whether the first ingredient or the second ingredient is being added to the dish; and

one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to;

determine the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the mass determinations based on the output signals from the scale;

responsive to the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish reaching the target masses of the individual ingredients specified by the electronic recipe, control the user interface to prompt the user to cease adding the individual ingredients, such that

responsive to the mass of the first ingredient reaching the first target mass of the first ingredient, control the user interface to prompt the user to cease adding the first ingredient, and

responsive to the mass of the second ingredient reaching the second target mass of the second ingredient, control the user interface to prompt the user to cease adding the second ingredient, the mass of the second ingredient determined based on the mass of the first ingredient and a total mass of the dish; and

responsive to the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish not matching the target masses of the individual ingredients specified by the electronic recipe, facilitate electronic storage of information that indicates both the individual ingredients and the determined masses of the individual ingredients in the dish in a new electronic recipe, such that

responsive to the determined mass of the first ingredient being a first mass that is not the first target mass, and the determined mass of the second ingredient being a second mass that is not the second target mass, facilitate electronic storage of information indicating the first ingredient, the first mass of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the second mass of the second ingredient in the new electronic recipe.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the scale is configured to receive, hold, and weigh the individual ingredients.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish are the weights of the individual ingredients added to the dish.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the weights of the individual ingredients are current running totals of the weights of the individual ingredients added to the dish during preparation.

25. A method for determining user-created recipes based on prompts given to a user to cease adding individual ingredients to a dish during preparation, the method comprising:

generating output signals conveying information related to masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the individual ingredients including a first ingredient and a second ingredient, the second ingredient being added to the dish after the first ingredient;

receiving entry and/or selection of an electronic recipe for preparation by the user, the electronic recipe specifying target masses of the individual ingredients in the dish such that the electronic recipe specifies a first target mass for the first ingredient and a second target mass for the second ingredient, and

receiving entry and/or selection of ingredient information indicating which individual ingredient is currently being added to the dish during preparation, the ingredient information indicating whether the first ingredient or the second ingredient is being added to the dish;

determining the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish, the mass determinations based on the output signals,

responsive to the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish reaching the target masses of the individual ingredients specified by the recipe, prompting the user to cease adding the individual ingredients, such that

responsive to the mass of the first ingredient reaching the first target mass of the first ingredient, the user is prompted to cease adding the first ingredient, and

responsive to the mass of the second ingredient reaching the second target mass of the second ingredient, the user is prompted to cease adding the second ingredient, the mass of the second ingredient determined based on the mass of the first ingredient and a total mass of the dish; and

responsive to the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish not matching the target masses of the individual ingredients specified by the recipe, facilitating electronic storage of information that indicates both the individual ingredients and the determined masses of the individual ingredients in the dish in a new electronic recipe, such that

responsive to the determined mass of the first ingredient being a first mass that is not the first target mass, and the determined mass of the second ingredient being a second mass that is not the second target mass, information indicating the first ingredient, the first mass of the first ingredient, the second ingredient, and the second mass of the second ingredient is stored in the new electronic recipe.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving, holding, and weighing the individual ingredients.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the masses of the individual ingredients added to the dish are the weights of the individual ingredients added to the dish.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the weights of the individual ingredients are current running totals of the weights of the individual ingredients added to the dish during preparation.