DRINKING REMINDER APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20140340229A1
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHIU, HSIAO-PING, WU, SHU-KAI
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/16 combined with drinking vessels or with lids therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A drinking reminder method is implemented by an electronic apparatus. The apparatus includes a scale pan, a weight sensor, an analog/digital (A/D) converter, a display screen and a keypad. The keypad comprising a power key, a reset key and a switching key. The weight sensor senses an analog pressure signal when a cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan, and the A/D converter converts the analog pressure signal to a digital weight signal. A total weight of the cup filled with water is measured according to the digital weight signal, and a cumulative water intake volume and a water shortage volume of a user. The display screen displays the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume on to remind the user to drink water.

Claims

1. A drinking reminder apparatus, comprising:

a scale pan, a weight sensor, an analog/digital (A/D) converter, a display screen and a keypad comprising a power key, and a reset key; and

a storage device storing a computer-readable program comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one microprocessor, causes the at least one microprocessor to;

sense an analog pressure signal using the weight sensor when a cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan;

convert the analog pressure signal to a digital weight signal using the A/D converter;

measure a total weight of the cup filled with water according to the digital weight signal;

determine whether the reset key is pressed when the cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan;

calculate a cumulative water intake volume and a water shortage volume of a user according to a first calculation rule and the total weight of the cup filled with water if the reset key is not pressed;

calculate the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume according to a second calculation rule and the total weight of the cup filled with water if the reset key is pressed; and

display the cumulative water intake volume or the water shortage volume on the display screen to remind the user to drink water.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an audio device for generating a voice message to remind the user of drinking water in time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the computer-readable program further causes the at least one microprocessor to:

set a first time interval and a second time interval, the first time interval being less than the second time interval;

start to count a time period at every time when the cup is placed on the scale pan;

power off the display screen to save power consumption of the drinking reminder apparatus when a time period equal to the first time interval has elapsed; and

power on the display screen to display the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume when a time period equal to the second time interval has elapsed, and control the audio device to generate the voice message to remind the user drinking water.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first calculation rule is defined as:

the cumulative water intake volume equals a previous cumulative water intake volume plus a current water intake volume; and

the water shortage volume equals a daily standard volume minus the cumulative water intake volume.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second calculation rule is defined as:

the current water intake volume equals 0, and the cumulative water intake volume equals a previous cumulative water intake volume; and

the water shortage volume equals a daily standard volume minus the cumulative water intake volume.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the keypad further comprises a switching key, and the display screen displays the cumulative water intake volume or the water shortage volume when the switching key is pressed.

7. A drinking reminder method being executed by at least one microprocessor of an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising a scale pan, a weight sensor, an analog/digital (A/D) converter, a display screen and a keypad comprising a power key and a reset key, the method comprising:

sensing an analog pressure signal using the weight sensor when a cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan;

converting the analog pressure signal to a digital weight signal using the A/D converter;

measuring a total weight of the cup filled with water according to the digital weight signal;

determining whether the reset key is pressed when the cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan;

calculating a cumulative water intake volume and a water shortage volume of a user according to a first calculation rule and the total weight of the cup filled with water if the reset key is not pressed;

calculating the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume according to a second calculation rule and the total weight of the cup filled with water if the reset key is pressed; and

displaying the cumulative water intake volume or the water shortage volume on the display screen to remind the user to drink water.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises an audio device for generating a voice message to remind the user of drinking water in time.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

setting a first time interval and a second time interval, the first time interval being less than the second time interval;

starting to count a time period at every time when the cup is placed on the scale pan;

powering off the display screen to save power consumption of the drinking reminder apparatus when a time period equal to the first time interval has elapsed; and

powering on the display screen to display the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume when a time period equal to the second time interval has elapsed, and controlling the audio device to generate the voice message to remind the user drinking water.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first calculation rule is defined as:

the cumulative water intake volume equals a previous cumulative water intake volume plus a current water intake volume; and

the water shortage volume equals a daily standard volume minus the cumulative water intake volume.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second calculation rule is defined as:

the current water intake volume equals 0, and the cumulative water intake volume equals a previous cumulative water intake volume; and

the water shortage volume equals a daily standard volume minus the cumulative water intake volume.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the keypad further comprises a switching key, and the display screen displays the cumulative water intake volume or the water shortage volume when the switching key is pressed.

13. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one microprocessor of an electronic device, causes the least one microprocessor to perform a drinking reminder method, the electronic apparatus comprising a scale pan, a weight sensor, an analog/digital (A/D) converter, a display screen and a keypad comprising a power key and a reset key, the method comprising:

sensing an analog pressure signal using the weight sensor when a cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan;

converting the analog pressure signal to a digital weight signal using the A/D converter;

measuring a total weight of the cup filled with water according to the digital weight signal;

determining whether the reset key is pressed when the cup filled with water is placed on the scale pan;

calculating a cumulative water intake volume and a water shortage volume of a user according to a first calculation rule and the total weight of the cup filled with water if the reset key is not pressed;

calculating the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume according to a second calculation rule and the total weight of the cup filled with water if the reset key is pressed; and

displaying the cumulative water intake volume or the water shortage volume on the display screen to remind the user to drink water.

14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises an audio device for generating a voice message to remind the user of drinking water in time.

15. The storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising:

setting a first time interval and a second time interval, the first time interval being less than the second time interval;

starting to count a time period at every time when the cup is placed on the scale pan;

powering off the display screen to save power consumption of the drinking reminder apparatus when a time period equal to the first time interval has elapsed; and

powering on the display screen to display the cumulative water intake volume and the water shortage volume when a time period equal to the second time interval has elapsed, and controlling the audio device to generate the voice message to remind the user drinking water.

16. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the first calculation rule is defined as:

the cumulative water intake volume equals a previous cumulative water intake volume plus a current water intake volume; and

the water shortage volume equals a daily standard volume minus the cumulative water intake volume.

17. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the second calculation rule is defined as:

the current water intake volume equals 0, and the cumulative water intake volume equals a previous cumulative water intake volume; and

the water shortage volume equals a daily standard volume minus the cumulative water intake volume.

18. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the keypad further comprises a switching key, and the display screen displays the cumulative water intake volume or the water shortage volume when the switching key is pressed.