Dual Smart Scale

Abstract

A dual scale having a housing disposed between an upper weighing pan and a lower weighing pan. The housing contains a plurality of electronic devices including one or more displays, a microcontroller, a sensor array, and a plurality of function buttons. At least one weighing pan includes light emitting diodes for illumination and disinfection functions. The sensor array includes a scale transducer and humidity, temperature, and pH sensors. The dual scale includes a lockable lid to cover the plurality of weighing pans. A biometric sensor provides locking and unlocking functions. A position sensor determines the orientation of the display. The plurality of functions of the plurality of electronic devices can be controlled by an external device, such as a smart phone, through a software application process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of digital scales, and more particularly to a scale connectable to a computer for weighing herbs and other materials. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the scale; and

[0003] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the scale in an inverted position.

[0004] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the scale with a connecting sleeve.

[0005] Figure 4 is a system diagram of the plurality of electronic components of the scale.

[0006] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism of the scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Throughout the specification, the illustrated embodiments and examples are to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive. That is, the following description provides numerous examples, and the drawings show various examples for purposes of illustration. However, these examples should not be construed as limiting, as they are merely provided to illustrate examples of the present invention and not an exhaustive list of all possible implementations.

[0008] Now, specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described by the following non - restrictive examples, which will be used to illustrate various features. These examples are only for facilitating the understanding of the implementation of the present invention and further enabling those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. Therefore, these examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. In addition, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" mentioned in this specification refer to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to that embodiment being included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" that appear throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. In addition, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0009] Refer to Figures 1 to 2, the multifunctional scale 10 of the present invention includes a housing 100 disposed between an upper weighing pan 101 and a lower weighing pan 102. The housing 100 houses the electronic and other components. In some embodiments, for ease of use, cleaning, and replacement of parts, the scale 10 is removably connected to other devices, such as multiple containers, multiple cups, or the like, by snap fit, interference fit, threading, magnetic connection, or similar means. Referring to Figure 3 , a connecting sleeve 200 can be employed to connect the scale 10 to other devices or multiple components. In some embodiments, the connecting sleeve 200 includes a tubular elastic component.

[0010] In some usage scenarios, the scale 10 is oriented such that the lower weighing pan 102 is placed on a bottom surface, and the upper weighing pan 101 faces upward so that multiple items can be weighed on the upper weighing pan 101. In other usage scenarios, the scale 10 is flipped over so that the upper weighing pan 101 is placed on a bottom surface and the lower weighing pan 102 faces upward. Thus, the present invention provides a dual-scale arrangement to achieve maximum versatility and repositioning of the scale 10 for various uses.

[0011] In some embodiments, the housing 100 includes a power source, such as a rechargeable battery or an external power supply, a microcontroller 40 ( Figure 4 ), one or more displays 103, one or more buttons 104, and a biometric sensor 105. Referring to Figure 4 , the microcontroller 40 provides power and communication connections for various system components, including a communication device, the display 103, and a sensor array (see Figure 4 left side). In some embodiments, the microcontroller 40 includes a processor (CPU), a memory, and control programs for various input and output peripherals. The communication device may include a modem, a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, a universal serial bus (USB) port, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the communication device is configured to communicate with an external computing device, such as a computer or a smartphone, to send and receive data, including status information, scale information, and multiple commands. Data transmission can be accomplished through a customized application program running on the smartphone or computer.

[0012] One or more displays 103 may each include an LED, LCD, OLED, or similar display, which can be used to output various information including the weight of the contents, battery status, communication status, etc. In some embodiments, a single display is employed, which can change its orientation according to a position sensor communicating with the microcontroller 40. This allows the display to show content to the user in the correct orientation regardless of the orientation of the scale. In other embodiments, two displays facing in opposite directions are used, whereby the position sensor activates the appropriate display depending on the orientation of the scale 10. The display may also include a magnifying glass or cover to increase the visible size of the display output and assist the user in reading. The display may be flat or curved to conform to the geometry and shape of the housing 100.

[0013] The buttons 104 can be used as an on-board control interface and can be multifunctional and programmed to operate different functions according to the number of presses and the duration of the press. In some embodiments, one or more of the buttons 104 are a multi-touch screen for adding functionality. In some embodiments, the biometric sensor 105 is configured as a fingerprint sensor, which can be pre-programmed with biometric information and has the function of locking and unlocking the scale 10.

[0014] The sensor array may include a multi-functional sensor system to interact with the weighing pans 101 and 102 and / or detect and transmit information about multiple conditions near the scale 10. In some embodiments, the function of the sensor array is as a scale transducer and physically communicates with the upper and lower weighing pans to measure the mechanical energy, i.e., the pressure exerted by the contents placed thereon on the two weighing pans, and converts the pressure into an electrical output (such as a current or voltage difference). The electrical output of the sensor array is processed by the microcontroller 40 into a digital signal, which can then be output on the display 103 or through a communication device. Multiple additional sensors of the sensor array include a fingerprint sensor, a position sensor, a humidity sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, and an infrared sensor. In some embodiments, a sound buzzer or alarm is also included in response to various inputs and outputs of the system. The buzzer can be configured to be triggered based on a predetermined parameter detected by the sensor array, such as a predetermined weight, temperature, humidity, or pH value. A battery indicator can also be provided, which can be displayed on the display 103 or through the multiple LED lights 106 described below.

[0015] Refer to Figures 1 to 3, in some embodiments, the scale 10 includes one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights 106, which are configured as discrete lights, rings or strips, and in some embodiments, are configured at either or both of the two weighing pans, or are configured around the two weighing pans. In some embodiments, the lights 106 are configured with one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light in the ultraviolet C (UVC) range (100 to 280 nanometers) to disinfect the area or space near the scale 10. In some embodiments, the lights 106 include one or more RGB light emitting diodes, the color of which can be selected by the user through the electronic device of the scale 10. The lights 106 can be placed in electrical communication with the microcontroller 40, and thus, so can the communication device. In some embodiments, the output of the lights 106 is controlled by one or more switches, including a momentary switch (toggle / caption, or pushable) or a latch switch. The frequency adjustment of the lights is controlled by one or more metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) for adjusting and controlling the pulse width modulation (PWM) frequency and interval of the lights.

[0016] In some embodiments, the scale 10 includes safety and locking features that function through various system components. For example, as previously described, the scale 10 includes a biometric sensor 105 or other biometric lock system that can be configured through a custom application. In some embodiments, the communication device can function as a locking system, for example, a proximity-based locking system via near field communication or Bluetooth.

[0017] Referring to Figure 5 , in some embodiments, the scale 10 includes a lid 50, which is received on either or both of the scales. The lid 50 includes a bilateral locking mechanism, which includes a rotary handle 51, and the rotary handle 51 is connected to two linkages 53 that are offset from each other and extend radially outward from the rotary handle 51. The distal end of each linkage 53 includes a stopper 52, which can move from an unlocked position (solid line) to a locked position (dashed line). In the locked position, the stopper 52 presses on the scale 10 to hold the lid on the scale 10. The handle 51 can be operated electronically or manually and can be configured to be locked and unlocked by the biometric sensor 105.

[0018] As described above, the container includes a plurality of connection features such that the communication device can communicate with an external smartphone or computer to increase functionality. In some embodiments, the container is "application enabled" and works with control and notification software. The user can utilize an application running on a smartphone or computer to obtain information from the container, such as weight, battery status, temperature, humidity, or the like. In some embodiments, each time the container is opened, one or both of the weighing pans obtain a weight measurement and store the corresponding weight data in the memory of the microcontroller. Then, each time the user loads the application on their computing device, the stored weight information is automatically synchronized to the application.

[0019] It should be noted that the term "comprising" used in the claims should not be construed as being limited to the means listed hereinafter. Thus, the scope of an apparatus "comprising means A and B" should not be limited to apparatuses consisting only of components A and B. It means that, for the purposes of the present invention, the only relevant components of the apparatus are A and B. In other words, the terms "comprising", "including" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0020] Similarly, it should be noted that the term "coupled" used in the claims should not be construed as being limited only to direct connection. Thus, the scope of an apparatus "coupled to apparatus B" should not be limited to apparatuses or systems in which the output of apparatus A is directly connected to the input of apparatus B. It means that there is a path between the output of A and the input of B, and the path may include other apparatuses or means.

[0021] The listed items do not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly stated otherwise. The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0022] The various components of the present invention that communicate with each other do not need to communicate with each other continuously, unless expressly stated otherwise. In addition, the various components of the present invention that communicate with each other can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more other components or other intermediaries.

[0023] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in other ways than the above-described embodiments, and these embodiments are presented in this specification for illustration rather than limitation. The specification and drawings are not intended to limit the exclusion scope of this patent document. It should be noted that various equivalents of the specific embodiments discussed in this specification can also implement the present invention. That is to say, although the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is obvious that any alternative solutions, modifications, permutations, and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based on the above description. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to encompass all such alternative solutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. The fact that a product, process, or method exhibits differences from one or more of the above-described exemplary embodiments does not mean that the product or process exceeds the scope of the following claims (literal scope and / or other legally recognized scopes).

Claims

1. A scale for weighing herbs, characterized in that: Comprising: A housing disposed between an upper weighing pan and a lower weighing pan, each of the upper weighing pan and the lower weighing pan including a surface configured to weigh an object placed thereon; The housing includes a microcontroller, a display, and a sensor array; Wherein, the sensor array includes a first scale transducer and a second scale transducer, each of the first scale transducer and the second scale transducer being in electrical communication with the microcontroller, the first scale transducer communicating with the upper weighing pan, and the second scale transducer communicating with the lower weighing pan; The display is in electrical communication with the microcontroller; Including a position sensor in electrical communication with the microcontroller, The position sensor is configured to change the orientation of the information displayed on the display or the position sensor is configured to activate the display depending on the orientation of the scale.

2. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including a biometric sensor in electrical communication with the microcontroller.

3. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including one or more buttons in electrical communication with the microcontroller.

4. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including a communication device in electrical communication with the microcontroller, the communication device including a modem, a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, a near field communication chip, a universal serial bus port, or a combination thereof.

5. The scale according to claim 4, characterized in that: The communication device is configured to communicate with an external computing device including a computer or a smart phone to send and receive data including status information, scale information, temperature information, humidity information, pH value information, and a plurality of commands.

6. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including one or more light emitting diodes.

7. The scale according to claim 6, characterized in that: The light emitting diodes are configured in a ring around the perimeter of at least one of the upper weighing pan and the lower weighing pan.

8. The scale according to claim 6, characterized in that: The light emitting diodes emit light in the ultraviolet range of 100 to 280 nanometers.

9. The scale according to claim 6, characterized in that: The light emitting diodes are controlled by a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor to adjust their pulse width modulation.

10. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor array includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a pH sensor, or a combination thereof.

11. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including one or more buttons in electrical communication with the microcontroller.

12. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including a lid received on at least one of the upper weighing pan and the lower weighing pan.

13. The scale according to claim 12, characterized in that: The lid includes a locking mechanism.

14. The scale according to claim 13, characterized in that: The locking mechanism is triggered by a biometric sensor in electrical communication with the microcontroller.

15. The scale according to claim 1, characterized in that: Including a connecting sleeve to facilitate connecting the scale to an external component.

16. A scale for weighing herbs, characterized in that: Comprising: A housing disposed between an upper weighing pan and a lower weighing pan, each of the upper weighing pan and the lower weighing pan including a surface configured to weigh an object placed thereon; the housing includes a microcontroller, a display, and a sensor array; wherein, the sensor array includes a scale transducer in electrical communication with the microcontroller and each of the upper weighing pan and the lower weighing pan; And one or more light emitting diodes, wherein the light emitting diodes are controlled by a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor to adjust their pulse width modulation, the light emitting diodes are configured in a ring around the perimeter of at least one of the upper weighing pan and the lower weighing pan, and the light emitting diodes emit light in the ultraviolet range of 100 to 280 nanometers.

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