Intelligent measuring cup

Abstract

The utility model discloses an intelligent measuring cup, which comprises a cup body for containing a measuring object; a temperature sensor for obtaining temperature sensing data corresponding to the measuring object; a weight sensor for obtaining weight sensing data corresponding to the measuring object; a volume sensor for obtaining volume sensing data corresponding to the measuring object; and a control panel comprising a display device for determining and displaying a temperature measurement value, a weight measurement value and a volume measurement value of the measuring object based on the temperature sensing data, the weight sensing data and the volume sensing data; a temperature sensor embedding groove matching the size of the temperature sensor is arranged at the center of the inner side of the bottom of the cup body, the temperature sensor is installed in the temperature sensor embedding groove, and the connection between the temperature sensor and the cup body is sealed by waterproof glue. The utility model can simplify the measuring operation, avoid the lag of the measuring result and avoid the risk of cross contamination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of measurement technology, and in particular to an intelligent measuring cup. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional measuring cups primarily rely on graduations for volume measurement, offering limited functionality. In home food preparation, such as baking, cooking, and beverage making, water temperature significantly impacts yeast activity and dough fermentation, particularly in pastry making. Water temperature must be precisely controlled between 35-40℃ to activate yeast, but existing measuring cups cannot measure this temperature in real time. Furthermore, some liquid ingredients require precise weight control, which existing measuring cups also cannot measure. Users must then use a measuring cup, an electronic scale, and a separate thermometer to perform liquid measurement and temperature measurement step-by-step. Using an electronic scale and thermometer in these additional steps presents challenges such as cumbersome operation, delayed temperature measurement, and the risk of cross-contamination. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention provides an intelligent measuring cup that simplifies the measurement process when measuring fluid objects, avoiding delayed measurement results and the risk of cross-contamination.

[0004] Firstly, this utility model embodiment provides a smart measuring cup.

[0005] The cup body is used to hold the object being measured;

[0006] A temperature sensor is used to acquire temperature sensing data corresponding to the object being measured.

[0007] A weight sensor is used to acquire weight sensing data corresponding to the object being measured.

[0008] A volume sensor is used to acquire volume sensing data corresponding to the object being measured.

[0009] A control panel, comprising a display device, wherein the display device is used to determine and display the temperature measurement value, weight measurement value, and volume measurement value of the object being measured based on the temperature sensing data, the weight sensing data, and the volume sensing data;

[0010] The cup body has a temperature sensor embedding groove in the center of the inner side of the cup bottom that matches the size of the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is installed in the temperature sensor embedding groove, and the connection between the temperature sensor and the cup body is sealed with waterproof glue.

[0011] Optionally, the volume sensor is a capacitive volume sensor, which includes two sets of parallel metal electrodes disposed on the outer side of the cup wall.

[0012] Optionally, the weight sensor is a piezoresistive weight sensor, and the number of piezoresistive weight sensors is 4. The inner edge of the bottom of the cup body is provided with 4 weight sensor embedding slots that match the size of the piezoresistive weight sensor. Each piezoresistive weight sensor is installed in one weight sensor embedding slot, and the connection between each piezoresistive weight sensor and the corresponding weight sensor embedding slot is sealed with waterproof glue.

[0013] Optionally, the smart measuring cup also includes a heating device for heating the object being measured; the control panel also includes a target temperature acquisition module and a heating control module; the heating control module is used to determine whether the object being measured needs to be heated based on the target temperature and the temperature measurement value of the object being measured, and when the determination result is that heating is required, to activate the heating device to heat the object being measured.

[0014] Optionally, the heating device includes a flexible heating film, which is attached to the lower outer side of the cup wall of the cup body, and the lower part of the cup wall is the part where the cup wall is connected to the bottom of the cup.

[0015] Optionally, the control panel includes a communication module for sending the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value to a mobile client.

[0016] Optionally, the control panel includes user interaction buttons, and the target temperature acquisition module is specifically used to acquire the target temperature set by the user through the user interaction buttons, or to acquire the target temperature set by the user on the mobile client through the communication module.

[0017] Optionally, the smart measuring cup provided in this embodiment of the invention further includes a tilt sensor and a vibration sensor, which are attached to the cup wall. The tilt sensor is used to acquire tilt sensing data of the cup body, and the vibration sensor is used to acquire vibration sensing data of the cup body. The control panel further includes a sleep control module, which is used to determine whether the user has not operated the smart measuring cup based on the tilt sensing data and the vibration sensing data. When the determination result is no operation, the control panel controls the display device to stop displaying the temperature measurement value and the volume measurement value and enter a sleep state.

[0018] Optionally, the control panel further includes an alarm module and a unit switching module; the alarm module is used to trigger a high-temperature alarm based on the temperature measurement value and the alarm temperature threshold; the unit switching module is used to switch the measurement units of the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value.

[0019] Optionally, the power supply device includes a rechargeable lithium battery and a touch switch, and the power supply device is used to provide power to the temperature sensor, the volume sensor and the control panel.

[0020] The intelligent measuring cup provided by this invention, by setting a temperature sensor, a weight sensor, and a volume sensor at the bottom of the cup, can detect and display the temperature, weight, and volume of the object being measured in the measuring cup at once, simplifying the measurement operation and avoiding measurement lag and the risk of cross-contamination. Furthermore, the embodiments of this invention intuitively display the temperature, weight, and volume measurements of the object being measured through a control panel, which allows users to accurately control the temperature, weight, and volume of the object being measured during the measurement operation, improving operational convenience and thus enhancing the user experience. In addition, the embodiments of this invention measure temperature by setting an embedded temperature sensor in the center of the inner side of the bottom of the cup, which enables convenient and accurate temperature measurement even when the dosage of the object being measured in the measuring cup is small. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic of the intelligent measuring cup provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, not the entire structure.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a smart measuring cup provided in an embodiment of the present invention. This measuring cup is suitable for scenarios requiring simultaneous measurement of temperature and mass, or simultaneous measurement of temperature and volume. The system can be implemented using software and / or hardware. Figure 1 As shown, the smart measuring cup provided in this embodiment of the invention may include:

[0025] Cup 101 is used to hold the object being measured.

[0026] Specifically, the cup body can be made of food-grade polypropylene (PP) or glass. The inner wall of the cup body can be engraved with graduations accurate to ±1mL, and the outer wall of the cup body can be provided with a non-slip silicone layer.

[0027] Specifically, one side of the cup can be designed with an inclined pouring spout, which can be either a pointed spout or a round spout, to facilitate control of the liquid flow rate.

[0028] Specifically, the outer layer of the cup can be equipped with a handle to make it more secure to hold and prevent it from slipping when tilting.

[0029] Specifically, the cup body can also be a double-layered cup body, with the inner layer being made of glass and the outer layer being made of PP material.

[0030] Specifically, the object being measured can be a liquid or a fluid solid, where the liquid can be, for example, water, oil, or milk.

[0031] Temperature sensor 102 is used to acquire temperature sensing data corresponding to the object being measured.

[0032] Preferably, the temperature sensor can be a waterproof thermistor platinum resistance sensor, specifically a PT1000 platinum resistance temperature sensor.

[0033] Specifically, the number of the aforementioned temperature sensors can be one or multiple.

[0034] Optionally, a temperature sensor embedding groove matching the size of the temperature sensor is provided in the center of the inner side of the bottom of the cup body. The temperature sensor is installed in the temperature sensor embedding groove, and the connection between the temperature sensor and the cup body is sealed with waterproof adhesive.

[0035] It is understandable that when the amount of liquid being measured in the measuring cup is small, such as only covering the bottom, the side-wall sensor may not be able to contact the liquid, while the bottom sensor can work normally as long as there is liquid, making it suitable for temperature monitoring of liquids of various dosages. Furthermore, if the object being measured is liquid, and the liquid volume is small, if the temperature sensor is located at the bottom edge of the cup, the sensor may experience fluctuations in measurement due to natural liquid contraction, surface tension causing the liquid level at the edge to be slightly lower and partially exposed to air, or only contacting a thin layer of liquid at the edge. If the liquid is shaken, the edge is also more likely to briefly detach from the liquid surface. Moreover, when the liquid is added, stirred, or shaken, the edge is a region with a faster flow rate, and the liquid flows along the cup wall, making the temperature prone to instantaneous fluctuations due to local convection. This invention places the temperature sensor in the center of the inner side of the bottom of the cup, which improves the liquid contact stability of the temperature sensor and reduces its susceptibility to liquid flow or disturbance, thus improving the accuracy of temperature measurement.

[0036] Specifically, the temperature sensor can also be a thermocouple sensor, an integrated chip-type digital temperature sensor, or an infrared temperature sensor.

[0037] The weight sensor 103 is used to acquire the weight sensing data corresponding to the object being measured.

[0038] Preferably, the weight sensor is a piezoresistive weight sensor.

[0039] Specifically, the aforementioned weight sensor can also be a strain gauge load cell, a capacitive weight sensor, a piezoresistive weight sensor, or an electromagnetic force balance weight sensor.

[0040] Specifically, the number of the aforementioned weight sensors can be one or more.

[0041] The volume sensor 104 is used to acquire volume sensing data corresponding to the measured object.

[0042] Preferably, the volume sensor is a capacitive liquid level sensor.

[0043] Specifically, the aforementioned volume sensor can also be an ultrasonic level sensor, a capacitive level sensor, or a float-type level sensor.

[0044] Control panel 105, the control panel includes a display device, the display device being used to determine and display the temperature measurement value, weight measurement value and volume measurement value of the measured object based on the temperature sensing data, the weight sensing data and the volume sensing data.

[0045] Specifically, the bottom of the smart measuring cup provided in this embodiment of the invention can be fixed on the base 106, and the control panel can also be integrated on the base.

[0046] Specifically, the control panel can also be fixed to the cup wall.

[0047] Optionally, the above-mentioned display device includes a microprocessor and a display module. The microprocessor includes a measurement acquisition module, which is specifically used to receive temperature sensing data, weight sensing data, and volume sensing data, and convert the temperature sensing data, weight sensing data, and volume sensing data into corresponding temperature measurement values, weight measurement values, and volume measurement values.

[0048] Specifically, the aforementioned display module includes a display interface, which may be an LCD color screen, and the screen surface may be coated with an anti-fog coating.

[0049] Optionally, the smart measuring cup provided in this embodiment of the invention further includes a power supply device, which includes a rechargeable lithium battery and a touch switch. The power supply device is used to provide power to the temperature sensor, the volume sensor, and the control panel.

[0050] The intelligent measuring cup provided by this invention, by setting a temperature sensor, a weight sensor, and a volume sensor at the bottom of the cup, can detect and display the temperature, weight, and volume of the object being measured in the measuring cup at once, simplifying the measurement operation and avoiding measurement lag and the risk of cross-contamination. Furthermore, the embodiments of this invention intuitively display the temperature, weight, and volume measurements of the object being measured through a control panel, which allows users to accurately control the temperature, weight, and volume of the object being measured during the measurement operation, improving operational convenience and thus enhancing the user experience. In addition, the embodiments of this invention measure temperature by setting an embedded temperature sensor in the center of the inner side of the bottom of the cup, which enables convenient and accurate temperature measurement even when the dosage of the object being measured in the measuring cup is small.

[0051] In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the volume sensor is a capacitive volume sensor, which includes two sets of parallel metal electrodes disposed on the outer side of the cup wall.

[0052] Specifically, the height of the two sets of parallel metal electrodes can be equal to the height of the cup wall, or equal to the height of the highest object that can be placed inside the cup.

[0053] Specifically, the aforementioned metal electrode can be a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), or it can be a conductive paste made of metal powder (silver, copper, nickel) or carbon nanotubes mixed into a conductive paste, which is directly coated onto the outside of the cup wall by printing (such as screen printing) or brushing. Alternatively, it can be a metal coating directly deposited on the outside of the cup wall by processes such as vacuum evaporation or sputtering.

[0054] Specifically, since the metal coating film is extremely thin (usually a few micrometers), it hardly changes the appearance and texture of the cup, which is suitable for the need for a lighter cup when operating in a home setting; and the metal coating is tightly bonded to the cup wall and is not easy to fall off, making it suitable for cups made of smooth materials such as glass and plastic; in addition, the use of metal coating is suitable for mass production, which can help reduce production costs. Therefore, the metal electrode of this utility model is preferably metal coated.

[0055] Understandably, since capacitive volume sensors are attached to the outside of the measuring cup, they do not increase the space occupied inside the container. They are also simple in structure, highly adaptable to the shape of the container, have a fast response speed, and are low in cost. Therefore, they are very suitable for being installed on measuring cups to detect the volume of the object being measured inside the measuring cup in home settings.

[0056] In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the weight sensor is a piezoresistive weight sensor, and the number of the piezoresistive weight sensors is 4. The inner edge of the bottom of the cup body is provided with 4 weight sensor embedding slots that match the size of the piezoresistive weight sensors. Each piezoresistive weight sensor is installed in one weight sensor embedding slot, and the connection between each piezoresistive weight sensor and the corresponding weight sensor embedding slot is sealed with waterproof glue.

[0057] Understandably, in real-world applications such as home use, there are often issues like uneven surfaces and a wide range of weight variations in the objects being measured. When the surface is uneven and the weight of the object varies greatly, using only a single weight sensor can lead to a change in the direction of force due to the measuring cup tilting, turning pressure into an oblique force and affecting measurement stability. Furthermore, if the range of a single sensor is designed to be too wide, the accuracy of small weight measurements will decrease. When multiple sensors are symmetrically distributed, a balancing support can make the measuring cup more stable, and the system can determine whether the measuring cup is level based on the force differences of each sensor, and use algorithms to correct errors caused by tilting. Moreover, if the range of a single weight sensor is too narrow, it cannot meet the needs of heavy weight measurements. Multiple sensors can expand the total load-bearing range by stacking their ranges, and by combining a small-range sensor for light measurements with a large-range sensor for calibration, accuracy can be achieved for both light and heavy weight scenarios.

[0058] In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the intelligent measuring cup of this utility model further includes a heating device for heating the object being measured.

[0059] Optionally, the heating device includes a flexible heating film, which is attached to the lower outer side of the cup wall of the cup body, and the lower part of the cup wall is the part where the cup wall is connected to the bottom of the cup.

[0060] Specifically, the attachment position of the aforementioned flexible heating film can avoid the placement positions of the two sets of parallel metal electrodes.

[0061] It is understandable that the connection between the cup wall and the bottom is a "critical channel" for the flow of liquid within the container: the liquid circulates due to convection during heating, and the transition area at the corners is an essential path for this circulation. Attaching a flexible heating film to this connection facilitates smoother convection circulation by heating the liquid in this area, resulting in more uniform heating of the object being measured and reducing localized temperature differences. Furthermore, the connection between the cup wall and the bottom is a "weak point" in the container structure: due to its shape, the material thickness in this area may be thinner, and it is prone to stress concentration due to sudden temperature changes. This invention uses a flexible heating film to ensure uniform heating, a gradual temperature rise, and slow heating of the transition area, avoiding excessive thermal stress caused by sudden localized temperature increases and extending the container's lifespan.

[0062] Optionally, the control panel of this utility model further includes a target temperature acquisition module and a heating control module. The target temperature acquisition module is used to acquire the target temperature set by the user. The heating control module is used to determine whether the object to be measured needs to be heated based on the target temperature and the temperature measurement value of the object to be measured, and when the determination result is that heating is required, to start the heating device to heat the object to be measured.

[0063] Optionally, the heating control module is specifically used to determine whether the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the temperature measurement value from the target temperature is greater than a preset temperature difference threshold. If the temperature difference is greater than the temperature difference threshold, it is determined that the object to be measured needs to be heated.

[0064] Optionally, the control panel includes a communication module for sending the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value to a mobile client.

[0065] Specifically, by sending the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value to the mobile client, it is possible to store the measurement values ​​on the mobile client and determine the food preparation formula based on the measurement values.

[0066] Specifically, the aforementioned communication module can be a Bluetooth module.

[0067] Optionally, the control panel includes user interaction buttons; the target temperature acquisition module is specifically used to acquire the target temperature set by the user through the user interaction buttons, or to acquire the target temperature set by the user on the mobile client through the communication module.

[0068] Understandably, the heating module can directly and precisely heat the liquids in the measuring cup, such as water and milk, avoiding food loss or temperature loss caused by frequent container transfers in traditional heating methods, such as quickly heating water to the suitable temperature for fermentation.

[0069] Optionally, the control panel also includes an alarm module and a unit switching module. The alarm module is used to trigger a high-temperature alarm based on the temperature measurement value and the alarm temperature threshold. The unit switching module is used to switch the measurement units of the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value.

[0070] Specifically, the aforementioned alarm temperature thresholds can be preset based on empirical data. Setting an alarm module helps to alert users when the object being measured is too hot, preventing burns.

[0071] Specifically, the aforementioned unit switching module can be used to switch temperature measurements between Celsius and Fahrenheit, and to switch weight and volume measurements between metric and imperial units.

[0072] Specifically, users can input unit switching commands by using user interaction buttons, and the aforementioned unit switching module can obtain and perform unit switching based on these commands.

[0073] Specifically, by setting up alarm and unit switching modules, the user experience when using measuring cups can be further improved.

[0074] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the above-described division of functional modules is merely an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The specific working process of the functional modules described above can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0075] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can occur depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A smart measuring cup, characterized in that, include: The cup body is used to hold the object being measured. A temperature sensor is used to acquire temperature sensing data corresponding to the object being measured. A weight sensor is used to acquire weight sensing data corresponding to the object being measured. A volume sensor is used to acquire volume sensing data corresponding to the object being measured. A control panel, comprising a display device, wherein the display device is used to determine and display the temperature measurement value, weight measurement value, and volume measurement value of the object being measured based on the temperature sensing data, the weight sensing data, and the volume sensing data; The cup body has a temperature sensor embedding groove in the center of the inner side of the cup bottom that matches the size of the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is installed in the temperature sensor embedding groove, and the connection between the temperature sensor and the cup body is sealed with waterproof glue.

2. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The volume sensor is a capacitive volume sensor, which includes two sets of parallel metal electrodes disposed on the outer side of the cup wall.

3. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weight sensor is a piezoresistive weight sensor, and there are four piezoresistive weight sensors. The inner edge of the bottom of the cup body is provided with four weight sensor embedding slots that match the size of the piezoresistive weight sensors. Each piezoresistive weight sensor is installed in one weight sensor embedding slot, and the connection between each piezoresistive weight sensor and the corresponding weight sensor embedding slot is sealed with waterproof glue.

4. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A heating device for heating the object being measured; The control panel also includes a target temperature acquisition module and a heating control module; The target temperature acquisition module is used to acquire the target temperature set by the user. The heating control module is used to determine whether the object to be measured needs to be heated based on the target temperature and the temperature measurement value of the object to be measured, and when the determination result is that heating is required, the heating device is activated to heat the object to be measured.

5. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heating device includes a flexible heating film, which is attached to the lower outer side of the cup wall of the cup body. The lower part of the cup wall is the part where the cup wall is connected to the bottom of the cup.

6. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 4, characterized in that, The control panel includes a communication module for sending the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value to a mobile client.

7. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control panel includes user interaction buttons; The target temperature acquisition module is specifically used to acquire the target temperature set by the user through the user interaction button, or to acquire the target temperature set by the user on the mobile client through the communication module.

8. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An angle sensor and a vibration sensor are attached to the cup wall of the cup body; The tilt sensor is used to acquire tilt angle sensing data of the cup body, and the vibration sensor is used to acquire vibration sensing data of the cup body; The control panel also includes a sleep control module, which is used to determine whether the user has not operated the smart measuring cup based on the tilt sensor data and the vibration sensor data. When the determination result is no operation, the display device is controlled to stop displaying the temperature measurement value and the volume measurement value and enter a sleep state.

9. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control panel also includes an alarm module and a unit switching module; The alarm module is used to trigger a high-temperature alarm based on the measured temperature value and the alarm temperature threshold. The unit switching module is used to switch the measurement units of the temperature measurement value, the weight measurement value, and the volume measurement value.

10. The intelligent measuring cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Power supply device; The power supply device includes a rechargeable lithium battery and a touch switch, and is used to provide power to the temperature sensor, the volume sensor, and the control panel.

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