Mobile Produce Scale Automatic Taring Through Multi-Sensor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional retail checkout systems, including self-checkout and staffed counters, require customers to manually unload and reload items, especially produce, which can be inconvenient and inefficient, particularly when weight scales need to be tared, causing friction and delays in the purchasing process.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor system for mobile produce scales that automatically tares the scale based on sensor data from cameras and weight sensors, using a split architecture with local and cloud-based processing to detect weight change events and validate tare requests, ensuring accurate weight readings without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual taring of weight scales is implemented at checkout stations, then measurement precision is ensured, but loss of time increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary taring actions automatically before the customer completes the weighing process. The scale tares automatically when produce is placed on it, eliminating the need for customers to wait for manual taring at the checkout station, thus reducing checkout time while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight scale performs self-taring without requiring customer intervention or staff assistance. The scale automatically detects when produce is placed on it and adjusts its zero point accordingly, allowing customers to complete transactions faster without sacrificing measurement precision.
2Device complexity
If manual taring process is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation worsens and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The scale system performs automatic taring without requiring customer actions. The multi-sensor system detects when produce is placed on the scale and automatically adjusts the tare weight, making the operation seamless and simple for customers while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical taring operations with an automated multi-sensor system that uses cameras and weight sensors to detect produce placement and trigger automatic taring, thereby improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through automation.
3Productivity
If automatic taring with multi-sensor system is implemented, then productivity increases and ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the automatic taring function into multiple independent sensors (cameras and weight sensors) that work together. This modular approach allows the system to achieve high productivity through automated detection and taring while managing complexity by dividing the system into separate, specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-sensor system serves multiple functions: detecting produce placement, triggering automatic taring, and validating the weighing process. This multi-functionality increases productivity by consolidating several operations into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function.
4Measurement precision
If customers must unload and reload items at checkout, then measurement precision can be ensured, but loss of time increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary weight detection and automatic taring before the customer reaches the checkout station. Produce is weighed and tared in advance during the shopping process, eliminating the need for customers to unload and reload items at checkout, thus saving time while maintaining measurement accuracy through the same weight sensors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances the retail experience by allowing customers to add produce items seamlessly to their virtual cart without waiting for taring, reducing physical effort and time, and ensuring accurate weight measurements.
Implementation Method 1
A mobile produce scale may include a housing, a display, a user interface, a camera, a speaker, a microphone, and a load sensor
Implementation Method 2
sensor data from cameras and weight sensors, using a split architecture with local and cloud-based processing to detect weight change events
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for automatically taring mobile produce scales include receiving sensor data indicating a weight change event associated with a weight sensor, and generating a tare request. In response to the tare request, a difference in weight data associated with the weight sensor before and after the weight change event may be determined. Stability data associated with the weight sensor may also be used to determine whether to automatically tare the weight sensor. If the difference between the weight data is within a threshold associated with the weight change event, the weight sensor may be automatically tared. If the difference between the weight data exceeds the threshold associated with the weight change event, the weight sensor will not be automatically tared. The weight sensor may then be re-tared manually.