Off-Platter Detection System with Weight Stability Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Checkout workstations with weighing platters often experience incorrect weight measurements due to varying shapes and sizes of products, leading to excessive and frustrating alerts when parts of the product sit off the platter, causing inaccurate pricing.
Innovation Solution
A system for a point of sale (POS) terminal that includes a weigh platter, an off-platter detection assembly, and a processor, which generates alerts only when a stable weight greater than a threshold is detected for a certain time period, and optionally uses imaging or product identification to confirm the product is priced by weight and relevant for pricing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If off-platter detection alerts are generated for all detected off-platter conditions, then pricing accuracy is improved, but user frustration increases due to excessive false positive alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by requiring multiple conditions to be met simultaneously: stable weight threshold, minimum duration threshold, and off-platter detection. This multi-parameter approach filters out false positives while maintaining detection of actual off-platter conditions, resolving the contradiction between accurate detection and user experience
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from weight stability measurements and duration tracking to dynamically control alert generation. By continuously monitoring whether the object remains off-platter for a sustained period with stable weight, the system provides feedback that distinguishes genuine off-platter conditions from temporary disturbances, improving both accuracy and user experience
2Measurement precision
If off-platter detection system is highly sensitive, then detection accuracy is improved, but false positive rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring weight stability and duration before generating an alert. Instead of immediately alerting upon detecting off-platter condition, the system first verifies that the condition persists for a minimum duration and maintains stable weight, thereby preliminary filtering out false positives while maintaining high detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by continuously monitoring multiple changing parameters (weight stability, duration, off-platter status) rather than relying on a single static detection threshold. This dynamic multi-parameter monitoring allows the system to maintain high sensitivity while adapting to different scenarios, reducing false positives
3Reliability
If alert generation is restricted to stable weight conditions, then false positives are reduced, but detection speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by continuously monitoring weight and off-platter status without interruption. Rather than periodically sampling, the system continuously tracks parameters and immediately generates alerts when all conditions are met, maintaining both high reliability and detection speed through uninterrupted monitoring
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
Reduces false positive alerts by ensuring that only sustained off-platter conditions with significant weight and relevant products trigger alerts, enhancing pricing accuracy and user experience by minimizing unnecessary notifications.
Implementation Method 1
a scale configured to measure a weight of the object when placed on the first surface
Implementation Method 2
an off-platter detection assembly configured to detect an off-platter condition based on at least one of (i) a portion of the object resting on a second surface off the weigh platter or (ii) at least some portion of the object extending beyond a perimeter of the weigh platter
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for preventing accidental triggers for off-platter detection systems are disclosed herein. An example system includes a weigh platter having a first surface; a scale configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the first surface; an off-platter detection assembly configured to detect an off-platter condition based on a portion of the object resting on a second surface off the weigh platter and/or some portion of the object extending beyond a perimeter of the weigh platter; a processor in communication with the scale and the off-platter detection assembly; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to generate an alert responsive to at least: (i) the off-platter detection assembly detecting the off-platter condition and (ii) a measurement by the scale of a stable weight greater than a threshold weight, for a time period greater than a threshold time period.