Printed Electronics Shelf Sensors for Automated Food Consumption Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nutritional tracking systems require users to manually enter their food consumption, which is inconvenient and often leads to inconsistent usage, as it alters users' normal routines and is not cost-effective for widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
The integration of low-cost consumer electronics, such as printed electronics, MEMS/NEMS sensors, wireless power, and communication, with software interfaces and voice interaction, enables automatic identification, measurement, tracking, and reporting of consumables' consumption and movement without requiring users to change their routines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual entry of food consumption is required, then nutritional tracking accuracy is improved, but user convenience deteriorates and usage consistency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic tracking of food consumption through sensors that detect food items in refrigerators and pantries, eliminating the need for manual user input. The system self-monitors consumption patterns by comparing initial inventory with subsequent weight measurements, automatically updating nutritional databases without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual entry process with electronic sensing systems including weight sensors, image recognition cameras, and RFID readers that automatically detect and track food items. This substitution transforms the tracking mechanism from user-dependent manual input to automated electronic detection.
2Measurement precision
If manual entry of food consumption is required, then nutritional tracking accuracy is improved, but consistency of usage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors food consumption by maintaining constant weight measurements on refrigerator and pantry shelves, automatically detecting when food items are added or removed. This continuous monitoring ensures consistent data collection without requiring periodic manual user input, thereby improving usage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic sensing system performs continuous self-monitoring of food inventory and consumption patterns, eliminating the need for users to remember or consistently perform manual entry tasks. The system autonomously maintains accurate nutritional tracking records through automated detection and database updates.
3Measurement precision
If complex tracking systems are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into separate modular components: weight sensors on shelves, image recognition cameras, RFID readers, and a central processing unit. Each component performs a specific function independently, allowing for precise measurement while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multi-functional sensors that can detect both the presence and weight of food items, while image recognition systems identify food types and nutritional content. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate devices, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to the automatic identification and measurement of the consumption of an item or items and reporting of consumption of primarily, but not limited to, foodstuffs and provisions, that are typically stored in refrigerators, pantries, cupboards, apparatus and display shelves, store cases, shopping carts and baskets and the like. The invention therefore allows humans to accurately and automatically track their nutritional input, inventory transferal and in-store purchases in real-time. The invention relates to low-cost, printable electronics with integrated micro-electromechanical (MEMS) and/or Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), wireless inductive power and wireless communication, and targets a low-cost solution applicable to consumer applications.