Retail Weighing Scale Strip Light for Intuitive State Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Weighing scales often have complex and unintuitive user interfaces that make it difficult for operators to navigate and understand the state of the scale.
Innovation Solution
A retail weighing scale with a single-piece trough-shaped housing containing a load cell and a strip light attached to its external wall, actuated by a control unit based on a state machine to depict technical states such as weight differences, software updates, and operator verification, using LED lamps with phosphorus coating for homogeneous illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a complex menu interface is provided to display detailed information about the weighing scale state, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The information display is segmented into multiple levels: a simple visual indicator level for quick status overview and a detailed menu level for comprehensive information. The visual indicator shows high-level status (e.g., functional state, paper status) without requiring navigation, while detailed information is available through optional menu access, thus serving different user needs without forcing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A visual indicator acts as an intermediary between the complex internal state of the weighing scale and the operator. This indicator translates complex technical states (paper status, functional states, calibration status) into simple visual codes (LED colors or patterns), eliminating the need for operators to navigate complex menus to understand basic status information.
2Loss of information
If multiple display modes are provided to show different scale states, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays functional state, paper status, calibration status, and error conditions through a single unified interface. By making the indicator multi-functional, the system avoids the need for separate display mechanisms for each state type, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses color changes of the visual indicator (LED colors or light patterns) to encode different states. A single indicator can represent multiple states through color variation (e.g., green for functional, yellow for warning, red for error), eliminating the need for multiple physical indicators or complex display hardware, thus reducing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If detailed status information is displayed through menus, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The information hierarchy is segmented into essential visual indicators for basic status monitoring and detailed menu options for precise measurement control. Operators can immediately see critical status information without navigating menus, while precise measurement parameters remain accessible through optional menu access, thus maintaining both ease of operation and measurement precision.
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
Simplifies operator interaction by providing intuitive visual feedback on the scale's state through a homogeneous light source, enhancing usability and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The deformation portion has a strain gauge configured to measure a weight acting on the platter
Implementation Method 2
A strip light is attached to an external wall of the housing and is attached substantially all around the housing
Implementation Method 3
using LED lamps with phosphorus coating for homogeneous illumination
Data Source
AI summary
A weighing scale includes a weighing module which has a housing in which a load cell is accommodated. The load cell has a fixed portion, a deformation portion, and a movable portion. The fixed portion is connected to the housing, and the movable portion bears a spider having a platter. The deformation portion has a strain gauge configured to measure a weight acting on the platter. The housing is formed as a single piece and in a trough shape. A strip light is attached to an external wall of the housing and is attached substantially all around the housing. The weighing scale further has a controller with a state machine which is configured to depict at least one technical state of the weighing scale, the control unit being configured to actuate the strip light on the basis of the state of the state machine.