Smart container with interactive, colored lights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fitness tracking devices primarily focus on physical activity, neglecting important aspects like hydration and nutrition intake, with over 75% of people having poor water consumption habits and few devices monitoring these aspects effectively.
Innovation Solution
A smart container assembly equipped with a load cell, accelerometer, processor, and colored light source that measures weight and acceleration to track consumption, providing visual and auditory reminders for hydration and nutrition goals, and allowing communication with external devices via RFID or NFC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fitness tracking devices focus on physical activity monitoring, then physical health tracking is improved, but hydration and nutrition monitoring capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The smart container integrates multiple monitoring functions including weight measurement for hydration tracking, acceleration sensing for activity detection, and visual feedback systems into a single device, allowing it to serve both as a hydration monitor and fitness tracker simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the container with sensor electronics, light sources, and communication modules into an integrated assembly that attaches to the container, merging previously separate functions (weight monitoring, activity tracking, visual feedback) into one unified system
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and light sources are integrated into the container assembly, then monitoring and feedback capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: the container holds consumables, the sensor assembly (with load cell and accelerometer) attaches to the container base, the light source provides visual feedback, and the processor coordinates operations. This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple sensors (load cell, accelerometer), processes the information, and controls the light source accordingly. This central coordination simplifies the integration of multiple components by providing a single control point
3Measurement precision
If the load cell continuously measures weight to track consumption, then consumption tracking accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell measures weight periodically rather than continuously, triggered by acceleration events that indicate the container has been set down. This periodic measurement approach maintains consumption tracking accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerometer detects when the container is placed on a surface and triggers the load cell measurement in advance of when the user would need the data. This preliminary action ensures measurement readiness while avoiding unnecessary continuous operation of the power-intensive load cell
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 smart container effectively encourages proper hydration and nutrition by providing personalized reminders and tracking progress, promoting healthy habits and sustainable usage through accurate measurements and customizable notifications.
Implementation Method 1
The load cell is operably coupled to the container and measures a weight of contents of the container
Implementation Method 2
The accelerometer is operably coupled to the container and measures acceleration of the container
Implementation Method 3
The colored light source is operably coupled to the processor and emits colored light. This colored light indicates the change in the weight of the contents of the container
Implementation Method 4
The diffuser is in optical communication with the colored light source and diffuses the colored light over an area viewed by the user
Data Source
AI summary
A smart container that includes a bottle or other container, a load cell, an accelerometer, a processor, and a colored light source. The container may be a liquid container, a pill container, or a food container. The colored light source may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which can be programed to emit unique illumination patterns. The container may also include a speaker or motor to emit audio and vibrational notifications. The container provides a method of tracking consumption by a user of a substance held in a container.