Smart Scale for Real-Time Nutritional Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking and recipe systems lack the ability to independently adjust individual ingredients or combinations of ingredients, which can lead to changes in nutritional information without affecting other ingredients, and do not provide real-time nutritional feedback during recipe preparation.

Innovation Solution

A smart scale and app system that allows for real-time measurement and adjustment of ingredient amounts, providing nutritional information and enabling ingredient substitutions based on dietary preferences or availability, with dynamic display of nutritional data during recipe execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional scales are used to measure ingredients, then basic weighing function is provided, but precision is insufficient for accurate nutritional assessment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingredient weight measurement precisionVSAvoidscale system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical scales with a smart scale system that uses electronic sensors and digital processing to measure ingredient weights. The scale communicates with a computing device to provide precise measurements and nutritional information, substituting mechanical measurement systems with electronic and computational systems for enhanced precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If recipe scaling is performed to change serving size, then all ingredient amounts are adjusted proportionally, but independent nutritional adjustment is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecipe adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidrecipe management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the recipe into individual ingredients, allowing independent adjustment of each ingredient's amount. Users can modify specific ingredients without scaling the entire recipe proportionally, enabling independent nutritional control while maintaining the ability to scale when needed through the same system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts ingredient amounts and nutritional information based on user selections. When an ingredient is modified, the system automatically recalculates nutritional data in real-time, providing adaptive feedback without requiring manual recalculation or complex manual adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If individual ingredient adjustments are made without system support, then nutritional information changes, but real-time feedback and tracking are not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutritional information accuracyVSAvoidrecipe preparation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback system where the computing device continuously monitors ingredient amounts and recalculates nutritional information in real-time. The display provides immediate feedback to users about how ingredient modifications affect nutritional content, enabling informed decisions without manual tracking or delayed updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual ingredient substitution is performed, then ingredient changes are possible, but systematic tracking and nutritional recalculation are cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveingredient substitution capabilityVSAvoidtime for nutritional recalculation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary setup by storing nutritional data for multiple ingredients and substitution options. When a user substitutes an ingredient, the system has the nutritional information ready and can immediately recalculate the recipe's nutritional content without requiring the user to manually look up or calculate values during preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10480990B1System and method for dynamic adjustment of recipe ingredients

Publication Date: 2019.11.19 PERFECT

AI summary

A system and method directed to dynamic ingredient adjustment for nutrition-based recipe ingredient modification is described. The recipe ingredient modification can be based on the amount of one or more ingredients, nutrition content of the ingredients, ingredient availability, total nutritional content of an entire recipe or on a per serving size, and amount, kind, and nutrition content of any substitute ingredient used. A recipe's at least one nutritional content or value (for example, amount of fiber or total fat in gram or percentage) can be adjusted in approximately real-time while processing or measuring the ingredients on a smart scale. The system's dynamic scaling capability also provides for the substitution of ingredients or the adjustment of the quantity of ingredients even when a user is already in the middle of processing, mixing, or adding one or more ingredients based on predetermined ingredients and quantities provided in a recipe.