Smart Tray Weight Sensor for Food Intake Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for measuring food intake are cumbersome and inaccurate, failing to account for changes in weight due to non-food items like bowls or cutlery, and do not provide real-time feedback on body weight changes, which hinders effective weight management.
Innovation Solution
A smart tray equipped with a weight sensor, communication unit, camera, alarm, and display that measures food intake, communicates with a smartphone and body weight scale, and analyzes data to provide real-time feedback on food intake and body weight changes, excluding non-food item weights and alerting users when exceeding target weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional food intake measurement methods are used, then food intake can be measured, but the process is cumbersome and requires placing individual foods in separate bowls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate measurement tasks into a single integrated process. The smart tray combines weight sensing, food recognition via camera, and automated calculation into one unified system, eliminating the need for separate bowls and manual recording for each food item.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automated food intake measurement without requiring user intervention in the measurement process. The weight sensor automatically detects weight changes, the camera identifies food items, and the control unit calculates intake amounts, making the system self-serving and eliminating manual measurement steps.
2Measurement precision
If weight measurement is performed to control food intake, then food intake data can be obtained, but non-food items like bowls or cutlery affect measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time feedback from weight sensors to detect when non-food items are placed on or removed from the tray. The control unit receives continuous weight data, identifies patterns corresponding to bowl or cutlery placement, and automatically adjusts measurements to exclude these non-food items from the food intake calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera unit acts as an intermediary to distinguish between food items and non-food items. By capturing images and analyzing what is placed on the tray, the system can identify bowls, cutlery, and other non-food objects, then use this information to filter out their weight from the food intake measurement.
3Loss of information
If real-time food intake monitoring is implemented, then immediate feedback on food consumption is provided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart tray integrates multiple functions into a single device: weight sensing for measurement, camera for food recognition, display for real-time feedback, and communication unit for data transmission. This multi-functional design provides comprehensive real-time monitoring without requiring separate devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical measurement processes with automated electronic sensing and digital processing. Instead of physical scales and manual recording, the patent uses electronic weight sensors, digital image recognition, and automated calculation systems to provide real-time feedback with minimal user interaction.
4Measurement precision
If cumulative weight measurement is used to track food intake, then total intake can be calculated, but it cannot distinguish between food intake and weight changes from other causes
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors weight changes and provides real-time feedback to distinguish between food intake and other weight changes. By analyzing the timing, magnitude, and pattern of weight changes, the control unit can identify whether a weight increase corresponds to food placement or other factors like condensation or measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera unit serves as an intermediary to verify whether weight changes are caused by food items. By capturing images at the time of weight changes and analyzing them, the system can confirm whether the weight increase is due to food placement or other causes, ensuring accurate food intake measurement.
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
Enables accurate and real-time monitoring of food intake and body weight changes, helping users control their food consumption and manage weight more effectively by providing immediate feedback and reducing errors from non-food item weight fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a weight sensor for sensing a weight of an item placed on a tray
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a smart tray for measuring a food intake and a weight change, and a weight management system comprising the smart tray, the smart tray comprising: a weight sensor for detecting the weight of an object placed on the upper surface and generating object weight information; an input unit for inputting the current weight information of an eater; and a control unit for controlling the weight sensor, generating weight deduction information, which is a value deducted from the object weight information, as food intake information within a predetermined time, and, by using same, generating estimated changed weight information.