Weighing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooking appliances with weight sensing functionality face challenges in maintaining accurate weight measurements during cooking due to thermal interference caused by temperature gradients, leading to erroneous readings.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a container and base unit configuration that includes a flexible and insulating connection assembly to minimize thermal strain and heat transfer, utilizing strain gauge load sensors arranged in a Wheatstone bridge circuit to ensure accurate weight sensing, and a control unit to determine food doneness based on weight changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If strain gauge load sensors are used for weight sensing in cooking appliances, then cost-effective weight measurement is achieved, but temperature changes cause measurement errors due to thermal interference
Solution Approach 1:
A connection assembly comprising a connection tube and connection wire acts as an intermediary between the container and base unit. This intermediary structure provides thermal insulation to reduce heat transfer to the strain gauge load sensors, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving the cost-effective strain gauge technology
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful thermal interference into a beneficial design feature by deliberately introducing thermal insulation elements. The connection assembly is specifically designed to block heat pathways, transforming the thermal challenge into an opportunity to improve measurement accuracy without abandoning the economical strain gauge approach
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connection between container and base unit is used, then structural stability is improved, but thermal strain interference at weight sensing unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly uses a flexible design comprising a connection tube and connection wire that can accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. This flexible connection maintains structural stability while preventing rigid heat transfer pathways that would cause thermal strain interference at the weight sensing unit
Solution Approach 2:
The connection assembly serves as a mediating structure between the container and base unit, providing both mechanical support and thermal insulation. This intermediary design decouples the structural function from the thermal pathway, allowing stability without direct thermal coupling
3Device complexity
If direct connection between container and base unit is used, then device complexity is reduced, but heat transfer between container and weight sensing unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly comprising a connection tube and connection wire introduces a minimal yet effective intermediary structure. This addition provides thermal insulation to reduce heat transfer to the weight sensing unit while maintaining relatively simple device architecture and avoiding complex thermal management systems
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 solution enables continuous accurate weight sensing during cooking by reducing thermal interference and providing low-cost insulation, thereby minimizing measurement errors and improving the accuracy of determining food doneness.
Implementation Method 1
a connection assembly configured to provide a flexible and insulating connection between the container and the base unit so as to counteract thermal strain interference at the weight sensing unit
Implementation Method 2
the weight sensing unit comprising a plurality of strain gauge load sensors arranged at the mounting member of the base unit
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus (200, 300, 400, 500) comprising: a container (210, 310, 410, 510) configured to receive a food stuff, a base unit (220, 320, 420, 520) comprising a mounting member and a plurality of outer supporting members (324, 424, 524), a weight sensing unit (230, 330, 430, 530) configured to measure a weight of the food stuff contained in the container, and a connection assembly (240, 340, 440, 540) arranged between the container and the base unit. The weight sensing unit comprises a plurality of strain gauge load sensors arranged at the mounting member of the base unit, and the connection assembly is configured to provide a flexible and insulating connection between the container and the base unit so as to counteract thermal strain interference at the weight sensing unit and to reduce heat transfer between the container and the weight sensing unit.