Weighing Scale Display Modes for User Privacy and Comfort

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional weighing systems do not adequately address the diverse psychological relationships individuals have with their weight, leading to reluctance in weight measurement, especially when multiple users share a scale and desire varying levels of weight information visibility.

Innovation Solution

A weighing system that allows users to select display modes based on predefined patterns, such as foot placement or temporal interactions, enabling personalized display options like numerical, obfuscated, or hidden modes, using load and bioimpedance sensors to identify user preferences and adjust display settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If numerical weight display is provided, then measurement information is complete and accurate, but user psychological comfort deteriorates and weight monitoring adherence decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight information completenessVSAvoiduser psychological comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display mode is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The system allows users to switch between different display modes (numerical, obfuscated, hidden) based on their current psychological needs and preferences, enabling the interface to adapt to changing user states throughout the weight monitoring journey

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different levels of information disclosure are provided for different users and different situations. The system implements user-specific display configurations where each user can have personalized display preferences, allowing some users to see numerical values while others see obfuscated or hidden displays based on their individual psychological comfort levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If weight information is hidden or obfuscated, then user psychological comfort is maintained, but measurement information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser psychological comfortVSAvoidweight information completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer between the actual weight measurement and the user's perception. Through obfuscation techniques (such as displaying weight ranges, using symbols, or showing relative changes rather than absolute values), the system preserves weight monitoring functionality while reducing psychological impact, allowing users to engage with weight data without direct confrontation with precise numerical values

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple display modes are provided, then user preference and privacy needs are accommodated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay mode flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary configuration to establish user preferences before actual weight monitoring begins. During initial setup, users configure their preferred display modes and privacy settings, which are then stored and automatically applied during subsequent weight measurements, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making and reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 users to choose their preferred level of weight information visibility, enhancing user comfort and adherence to weight monitoring by accommodating individual preferences and privacy needs.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor device configured to generate configuration data during a configuration period and to generate measurement data during a measurement period, the measurement data being representative of a physiological state of the user

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical load measurement: Force

Implementation Method 2

control circuitry configured to select a display mode among a plurality of available display modes, the selection being based at least on the configuration data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical signal processing: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP4375627B1A weighing system with a plurality of display modes
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 WITHINGS SAS
  • EP4375627B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4375627B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4375627B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a weighing system (100) comprising a measuring device configured to generate configuration data and measurement data, control circuitry configured to select a display mode based at least on the configuration data and a display device (150) configured to apply the selected display mode to the measurement data.