Digital Patents (Class 177/25.13)
  • Patent number: 8536470
    Abstract: A body composition monitor of the present invention includes means for measuring a body composition, means for storing a measured body composition value, and body composition comparison means for comparing the measured body composition value and a stored body composition value, in which the body composition monitor further includes means for inputting a body weight value, means for storing an inputted body weight, body weight comparison means for comparing the inputted body weight and stored body weight, body composition change determination means for determining a change degree of the body composition value with using a comparison result of the body composition comparison means and a comparison result of the body weight comparison means, and display means for displaying a determination result determined by the body composition change determination means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sato, Shinya Tanaka, Yumi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20130233627
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include a digital scale to measure a weight of a user who stands on the digital scale; and to calculate and convey to the user a dosage of a medicament which is appropriate for the user based on the measured user weight. The digital scale may determine the medicament dosage by performing a local query to a locally-stored medicament database which may be stored locally within the digital scale, and/or by performing a remote query to a remotely-stored medicament database which may be stored externally to the digital scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: MONIQUE S. VIDAL, Joel Vidal, Yael Vidal
  • Patent number: 8504323
    Abstract: A computer based system is disclosed for providing emergency medical personnel with a means for rapidly ascertaining an accurate estimated weight for a non-responsive and potentially critically ill patient. The system acquires the gross weight of the patient, the support upon which the patient is lying and all life support equipment that may be on that support. From data stored in a data base, and from information input into the system by the personnel on hand, the weights of everything except the patient are deducted by the system to arrive at the patient's weight. That weight is then resident in the system and serves to allow the system to accurately calculate the correct dosages of medications to be administered to the patient while warning the personnel if dangerous interactions are possible. The system includes protocols for treating a wide variety of emergency medical conditions in both hospital and military environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Anthony Coradi
  • Publication number: 20130186695
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for estimating food commodity intakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicants: Korea Food & Drug Administration, Sejong University Industry Academy Cooperation Foundation, The Korea Health Industry Development Institute
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Ko, Seung Won Kim, Ki Sung Kwon, Jae Ho Oh, Jung Ah Do, Joong Keun Lee, Hee Dong Woo
  • Publication number: 20130175099
    Abstract: A POS system includes: input means for receiving an input of an order; memory means for storing item information containing an individual theoretical weight of each item; calculating means for calculating, based on input information containing item types and item quantities of ordered items and on the item information, a theoretical total weight of the ordered items; weight measuring means for measuring an actual total weight of the ordered items, which are put in a bag; judging means for comparing the theoretical total weight and the actual total weight, and when there is a weight difference therebetween, identifying a side item and/or included item close in weight to the weight difference from among the ordered items; and output means for outputting the identified side item and/or included item as an item candidate corresponding to the weight difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: NEC INFRONTIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tazawa
  • Publication number: 20130168161
    Abstract: The present invention is a weighing scale and system of weighing scales used to weigh a group of loads and determine which load is the lightest so it can be culled from the group. The weighing scales are most useful for use in fishing tournaments to ensure an angler has possession of the maximum total weight of fish possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Scott W. SAULTERS, John MAXFIELD, Todd COLLINS
  • Publication number: 20130168162
    Abstract: A digital scale includes a display and buttonless top platform. Contact with the scale platform alone allows a user to power the scale, identify a user of the scale, determine a mode of operation of the scale, and to establish a reminder. The scale has a user mode of operation displaying a reading of the user's weight. The scale has a pet mode of operation displaying a reading of the weight of a pet. In the user mode of operation a second mode provides a display of the user's current weight, a delta or differential weight with the most recent recorded weight measurement and if the data is available, additional deltas for weight measurements taken up to one year earlier. The scale also has an instant on mode of operation in which it allows for instant weight reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anson Wong
  • Patent number: 8471721
    Abstract: A server rack includes a main body, an electronic scale, and an alarm. The main body is used for receiving a number of servers. The electronic scale includes a pressure sensor and a microcontroller. The main body presses on the pressure sensor so that the pressure sensor can measure the pressure from the main body to obtain a pressure signal. The microcontroller analyzes the pressure signal to calculating the total weight of the main body and the servers. The alarm stores a predetermined weight threshold, which is the total weight of the main body and the maximum servers that the main body can bear. The alarm also compares the measured total weight with the predetermined weight threshold. When the measured total weight is larger than the predetermined weight threshold, the alarm alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song-Lin Tong, Guang-Dong Yuan, Hai-Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 8466379
    Abstract: The invention regards a portable medical apparatus made up of at least two devices (30, 32) adapted to measure eating rate utilized to teach persons to eat according to a predetermined graphic eating curve (10, 24) displayed on a screen and a method therefore. In a specific mode the predetermined graphic curve (24) describes a non linear descending rate of eating behavior. The apparatus comprises a device with cellular capabilities (30), and a scale (32), which devices communicate through near field radiation such as Bluetooth or IR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Mandometer AB
    Inventors: Cecilia Bergh, Per Sodersten
  • Patent number: 8466380
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring articles includes a conveying part, a plurality of measuring parts and a determining part. The conveying part includes a plurality of conveyers placed adjacently in series for conveying articles successively in a straight line. The plurality of measuring parts measure weight or dimensions of the respective articles successively conveyed by the conveying part. The determining part determines the weight or the dimensions of the respective articles based on the measured values by the plurality of the measuring parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Inoue, Fumio Morisawa
  • Patent number: 8457732
    Abstract: The invention provides a biometric apparatus having a display which allows a measured person to recognize biometric data easily and reliably irrespective of whether the measured person is on a platform or not. The biometric apparatus for measuring biometric data of the measured person includes the platform on which the measured person gets on, a sensor unit for acquiring the biometric data of the measured person; a display for displaying the biometric data acquired by the sensor unit; and a control unit for determining whether the measured person is on the platform or not on the basis of a signal from the sensor unit and changes the display mode to display the biometric data on the display according to the determination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventor: Kosei Fukada
  • Patent number: 8434345
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the procedure for quantifying the volume of liquid dispensed by a liquid-dispensing mechanism of an analytical instrument. The apparatus of this invention comprises (a) at least one weigh cup; (b) at least one standard mass; (c) at least one transducer assembly to convert a value of weight to an electrical response; and (d) at least one electronic circuit for converting the electrical response to a measurement of volume. This invention provides a method for calibrating readings of the volume of liquid dispensed by a liquid-dispensing mechanism of an analytical instruments so that absolute measurements of the volume of liquid dispensed can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Kurt M. Klosterman, Ganesh Rajagopal, Larry R. Jibson, James L. Dempski, Paul A. Matuszewski, Jeffrey W. Stewart, Jeffrey R. Swanson, David M. Tipotsch, Randall E. Youngs, Noman A. Abunimeh
  • Publication number: 20130092456
    Abstract: A weight determining system is for use with a non-singulated and non-spaced arrangement of items on a conveyor. The system includes an array of load cells, a scanning apparatus, and processors. Each of the items bears upon one or more of the load cells. Each of the load cells bears one or more of the items, and generates load data associated with them. The scanning apparatus generates scan data for the arrangement of the items on the conveyor. Based on the scan data, the processors: apportion the load data from each load cell to the items bearing on it; allocate to each item the load data apportioned from the various load cells; and determine a weight for each item. Also disclosed are a corresponding weight determining method, as well as a computer readable medium containing executable instructions to encode the processors to perform as aforesaid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: PUROLATOR INC.
    Inventor: Purolator Inc.
  • Patent number: 8395479
    Abstract: A commodity management apparatus includes, a weighing dish on which a container having a wireless tag attached thereto is mounted, an antenna which forms a region to communicate with the wireless tag from the side part of the weighing dish to the upper part of the weighing dish, a tag reader which contactlessly reads, via the antenna, data in the wireless tag attached to the container, a weight detection unit which detects the weight of the container mounted on the weighing dish, and an output control unit which outputs the weight of the container detected by the weight detection unit and the data in the wireless tag read by the tag reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouichi Sano, Shinji Saegusa
  • Publication number: 20130043079
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a multi-scale system and method comprise at least two scale elements with respective scale readouts and control logic. The control logic may be configured to activate the scale elements and weight readouts concurrently throughout a selected period of time as a result of a single transaction. The system may preferably be operated within a travel service facility, such as an airline or bus terminal, for allowing a traveler to simultaneously and independently weigh multiple pieces of luggage, and redistribute the contents therebetween prior to checking the luggage with any travel service within the travel service facility. Each scale platform may include a cage element adapted to provide lateral support and stabilization for the object placed on the respective scale platform. The system may include a network connection by which the system can be remotely controlled, monitored and updated from an off-site location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Brian Levin, Ryan Borland
  • Publication number: 20130025944
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system comprise a plate device comprising a support structure and a plurality of compartments being configured to retain items. The compartments are supported by the support structure. A plurality of weighing devices is configured to weigh the compartments. A scale support structure is configured to support the plate device and the weighing devices. A processing device is in communication with the weighing devices and is operable to at least process weight information. A presentation device is in communication with the processing device. The presentation device is operable to at least display processed weight information of items in each of the compartments and to display a sum total of processed weight information of items retained in the plate device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Nicolaos Batsikouras
  • Publication number: 20130015003
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a weight detecting device includes a conveying portion to convey a sheet-like article, a vibration source causing the conveying portion to oscillate; a sensor to detect a weight of the sheet-like article while it is being conveyed by the conveying portion, an A/D converter portion to sample and digitize an output of the sensor at a predetermined period, and a calculating portion to calculate a weight of the sheet-like article by determining an average of a plurality of detection signal values digitized by the A/D converter portion after subjecting the detection signal values to statistical processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yukio ASARI, Toru TODORIKI, Yusuke MITSUYA, Yoshihiko NARUOKA, Naruaki HIRAMITSU, Hiroaki FUJIHARA
  • Publication number: 20120305320
    Abstract: An object management cabinet with multi-weighing structure, which comprises a base, a weighing structure and a main control unit. The base is arranged for placing an object. The object has an RFID tag for transmitting object data. The weighing structure is arranged for measuring the object weight to produce measured data. The main control unit is arranged for matching the object data with the measured data to produce a match result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: DIING LI TONG TECHNOLOGY CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Kuan-Hung Sun
  • Patent number: 8304668
    Abstract: A food product scale is adapted to interface with an electronic product ordering system, such as a kiosk ordering system, enabling store personnel to more readily identify, process and complete such orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Harry W. Collins, Debra L. Dyer
  • Patent number: 8290749
    Abstract: A method, an arrangement and a program process a measurement signal generated in a measurement transducer of an electronic force-measuring device, particularly a balance. The generated measurement signal corresponds to the force acting on the transducer. The measurement signal is entered directly or by way of a pre-processing stage into a display function which assigns corresponding output values to the values of the measurement signal. The output values are subsequently presented in a display or passed on for further processing. The input range of the display function contains a capture range, so that the values of the measurement signal that lie within the capture range are assigned a common output value by the display function, and the position of the capture range within the input range is controlled dependent on the generated measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Daniel Reber
  • Patent number: 8278570
    Abstract: In an intellectual scale and a method of using same, a plurality of chemical management modes is provided. The intellectual scale can be switched to operate under any one of these chemical management modes to detect and measure a chemical to obtain the type and the weight of the chemical under the current chemical management mode, and record the obtained type and weight of the chemical, so that a user is able to know the use state of the chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ding Li Tong Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuan-Hung Sun
  • Patent number: 8263881
    Abstract: A weighing scale has a display unit for displaying the weight of an object loaded on a platform measured by a weight measurer, a communication unit for transmitting weight data to, or receiving from, another weighing scale, a determiner that determines whether the weighing scale is capable of communicating via the communication unit with another weighing scale, and a controller that, in a case in which a result of the determination by the determiner shows that the weighing scale is not capable of communicating with another weighing scale, controls the display unit to display weight data output by the weight measurer, and in a case in which a result of the determination by the determiner shows that the weighing scale is capable of communicating with another weighing scale, that transmits weight data to, or receives from, another weighing scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventor: Naoshi Oseko
  • Publication number: 20120217069
    Abstract: A label printing scale device includes separable casings that are vertically overlaid in two levels, one on top of the other. Specifically, the label printing scale device includes an upper casing housing at least a load cell and a circuit part, and a lower casing housing at least power-generation circuit, a printer, and a control part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoichi KAWAMURA, Kengo AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120193247
    Abstract: The envelope holder generally consists of a main body forming a pocket to accept and store the envelopes. The main body has a front on which a size indicator is affixed. A ledge is approximately perpendicular to the front of the main body such that when a card sits on the ledge the size indicator will alert the user whether or not the envelope is the correct size. A back attachment is attached to the main body such that the envelope holder can attach to the card rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Chastine Van Fleet
  • Publication number: 20120181091
    Abstract: A mobile portable system for a user to weigh an item on a mobile device, the mobile device having a computer processor and a display screen, and a weighing platform integral to the mobile device. The weighing platform may be integral to the display screen or may be a separate piece of hardware. A selector module is provided for allowing the user of the mobile device to choose the type of the item to be weighed. A weighing module is also provided for determining the weight of the item placed by the user on the weighing platform. A visual module in communication with the weighing module is provided to display the weight of the item to the user. The selector module, the weighing module, and the display module are executed by the computer processor of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Nhi H. Lieu
  • Patent number: 8168898
    Abstract: A method serves to optimize the behavior of an electronic force-measuring device, in particular a balance that comprises a measuring transducer through which a measuring signal is formed which is representative of a load applied to the force-measuring device, which measuring signal is delivered to a signal-processing unit that is supported by at least one processor and at least one memory storage unit and serves to process digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Daniel Reber, Marc Nussbaumer, Martin Rickli
  • Patent number: 8153911
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed, and for checking that the correct amount of postage has been paid for delivery of the article. An article (900) is received from an intake transport (1200), and gripped in a weighing station (1310), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (1316), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision closed-loop servo system (1252, 1250) alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (1212, 1282) to determine weight. Correct postage is determined in a processor (1212), and the postage actually paid is checked either by image analysis (1204, 1214, 1280) or by accessing a stored mailer manifest (1280).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: RAF Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan J. Turner
  • Publication number: 20120055982
    Abstract: Item characteristic databases, such as item weight databases are employed in a variety of checkout contexts in stores. As one example, a security weight database is often employed in a security check during self-checkout in which an item's weight is checked during bagging against a stored weight for the item. Approaches for extending such security checks for a single item or items sold in small quantities are addressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas V. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8106314
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dynamically checking the weight of objects (18a-c) which are guided across a weight-sensitive zone (14) of a weighing device (12) at an adjustable conveying rate by a conveying mechanism (20a-c). At regular intervals, the weight-sensitive zone (14) supplies individual measured weight values (E1, . . . , En) from which resultant weight values are derived in a digital evaluation unit (16) by averaging. The evaluation unit (16) includes a plurality of cascaded averaging filters (24a-e) which have different filter lengths that are varied by a common scaling factor depending on the conveying rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sartorius Weighing Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Klauer
  • Patent number: 8101875
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dynamically check weighing objects (18a-c) that are guided across a weight-sensitive zone (14) of a weighing device (12) by a conveying mechanism (20a-c). At regular intervals, the weight-sensitive zone (14) supplies individual measured weight values (E1, . . . , En) from which resulting weight values are derived in a digital evaluation unit (16) by calculating mean values. The evaluation unit (16) includes a plurality of cascading mean value filters (24a-e) that have different filter lengths which are varied by a common scaling value in accordance with a spatial dimension of the objects (18a-c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Satorius Weighing Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Klauer
  • Patent number: 8097820
    Abstract: A method of controlling a scale in connection with to a carrier of pourable bulk materials. The scale involved has a control with a display and control buttons. Upon a first press of a first control button, the system is transitioned into a “tare” mode and displays a base, or tare, value. Upon a second press of the first control button, generally after unloading some or all of the load, the difference in weight from the first press is saved to a storage medium, and a value displayed representing the weight of bulk material in the container at that time. The method may also include the pressing of a Zero button to zero the scale before the carrier is first loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Digi-Star, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Klubertanz
  • Patent number: 8076595
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus transmits measurement values in a multi-module force-measuring device, in particular a multi-module weighing device, with at least two force-measuring modules. Each of the force-measuring modules includes a force-measuring cell and a signal-processing unit. The signal-processing unit transmits the measurement values generated by the force-measuring cell by way of a signal line to a signal-evaluating unit. Under the method, each measurement value is converted into a bit sequence by the respective signal-processing unit. The first force-measuring module's bit sequence is transmitted to the signal-evaluating unit, and the bit sequences of the signal-processing unit of the further force-measuring modules are transmitted by way of the signal-processing unit of the first force-measuring module to the signal-evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Markus Uster
  • Publication number: 20110290567
    Abstract: A system and method for assisting a party (e.g., a freight carrier) in determining whether dimensional weight or actual weight should be used for shipping particular freight. A weighing device may be associated with a forklift, and may also include a DIM comparator in association with the forklift. The DIM comparator may have an input and a display of information, and may also include a CPU unit for storing and processing data. The DIM comparator may allow an operator to input various data through selectable menus and tables. The DIM comparator then determines a theoretical dimensional weight of the freight and compares it to the actual weight as measured by the weighing device associated with the forklift. This comparison is then displayed to the operator and a prompt is provided if a dimensional weight should be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Waggoner, Jon Hayes, Barry McDonald
  • Publication number: 20110240379
    Abstract: An electronic weighing device is provided. The electronic weighing device comprises an elongate frame; a head unit, wherein the head unit is supported by the frame. The electronic weighing device further includes a scale platform coupled to a base of the frame, and a load-cell module residing in the scale platform, wherein the load-cell module is configured to convert a force on the scale platform when a user stands on the scale platform, into a measurable electrical output signal. The electronic weighing device further includes an electronic display device in the head unit, an electronics module coupled to the load-cell module and to the electronic display device, wherein the electronics module is configured for interacting with a user via the electronic display device and determining the weight of the user based on an electrical output signal from the load-cell. The electronic weighing device further comprises a communication module configured for communicating with a remote device via a communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: OVS, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Forshaw, Kenneth G. Lawrence, James R. Fabbro
  • Patent number: 8030582
    Abstract: A body weighing machine (100) is provided with a distance measuring sensor (30) at the central position (C) of a base plate unit (50). A CPU (10) measures the body weight of a human subject. The CPU (10) then drives the distance measuring sensor (30) to measure a distance (Dm) between the sensor and a floor surface and determines whether a minimum distance (D) between the base plate unit (50) and the floor surface is zero. The CPU (10) displays via a display unit (15) a message indicating that an error has occurred in a case in which the minimum distance (D) is zero, and otherwise displays the measured body weight on the display unit (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventors: Senri Tanida, Kotaku Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8022316
    Abstract: A force measuring device, especially a weighing device, has at least one force-measuring module that includes a force-measuring cell, a communication means, a terminal and at least one communication line, through which communication signals are transmitted between the terminal and the communication means. In a method for determining the condition of such a device, at least one voltage present at the communication line or at the communication means is measured. The measured value, or a processed result therefrom, are transmitted through the communication line to the terminal. A parameter representing the condition of the force-measuring device is determined from the measurement value, or the processed result, in an accurate and simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Christoph Trautweiler, Douglas Bliss
  • Publication number: 20110209923
    Abstract: A method and device for weighing at least one object, particularly a mail item, includes a scale for weighing an object with a first tolerance in a first operating mode if the object has a first property and for weighing the object with a second tolerance in a second operating mode if the object has a second property. Before weighing an object in the first operating mode, it is checked for the first property. If it is not ruled out that the object has the first property, the scale weighs the object when the scale is operated in the first operating mode, and the measurement result is used as the weight of the object. Otherwise, the scale is switched to the second operating mode. The scale weighs the fed-in object again. If the object has the second property, the measured value is used as the weight of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Schererz, Frank Voss
  • Publication number: 20110213268
    Abstract: A pillar (18) is connected to a base plate unit (12) of a living body index measurement apparatus (11) in a detachable manner. A display unit (22) is mounted on the pillar (18) in a detachable manner. There is built in the base plate unit (12) a calculation processing circuit. The calculation processing circuit calculates a living body index based on a measurement value obtained from a living body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Tanita Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Kosaka, Minoru Hatakeyama, Atsushi Saito
  • Patent number: 7994439
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a weight scale with differential display. A first weight is determined for a user from a weight sensor. The first weight is stored in a memory. A second weight is determined for the user from the weight sensor. A difference is determined between the first weight and the second weight. The difference is communicated to the user through an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Great Valley Land Company, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Wayne Daniels, James Greg Nunley
  • Publication number: 20110186356
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic luggage scale includes a handle designed to be held generally horizontally, and a hook supported by the handle, which extends generally vertically below the handle. The handle houses an electronic scale, the electronic scale connected to the hook for calculating a weight of an object suspended from the hook. The hook may be metal and have a rubber and/or plastic exterior. A touch screen display may be provided in a top surface of the handle that displays the calculated weight from the electronic scale component. The touch screen display may include an icon representing a virtual control button that controls a user-selectable setting, and provides haptic feedback when the user-selectable setting changes due to a user pressing the virtual control button for a predetermined period of time. The touch screen display may include icons that control power, illumination, units of measurement, and/or other functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Heys (USA), Inc.
    Inventor: Haroon Sheikh
  • Patent number: 7979116
    Abstract: A body composition measuring instrument includes a body composition calculating unit for calculating the body composition of a user by using a plurality of electrodes, a reference value storage region for storing information of a reference value related to the past body composition of the user, a display control unit for performing a control to display a position of the body composition during the time calculated by the body composition calculating unit in reference to a line showing the reference value on a predetermined graph, and a display section for providing a display corresponding to the output from the display control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feilang Tseng, Tetsuya Sato
  • Patent number: 7964806
    Abstract: An electronic scale having a measuring sensor (1 . . . 16), a digital signal processing unit (18), a digital display (19), a bubble level (20), which includes a container (21) that is partially filled with a liquid (22) while forming a gas bubble (23), and circuit component or program routine in the digital signal processing unit (18) for detecting a displacement of the gas bubble (23). An additional circuit component or program routine detects the diameter of the gas bubble (23). The diameter of the gas bubble changes due to vertical vibrations of the scale. The signal from the measuring sensor (1 . . . 16) falsified by vibrations can thus be corrected by the digital signal processing unit (18) by calculation, making use of the diameter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Gerd Freydank, Winfried Graf, Christian Oldendorf
  • Patent number: 7964805
    Abstract: A medicine weighing device that includes, not only a weighing function, but also an inspection function. The medicine weighing device has a compact structure capable of displaying a weighed value and an inspection result on the same screen, and which can execute inspection according to the input state of weighing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Keita Yasuoka, Akitomi Kohama, Atsushi Kawano
  • Patent number: 7928328
    Abstract: A weighing machine having a weighing platform includes a detection unit for outputting a detection voltage depending on a load acting on the measuring platform; a first data generation unit for A-D converting the detection voltage to generate first data; a second data generation unit for A-D converting the detection voltage to generate second data; and a control unit which stops operating the second data generation unit and monitors the first data in a standby state, switches from the standby state to a measurement state when the control unit senses that an object is placed on the weighing platform, then stops operating the first data generation unit and operates the second data generation unit, and outputs the measured weight of the object according to the second data. The first data generation unit consumes less power but has a lower A-D conversion precision than the second data generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Suzuki, Teruichiro Ban, Kosei Fukada
  • Patent number: 7906737
    Abstract: An electronic scale having a measuring sensor (1 . . . 16), a digital signal processing unit (18), a digital display (19) and an inclinometer (40). The inclinometer derives a signal for the tilt of the scale from the difference of at least two signals. The digital signal processing unit (18) is provided with an additional circuit component or program routine that adds the two signals and, by way of this cumulative signal, corrects the vibration-distorted signal of the measuring sensor (1 . . . 16). A plurality of inclinometers enables the simultaneous detection of momentary gravitational acceleration. For example, in an electric bubble level, the gas bubble moves out of place when tilted and the diameter of the gas bubble changes when the gravitational acceleration changes. The scale thus provides an additional signal for correcting the influence of disturbances with minimum complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Gerd Freydank, Winfried Graf, Christian Oldendorf
  • Patent number: 7897884
    Abstract: Capacitive force-measuring device based load sensing platform is disclosed. In one embodiment, a load sensing platform includes a sensor surface to have one or more capacitive force-measuring devices arranged in an array, a base surface placed on top of the sensor surface to provide a contact surface of a load applied to the load sensing platform, and a control module to process data of the one or more capacitive force-measuring devices when the load is applied to the base surface. Moreover, the load sensing platform includes a communication module of the control module to communicate the weigh, position, temperature, humidity, or vibration of the load through a wired channel and/or a wireless channel. The load sensing platform may further include an alert module to generate an alert signal when a change in the position of the load exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ypoint Capital, Inc.
    Inventor: Divyasimha Harish
  • Patent number: 7893811
    Abstract: Method for automatically ascertaining the number of people and/or objects present in a gate (10; 50; 70) which has the following steps: detection of weight data for people and/or objects moving in the gate (10; 50; 70) by means of a plurality of weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) integrated in the floor of the gate (10; 50; 70) and evaluation of the detected weight data in order to ascertain the number of people/objects from their maximum values and from their dynamics and/or the number of detected centers of gravity and/or the position of the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) which have detected the weight data, and/or the order in which the weight sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) have detected the weight data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Augustyniak, Oliver Hörkens
  • Patent number: 7875813
    Abstract: Food service workers prepare a number of items throughout the day at a food counter, so the workers may need to track process steps for entirely different processes that are running concurrently. For example, the worker may need to remove a pizza from an oven one moment, and remove breadstick dough from a refrigerator one minute later. A programmable weighing scale guides users through process steps of a process, and tracks completion time of process steps for multiple processes, and alerts a food service worker when a next step in one of multiple, concurrently running processes needs to be completed. Because data stored for each process can be selected throughout, for example, an entire working day, the controller of the weighing scale can track timing requirements for each step of each process. The weighing apparatus is independent of other apparatuses used in completing the process steps (e.g., refrigerators, ovens, mixers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Hackathorne, Kevin A. Russo, J. Thomas King
  • Patent number: 7872201
    Abstract: A programmable weighing scale and a system and method for programming values of adjustable operating parameters used in generating the displayed output from the weighing scale. The weighing scale is placed into a restricted-access programming mode, which allows an authorized programmer to select values of operating parameters that allow the programmer to initially set or change the service characteristics of the scale. Operating parameters that can be varied include variables used in sampling the weighing scale's transducer electrical output, mathematically processing that output, and displaying the results. Once the operating parameter values have been selected, the weighing scale will utilize those values until the weighing scale undergoes a subsequent reprogramming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Edlund Company, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan S. Whitney
  • Publication number: 20100294572
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed. An article (900) is received from an intake transport (1200), and gripped in a weighing station (1310), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (1316), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system (1252, 1250) alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (1212, 1282). A second precision servo system (1260,1330) applies a constant force, via a tension arm (1320), urging the pinch roller (1316) against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Active electronic damping (1900) reduces oscillation when an inconsistency in thickness of the article is encountered during weighing. The damping force is subtracted from the capstan motor torque data for improved accuracy (FIG. 20B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: RAF TECHNOLOGY, INC
    Inventor: Bryan J. Turner