Balance control system for weight scales
AssigneeConair Corporation
InventorVito James Carlucci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a weight scale having a balance control system that detects unequal load distribution to the scale's load sensors and produces an output signal that enables the user to re-distribute weight until a predetermined level of balance is achieved. Various load sensors are positioned in an array in the scale and are in communication with a controller that receives signals from the sensors indicative of relative load applied to each sensor. The controller generates a signal that is displayed or emitted to the user indicative of the position of the user's center of gravity relative to the sensors.
Claims34
A weight position sensor system for use with a scale for measuring the weight of an object, said scale comprising
- a weight supporting surface for supporting an object to be weighed;
- one or more load detection sensors for detecting the presence of said object on said supporting surface;
- a controller for receiving a signal from said one or more load detection sensors indicative of the relative position of the center of gravity of said object with respect to the location of said one or more load detection sensors;
- and
- an output signal generator for generating a signal indicative of said relative position.
A scale for measuring the weight of an object, comprising
- a weight supporting surface for supporting an object to be weighed;
- one or more load detection sensors for detecting the presence and weight of said object on said supporting surface;
- a controller for receiving a signal from said one or more load detection sensors indicative of the relative position of the center of gravity of said object with respect to the location of said one or more load detection sensors and one or more signals indicative of the weight of said object;
- and
- an output signal generator for generating a signal indicative of said relative position and a signal indicative of the weight of said object.
A method of positioning a user to determine the user's weight using a scale having a display and a plurality of sensors, said method comprising:
- activating said plurality of sensors and said display of said scale;
- positioning the user on said scale;
- displaying on said display visual indicators indicative of load distribution among said plurality of sensors, wherein the user can re-position in accordance with said visual indicators prior to obtaining determining the user's weight.
A scale for measuring the weight of an object, said scale comprising
- an upper surface;
- a plurality of electronic sensors, each for sensing a load that is a portion of a total load applied to said upper surface of said scale by the object,
- wherein the sum of the loads of said plurality of sensors equals the total load applied to said upper surface of said scale by the object.
The scale according to claim 33, wherein said relative movement is in response to the load measured by said plurality of sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.