Electronic fish scale

An apparatus for electronically measuring and displaying weight comprising:

• (a) spring means for generating a substantially linear response to a force imparted thereto;
• (b) a variable resistor;
• (c) displacement indicating means rigidly connected to the spring means for displacement therewith in response to said force, said displacement indicating means further connected to said variable resistor such that the amount of change in the effective resistance of the variable resistor is substantially proportionate to the amount of physical displacement of the displacement indicating means;
• (d) electronic circuit means for generating an electrical signal substantially indicative of the effective resistance of the variable resistor comprising:
• (i) wave generating means electrically interconnected to the variable resistor means for generating an electric wave signal indicative of the effective resistance of the variable resistor;
• and
• (ii) microprocessor means for receiving the electric wave signal generated by the wave generating means, processing the signal to determine the weight value corresponding to the variable resistor effective resistance, and outputting a weight-indicating signal indicative of said effective resistance to a display means;
• (e) display means for converting the weight-indicating electrical signal generated by the microprocessor means into a numeric display substantially indicative of the force imparted to the spring means;
• and
• (f) hook means interconnected to said spring means for imparting a force on said spring means when a force is applied to the hook.

An electronic fish scale comprising:

• (a) spring means for generating physical displacement of a spring arm member substantially proportionate to the weight applied to the spring;
• (b) a spring arm member interconnected with the spring such that the spring arm member linearly moves a distance substantially proportionate to a weight applied to the spring means;
• (c) a rigid coupling means rigidly secured to the spring arm member;
• (d) a variable resistor indicative of a resistance which varies with the physical movement of a conductor arm slidingly connected thereto;
• (e) a conductor arm rigidly connected to said rigid coupling means and slidingly connected to said variable resistor;
• (f) a timer circuit electrically interconnected with a capacitor, a fixed resistance, and the variable resistor for generating a square wave having a high output state having a substantially constant duration and a low output state substantially proportionate to the value of the variable resistor;
• (g) a microprocessor electrically connected to the timer circuit for sampling the square wave generated by the timer circuit, storing values indicative of the duration of the high output state and low output state of the square wave, and processing said stored values to generate an electric signal indicative of the weight applied to the spring means;
• and
• (h) display means interconnected to the microprocessor for receiving the electric signal generated by the microprocessor and displaying a digital readout indicative of the value to be displayed.