Electronic fish scale for coding and storing weights and displaying same in inverse order
AssigneeAdvanced Fishing Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Stanfield, Robert A. Daquilante, Bobby G. Lanham, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic scale for use in fishing competitions employing a load cell for accurate measurement and including memory for storing and coding measured fish weights. The scale automatically sorts and scrolls through the stored information to display the code and weight of the lightest fish to permit immediate culling of the catch by the user.
Claims14
An electronic scale and display device for weighing, coding and sequentially displaying data from a plurality of weighted units, said device comprising:
- a) a hand-grippable case containing a passageway therein;
- b) a load cell mounted within said case proximate to the passageway, said load cell providing an electrical signal in response to a weight applied thereto;
- c) a load hook coupled to the load cell for receiving weighted units;
- d) a signal processor circuit contained within said case and coupled to the load cell for receiving sequential electrical signals therefrom, each signal corresponding to a weight applied to the load cell, said processor circuit comparing sequential electrical signals and identifying the signal for the least weight;
- e) a key pad located in the case for actuation and coupled to the signal processor comparing received weight signals and, the actuation of the keypad assigning a code to each signal in the signal processor;
- f) a storage memory coupled to the signal processor for storing each signal and the code assigned thereto and responsive to actuation of the keypad, and
- g) a display device located on the case and coupled to the signal processor for displaying the weight of a unit on the load hook and displaying stored codes and signals in accordance with the actuation of the keypad.
An electronic fish scale for weighing, storing and displaying the weight of a fish, said scale comprising:
- a) a hand-grippable case having a central passageway therein;
- b) a load cell contained within said case proximate to the passageway therein, said load cell providing an electrical weight signal indicative of the weight of an applied load;
- c) a load hook coupled to the load cell for receiving a fish as the applied load;
- d) a display panel located on said case for displaying the weight of the fish;
- e) a signal processor for receiving the electrical weight signal from the load cell, assigning a stored code thereto and providing a code signal and a weight signal to the display panel, said signal processor sequentially providing code and weight signals in inverse order to the display panel;
- f) a storage memory coupled to the signal processor for receiving code and weight signals from the signal processor and storing said signals, and
- g) a keypad having a plurality of keys coupled to the signal processor for displaying stored code and weight signals, the actuation of selected keys in said keypad sequentially displaying stored signals.
A method for culling data taken from the weighing of a plurality of units to cull the data of the unit having least weight which comprises the steps of:
- a) determining the weight of each unit,
- b) assigning one of a limited number of codes to said weight determinations;
- c) storing the weight determinations and assigned codes in a memory device;
- d) comparing the weight of an additional unit exceeding the limited number with stored weight determinations to determine the unit having least weight;
- e) culling the least weight from the memory device;
- and
- f) assigning the code from the least weight to said additional unit and storing the weight determination and code in the memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.