Systems and methods for reducing weighing errors associated with partially off-scale items

A system for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter of a scale associated with a data reader installed in a checkout counter surface or other fixed object, the system comprising:

• a weigh platter including a top surface adjacent the checkout counter surface or other fixed object, the top surface of the weigh platter including a lateral edge that is adjacent an edge of the checkout counter surface or other fixed object;
• a data reader configured to detect a change in light reflected off a region of the top surface of the weigh platter proximate the lateral edge of the top surface of the weigh platter;
• and a controller coupled to the data reader, the controller configured to determine whether an item rests partially on the checkout counter or other fixed object and partially on the weigh platter based on whether the item blocks a portion of the light that would otherwise reflect off of said region proximate the lateral edge;
• an imager configured to capture an image of the region proximate the lateral edge of the top surface of the weigh platter;
• and
• a memory for storing a reference image, the reference image comprising an image of the region proximate the lateral edge of the top surface of the weigh platter when an item does not rest partially on the weigh platter and partially on the checkout counter or other fixed object,
• wherein the controller is configured to cause the imager to capture an image of the region proximate the lateral edge of the top surface of the weigh platter and determine whether an item blocks a portion of the light that would otherwise reflect off of the region of the top surface of the weigh platter based on a comparison of the captured image and the reference image.

A system for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter of a scanner-scale associated with a data reader installed in a checkout counter surface or other fixed object, the system comprising:

• a weigh platter including a top surface adjacent the checkout counter surface or other fixed object, the top surface of the weigh platter including first and second lateral edges that are adjacent respective first and second edges of the checkout counter surface or other fixed object;
• a first reference pattern positioned on the top surface proximate and along the first lateral edge of the weigh platter;
• a data reader configured to detect the first reference pattern when the first reference pattern is unobstructed;
• and
• a controller coupled to the data reader, the controller configured to determine whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter based on whether the item interrupts the first reference pattern.

A method for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, said weigh platter including a top surface having first and second lateral edges that are adjacent a checkout counter or other fixed object, the method comprising the steps of:

• scanning, via the data reader, a first reference pattern positioned on the top surface proximate and along a first lateral edge of the top surface of the weigh platter;
• determining whether a full extent of the first reference pattern is detected by the data reader;
• and
• determining whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter based on whether the data reader detected the full extent of the first reference pattern.

A system for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader disposed in a checkout counter of other station, the system comprising:

• a weigh platter including a top surface with first and second lateral edges;
• an imager configured to capture an image of a portion of the top surface of the weigh platter, including regions proximate and along the first and second lateral edges of the top surface of the weigh platter;
• a memory for storing a reference image, the reference image comprising an image of the portion of the top surface of the weigh platter when an item does not rest partially off the weigh platter;
• and
• a processor coupled to the imager and the memory, the processor configured to cause the imager to capture an image of the portion of the top surface of the weigh platter and determine whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter based on a comparison of the captured image and the reference image.

A method for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, said weigh platter including a top surface having first and second lateral edges that are adjacent a checkout counter or other fixed object, the method comprising the steps of:

• capturing an image of a portion of the top surface of the weigh platter including regions proximate and along the first edge of the top surface of the weigh platter;
• comparing the captured image with a reference image, the reference image comprising an image of a portion of the top surface of the weigh platter including regions proximate and along the adjacent first and second lateral edges of the top surfaces of the weigh platter when an item does not rest partially off the weigh platter;
• and
• based on the comparing of the captured image and the reference image, determining whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter.

A system for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, the system comprising:

• a weigh platter including a top surface with a peripheral edge that is adjacent a checkout counter or other fixed object;
• a radiating antenna disposed proximate and to one side of the peripheral edge of the weigh platter, the radiating antenna configured to transmit electromagnetic waves across the peripheral edge of the weigh platter;
• a receiving antenna disposed on a side of the peripheral edge of the weigh platter opposite the radiating antenna. the receiving antenna configured to receive the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna;
• a transmitter coupled to the radiating antenna, the transmitter configured to drive the radiating antenna with a signal so that the radiating antenna transmits the electromagnetic waves across the peripheral edge of the weigh platter;
• a receiver coupled to the receiving antenna, the receiver configured to monitor the receiving antenna for an alteration in a coupling of the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna to the receiving antenna to determine whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter,
• wherein the radiating antenna is configured to transmit electromagnetic waves within the range of approximately three megahertz to approximately thirty megahertz and the receiving antenna is configured to receive electromagnetic waves within the range of approximately three megahertz to approximately thirty megahertz.

A method for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, the method comprising:

• transmitting electromagnetic waves across a peripheral edge of the weigh platter from a radiating antenna to a receiving antenna;
• monitoring the receiving antenna to detect an alteration in a coupling of the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna to the receiving antenna;
• determining whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter based whether an alteration in the coupling of the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna to the receiving antenna is detected, wherein the step of monitoring the receiving antenna to detect an alteration in a coupling of the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna to the receiving antenna comprises comparing an amplitude of the electromagnetic waves received at the receiving antenna to a predetermined threshold;
• periodically measuring an amplitude of the electromagnetic waves received at the receiving antenna when an item does not rest partially off the weigh platter;
• and
• updating the predetermined threshold with the measured amplitude.

A method for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, the method comprising:

• transmitting electromagnetic waves across a peripheral edge of the weigh platter from a radiating antenna to a receiving antenna;
• monitoring the receiving antenna to detect an alteration in a coupling of the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna to the receiving antenna;
• determining whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter based whether an alteration in the coupling of the electromagnetic waves from the radiating antenna to the receiving antenna is detected;
• configuring the weigh platter to form a radiating antenna.

A system for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, the system comprising:

• a weigh platter including a top surface with first and second opposing edges;
• a housing section including a lower housing section supporting the weigh platter and an upper housing section rising above a top surface of the weigh platter on a side of the weigh platter that extends between the first and second opposing edges;
• a first set of transducers disposed along the adjacent first and second edges of the top surface, the first set of transducers configured to transmit or receive non-electromagnetic compression waves;
• a second set of transducers disposed on the upper housing section, the second set of transducers configured to transmit or receive non-electromagnetic compression waves;
• a transmitter coupled to one of the first set of transducers or the second set of transducers, the transmitter configured to drive the set of transducers with a signal so that the set of transducers transmit non-electromagnetic compression waves;
• and
• a receiver coupled to the other one of the first set of transducers or the second set of transducers, the receiver configured to monitor the set of transducers coupled to the receiver for an alteration in amplitude of incident compression waves transmitted by the set of transducers driven by the transmitter to determine whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter.

A method for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader, said data reader including an upper housing section rising above a top surface of the weigh platter, a first set of transducers positioned along at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the weigh platter, and a second set of transducers disposed on the upper housing section, said first and second sets of transducers configured to transmit or receive non-electromagnetic compression waves, the method comprising:

• transmitting from a set of emitters to a set of sensors non-electromagnetic compression waves, the set of emitters comprising one of the first set of transducers or the second set of transducers and the set of sensors comprising the other one of the first set of transducers or the second set of transducers;
• monitoring the set of sensors to detect an alteration in amplitude of incident compression waves transmitted by the set of emitters;
• and
• determining whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter based whether an alteration in the amplitude of incident compression waves transmitted by the set of emitters is detected at the set of sensors.

A system for reducing weighing errors of an item being weighed on a weigh platter associated with a data reader installed in a checkout counter of other fixed object, the system comprising:

• a weigh platter including a top surface with first and second opposing edges that are adjacent the checkout counter or other fixed object;
• a first set of transducers disposed along the adjacent first edges of the top surface, the first set of transducers configured to transmit and receive non-electromagnetic compression waves;
• a second set of transducers disposed along the adjacent second edges of the top surface, the second set of transducers configured to transmit and receive non-electromagnetic compression waves;
• a transmitter coupled to the first and second sets of transducers, the transmitter configured to drive the transducers with a signal so that the transducers transmit non-electromagnetic compression waves away from the top surface of the weigh platter;
• and
• a receiver coupled to the first and second sets of transducers, the receiver configured to monitor the transducers to detect compression waves reflected by an item toward the top surface of the weigh platter to determine whether an item rests partially off the weigh platter.