Abstract:
A weighing assembly ( 100,500,600 ) includes a portable computing device (“PCC”) ( 112 ) such as a smart phone, pad computer, laptop computer, or the like. The weighing assembly utilizes one or more features of the portable computing device in order to weigh an item, under control of a scale application program or “app” executable in the portable computing device. Some embodiments may utilize an internal barometric pressure sensor of the PCC. Other embodiments may utilize orientation or position sensors of the PCC for weighing an item. Other embodiments may utilize a compressible foot element ( 1004 ), all for weighing an item. Preferably, a user interface ( 114 ) of the PCC, such as a touch screen, may be used to interact with the scale application program for calibration and other functions.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. provisional application No. 61/762,522 filed Feb. 8, 2013 which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     ©2013 RAF Technology, Inc. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR §1.71(d). 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed technology pertains to portable methods and apparatus for weighing an item. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Scales date back to biblical times. The need remains for improved scales that are small, portable, and accurate for weighing relatively small items such as mail pieces to determine correct postage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following is a summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The current invention proposes multiple different embodiments for implementing a small portable scale. The embodiments have in common leveraging the screen display and other electronics typically provided in a portable computing device such as a smart phone, pad computer, laptop computer, iPhone®, iPad® or the like. 
     Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a weighing assembly in accordance with a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the weighing assembly of  FIG. 1  showing a plurality of foot assemblies. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the weighing assembly taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the weighing assembly of  FIG. 1  in an open or disassembled state. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a weighing assembly in accordance with a second embodiment, incorporating a re-sealable, flexible enclosure. 
         FIG. 6  bottom perspective view of a weighing assembly in a third embodiment, utilizing an integral fixed foot, a cylindrical foot assembly, and an item receptacle. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the weighing assembly of  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  and showing an integrated item receptacle. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a fourth embodiment showing a removable item receptacle. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial side view of a fifth embodiment showing an alternative item receptacle. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of sixth embodiment showing a compressible foot. 
         FIG. 11  is an example of a flow diagram illustrating a weighing process. 
         FIG. 12  is a second example of a flow diagram illustrating a weighing process. 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a mobile communication device comprising a weighing application in communication with processor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a weighing assembly  100  in accordance with a first embodiment. In this embodiment, a rigid enclosure  102  comprises a bottom portion  104  and a top portion  106 . The top portion  106  may include a transparent window  110 . Top portion  106  and bottom portion  104  are configured to join together along a seam or joint  115 . For example, joint  115  may comprise an overlap or rabbet joint  312  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Other seams or joints may include a gasket or other intermediary member configured to form a seal between the top portion  106  and bottom portion  104 . Top portion  106  and bottom portion  104  may join to enclose a mobile device  112  in a substantially air-tight chamber  302  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     In an example, transparent window  110  may be made of a variety of materials known to those of skill in the art configured to communicate a signal and/or pressure to a touch screen sensor of mobile device  112 , such as, for example, a capacitative and or resistive material or assembly. In another example, a controller including Bluetooth® and/or other wireless method of communication may be used to communicate commands to mobile device  112  while enclosed in chamber  302 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the weighing assembly  100  of  FIG. 1  showing a plurality of foot assemblies. In an example, weighing assembly  100  comprises a plurality of foot assemblies  220 . Each foot assembly  220  may comprise a cylinder  222  and a foot  226  arranged as a captive piston within the cylinder  222 . In an example, cylinders  222  may be pneumatic cylinders. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of weighing assembly  100  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . Weighing assembly  100  may comprise chamber  302  in communication with channels  304 . Chamber  302  may be substantially air-tight. Each of channels  304  may be in communication with a corresponding foot assemblies  220 . In an example, if an item is placed on surface  110  of weighing assembly  100 , feet  226  may be displaced within chambers  306  of cylinder  222  a distance proportional to the weight of the item. Displacement of feet  226  within chambers  306  may displace gases within chamber  306 . Displaced gasses may be communicated to chamber  302  via channels  304  changing the pressure of the gases within chamber  302 . A pressure change within chamber  302  may be measured using a barometer either incorporated into weighing assembly  100  and/or a mobile communication device  310 . Mobile device  310  may be disposed within chamber  302 . A change in barometric pressure may be correlated to the weight of an item placed atop surface  110 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a rigid plastic box may be used with a plastic bag enclosed therein provide a sealing agent inside of the rigid container. The rigid container may be rectangular or cylindrical with a floating first half, and a second half that rests on a fixed surface. These halves can have a seal between them or simply fit snugly with a sealed plastic bag within. The mobile device may be placed in the bag and then the bag in the container. Changes in barometric pressure responsive to the weight of an item being weighed may be used to estimate the weight after calibration. 
     In an example, mobile device  310  may store a software application for estimating a weight of an object disposed on surface  110  based on a change in barometric pressure within chamber  302 . Mobile device  310  may include a built-in barometric pressure sensor accessible to the weighing application via an application programming interface (API) that may be associated with the weighing application. Again, using an API to access the barometer function, a software application (“app”) can be provided for weighing operations. The new scale can be calibrated using objects having known weights. The scale can be used for a variety of things. In one scenario, it can be used at a pick-up or collection point for processing mail or parcel items in the field prior to speed accurate delivery. For example, a single (preferably ruggedized) portable device can implement weighing, as explained above, as well as mobile OCR, address recognition and correction, and label printing. Then the subject parcel is “good to go” while minimizing subsequent handling for delivery, and the delivery address is likely to be valid. In general, the disclosed scale can be part of an effective decentralized parcel handling process. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , mobile device  112  may be configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI)  114  including one or more soft buttons and a display area for showing a calculated weight. A process for weighing an item may begin by calibrating the weighing application. A user may select a “calibrate” soft button  116  to activate the weighing application to begin a calibration routine which may include weighing items of known weight using weighing assembly  100 . Other calibration methods may be used and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. 
     A user may select an “accept” soft button  119  to accept and/or store a particular weight, tare and/or calibration operation. A user may select a “reset” soft button  120  to reset the weighing application, perhaps after calibrating and/or weighing an item. The weighing application may be configured to tare an item to be weighed by resetting a weight to zero when a user selects a “tare” soft button  118 . 
     In an example, mobile device  112  may be disposed in chamber  302 . After calibration of the weighing application, an item may be weighed by placing it on surface  110  of weighing assembly  100 . A change in barometric pressure within chamber  302  responsive to a displacement of piston  226  within cylinder  220  due to a downward force exerted on surface  110  by the item may be measured by the weighing application and correlated to a weight of the item. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an example of weighing assembly  100  of  FIG. 1  in an open or disassembled state. Top portion  106  and bottom portion  104  are configured to encase mobile device  112 . Bottom portion  104  comprises several channels  304  each disposed over a foot assembly  220 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example of a weighing assembly  500 , incorporating a sealable, flexible enclosure  502 . Enclosure  502  may be a plastic sandwich bag, a rubber glove, plastic envelope and/or any sealable flexible enclosure. In an example, mobile device  112  may be sealed inside enclosure  502 . The weighing application on mobile device  112  may be calibrated as described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . A weighing application onboard mobile device  112  may take an initial barometric pressure. An item may be weighed by disposing the item on enclosure  502  which may change the barometric pressure inside enclosure  502 . The weighing application onboard mobile device  112  may take a subsequent barometric pressure reading. Weighing application may determine a change in barometric pressure due to the added weight of the item place on enclosure  502  and may estimate the weight of the item based on the change. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a weighing assembly  600  in a third embodiment, utilizing a semi-cylindrical foot assembly  602 , an integral fixed foot  604 , and an item receptacle  606 . In this embodiment, a rigid enclosure  608  comprises a bottom portion  610  and a top portion  612 . The top portion  612  may include a transparent window and/or the entire rigid enclosure  608  may be transparent. Item receptacle  606  may be integrated with top portion  612  and/or bottom portion  610 . Alternatively, item receptacle  606  may be removable and may be coupled to top portion  612  and/or bottom portion  610  by any method known to those of skill in the art. Top portion  612  and bottom portion  610  are configured to join together along a seam or joint  614  to form a seal between the top portion  612  and bottom portion  610 . Top portion  612  and bottom portion  610  may join to enclose a mobile device  112  (see  FIG. 1 ) in a substantially air-tight chamber. 
     In an example, cylindrical foot assembly  602  may comprise a cylinder  622  and a foot  626  configured to extend into a chamber of cylinder  622  similar to a piston action. A downward force exerted by an item placed in item receptacle  606  may cause foot  626  to extended into cylinder  622 . In an example, foot  626  may be a pneumatic piston, a spring loaded piston and/or the like. 
     In an example, receptacle  606  may include slot  628  which may be configured to hold an item to be weighed such as a letter envelope. In another embodiment, receptacle  606  may have any shape configured to hold, contain, balance and/or otherwise support an item to be weighed and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the weighing assembly  600  of  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  and showing an integrated item receptacle. Weighing assembly  600  may comprise chamber  702  in communication with channel  704 . Chamber  702  may be substantially air-tight. Channel  704  may be in communication with foot assembly  602 . Mobile device  112  may be disposed within chamber  708  on supports  706 . 
     In an example, if an item is placed in slot  628  to be weighed, foot  626  may depress spring  710  and may extend into chamber  708  of cylinder  622  a distance proportional to the weight of the item. Displacement of foot  626  within chamber  708  may displace gases within chamber  708 . Displaced gasses may be communicated to chamber  702  via channel  704  changing the pressure of the gases within chamber  708 . As discussed above, a pressure change within chamber  708  may be measured using a barometer either incorporated into weighing assembly  600  and/or a mobile communication device  112 . A change in barometric pressure may be correlated to the weight of an item supported in slot  628  by a weighing application executable on mobile device  112 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of an example of a weighing assembly  800  showing a removable item receptacle  802 .  FIG. 8  also illustrates an electronic load cell  804  arranged on a bottom side of weighing assembly  800  similar to foot assembly  602  described with respect to  FIG. 7 . In an alternative embodiment, multiple load cells may be used. Load cell  804  is arranged to sense force pushing upward on the cell when the mobile device  812  is stationed on a generally flat, rigid surface (not shown). The stationary or fixed foot  806  acts like a fulcrum, so that a force or weight from an item to be weighed is transferred to load cell  804 . In this embodiment, no air tight container is required. 
     The item to be weighed may be placed on the top side  810  of weighing assembly  800 . The item may be, for example, an envelope or mail item. Alternatively, the item may be placed in receptacle  802 . Receptacle  802  may be integrally formed with mobile device  812  (as in  FIG. 7 ) or may be removable (as in  FIG. 8 ). For example, receptacle  802  may comprise a plug  817  that may fit in port  818 . An alternative receptacle  803 , for example, may have a cup shape for holding granular or otherwise “loose” materials  822  for weighing, for example, spices, herbs, chemicals or any other substance. The material to be weighed may be a liquid, gelatinous, solid or any other form. Plug  820  may fit in port  818  as well. In an example, receptacle  803  may comprise an extended or extendable arm coupled between plug  820  and receptacle  803  older to increase the moment arm of receptacle  803  and thereby to increase sensitivity of the weighing application. 
     The load cell  804  may be coupled to mobile device  812  electronics by a cable or integral wiring (not shown). In some embodiments, mobile device  812  may comprise a wireless receiver  814 . Load cell  804  may be coupled to a wireless transmitter  816 . Load cell  804  may communicate with mobile device  812  wirelessly, for example, by short-range wireless technology such as Blue Tooth®. Coupling to the mobile device  812  electronics may be arranged to enable a processor in the mobile device  812  to receive data indicative of a force sensed and reported by the load cell. The load cell data may be used for zeroing (tare), calibration and/or weighing operations. Preferably, a processor in the mobile device  812  may access and utilize the load cell data under control of a weighing application program. The application program may be stored in machine-readable memory in mobile device  812 . 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a fifth embodiment showing an alternative item receptacle  900 . In an example, item receptacle  900  may comprise an item support  902  disposed within chamber  904 . Item support  902  may be a piston and may respond to a downward force applied by an item to be weighed poised in item receptacle by extending downward into chamber  904 . Extension of item support  902  into chamber  904  may compress gasses in chamber  904 . Gasses in chamber  904  may be communicated via channel  906  to a chamber  908  enclosing a mobile communication device  910  (as described above with respect to  FIG. 3 ) configured with a weighing application to estimate the weight of the item to be weighed based on detected barometric pressure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a weighing assembly  1000  comprising a mobile communication device  1002  having a foot  1004  comprising a compressible elastic material and an integral fixed foot  1006  configured to act as a fulcrum to allow depression of compressible foot  1004  to temporarily change an orientation of mobile device  1002 . Mobile device  1002  may comprise a position or orientation sensor  1010  (e.g., for gaming applications) configured to sense how mobile device  1002  is oriented in three dimensions. For example, a scale application preferably determines a vector sum of weights in all 3 axis&#39; to compute a weight. In some embodiments data may be acquired from multiple sensors, for example, orientation, position, acceleration, etc. In these embodiments, no air tight container is necessary. 
     A weighing application stored on mobile device  1002  may access orientation data generated by orientation sensor. The weighing application may estimate a weight of an item placed on a top surface  1020  of mobile device  1002  or in receptacle  1008  based on a change in orientation of mobile device  1002  resulting from a downward force applied on mobile device  1002  by the item. The weighing application may be calibrated by first identifying an original orientation and then by identifying an orientation of mobile device  1002  responsive to weighing various items of known weight. A tare mode may “zero” out the weighing application at a starting orientation which may be different from the initial orientation. 
     In an example, the compressible material may be rubber and/or silicone or a suitable polymeric material. It should be designed to recover to its uncompressed dimensions when the weighing item is removed, in a repeatable fashion. In another example, foot  1004  may comprise a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly or a spring loaded piston and cylinder assembly or the like (as in  FIG. 6 ). In an example, the item may be placed in receptacle  1008 . Receptacle  1008  may be integrally formed with mobile device  1002  (as in  FIG. 7 ) or may be removable (as in  FIG. 8 ). An alternative receptacle may have a cup shape (see  FIG. 8 ). 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a process  1100  for weighing an item using a mobile device equipped with a barometric pressure sensor. At operation  1102 , a mobile device may be placed in an airtight enclosure. The enclosure may comprise a weighing assembly as described with respect to  FIGS. 1-7  and  9 . At operation  1104 , a weighing application stored on the mobile device may be calibrated, for example, by weighing various items of known weights based on barometric pressure readings. At operation  1106 , a weighing application may take an initial barometric pressure reading and/or may set the reading to zero to perform a tare operation. At operation  1108 , an item to be weighed may be placed on a surface of the weighing assembly and/or in an item receptacle and a new barometric pressure may then be determined. At operation  1110 , the weighing application may calculate/estimate the weight of the item based on a change in barometric pressure from the initial or tare barometric reading. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a process  1200  for weighing an item using a mobile device equipped with a load and/or orientation sensor. The mobile device may be equipped with a weighing assembly as described with respect to  FIGS. 8  and/or  10 . At operation  1202 , a weighing application stored on the mobile device may be calibrated, for example, by weighing various items of known weight based on load or orientation sensor readings. At operation  1204 , a weighing application may take an initial load or orientation sensor reading and/or may set the reading to zero to perform a tare operation. At operation  1206 , an item to be weighed may be placed on a surface of the weighing assembly and/or in an item receptacle as described above and a new load or orientation sensor reading may then be determined. At operation  1208 , the weighing application may calculate/estimate the weight of the item based on a change in barometric pressure. 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a mobile communication device  1300  comprising a weighing application  1302  in communication with processor  1304  configured to access and utilize sensor  1306  data under control of weighing application program  1302 . 
     One of skill in the art will recognize that the concepts taught herein can be tailored to a particular application in many other ways. In particular, those skilled in the art will recognize that the illustrated examples are but one of many alternative implementations that will become apparent upon reading this disclosure. It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.