Patent Publication Number: US-2021192165-A1

Title: Barcode reader with intelligent off-platter indication system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of patent application U.S. Ser. No. 16/724,018, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present patent relates generally to barcode readers and, in particular, to barcode readers having weigh platter assemblies and off-platter detection assemblies and indication systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     One of the functions of a barcode reader with a weigh platter is to weigh produce or other products that are priced by weight in order to assist in determining the price of the produce or product. However, produce and products are varied in shape and size and there can be issues where part of the produce or product sits off of the weigh platter, resulting in incorrect weight measurement and, therefore, incorrect pricing. Therefore, there is a need to be able to identify when produce or products being weighed on a weigh platter of a barcode reader extend off of the weigh platter during the weighing process and to identify where the produce or product extends off the weigh platter and inform a user of the location to reduce or eliminate instances of incorrect weight measurement and pricing and allow the user to identify and correct the problem. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation. The barcode reader has a housing, a weigh platter, and an off-platter detection assembly. The housing has a lower housing and an upper housing extending above the lower housing and the weigh platter is positioned within the lower housing and configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the weigh platter. The weigh platter has an upper surface facing a product scanning region, a proximal edge adjacent the upper housing, a first lateral edge extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, a second lateral edge, opposite the first lateral edge, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, and a distal edge, opposite the proximal edge, extending non-parallel to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. The off-platter detection assembly comprises an off-platter indication system having a plurality of linearly aligned light sources, each of the plurality of light sources representing a location along the first lateral edge of the weigh platter, and controller operatively coupled to the plurality of light sources. The controller is configured to: determine if an object extends over the first lateral edge of the weigh platter; determine a location of the object along the first lateral edge if determined that the object extends over the first lateral edge; and illuminate a first portion of the plurality of light sources representing a distance between the proximal edge of the weigh platter and the determined location of the object and de-illuminate a second portion of the plurality of light sources representing a distance between the determined location of the object and the distal edge of the weigh platter if determined that the object extends over the first lateral edge. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation. The barcode reader has a housing, a weigh platter, and an off=platter detection assembly. The housing has a lower housing and an upper housing extending above the lower housing and the weigh platter is positioned within the lower housing and configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the weigh platter. The weigh platter has an upper surface facing a product scanning region, a proximal edge adjacent the upper housing, a first lateral edge extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, a second lateral edge, opposite the first lateral edge, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, and a distal edge, opposite the proximal edge, extending non-parallel to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. The off-platter detection assembly has an overhead imaging assembly, an off-platter indication system having a visual display, and a controller in communication with the overhead imaging assembly and the off-platter indication system. The overhead imaging assembly is positioned above the weigh platter and includes an imager having a field-of-view extending downward towards the upper surface of the weigh platter and having a central axis that extends perpendicular to the upper surface. The imager is configured to capture an image of the upper surface of the weigh platter with an object positioned on the weigh platter, including the first lateral edge, the second lateral edge, and the distal edge within the field-of-view. The controller is configured to: identify and locate the first and second lateral edges based upon a training image of the upper surface of the weigh platter within the field-of-view, the training image comprising an image of the weigh platter without an object and the first and second lateral edges within the field-of-view; receive the image from the imager; determine if the object extends over the first and/or second lateral edges based on the image; determine a location where the object extends over the first and/or second lateral edges if determined that the object extends over the first and/or second lateral edges; and display a platter representation with an indication of the location where the object extends over the first and/or second lateral edges displayed in the platter representation on the visual display in response to the controller determining that the object does extend over the first and/or second lateral edges based on the image. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed examples, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of a first example barcode reader having an off-platter detection assembly with a first example off-platter indication system; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 1  with an object extending across a first lateral edge of the weigh platter; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of a second example barcode reader having an off-platter detection assembly with a second example off-platter indication system; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 3  with an object extending across a first lateral edge of the weigh platter; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 1  with one example off-platter detection assembly; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 5  with an object extending across a first lateral edge of the weigh platter; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 3  with another example off-platter detection assembly; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 7  with an object extending across a first lateral edge of the weigh platter; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of a third example barcode reader having an off-platter detection assembly with a third example off-platter indication system; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of the barcode reader of  FIG. 9  with an object extending across a first lateral edge of the weigh platter. 
     
    
    
     The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the disclosed examples so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The examples disclosed herein relate to barcode readers having off-platter indication systems that can be used with off-platter detection assemblies. In addition to simply providing a user with an alert that there may be an off-platter event, the off-platter indication systems herein provide a user with an indication of the location of the off-platter event, which allows the user to quickly and easily identify and correct the potential off-platter event. The off-platter indication systems herein can be used with various types of off-platter detection systems, such as infrared (IR) systems, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems, camera based systems, beam breaking systems, light only systems, etc., to indicate to the user whether the potential off-platter event is on a left side, right side, or end of the weigh platter and where along the indicated side the off-platter event is occurring. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1-2 , an first example barcode reader  10 , such as the Zebra® MP7000 bioptic barcode reader, is shown and can be configured to be supported by a workstation  50 , such as a checkout counter at a POS of a retail store. Barcode reader  10  has a housing  15  that includes a lower housing  20  that houses a weigh platter assembly  100  and an upper housing  30  that extends above lower housing  20 . Upper housing  30  includes a generally vertical window  35  to allow a first set of optical components positioned within housing  15  to direct a first field-of-view through vertical window  35 . In addition, if barcode reader  10  is a bioptic barcode reader, lower housing  20  will include a generally horizontal window  25 , which in the example shown is positioned in a weigh platter  105  of weigh platter assembly  100  to allow a second set of optical components positioned within housing  15  to direct a second field of view through horizontal window  25 . The first and second fields of view intersect to define a product scanning region  40  of barcode reader  10  where a product can be scanned for sale at the POS. 
     Weigh platter assembly  100  generally includes a weigh platter  105  that is positioned within lower housing  20  and is configured to measure the weight of an object placed on weigh platter  105 . Weigh platter  105  has upper surface  110  that faces product scanning region  40 , a proximal edge  115 , a first lateral edge  120 , a second lateral edge  125 , and a distal edge  130 . In the example shown, proximal edge  115  is adjacent upper housing  30  and would be the edge furthest from a user of weigh platter assembly  100  and/or barcode reader  10 . First lateral edge  120  extends non-parallel to proximal edge  115 . Second lateral edge  125  is opposite first lateral edge  120  and extends non-parallel to proximal edge  115 . Distal edge  130  is opposite proximal edge  115 , would be the edge closest to the user, and extends non-parallel to first and second lateral edges  120 ,  125 . In the example shown, weigh platter is generally rectangular and first and second lateral edges  120 ,  125  are parallel and perpendicular to proximal edge  115  and distal edge  130  and distal edge is parallel to proximal edge  115 . 
     The barcode reader  10  in  FIGS. 1-2  also includes an off-platter detection assembly with a first example off-platter indication system  200 , which has a plurality of linearly aligned light sources  405  that each represent a location along first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105 . In the example shown, light sources  405  can be any type of light source, such as light emitting diodes, and are positioned in upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105  and generally aligned along first lateral edge  120 . In the example shown, light sources  405  are spread out along the entire length of weigh platter  105 , however, light sources  405  can also be grouped closely together and positioned adjacent distal edge  130  of weigh platter  105  so that light sources  405  are easily viewable by a user and the chance that an object being weighed would obscure light sources  405  from the view of the user would be reduced. For simplicity, only light sources  405  along first lateral edge  120  are described herein, however, it will be understood that off-platter indication system  400  can also include a second plurality of linearly aligned light sources  405 A along second lateral edge  125  to provide an indication of a potential off-platter event and the location of the potential off-platter event along second lateral edge  125 . The off-platter detection assembly also has a controller  290  that is configured to determine if an object  60  ( FIG. 2 ) extends over first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105  and, if so, determine the location of object  60  along first lateral edge  120 , as described in more detail below. If controller  290  determines that object  60  extends over first lateral edge  120 , controller  290 , which is operatively coupled to light sources  405 , is configured to illuminate a first portion  410  of light sources  405  located between object  60  and proximal edge  115  of weigh platter  105  to represent the distance between proximal edge  115  and the location that object  60  crosses first lateral edge  120  and to de-illuminate a second portion  415  of light sources  405  located between object  60  and distal edge  130  of weigh platter  105  to represent the distance between the location that object  60  crosses first lateral edge  120  and distal edge  130 . The de-illumination of second portion  415  of light sources  405  alerts the user that there is a potential off-platter event along first lateral edge  120  and the illumination of the first portion  410  of light sources  405  identifies to the user the location of the potential off platter event. In addition, off-platter indication system can have a speaker or other audio device that can also provide audio notifications informing the user where the potential off-platter event is occurring (e.g., left side, right side, left side near upper housing, right side near end of platter, etc.). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , a second example barcode reader  10 A is illustrated that is the same as barcode reader  10 , but includes an off-platter detection assembly with a second example off-platter indication system  450 , rather than off-platter indication system  400 . Off-platter indication system  450  is similar to off-platter indication system  400  in that off-platter indication system  450  has a plurality of linearly aligned light sources  455  that each represent a location along first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105 . In the example shown, light sources  405  can be any type of light source, such as light emitting diodes, and are positioned in upper housing  30  and are generally aligned with first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105  and directed towards distal edge  130  so they are visible by a user. In the example shown, light sources  455  are spread out along the entire height of upper housing  30 , however, light sources  455  can also be grouped closely together and positioned adjacent the top of upper housing  30  so that light sources  455  are easily viewable by a user and the chance that a tall object being weighed would obscure light sources  455  from the view of the user would be reduced. Again, for simplicity, only light sources  455  aligned with first lateral edge  120  are described herein, however, it will be understood that off-platter indication system  450  can also include a second set of light sources  455 A aligned with second lateral edge  125  to provide an indication of a potential off-platter event and the location of the potential off-platter event along second lateral edge  125 . The off-platter detection assembly also has a controller  350  that is configured to determine if an object  60  ( FIG. 4 ) extends over first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105  and, if so, determine the location of object  60  along first lateral edge  120 , as described in more detail below. If controller  350  determines that object  60  extends over first lateral edge  120 , controller  350 , which is operatively coupled to light sources  455 , is configured to illuminate a first portion  460  of light sources  455  to represent the distance between proximal edge  115  and the location that object  60  crosses first lateral edge  120  and to de-illuminate a second portion  465  of light sources  455  to represent the distance between the location that object  60  crosses first lateral edge  120  and distal edge  130 . The de-illumination of second portion  465  of light sources  455  alerts the user that there is a potential off-platter event along first lateral edge  120  and the illumination of the first portion  460  of light sources  455  identifies to the user the location of the potential off platter event. 
       FIGS. 5-6  illustrate barcode reader  10  with off-platter indication system  400  and one particular example of an off-platter detection assembly  200 , which in the example shown is a LI DAR based system. The example off-platter detection assembly  200  generally includes a light emission assembly  205 , a light detection assembly  250 , and controller  290  operatively coupled to light emission assembly  205  and light detection assembly  250 . For simplicity, only a single light emission assembly  205  and light detection assembly  250  along first lateral edge  120  are described herein, however, it will be understood that off-platter detection assembly  200  can also include a second light emission assembly and a second light detection assembly on an opposite side to detect objects that extend over second lateral edge  125 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Light emission assembly  205  can be located within upper housing  30  of housing  15 , has a light source  210 , and is configured to emit pulses of light  215  away from proximal edge  115 , towards distal edge  130 , and along first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105 . Light source  210  could be an LED that is focused into a narrow beam, similar to an aiming dot used in scanners, a focused laser beam, etc., and could be on the infrared wavelength, visible light wavelength, or any wavelength desired. Light source  210  can have a field-of-view  212  and light emission assembly  205  can also include an aperture  220 , which could be formed in a wall or protrusion of housing  15  or could be formed through another wall or structure that is part of weigh platter assembly  100 , positioned in front of light source  210  to constrain field-of-view  212  of light source  210  into a narrow field-of-view  230  along first lateral edge  120 . A lens  225  can also be positioned in front of aperture  220  and configured to focus the one or more pluses of light  215 . In addition, although off-platter detection assembly  200  does not require any bumps or physical barriers at distal edge  130  of weigh platter  105 , if desired, a barrier can be positioned at distal edge  130 , opposite light emission assembly  205 , and can be made of a material and/or color that is absorptive to the wavelength of the pulses of light  215  to prevent reflection of the pulses of light  215  from objects or users that are beyond distal edge  130 . 
     Light detection assembly  250  can also be located within housing  15  and has a field-of-view  255 , with a central field-of-view axis  260  that is substantially adjacent to and parallel relative to first lateral edge  120 , that extends from proximal edge  115  to at least distal edge  130  and along first lateral edge  120 . Light detection assembly  250  has a light sensor  265  that is configured to detect at least a portion of the pulses of light  215  that are reflected from an object  60  that extends across the path of the pulses of light  215 , and therefore off weigh platter  105 , towards proximal edge  115  and within field-of-view  255 . To restrict field-of-view  255 , light sensor  265  can be set deep within housing  15  or the path of field-of-view  255  can be folded with reflectors or prisms to locate light sensor  265  wherever needed inside housing  15 . The deep inset of light sensor  265  helps light sensor  265  remain immune to other outside light sources. Light sensor  265  can have a second field-of-view  270  that is larger than field-of-view  255  of light detection assembly  250  and an aperture  280 , which could be formed in a wall or protrusion of housing  15  or could be formed through another wall or structure that is part of weigh platter assembly  100 , can be positioned in front of light sensor  265  to constrain field-of-view  270  of light sensor  265 , where a center of aperture  280  is coaxial with a central field-of-view axis  275  of field-of-view  270  of light sensor  265 . In addition, a lens  285  can also be positioned in front of aperture  280  and configured to focus the reflected portion of the pulses of light  215  onto light sensor  265 . For example, aperture  280  can be 1 millimeter or smaller and be positioned 3 inches back from lens  285 , which will provide a magnification of approximately 400% at distal edge  130  of weigh platter  105 . 
     In addition to controlling the illumination and de-illumination of light sources  405 , controller  290  is also configured to measure a time-of-flight of a pulse of light reflected from an object  60  ( FIG. 6 ). The time-of-flight is the time elapsed from when the pulse of light is emitted by light emission assembly  205  to when at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected back to light detection assembly  250  and detected by light sensor  265 . Controller  290  can also be configured to determine if object  60  extends across first lateral edge  120  and off of weigh platter  105  by determining if the time-of-flight of the reflected portion of the pulse of light is equal to or greater than a predetermined time-of-flight, which is the predetermined time elapsed from when a light pulse is emitted by light emission assembly  205  to when at least a portion of the pulse of light is reflected back to light detection assembly  250  from an object that located at distal edge  130  of weigh platter  105  and detected by light sensor  265 . If a measured time-of-flight is equal to or greater than the predetermined time-of-flight, or if a pulse of light is not reflected back to light detection assembly  250 , this indicates that there is no object extending across first lateral edge  120  between proximal edge  115  and distal edge  130  and controller  290  can be configured to allow the measure weight of the object to be recorded. If the measured time-of-flight is less than the predetermined time-of-flight this indicates that object  60  is extending across first lateral edge  120  between proximal edge  115  and distal edge  130  and, in addition to illuminating and de-illuminating light sources  405  as described above, controller  290  can also be configured to prevent the measured weigh of object  60  from being recorded. Controller  290  can also be configured to determine the location of object  60  along first lateral edge  120  based on the time-of-flight. The shorter the time-of-flight, the closer object  60  is to light sensor  265  and, therefore, to proximal edge  115 . The longer the time-of-flight, the further object  60  is from light sensor  265  and, therefore, from proximal edge  115 . 
     In operation, light emission assembly  205  of off-platter detection assembly  200  emits pulses of light  215  from light source  210  along first lateral edge  120  of weigh platter  105 . Light detection assembly  250  has field-of-view  255  along first lateral edge  120 . When an object  60  extends across the path of the pluses of light  215 , and therefore off weigh platter  105 , a portion of the pulses of light  215  are reflected from object  60  and towards light sensor  265  and light sensor  265  detects the portion of the pulses of light  215  reflected from object  60 . Controller  290  receives a signal from light sensor  265  indicating that reflected light from object  60  has been detected and either a time the reflected light was detected. Depending on the time-of-flight, controller  290  then determines if object  60  extends across first lateral edge  120  and off weigh platter  105  and, if so, the location that object  60  extends across first lateral edge  120 , as discussed above. 
       FIGS. 7-8  illustrate barcode reader  10 A with off-platter indication system  450  and one particular example of an off-platter detection assembly  300 , which in the example shown is a camera based system. In this example, off-platter detection assembly  300  generally includes an overhead imaging assembly  305  and controller  350  operatively coupled to overhead imaging assembly  305 , which is positioned substantially above weigh platter  105  and looks down on weigh platter  105 . Positioning overhead imaging assembly  305  above and looking down on weigh platter  105  locates overhead imaging assembly  305  far enough above tall items being weighted so as to reduce the chance that a tall object would falsely trigger off-platter detection assembly  300 . Overhead imaging assembly  305  can be an imaging assembly that is dedicated to off-platter detection assembly  300  or an imaging assembly that is already part of barcode reader  10  and used for object recognition and is positioned above and looking down on weigh platter  105 . Overhead imaging assembly  305  includes an imager  310 , preferably a 2 mega pixel camera, that has a field-of-view  315  that extends downward towards upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105  and is configured to capture an image of upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105  with object  60  located on weigh platter  105 , including first lateral edge  120  and second lateral edge  125 , within field-of-view  315 . Field-of-view  315  has a proximal boundary  320 , a distal boundary  325 , opposite proximal boundary  320 , a first lateral boundary  330 , and a second lateral boundary  335 , opposite first lateral boundary  330 . To provide the maximum amount of lateral coverage of upper surface  110 , field-of-view  315  preferably has a transverse field-of-view angle B between first lateral boundary  330  and second lateral boundary  335  that is within the range of 100 degrees and 135 degrees. 
     In the example shown, barcode reader  10 A includes a gooseneck post  70  that extends from a back of housing  15  and extends over weigh platter  105  and overhead imaging assembly  305  is positioned within gooseneck post  70  such that a central axis  340  of field-of-view  315  extends generally perpendicular to upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105 . Alternatively, rather than being positioned within gooseneck post  70 , overhead imaging assembly  305  could be mounted or positioned in any position above and looking down on weigh platter  105 , such as in a ceiling or as part of an overhead object recognition system or security system overlooking weigh platter  105 . To provide the maximum amount of longitudinal coverage of upper surface  110 , overhead imaging assembly  305  can be positioned such that proximal boundary  320  of field-of-view  315  intersects upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105  at or substantially adjacent proximal edge  115  (e.g., within the range of 0-30 mm of proximal edge  115 ) and distal boundary  325  extends to or beyond distal edge  130 . 
     Controller  350  can be calibrated initially (at the factory or during installation or final testing) by being configured to identify and locate first lateral edge  120  and second lateral edge  125  based on a training image of upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105  within field-of-view  315 . The training image is an image of upper surface  110  of weigh platter  105  without an object placed on weigh platter  105  and first lateral edge  120  and second lateral edge  125  within field-of-view  315 . For example, the location of the first and second lateral edges  120 ,  125  can be identified by a user observing the training image by drawing or indicating lies on the training image using a configuration tool or the first and second lateral edges  120 ,  125  could be detected automatically by controller  350 . 
     In addition to controlling the illumination and de-illumination of light sources  455 , controller  350  is also configured to receive an image from imager  310  and determine if an object  60  ( FIG. 8 ) positioned on weigh platter  105  extends over first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125  and, if so, determine the location of object  60  along first lateral or second lateral edge  120 ,  125  based on the image. Controller  350  can be configured to determine if and where object  60  extends over first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125  by determining if part of the first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125  or the gap between weigh platter  105  and lower housing  20  or workstation  50 , determined during calibration based on the training image, is blocked or not visible. Controller  350  can also use a convolutional neural network (CNN) to determine whether object  60  extends over first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 , for example, by identifying object  60  and its orientation and comparing it against a database of dimensional data to determine whether object  60  crosses first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 . If controller  350  determines that object  60  does not extend over either first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 , controller  350  can be configured to allow the measured weight of object  60  to be recorded. If controller  350  determines that object  60  does extend over first lateral edge  120  and/or second lateral edge  125 , in addition to the illumination and de-illumination of light sources  455  as described above, controller  350  can be configured to prevent the measured weight of object  60  from being recorded. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-10 , a third example barcode reader  10 B is illustrated that is the same as barcode reader  10 A with off-platter detection assembly  300  described above and shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , but includes a third example off-platter indication system  500 , rather than off-platter indication system  450 . In barcode reader  10 B, off-platter indication system  500  is in communication with controller  350  and has a visual display  505 , which could be a display of barcode reader  10 B, a display or monitor that is separate from and in communication with barcode reader  10 B, or a display of a point-of-sale system operatively coupled to barcode reader  10 B. In this example, if controller  350  determines that object  60  does extend over first lateral edge  120  and/or second lateral edge  125 , rather than controlling the illumination and de-illumination of light sources  455 , controller  350  can be configured to display a platter representation  510  on visual display  505  with an indication  515  of the location where object  60  extends over first and/or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 . Platter representation  510  can be a live video feed that controller  350  receives from overhead imaging assembly  305 , a photographic representation of weigh platter  105 , or a drawing or rendering of weigh platter  105 . As shown, indication  515  is an arrow that points to the location that object  60  extends across first and/or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 , but indication  515  could be any indicator that would communicate to the user the location, such as highlighting a portion of weigh platter  105  where the off-platter event is occurring. In addition to providing the an alert to a user on visual display  505 , controller  350  can also be configured to allow the measure weight of object  60  to be recorded if controller  350  determines that object  60  does not extend over either first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125  and prevent the measured weight of object from being recorded if controller  350  determines that object  60  does extend over either first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 . 
     Furthermore, since field-of-view  315  of overhead imaging assembly  305  encompasses the entire weigh platter  105 , including distal edge  130 , in addition to determining if object  60  extends over first or second lateral edges  120 ,  125 , controller  350  can be configured to determine if object  60  extends over distal edge  130  based on the image and, if so, determine a location where object  60  extends over distal edge  130 . If controller  350  determines that object  60  extends over distal edge  130 , off-platter indication system  500  can display platter representation  510  on visual display  505  with indication  515  of the location where object  60  extends over distal edge  130  displayed in platter representation  510 . In addition to providing the an alert to a user on visual display  505 , controller  350  can also be configured to allow the measure weight of object  60  to be recorded if controller  350  determines that object  60  does not extend over distal edge  130  and prevent the measured weight of object from being recorded if controller  350  determines that object  60  does extend over distal edge  130 . 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. Additionally, the described embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentially combinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the aforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the other aforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations. Moreover, no steps of any method disclosed herein shall be understood to have any specific order unless it is expressly stated that no other order is possible or required by the remaining steps of the respective method. Also, at least some of the figures may or may not be drawn to scale. 
     The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The legal scope of the property right is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 
     It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. 
     Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. 
     Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 
     The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as “means for” or “step for” language being explicitly recited in the claim(s). 
     The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.