Patent Description:
To the shops that serve beverages, such as coffee, milk, tea, or chocolate, they might need to accurately control the relationship between the temperature and weight of their products in order to offer the same quality of each specific flavor.

Taking coffee shops as an example, a coffee shop generally has a coffee machine that can efficiently produce various sizes of hot and cold coffee drinks according to common demand for coffee flavors. Once or more than twice a day, the staff has to use the coffee machine to produce every coffee drink in order to make sure that the quality of each coffee drink is consistent. Typically, this process involves steps of placing the product on a weighing scale, putting a temperature probe, and cleaning the temperature probe before measuring the next drink, thereby becoming a routine and heavy burden of work.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a measurement device capable of measuring temperature and weight at the same time so as to simplify associated routine processes according to claim <NUM>.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a measurement device including a base, a platform, a temperature sensor, and a weighing component. The platform is movably disposed on the base. The temperature sensor is disposed on the base or the platform. The weighing component is accommodated in the base. The platform has a weight-measuring area and a temperature-measuring area which is located within the weight-measuring area and corresponding to the temperature sensor.

According to the measurement device as discussed in the above embodiments of the disclosure, the temperature sensor has a temperature-measuring area that covers the weight-measuring area of the platform, thus the temperature sensor is able to measure the temperature of the object being placed on the platform while the weighing component is measuring the weight of the object. That is, as an object is placed in the weight-measuring area, the weighing component and the temperature sensor are able to measure the weight and temperature of the object at the same time. Thus, there is no need to neither additionally prepare a temperature sensor nor clean temperature sensor, avoiding troublesome processes during routine work.

The present disclosure will become better understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not intending to limit the present disclosure and wherein:.

Aspects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions with the accompanying drawings.

Firstly, referring to <FIG>, one embodiment of the disclosure provides a measurement device <NUM>, the measurement device <NUM> is suitable for supporting a container <NUM> (also called "object to be measured" hereinafter), and the measurement device <NUM> is also able to measure the temperature and weight of substance <NUM> (e.g., coffee, milk, tea, chocolate, or other beverage) accommodated within the container <NUM>. The container <NUM> may be any typical cup used for holding liquid substance. The container <NUM> may be, but is not limited to, made of any suitable material, such as plastic, paper, ceramic, or metal. It is noted that the shape, size, and material of the container <NUM> are exemplary but not intended to limit the disclosure.

Please further refer to <FIG>, in this embodiment, the measurement device <NUM> may include a base <NUM>, a temperature sensor TS, a weighing component <NUM>, and a platform <NUM>. The base <NUM> is the part of the measurement device <NUM> suitable for being placed on desk or table, and the base <NUM> is configured to accommodate the temperature sensor TS and the weighing component <NUM>. In one embodiment, the base <NUM> includes a first casing <NUM> and a second casing <NUM> assembled to each other. In other embodiment, the base of the measurement device may be integrally formed of a single piece.

The base <NUM> of the measurement device <NUM> may contain one or more batteries therein (not shown). In this case, the base <NUM> may further include a battery lid <NUM> detachably installed on the second casing <NUM>, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, optionally, one or more foot pads FP may be attached on the outer surface of the second casing <NUM>, the foot pads FP may be made of rubber or silicone so as to avoid friction between the measurement device <NUM> and desk and to stop the measurement device <NUM> from slipping.

The platform <NUM> is movably arranged on the base <NUM> and is able to support object whose temperature and weight needed to be measured (e.g., the container <NUM>). Specifically, the platform <NUM> is movably disposed above the first casing <NUM> of the base <NUM>, and the platform <NUM> will be moved towards the first casing <NUM> when a load is applied thereon.

The motion of the platform <NUM> relatives to the first casing <NUM> causes the weighing component <NUM> to move. Specifically, the weighing component <NUM> includes a movable end <NUM> and a fixed end <NUM> located opposite to each other, and the platform <NUM> is connected to the movable end <NUM>. When an object to be measured is placed on the platform <NUM> to cause the platform <NUM> to move towards the base <NUM>, the platform <NUM> causes the movable end <NUM> to move or cause the weighing component <NUM> to deform, such that the associated electronic elements (not shown) in the base <NUM> are able to determine the weight of the object according to the movement or deformation of the weighing component <NUM>. In one example, the movable end <NUM> of the weighing component <NUM> may have a movable range of about <NUM> millimeters. In one embodiment, the platform <NUM> has a weight-measuring area WA, the weight-measuring area WA generally indicates an effective area of the platform <NUM> that is predetermined to support and measure the weight of the object to be measured, thus, the container <NUM> is expected to be placed in the weight-measuring area WA.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the first casing <NUM> may have a stopping structure <NUM> protruding towards the platform <NUM> so as to limit the maximum movable range of the platform <NUM> towards the base <NUM>, preventing the platform <NUM> from overly moving towards the base <NUM>. In one embodiment, the stopping structure <NUM> may have a height of about <NUM> millimeters.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the measurement device <NUM> may further include a metal support <NUM> arranged on or embedded at the platform <NUM> so as to reinforce the platform <NUM>. In one embodiment, the platform <NUM> is connected to the movable end <NUM> of the weighing component <NUM> via the metal support <NUM>.

The temperature sensor TS may be disposed on a circuit board P. The temperature sensor TS is configured to measure the temperature of the object being placed on the platform <NUM>. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor TS may be any suitable infrared thermometer so that the temperature sensor TS is able to measure the temperature of the object being placed on the platform <NUM> without actually contacting it. The temperature sensor TS may correspond to the weight-measuring area WA of the platform <NUM>. For example, the temperature sensor TS is located adjacent to or corresponding to the central part of the weight-measuring area WA of the platform <NUM>. The central part of the weighting area WA generally indicates an area overlapping the geometric center of the weight-measuring area WA.

As shown, the platform <NUM> may have a temperature-measuring area TA located within the weight-measuring area WA. As shown, the temperature-measuring area TA is smaller than the weight-measuring area WA, and the temperature-measuring area TA corresponds to the temperature sensor TS. The temperature-measuring area TA generally indicates an area of the platform <NUM> that is for the temperature sensor TS to effectively measure the temperature of the object being supported on the platform <NUM>. To allow the temperature sensor TS located at one side of the platform <NUM> to measure the object located at the other side of the platform <NUM>, the measurement device <NUM> may include a light-permeable piece TF and the platform <NUM> may have a through hole H located at the temperature-measuring area TA. In specific, the through hole H may define the temperature-measuring area TA and expose the temperature sensor TS; in other words, the platform <NUM> has a through hole H at the central part of the weight-measuring area WA to expose the temperature sensor TS.

The light-permeable piece TF may be served as a filter to filter specific range of wavelengths. The light-permeable piece TF is arranged on or embedded at the platform <NUM> and overlap with the through hole H. Thus, the light-permeable piece TF is located above the temperature sensor TS. Specifically, the platform <NUM> has a supporting portion <NUM> being a recess located at the outer surface of the platform <NUM> and connected to the through hole H, the supporting portion <NUM> is configured to accommodate the light-permeable piece TF. As shown, the light-permeable piece TF is arranged on the supporting portion <NUM> so that the light-permeable piece TF overlaps with the through hole H and is arranged above the temperature sensor TS. As shown, the supporting portion <NUM> allows an upper surface of the light-permeable piece TF to align with an upper surface of the platform <NUM>. The supporting portion <NUM> may be larger than the through hole H; in other words, the through hole H is smaller than the light-permeable piece TF. As such, the light-permeable piece TF is held at one end of the through hole H. According to the invention, due to the light-permeable piece TF and the through hole H, the thermal radiation emitted by the object being placed on the platform <NUM> can be captured by the temperature sensor TS.

In addition, as shown, in a normal direction N of the platform <NUM>, the temperature sensor TS may overlap with the weighing component <NUM>. Specifically, as shown, SR denotes an effective sensing range of the temperature sensor TS, the sensing range SR has an effective temperature-measuring distance D along the normal direction N of the platform <NUM>, the sensing range SR covers the temperature-measuring area TA, and the sensing range SR and its effective temperature-measuring distance D at least reach the object (e.g., the substance <NUM> in the container <NUM> or the accommodation space S of the container <NUM>), thus the temperature sensor TS is able to effectively measure the temperature of the substance <NUM>.

The measurement device <NUM> does further include an insulation wall W arranged in the base <NUM> to surround at least part of the temperature sensor TS so as to prevent ambient temperature from affecting the temperature sensor TS.

According to the configuration of the measurement device <NUM> as discussed above, when the container <NUM> is placed on the weight-measuring area WA of the platform <NUM>, the weighing component <NUM> is able to measure the weight of the substance <NUM> and the temperature sensor TS is able to measure the temperature of the substance <NUM>, such that there is no need to neither additionally prepare a temperature sensor nor clean temperature sensor, avoiding troublesome processes during routine work.

The temperature sensor TS may have a predetermined sampling frequency that allows the temperature sensor TS to capture the variation of temperature during a specific time interval for the purpose of determining whether the temperature variation becomes stable or less than a predetermined value, such that a processor (not shown) being connected to the temperature sensor TS is able to determine the temperature of the substance <NUM> based on the result of the temperature sensor TS.

Optionally, the temperature sensor TS begins to operate once the measurement device <NUM> is turned on, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the temperature sensor TS begins to operate when the weighing component experiences load; in other words, the temperature sensor TS begins to measure temperature as the weighing component is activated, thus the temperature sensor TS is off when not in use and thereby saving energy consumption of the measurement device <NUM>.

Optionally, the measurement device <NUM> may further include at least one button B and a display panel DP arranged on the first casing <NUM>, the button B and/or the display panel DP may each be an interactive element that allows user to get expected interactive feedback from the measurement device <NUM> following a particular command. For example, the user is allowed to set up or define the data about the object to be measured using the button, and the display panel DP is able to display the values (i.e., the temperature and weight) of the object. The display panel DP may also display the result of whether the obtained values meet the predetermined temperature and weight.

It is noted that different types of beverage have different requirements for weights, thus the distance between the platform <NUM> and the temperature sensor TS may vary depending on the load applied on the platform <NUM>; in other words, the distance between the platform <NUM> and the temperature sensor TS is not fixed or is changeable. Even so, the maximum movable range of the platform <NUM> still fall within the effective temperature-measuring distance D of the temperature sensor TS. Thus, regardless of the type of the substance <NUM> accommodated within the container <NUM>, the temperature sensor TS is still able to measure the temperature of the substance <NUM>.

Optionally, the associated electronic elements (not shown, such as memory, processor) in the base <NUM> of the measurement device <NUM> may provide the pre-stored data related to the container <NUM> (e.g., the material, thermal conductivity, thickness, weight, the distance between the bottom surface of the container <NUM> and the weight-measuring area WA of the platform <NUM>) and ambient temperature so as to prevent the container <NUM> and ambient temperature from affecting the measurement accuracy of the temperature and weight of the substance <NUM>.

For example, in the case that the container <NUM> is made of paper, the temperatures of the bottom of such container <NUM> under various ambient temperatures are pre-stored in the memory (not shown) of the measurement device <NUM>, and these pre-stored temperatures can be involved to assist in the determination of the actual temperature of the substance <NUM> in the container <NUM>.

Optionally, the measurement device <NUM> may be able to compensate for the difference in manufacturing tolerance existing in different machines used to produce the substance <NUM>. Taking the same type of coffee machine as an example, the user is able to use the measurement device <NUM> to measure the products (e.g., the substance <NUM>) made by one of the coffee machines and take the measurement results as standard data, and the measurement device <NUM> can calibrate (e.g., using interpolation) the measure results of the same type of products done by the other coffee machines based on the differences between the coffee machines.

The first casing <NUM> and the second casing <NUM> may be assembled to each other using screws. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, fasteners <NUM>-<NUM> may be disposed through one of the first casing and second casing <NUM> along a direction substantially parallel to the normal direction N of the platform <NUM> and screwed into the other of the first casing and second casing <NUM>. That is, the fasteners <NUM>-<NUM> are installed in vertical direction and therefore achieve an easy assembly process of the base <NUM>.

It is also noted that the temperature sensor TS is not limited to be arranged in the base <NUM>. For example, please refer to <FIG>, another embodiment of the disclosure provides a measurement device <NUM>', as shown, the main difference between the measurement device <NUM>' and the previous embodiments is that the temperature sensor TS is arranged at the platform <NUM>' so that the temperature sensor TS is movable relative to the base <NUM>' and located closer to the object placed on the platform <NUM>'. In addition, the temperature sensor TS may be electrically connected to the circuit board P in the base <NUM>' through a cable L. In such an arrangement, the measurement device <NUM>' is still able to measure the temperature and weight of the object placed in the weight-measuring area WA of the platform <NUM>'.

Claim 1:
A measurement device (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>);
a platform (<NUM>) movably disposed on the base;
a temperature sensor (TS) disposed on the base; and
a weighing component (<NUM>) accommodated in the base;
wherein the platform has a weight-measuring area (WA) and a temperature-measuring area (TA), the temperature-measuring area is located within the weight-measuring area and is located above the temperature sensor,
wherein
the base comprises an insulation wall (W) surrounding at least part of the temperature sensor; and characterized in that
the platform has a through hole (H) located at the temperature-measuring area and corresponding to the temperature sensor; and
wherein the measurement device further comprises a light-permeable piece (TF) overlapping the through hole of the platform and located above the temperature sensor, and the platform is movable within an effective sensing range (SR) of the temperature sensor.