Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01G—WEIGHING
  • G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
  • G01G19/44—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups for weighing persons

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a weighing apparatus, in particular a scale, particularly of the electronic type comprising strain gauges associated with an electronic measuring circuit delivering a signal which is a function of the weight to be measured and more particularly the display of the measurement results.
• a weighing apparatus comprises a platform capable of receiving the weight to be measured, at least one test body comprising on one of the faces strain gauges, one of the ends of this body being connected to the plate and the other to a pedestal or foot intended to rest on a flat surface.
• the two ends of this body are embedded in the plate and the base and they define a bar of an elastic material supporting the strain gauges and deformable essentially by bending under the effect of the weight to be weighed.
• the gauges are connected to an electronic circuit for converting the deformations undergone by the gauges into electrical signals and transforming the latter 1 into numerical values corresponding to the measured weight.
• the weighing plate is generally made of a rigid material capable of withstanding compressive and tensile loads in order to resist without deformation to the applied load.
• a display window is usually spared in the front part of the tray and reveals a display type LCD or LED below.
• EP 0 377 941 discloses a weighing scale comprising a weighing platform of circular shape supported by a base of the same shape.
• the base contains a weighing mechanism that transforms, through a system of levers, the axial movement of the plateau, caused by the rise on the plateau of a person, in a rotational movement of an indicator needle located in the center of the plate.
• the tray has a transparent cover affixed to a graduated plate having numbers inscribed at its periphery, the indicator needle passing through this plate in its central part. When the user climbs onto the weighing pan, the needle moves proportionally to the applied weight and its tip points to a peripheral graduation.
• This type of display can certainly be easily read by a user standing on the device, but even if the indicator figures have a large size, the needle can be hidden by the feet.
• such a device has a significant thickness due to the large vertical movement between the plate and the base of the device.
• this device finds these limits when one wants to read its indications in a place which is not sufficiently enlightened.
• JP 59 051312 discloses a scale comprising an LCD display capable of displaying the measured value of the weight and, at the same time, by arrows, the loss or weight gain compared with an earlier weighing stored in the memory of the device.
• the indications provided by such an LCD display have a very low brightness, so that the display must be connected to the device with a flexible cable to allow the user to approach the view.
• Such a solution does not meet criteria of low cost and small size of the device.
• the document JP 60 161533 offers a solution to this problem by proposing a display permanently mounted on the plate of the apparatus, but, however, having an LCD display of the current value measured and display arrows of the relative evolution. to an earlier measurement stored in memory, but which are very discrete, being appended to the same display.
• This type of display has, on the one hand, the disadvantage of being even less visible than the previous one and, on the other hand, requiring the intervention of the user to store the current value by pressing on a switch button. As a result, if the recording user of the current measurement is forgotten, the device may display a false change.
• EP 1,125,550 which describes a weighing scale impedancemeter thin, which comprises a measurement electrode plate made of a transparent material and a base supported by weight sensors.
• the apparatus includes an LCD type display which is visible through a window of the tray. The display is illuminated by an LED to make reading digits easier when the unit is located in a poorly lit area.
• the apparatus may comprise three LEDs each indicating, by a different color, the degree of diverence of the individual by comparison of the measured fat mass with pre-established standard limits. These LEDs are adjacent to the display being provided to illuminate only the screen of the LCD display and make visible the figures it displays.
• the display must be large enough, so expensive, so that the numbers can be read remotely, the person standing normally on the measuring platform.
• Such an LED arrangement involves imposing on the user a certain position on the measuring platform during weighing, a position which is further defined by the position of the electrodes indicated by protuberances on the plate.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy, at least in part, the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a scale capable of clearly and remotely indicating the trend of evolution of the weight of an individual when the latter is standing standing on the measuring platform, while allowing for advantageous designs of the device.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a simple, mnemonic and visual mode of representation of the evolution of the weight of an individual when it is weighed on a scale.
• Another object of the invention is a scale adapted to indicate the evolution of the weight of an individual by visual means capable of creating a strong impression on the user, which are visible even in places with little or no light , while using low-energy means.
• Another object of the invention is an economical scale, not requiring a digital display or having an economical digital display.
• Another object of the invention is a scale having a thin profile and an advantageous aesthetic appearance, capable of being mass produced for a low cost of industrialization.
• a scale comprising a weight receiving platform supported by a weighing base or a base including at least one weight sensor connected to a measuring circuit which sends a measurement signal to a computing unit and means for storing the measured values or reference values, as well as a control circuit which makes a comparison between the measured current value and a measured previous value and / or calculated and / or stored in memory, due to that said control circuit controls, according to the result of the comparison, at least one lamp illuminating an area of the tray so that it remains visible to a user standing in a stable position on the tray, whatever the orientation and size of his feet in relation to the plateau.
• Such a device is already able to measure the weight of a person who is standing on the weight receiving platform of the apparatus (it is understood the area of the apparatus on which the load to be weighed is applied) and to put in memory the measured value.
• the apparatus also comprises a calculation unit that is able to perform the comparison, for example the difference between the measured weight stored in memory and a current value measured. This comparison can also be made between the current value measured and a target value entered by the user or calculated by the device according to the size that the user enters into memory using a keyboard or according to results of previous weighings he has made.
• a scale according to the present invention thus provides, by a light effect, the display of the difference of the measured weight with respect to a value stored in memory, without using a digital display, the latter may be absent or off when taking measurements.
• the result is represented in the form of a luminous display of a zone of the plate which has a sufficiently large surface so that the illuminated area of the plate is never completely hidden by the feet of the plate. user or while this illuminated area is on a surface on which the user does not set feet such as between his two feet.
• the projection on the weighing surface of the center of gravity of the user must be in the center of the support polygon defined by the position of the feet. The greater the area of the lift polygon, the easier it will be for the user to keep their center of gravity within this polygon and the more stable it will be during weighing.
• the area between the user's feet and usually in the center of the weighing pan is a visible area when weighing.
• a luminous display in this zone, one can not only have a visible luminous indication of the result of the measurement, but also have a more discreet and economic light display, while remaining visible whatever the position of the feet of the light. the user on the weight receiving tray.
• Such a scale scale allows both weighing in any place of the user's choice, even if it is completely dark, without an external source of light.
• the user can thus receive the result of his weighing with respect to a reference weighing clearly and remotely, while leaving free the choice of the design of the device, the location of the latter and, at the user, how to stand on the board and when to weigh, the result being perceived strongly, without having to make the effort to read or retain the figures reflecting the value of its weight.
• the seat area of the feet occupies part of the surface of the tray when the feet of the user support for the measurement. This area varies depending on the size of the users' feet.
• an average size has a length of 237 mm, a width at the toe articulation of 91 mm and a width at the heel of 63 mm and the dimensions of a maximum size are: length 267 mm, width at the finger joints of 99 mm and heels of 68 mm.
• an average size has a length of 260 mm, a width at the toe joint of 98 mm and a width at the heel of 65 mm and the dimensions of a maximum size are: length of 293 mm, finger joint width of 108 mm and 73 mm heels. These dimensions can still vary according to the morphology of the individuals of the different countries.
• the apparatus of the invention takes into account these dimensions and is made so that said light zone is sufficiently large or extended or formed of small areas scattered on the plateau so as to exceed at least the maximum length and / or the maximum width of the feet of the user or to be located between the feet of the individual standing on the measuring platform.
• Such a scale has an advantageous aesthetic, the measuring plate having a uniform appearance (the display being off or absent) before the user goes up on the measuring platform, and illuminated as soon as the measurement and the calculations are carried out, which reinforces the perception of the result by the user.
• the apparatus of the invention thus offers, for an advantageous design, an economical and reliable solution for displaying the evolution of the weight and calculated by the apparatus.
• said lamp always illuminates the same area of the weight receiving plate.
• This solution is more economical, because it is necessary to arrange a single zone of the plate so as to be able to receive a luminous display, the indication of the result only by controlling the lamp.
• the lamp (s) is or are controlled to indicate the result of the comparison by a color change.
• said illuminated area of the plate has an area equal to at least 1/25 of the total surface of the plate
• this embodiment is a continuous luminous surface, but placed so as to be spread over a sufficiently large area of the plate so that it is visible and that it produces at the same time a strong and clear impression to a user standing on the measuring platform, regardless of the user's orientation and the size of his feet.
• said illuminated zone is the central zone of the plate and / or a peripheral zone bordering it.
• a front display when there is no mark for the base of the feet, the user can hide the area of a front display or that of a possible other light area punctual or having small dimensions.
• a display placed in this central area may be more discreet, while remaining very visible.
• such a display may comprise at least one LED placed in the center of the plate illuminating the central part of the plate, or even several LEDs each defining a distinct light zone, but being arranged at a short distance from one of the other.
• Such a central bright area of the board must fit in a minimum area of foot-off defined by a circle with a maximum diameter of 100mm so that the user can climb on the board in any direction, even at night or even in a dimly lit place, stand upright and get your weighing result in a visible manner.
• zone bordering the central zone of the plateau it is understood that it is a single zone remotely surrounding the central zone, completely or substantially (for example at least 2/3) of its peripheral contour or that it is at least two zones located on either side of the central zone.
• Such a peripheral contour may then be open or closed, for example having a circular annular shape, rectangular or any shape, but being disposed on a large periphery around the central area of the tray.
• At least part of the visible face of said plate is made of a translucent material or transparent to light or has at least one receiving cavity of said light display.
• the scale of the invention comprises at least two lamps of different colors or at least one lamp that can be illuminated with at least two different colors.
• a solution using several colored lamps is preferred.
• two lamps in a color code easy to recognize: red, for weight gain, and green for weight loss, the constancy of the weight then being implied because no lamp would ignite when taking measurements.
• a third lamp for example white or orange, could also be considered to indicate a constancy of weight compared to the previous value stored in memory. Any combination of colors can then be used to obtain a wider range of colors and thus a finer communication by a preset color code.
• said lamp or lamps are LEDs.
• the light emitting diodes have good brightness for a very small footprint and low cost.
• This solution also has the advantage that a same area of the plate can be successively illuminated with several different colors.
• said lamps are mounted on a support disposed under the plate so as to emit light towards a reflector looking at the plate.
• This solution makes it possible to improve the scattering of light with few light sources, the light then being emitted in the direction of a reflector which sends it back amplified towards the plateau.
• said support is arranged in the center of the plate.
• the support may be circular for a more uniform distribution of light towards the reflector.
• the illuminated area of the tray is made of an opal glass.
• Opal glass is a translucent material allowing a good sifting of the light received from the reflector with a rendering of uniformity of the illumination over the whole area.
• This opal glass can be obtained by a deposit of enamel or paint on at least one of the faces of the glass and / or by chemical or mechanical attack of at least one of the surfaces of the glass. It can also be obtained by gluing on a glass plate with a translucent plastic film or by bonding a glass and an opaline.
• the surface of said illuminated area is substantially equal to the surface of the tray.
• Such an illuminated area on a comparable surface (equal to or slightly smaller) than that of the measuring plate of the apparatus produces a very strong impression on the user during his weighing.
• the scale of the invention comprises several light zones distributed substantially over the entire surface of the tray.
• the scale of the invention comprises a bundle of optical fibers.
• a bundle of optical fibers makes it possible to illuminate several points of the plate with a single light source.
• a network of optical fibers arranged under the plate is thus defined, the end of each fiber then coming to the level of the surface of the plate.
• the optical fiber network may also consist of diffusing optical fibers, that is to say that they emit light over their entire length.
• the fiber network is arranged parallel to the surface of the tray.
• said lamps are electroluminescent lamps.
• electroluminescent lamps are formed lamps based on a phosphor layer sandwiched between a first transparent conductive upper layer and, with a dielectric, a second lower conductive layer. These lamps can take any form and are adapted to cover areas of large area, while having a very good brightness, evenly distributed on their surface.
• said electroluminescent lamps are adjacent to each other.
• each zone having a different color and therefore a composition of the different phosphor layer or consisting of a single layer of phosphorus but having an additional layer of silkscreen comprising different colors and playing the role of a color filter.
• These zones are then advantageously adjacent, for example concentric for a circular plate, for reasons of constructive ease (eg wiring, etc.).
• said previous value is an average of the weight calculated on the basis of several previous measurements.
• the calculated average may be fixed, for example being calculated once and for all on the basis of the first measurements; or it can be a sliding average, the average then being calculated over a reference period, but which is automatically shifted at each new measurement.
• the unit of calculation of the apparatus could calculate, according to a more evolved version of the apparatus of the invention, the standard deviation in order to exclude the random variations of the weight and to better interpret thereafter the trend of changing weight. Limits of a stability interval could then be set, for example, to plus or minus three standard deviations around the calculated average weight value. A measured value that comes out of these limits could then be considered as representative of the weight evolution trend and it would then be taken into account by the control means which control the supply of the light lamps of the invention.
• the scale of the invention comprises a digital display of the measured values and a button for switching on said display.
• Such a digital display could, optionally, display one or more digital values measured or stored in the memory of the device. This display would be controlled by the user when he also wants to know numerical values in addition to the trend of evolution.
• the display may be, for example, of the LCD or LED type.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a measuring platform of a scale according to a variant of a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates a view from above of a measuring platform of a scale according to another variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a side view of a scale according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 represents a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a view from above of a measurement platform of a scale according to a variant of a fourth embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a measuring platform of a scale according to another variant of the fourth embodiment of the invention.
• the electronic scale 1 of the invention comprises a rigid plate 2 capable of receiving the weight to be measured, plate 2 supported, for example, by a weighing base (not shown) comprising four feet each containing a weight sensor.
• a weight sensor comprises a bending bar with strain gauges, bending bar mounted cantilever between a part of the foot coming into contact with the plate 2 and another part of the foot resting on the ground.
• the strain gauges are mounted on one of the faces of the flex bar and are connected by a Wheatstone bridge circuit to the electronic control circuit of the apparatus to convert the deformations undergone by the gauges into electrical signals, transform these last in numerical values corresponding to the measured weight. These values are then stored in the memory of the device.
• the apparatus may comprise a digital display 11 which, when switched on by the user who actuates a button 12, can display the measured current value or an earlier value stored in the memory of the device.
• the weight receiving tray 2 is a circular, rectangular or square plate of small thickness (for example between 4 and 20 mm) and is made of a transparent or translucent material, for example example tempered glass or a type of resin PMMA (methyl methacrylate).
• the tray may be made of any other material (plastic, wood, metal, etc.) and include an insert of transparent or translucent material (eg glass or plastic) or a cavity which, when illuminated by lamps below, form an illuminated area 3 of the plateau.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a plate 2 of the scale 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising at least one lamp 6 which is of the LED type.
• the plate 2 more particularly comprises three 7,8,9 lamps arranged at a point of the plate inside a light guide 5.
• the lamps 7,8,9 are LEDs of different colors, for example.
• the lamp 7 is a green LED that can highlight a loss of weight (negative difference compared to the last measurement)
• the lamp 8 is a white LED which then informs the user that its weight is stable (no deviation from the last measurement)
• the lamp 9 is a red or orange LED that warns the user of a weight gain or a positive deviation from the last measurement stored in memory .
• Each lamp is controlled by a control circuit of the apparatus according to the signal corresponding to the weight difference between the current measurement and an earlier value stored in memory and according to the cited color code or other pre-established code.
• the light guide 5 is an optical conduit which makes it possible to bring light, from a light source, in this case one of the lamps 7, 8 or 9, into a remote area devoid of other light sources. Thus, with only one of the 7,8,9 lamps on, the entire light area 3 is illuminated, which provides significant energy savings and extends the life of the batteries.
• This light guide can be made in various ways, in particular by using an optical conductive material that is to say integrating on at least one of its surfaces prisms to reflect the light in predefined directions, or even using a deposit of reflective paint on the walls of a duct practiced in the thickness of the plate.
• Such a light guide surrounds the sitting area of the feet.
• this guide must have a main dimension (length or diameter) d about 300 mm; a smaller dimension could also be considered for a line that could then be seen between the feet.
• this light guide can border two foot sitting areas on the same measuring plate, a light guide is then provided to form a light area around each foot.
• a light guide may be provided to form a continuous light zone or luminous surface then called luminous footprint for each foot, or even covering a larger area so as to at least slightly exceed the area of sitting on both feet of the user standing on the measuring board.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the apparatus functioning in the same way, but where the plate 2 comprises several groups of lamps 7,8,9 provided along the light guide 5 to provide a more sustained light intensity to the light zone 3.
• the lamps 7 are connected in series with each other, the lamps 8 are connected in series and the lamps 9 are connected in series also, each series of lamps circuit being controlled by the control circuit of the apparatus.
• several groups of lamps 7, 8, 9 are provided all around the light zone 3, one side or a short distance from the other, and in this case the light guide 5 could, be absent.
• FIG. 3 and 4 illustrate views of a scale according to a second embodiment of the invention, the weighing base and the electrical or electronic components of the apparatus being omitted for clarity.
• the tray 2 of the scale according to this embodiment is translucent.
• a lighting module 20 is located below the plate 2 and comprises a support 21 on which are fixed several lamps 6 oriented so that they illuminate downwards, in the direction of a reflector 23.
• the support 21 is fixed by a thin foot 22 to the reflector 23.
• the reflector 23 is arranged parallel to the plate 2, its inner surface 24 has a parabolic shape and is covered with a light reflecting coating, for example a white paint layer. The light emitted by the LEDs towards the bottom of the apparatus, following the arrows in FIG.
• the reflector 23 is reflected by the reflector 23 upwards where it passes through the plate 2 made of an opal glass to illuminate a wide zone of this light. the last which then appears illuminated on the periphery of the support 21.
• the support 21 may be made of a transparent material to further enlarge the illuminated area of the tray.
• the support 21 may be a disk or cap comprising several LEDs distributed on its face opposite the reflector 23.
• several LEDs emitting the colors: green, yellow or red according to the same color code as previously described.
• six red LEDs, six blue LEDs and three green LEDs can be arranged in order to be able to achieve the entire light spectrum and thus display more finely, with a wider spectrum, the evolution of the weight of the user.
• one or more multi-color light-emitting diodes can be used which integrate several chips and are thus able to emit different wavelengths.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a scale scale according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• the plate 2 comprises several small orifices 27, preferably uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the plate, in each orifice being inserted an optical fiber 28 belonging to a bundle 29.
• the set of optical fibers 28 forming the bundle 29 is concentrated in the using a ring 30 which is placed in front of a lamp 6, which may be a multi-colored LED, and a collimation lens 31.
• the assembly formed by the lamp 6, the lens 31, the ring 30 and the beam 29 is held by a connecting ring 32 which can then be fixed to the plate 2 or the base of the device.
• optical fibers used are preferably polymeric optical fibers or FOPs, as their assembly is easier to perform and their cost is lower.
• the diameter of an optical fiber 28 is about 1 mm, which allows to have a good light, while facilitating their mounting to the tray 2, but remaining however discreet when the lamp is off.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a plate 2 of the scale 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention comprising at least one lamp 10 which is of the phosphor-based electroluminescent lamp type.
• the entire surface of the plate 2 is transparent and comprises, arranged below, three electroluminescent lamps 14,15,16 of different colors arranged in concentric circles.
• the peripheral lamp 14 emits a green light when energized, the intermediate lamp a white light and the lamp 16 located in the central zone an orange light, each being controlled by a control circuit of the apparatus according to the signal corresponding to the weight difference between the current measurement and an earlier value stored in memory and according to a preset color code.
• the electroluminescent lamps 14, 15, 16 are advantageously produced by a multilayer screen printing on a film and reported by gluing on the lower surface of the plate 2 or they can also be made by screen printing directly on the plate 2 of the scale 1.
• This screen printing multilayer consists of the following elements: a first translucent or transparent conductive layer, covered with a phosphorescent ink covered with a dielectric which is in turn covered with a conductive layer.
• the screen printing inks may be inks polymerizable with UV or require drying in a ventilated oven. Only the portion of the phosphorus directly between the two conductive layers will illuminate once power is applied.
• the power supply is by a high voltage electrical signal (between 100 and 400V) and a frequency of a few tens to a few hundred hertz which then allows the phosphorus light emission.
• the power supply of the lamp can also be screen printed on the tray of the device and could, in a variant be transparent.
• the composition of the phosphor layer is different for each of the 14, 15, 16 electroluminescent lamps for a different color light emission by each lamp.
• FIG. 7 illustrates another variant of the embodiment of FIG. 6, where the plate 2 comprises an opaque part 18 at the bottom, the other part of its plate being transparent and comprising three electroluminescent lamps 14, 15, 16 of the same type as those described with reference to Figure 3, but having another configuration to cover the surface of the affected medium.
• This solution is more economical than the previous one terms of material gain and cost of lamps, while providing bright areas large enough to be visible when taking measurements.
• the user normally weighs himself by climbing on the platform 2 of the scale 1. He actuates the button 12 to turn on the digital display 11 and reads the value of its weight. This weight is then automatically stored by the device or manually by the user by actuating a suitable button (not shown in the drawings).
• the apparatus indicates to the user by a color code only the tendency of variation with respect to the value entered in memory highlighted by the luminous zone 3 of the apparatus. If desired, the user can press the button 12 to turn on the display 11 to read the exact value of its weight and simultaneously or successively its weight difference with respect to or previous values.
• cold cathode or CCFL tube lighting could have been used.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Electroluminescent Light Sources (AREA)
• Measurement And Recording Of Electrical Phenomena And Electrical Characteristics Of The Living Body (AREA)
• Spectrometry And Color Measurement (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-12-23 FR FR0413843A patent/FR2880112B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-12-22 CN CN2005800440570A patent/CN101084418B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-12-22 RU RU2007127890/28A patent/RU2386110C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-12-22 CN CN2005800433399A patent/CN101080197B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-12-22 EP EP05850595A patent/EP1828730A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-12-22 WO PCT/FR2005/003256 patent/WO2006070125A1/fr active Application Filing

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