GB2427979A - A radiotelephone with weighing means - Google Patents

A radiotelephone with weighing means Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2427979A
GB2427979A GB0513382A GB0513382A GB2427979A GB 2427979 A GB2427979 A GB 2427979A GB 0513382 A GB0513382 A GB 0513382A GB 0513382 A GB0513382 A GB 0513382A GB 2427979 A GB2427979 A GB 2427979A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
radiotelephone
weight
receiving means
processor
radiotelephone according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0513382A
Other versions
GB0513382D0 (en
GB2427979B (en
Inventor
Philip Holland
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0513382A priority Critical patent/GB2427979B/en
Publication of GB0513382D0 publication Critical patent/GB0513382D0/en
Publication of GB2427979A publication Critical patent/GB2427979A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2427979B publication Critical patent/GB2427979B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/21—Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/62—Constructional arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
    • H04M1/0214—Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position

Abstract

A radiotelephone 10 includes object receiving means 16 for receiving an object 18 to be weighed, means, preferably in the form of a processor 22, for determining the weight of an object 18 placed on the object receiving means 16, and weight indication means 24 for indicating the weight of an object 18 to a user.

Description

Radiotelephones The present invention relates to radiotelephones.
Radiotelephones, more commonly known as mobile telephones, have dramatically increased in popularity during recent years. Developments in mobile telephone technology are leading to the provision of radiotelephones which are capable of performing numerous functions, in addition to the basic telephone communication capability.
According to the present invention, there is provided a radiotelephone including object receiving means for receiving an object to be weighed, means for determining the weight of an object placed on the object receiving means, and weight indication means for indicating the weight of an object to a user.
The means for determining the weight of an object placed on the object receiving means may comprise a processor.
The radiotelephone may include one or more transducers which may be cooperable with the object receiving means. The or each transducer may be connected to the processor to provide a signal to the processor relating to the weight of an object received on the object receiving means. The or each transducer may be a strain gauge.
The weight indication means may be a display means.
The processor may be arranged to display on the display means the weight of an object for a predetermined period of time after removal of the object from the object receiving means. The processor may be arranged to permit a user to select the duration of the predetermined time period.
The radiotelephone may include a user input interface for inputting data into the radiotelephone, and may include a graphical user interface which may be arranged to display information relating to data inputted into the radiotelephone.
The processor may be arranged to permit a user to input the monetary value per unit weight of an object to be weighed, for example using the user input interface.
Where an object to be weighed has a monetary value per unit weight, the processor may be arranged to determine the monetary value of the object based on the determined weight of the object. The processor may also be arranged to display on the display means the monetary value of the object based on the determined weight of the object.
The weight indication means may be provided by the graphical user interface.
The object receiving means may be provided by the display means, and may be provided by the graphical user interface.
The radiotelephone may comprise a body and an attached cover, and the cover may be arranged for movement between a closed position in which it overlies the body, and an open position in which the body is uncovered. The display means may be provided on the cover. In one embodiment the object receiving means may be provided on the body, and in an alternative embodiment the object receiving means may be provided by the display means.
The cover may be adapted to rotate about a hinge for movement between the closed and open positions, and the transducer may be provided between the body and the cover to measure the rotational force between the body and the cover and thereby provide a signal to the processor relating to the weight of an object received on the object receiving means.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a radiotelephone according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the radiotelephone of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a radiotelephone according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a radiotelephone 10, also commonly known as a mobile telephone. As is conventional in the art, the radiotelephone 10 includes a user input interface 12 in the form of an alphanumeric keypad for inputting data into the radiotelephone 10 and for controlling the radiotelephone 10, and a graphical user interface 14 in the form of a screen for displaying data inputted into the radiotelephone 10 and for displaying data received by the radiotelephone 10, such as details relating to an incoming call.
The radiotelephone 10 includes object receiving means 16 for receiving an object 18 to be weighed and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the object receiving means 16 is provided by the graphical user interface 14.
A transducer 20, such as a strain gauge, is provided on the object receiving means 16, and is operable to provide a signal relating to the weight of an object 18 placed on the object receiving means 16 to a processor 22.
The processor 22 is operable to process the signal received from the transducer 20 and thereby determine the weight of an object 18 placed on the object receiving means 16. In one embodiment, the processor 22 is the main processor of the radiotelephone 10 and is operable to control all of the functions of the radiotelephone 10.
The radiotelephone 10 includes weight indication means 24 operable to provide an indication of the weight of an object 18, placed on the object receiving means 16, to a user in accordance with the weight determined by the processor 22. In one embodiment of the invention, the weight indication means 24 is provided by the graphical user interface 14, and the processor 22 is operable to display the weight of the object 18 on the graphical user interface 14.
In embodiments of the invention where the object receiving means 16 is provided by the graphical user interface 14, the processor 22 is operable to display the weight of the object 18 on the graphical user interface 14 for a predetermined period of time after the object 18 has been removed from the object receiving means 16. This facilitates viewing of the displayed weight by a user, which may otherwise be obscured by the object 18, depending upon its size.
The processor 22 is operable to permit a user to vary this predetermined period of time, as desired, for example by inputting a suitable value using the user input interface 12. Whilst any time period may be selected, a period of 5 seconds is thought to be suitable.
When a user wishes to weigh an object using the radiotelephone 10, the user places an object 18 onto the object receiving means 16, namely the graphical user interface 14 in the illustrated embodiment. The transducer 20 then transmits a signal relating to the weight of the object 18 to the processor 22 which processes the signal and determines the weight of the object 18.
The weight of the object 18 is then displayed on the graphical user interface 14, and this event may be confirmed to the user by an audible alert, such as a beep. The user can then remove the object 18 from the graphical user interface 14 and view the weight of the object 18 which will remain displayed on the graphical user interface 14 for the period of time which has been predetermined by the user.
Prior to locating the object 18 on the object receiving means 16, it may be necessary to switch the radiotelephone 10 into object weighing mode, for example by using the user input interface 12.
Referring now to Fig. 3, a radiotelephone 110 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Features of the radiotelephone 110 which correspond to features of the radiotelephone 10 share the same reference numerals, prefixed by the number 1'.
The radiotelephone 110, which is generally in the form of a flip cover radiotelephone, comprises a body 130 and a cover 132 which are rotatably aftached by a hinge 134. The cover 132 carries the graphical user interface 114, which again acts as the object receiving means 116, and is movable between a closed position, in which it overlies the body 130 to cover the user input interface 112, and an open position in which the body 130, and hence the user input interface 112, is uncovered. This is the position shown in Fig. 3.
In this embodiment, the transducer 120 is provided between the body and the cover 132, and may be defined by, or incorporated into, the hinge 134. The transducer 120 is operable to measure the rotational force between the body 130 and the cover 132 caused when an object 118 is placed on the object receiving means 116, in other words on the graphical user interface 114.
In use, the radiotelephone 110 is held by a user in its open configuration so that the cover 132 is generally horizontal and capable of receiving an object 118 on the object receiving means 116. The rotational force between the cover 132 and the body 130 about the hinge 134 is measured by the transducer 120, and a signal relating to the measured rotational force is provided by the transducer 120 to the processor 122.
The processor 122 is then operable to calculate the weight of the object 118 based on the rotational force measured by the transducer 122, and is operable to display the weight of the object 118 on the graphical user interface 114.
As with the radiotelephone 10, this event may be confirmed to the user by an audible alert, such as a beep. The user can then remove the object 118 from the graphical user interface 114 and view the weight of the object 118 which will remain displayed on the graphical user interface 114 for the period of time which has been predetermined by the user.
Prior to locating the object 118 on the object receiving means 116, it may be necessary to switch the radiotelephone 110 into object weighing mode, for example by using the user input interface 112.
In some circumstances, objects 18, 118 to be weighed may have a monetary value per unit weight. In order to facilitate the calculation of the total monetary value of an object 18, 118 being weighed, a user can, if desired, input the monetary value per unit weight of the object 18, 118 into the radiotelephone 10, 110 using the user input interface 12, 112. When the processor 22, 122 has determined the total weight of the object 18, 118 in the manner described above, it can also calculate the monetary value of the object 18, 118 based on the monetary value per unit weight inputted by the user, and provide an indication of the total monetary value on the weight indication means 24, 124 which, in the illustrated embodiments, is the graphical user interface 14, 114.
Although embodiments of the invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that various modifications to the examples given may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the object receiving means 16, 116 may be separate from the graphical user interface 14, 114. The weight indication means may be audible rather than visual, so that the weight of an object 18, 118 is provided to a user audibly, rather than visually on the graphical user interface 14, 114. The user input interface 12 may comprise a joystick, roller or rocker key as an alternative to, or in addition to, the alphanumeric keypad. The weight indication means 24, 124 may comprise a display which is separate from the graphical user interface 14, 114.
Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (22)

  1. Claims 1. A radiotelephone including object receiving means for receiving
    an object to be weighed, means for determining the weight of an object placed on the object receiving means, and weight indication means for indicating the weight of an object to a user.
  2. 2 A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the weight of an object placed on the object receiving means 1 0 comprises a processor.
  3. 3. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the radiotelephone includes one or more transducers co-operable with the object receiving means.
  4. 4. A radiotelephone according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the or each transducer is connected to the processor to provide a signal to the processor relating to the weight of an object received on the object receiving means.
  5. 5. A radiotelephone according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the or each transducer is a strain gauge.
  6. 6. A radiotelephone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight indication means is a display means.
  7. 7. A radiotelephone according to claim 6 when dependent on any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the processor is arranged to display on the display means the weight of an object for a predetermined period of time after removal of the object from the object receiving means.
  8. 8. A radiotelephone according to claim 7, wherein the processor is arranged to permit a user to select the duration of the predetermined time period
  9. 9. A radiotelephone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiotelephone includes a user input interface for inputting data into the radiotelephone and a graphical user interface which is arranged to display information relating to data inputted into the radiotelephone.
  10. 10. A radiotelephone according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the processor is arranged to permit a user to input the monetary value per unit weight of an object to be weighed.
  11. 11. A radiotelephone according to claim 10, wherein where an object to be 1 5 weighed has a monetary value per unit weight, the processor is arranged to determine the monetary value of the object based on the determined weight of the object.
  12. 12. A radiotelephone according to claim 11, wherein the processor is arranged to display on the display means the monetary value of the object based on the determined weight of the object.
  13. 13. A radiotelephone according to any claims 9 to 12, wherein the weight indication means is provided by the graphical user interface.
  14. 14 A radiotelephone according to any of claims 6 to 13, wherein the object receiving means is provided by the display means.
  15. 15. A radiotelephone according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the object receiving means is provided by the graphical user interface.
  16. 16. A radiotelephone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiotelephone comprises a body and an attached cover, and the cover is arranged for movement between a closed position in which it overlies the body, and an open position in which the body is uncovered.
  17. 17 A radiotelephone according to claim 16 when dependent on any of claims 6 to 16, wherein the display means is provided on the cover.
  18. 18. A radiotelephone according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the object receiving means is provided on the body.
  19. 19. A radiotelephone according to claim 17, wherein the object receiving means is provided by the display means.
  20. 20 A radiotelephone according to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the cover is adapted to rotate about a hinge for movement between the closed and open positions, and the transducer is provided between the body and the cover to measure the rotational force between the body and the cover and thereby provide a signal to the processor relating to the weight of an object received on the object receiving means.
  21. 21. A radiotelephone substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
  22. 22. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.
GB0513382A 2005-06-30 2005-06-30 Radiotelephones Expired - Fee Related GB2427979B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0513382A GB2427979B (en) 2005-06-30 2005-06-30 Radiotelephones

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0513382A GB2427979B (en) 2005-06-30 2005-06-30 Radiotelephones

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0513382D0 GB0513382D0 (en) 2005-08-03
GB2427979A true GB2427979A (en) 2007-01-10
GB2427979B GB2427979B (en) 2010-06-09

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0513382A Expired - Fee Related GB2427979B (en) 2005-06-30 2005-06-30 Radiotelephones

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2427979B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2496170A (en) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-08 Oliver Bishop A mobile computing device cover comprising a weight sensor
WO2015017079A1 (en) * 2013-08-02 2015-02-05 Qualcomm Incorporated Dynamic force sensing to determine mass using a smartphone
ITUB20160011A1 (en) * 2016-02-04 2017-08-04 Me Te Da Srl CASE FOR INTERACTIVE PORTABLE TERMINAL, IN PARTICULAR A SMARTPHONE, PROVIDING A WEIGHT DETECTOR DEVICE

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN2624563Y (en) * 2003-02-12 2004-07-07 上海迪比特实业有限公司 Mobile phone

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2496170A (en) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-08 Oliver Bishop A mobile computing device cover comprising a weight sensor
WO2015017079A1 (en) * 2013-08-02 2015-02-05 Qualcomm Incorporated Dynamic force sensing to determine mass using a smartphone
CN105393095A (en) * 2013-08-02 2016-03-09 高通股份有限公司 Dynamic force sensing to determine mass using a smartphone
US9322701B2 (en) 2013-08-02 2016-04-26 Qualcomm Incorporated Dynamic force sensing to determine mass using a smartphone
CN105393095B (en) * 2013-08-02 2017-10-27 高通股份有限公司 The power for determining quality using smart phone is sensed
ITUB20160011A1 (en) * 2016-02-04 2017-08-04 Me Te Da Srl CASE FOR INTERACTIVE PORTABLE TERMINAL, IN PARTICULAR A SMARTPHONE, PROVIDING A WEIGHT DETECTOR DEVICE

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Publication number Publication date
GB0513382D0 (en) 2005-08-03
GB2427979B (en) 2010-06-09

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20210630