GB2541467A

GB2541467A - Scales

Info

Publication number: GB2541467A
Application number: GB1514944.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fields Robert
Original assignee: Kenwood Ltd
Current assignee: Kenwood Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-21
Filing date: 2015-08-21
Publication date: 2017-02-22
Also published as: GB201514944D0; CN106468591A

Abstract

An apparatus for determining a load comprising a support for receiving said load and an input member 108 associated with the support which is in mechanical communication with a touch screen 110 of an electronic device 112. The input member 108 makes physical contact with the touchscreen via a compression element which may be cylindrical, ball-shaped, conical, hemispherical or a leaf-spring. The weighing apparatus may determine the weight of e.g. a food ingredient based on the change of contact area (in the case of a ball) or a change in contact position (in the case of a bendable/sliding extension) between the compression element and the touchscreen. The force transferred to the touchscreen 110 via the input member 108 may be limited, e.g. by a spring. A software application may installed on the electronic communication device which uses the contact between the input member and the touchscreen to determine the weight of the load.

Description

WEIGHING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to kitchen weighing instruments. More particularly, the present invention relates to instruments for weighing ingredients while cooking food.

During cooking, there is often a need to weigh ingredients; for example, when a user is following a recipe. Weighing ingredients also helps people to determine nutritional content of the food; for example, a user may want to know the amount of Vitamin C in their apple. Traditional analogue and digital weighing scales display the weight of the ingredient on the weighing scale itself. They do not have the capability to communicate with electronic communication devices such as mobile phones and tablets. However, users often view recipes on their electronic device. These recipes provide a list of ingredients along with the required amount of each ingredient. It would be useful if users can weigh their ingredients and the information is available on their electronic device. This will help ensure that all ingredients have been used and in the correct quantity. Further, the nutritional content of an ingredient could be displayed accurately.

Conventional electronic scales weigh the food and transmit the information to an electronic device, where a software application can calculate the nutritional content by looking up the details on a cloud based database. These weighting scales need power, either by batteries or mains connection. They also need a connection module (for example Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) along with the associated electronics to run everything, this makes the products expensive. These devices are not easily portable, so they are also only good when cooking/eating food at home where the product is stored.

The weighing scales available currently suffer from one or more issues.

It is an object of the disclosure to provide improved weighing scales for weighing food items.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining a load having a given mass, comprising: a support for receiving said load; and an input member associated with the support for providing an input to a touchscreen of an electronic device in dependence on said mass, whereby the mass is determinable by the electronic device from the input of the input member.

Advantageously, the invention provides a weighing apparatus for use with an electronic device using a touchscreen along with a simple mechanical weighing scale mechanism to achieve a connected digital weighing scale.

Preferably, the input member and the support is arranged to be translated by a distance that is dependent upon the mass of the load.

Preferably, the input member is coupled to the support, preferably wherein the input member is associated with the support such that said input member is able to be translated in unison with the support.

Preferably, the input is dependent upon the distance the input member is translated.

Preferably, the apparatus is arranged such that the mass of the load is determinable by the electronic device from: the area of the input; the position of the input; the change in the area of the input and/or the change in the position of the input.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a support for supporting the load, wherein the support comprises a platform arranged to be translated in dependence upon the mass of the load.

Preferably, the input member comprises a deformable body arranged to be compressed by the weight of the load thereby changing the area of the input.

The apparatus may be arranged such that the weight of the load causes translational movement of the input member thereby changing the position of the input.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for translating the input means vertically and/or horizontally. The input member may comprise a flexible arm.

Preferably, the input member has a predetermined shape, and preferably the input member is shaped as a: sphere, ellipsoid, cylinder, cone, prism, cube, cuboid, stylus-shape, leaf-spring shape, and/or a portion of these shapes.

Preferably, the input member comprises: foam, rubber, metal, graphite, and/or plastic.

The apparatus may comprise a receptacle for containing the load.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a dock for holding an electronic device comprising a touchscreen.

Preferably, the apparatus is arranged to communicate with the electronic communication device.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises an aerial for permitting or improving the communication capability of the apparatus and/or the electronic communication device.

The apparatus may further comprise: data storage; a USB input/output port; a battery; a microphone; a speaker; a solar panel; and/or an electrical input/output port for connecting to the electronic apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus is arranged to be calibrated by communicating with the electronic communication device.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system of weighing a load having a mass, comprising: an apparatus as described above; and an electronic device comprising a touchscreen, the electronic device being arranged to receive an input from the apparatus, wherein the electronic device is arranged to determine the mass of the load from the input.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a weighing apparatus comprising a support for supporting an item to be weighed, the support comprising a contact element for contacting a touchscreen of an electronic device, in which the contact element is arranged such that the weight of the item causes mechanical movement of the contact element proportional to the weight. The resulting change in the area of contact with the touchscreen allows the weight of the item to be determined.

The apparatus may be cheap and portable, which allows users to use it anywhere they want. The apparatus may be used with a device such as a smart phone, which may comprise a software application for determining the weight of the item.

Preferably, the support comprises a platform for the item, arranged such that the weight of the item caused movement of the platform, the contact element being in mechanical communication with the platform.

The contact element may for example comprise a deformable body arranged to be compressed by the weight of the item, for changing an area of contact with the touchscreen. For example, the body may be positioned under the platform so as to be compressed by the downward movement of the platform, increasing the size of the contact area.

Alternatively, the weight of the item may cause translational movement of the contact element, for changing the point of contact with the touchscreen. Thus, the contact element may comprise a flexible arm connected to the platform, which may for example be caused to bend by downward movement of the platform, moving the contact point along the touchscreen.

The apparatus may further comprise a receptacle for containing the item, such as a jug or bowl. Thus the apparatus is convenient for weighing food.

The apparatus may comprise a holder for holding the electronic device. The device may for example be held in an upright position. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a guard for shielding the electronic device from the item to be weighed.

The apparatus may further comprise data storage, a USB input/output, a battery, a microphone, a speaker, a solar panel, and/or an electrical input/output for connecting to the electronic device.

Preferably, the support supports at least one food item. Preferably, the apparatus comprises an electronic communication device with a touchscreen. Preferably, the input member touches the touchscreen mechanically.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weighing apparatus comprising a frame that supports at least one item to be weighed, and which is configured for receiving an electronic communication device, where the electronic device is held such that the frame touches a touchscreen of the electronic device mechanically to achieve weighing of the item to be weighed.

Preferably, the frame includes an arm which carries a compression element that touches the touchscreen mechanically.

Preferably, the compression element is made of a capacitive touch material and the touchscreen employs capacitive sensing.

Preferably, the frame supports a container in which the at least one item to be weighed is placed.

Preferably, when a food item is placed in the container, the frame moves down along with the arm, which further compresses the ball against the touchscreen.

Preferably, the contact area of the compression element with touchscreen changes in size with increased weight of the at least one item to be weighed. Preferably, a software application installed on the electronic communication device uses the change in size of the contact area to determine weight placed in the container.

Preferably, the frame includes an arm with a bendable extension that touches the touchscreen mechanically.

Preferably, the bendable extension is made of a capacitive touch material and the touchscreen employs capacitive sensing.

Preferably, when an item to be weighed is placed in a container on the frame, the frame moves down along with the arm, which bends the bendable extension and moves the point of contact between the bendable extension and the touchscreen by a certain distance.

Preferably, a software application installed on the electronic communication device uses this distance to determine weight placed in the container.

Preferably, the frame includes a platform with an arm attached to a sliding extension that touches the touchscreen mechanically, wherein the electronic communication device is placed vertically in a cradle on the frame.

Preferably, when an item to be weighed is placed on the platform, and the weight of the item to be weighed causes the platform to move downwards with the arm, which slides the sliding extension and moves the point of contact between the sliding extension and the touchscreen by a certain distance. Preferably, the software application installed on the electronic communication device uses this distance to determine weight placed on the platform.

Preferably, the electronic communication device is one of a mobile phone, a PDA, a tablet and a laptop computer.

The invention extends to methods, systems and/or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention also provides a computer program and a computer program product for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein, and a computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for carrying out any of the methods described herein and/or for embodying any of the apparatus features described herein.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.

It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of a weighing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 1B illustrates a side view of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

Figure 1C illustrates a top view of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2A illustrates a side view an arm portion of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2B illustrates a contact area between a ball and a touchscreen of an electronic communication device according to the first embodiment;

Figure 2C illustrates a side view of the arm portion of the weighing apparatus according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2D illustrates a contact area between the ball and the touchscreen of the electronic communication device according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a second configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4A illustrates a perspective view of a third configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4B illustrates a perspective view of the third configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a weighing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6A illustrates a side view of an arm of the weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6B illustrates an alternative side view of the arm of the weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7A illustrates a perspective view of a weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7B illustrates an alternative perspective view of the weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 7C illustrates a side view of the weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The disclosed weighing apparatus determines the weight of a food ingredient based on a change in contact area of an input member in the form of a ball connected to the frame and/or a change in position of the input member in the form of a bendable/sliding extension. The first principal (the first embodiment) is explained below in detail in conjunction with Figures 1A-C, 2A-D, 3, and 4A-B. Figures 1A-C show a first configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 shows a second configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Figures 4A-B show a third configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The second principal (the second embodiment) is explained below in detail in conjunction with Figures 5, 6A-B, and 7A-C. Figures 5 and 6A-B show a first configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Figures 7A-C show a second configuration of the weighing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1A, 1B and 1C there is shown a weighing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The weighing apparatus 100 includes a container 102 supported on a support in the form of frame 104. The frame 104 has 4 legs (although other numbers of legs could be used which would achieve the same effect) and an input member in the form of an arm 106 with a ball 108 attached to one end of the arm 106. The ball 108 touches a touchscreen 110 of an electronic communication device 112 placed on a surface as shown clearly in Figure 1B.

Though a ball 108 is used here for the purpose of explanation, the compression element of the weighing apparatus that contacts the touchscreen 110 may be another shape, such as may achieve the same effect of increasing contact area with the touchscreen 110 as increasing force is applied against the compression element towards the touchscreen 110. For example the compression element may be cylindrical, stylus-shaped, conical, or leaf-spring in shape.

The touchscreen 110 is a capacitive touchscreen. As the human body is also an electrical conductor, touching the surface of the screen results in a distortion of the touchscreen’s electrostatic field, which is measurable as a change in capacitance, which is then used to detect location of a user’s finger on the touchscreen 110. The location is then sent to the controller of the electronic communication device 112 for processing. If contact area between the user’s finger and the touchscreen 110 is small, the change in capacitance is small. However, if contact area between the user’s finger and the touchscreen 110 is larger, the change in capacitance is also correspondingly more. The touchscreen 110 and the controller can determine the force/pressure of the touch based on the size of the contact area on the touchscreen 110.

The ball 108 is made of a material that touchscreen 110 is able to recognize via its change in capacitance. For example, rubber with graphite powder is used to make the ball 108, though other capacitive touch materials may be used. As shown in Figure 2A, the ball 108 is in contact with the touchscreen 110, when the container 102 has no weight. A circular contact 202 is formed between the ball 108 and the touchscreen 110 as shown in Figure 2B. When a weight is placed in the container 102, the arm 106 moves down, this compresses the ball 108 against the touchscreen 110 as shown in Figure 2C. Again, a circular contact 204 is formed between the ball 108 and the touchscreen 110 as shown in Figure 2D. The circular contact 204 is bigger than the circular contact 202. The increase in the contact area leads to change in capacitance. A software application on the electronic communication device 112 uses the measured change in capacitance to determine the weight in the container 102.

In an alternative embodiment, the touchscreen 110 is a resistive touchscreen or other touchscreen such as is capable of detecting changes in contact area and/or location. In this situation the ball 108 is made of any resilient material.

The configuration of the container 102, the frame 104, the arm 106, and the ball 108 may be modified. As shown in Figure 3, an arm 302 and a ball 304 are placed under the container 102. In this configuration, the container sits directly over the touchscreen 110, which protects the electronic communication device 112 from possible spillage of food items such as flour or water.

Further, Figures 4A and 4B show a different arrangement of the container 102 and the frame 104. As shown, a frame 402 is used which includes a platform 404 on which one or more food items may be placed. It also includes an arm 406 which includes a ball 408. The ball 408 rests on the touchscreen 110 of the electronic communication device 112 and the opposite end of the frame 104 includes a leg 410 (or more than one leg) that rests on a surface. The mechanism to determine the weight remains same as described in detail in conjunction with Figures 1A-D and 2A-2D above.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a weighing apparatus 500 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The weighing apparatus 500 is similar to the weighing apparatus 100. It includes a container 502 supported on a frame 504. The frame 504 has 4 legs and an arm 506 with a bendable extension 508 attached to one end of the arm 506. The bendable extension 508 touches a touchscreen 510 of an electronic communication device 512 at point 602 as shown in Figure 6A. When weight in the container 502 is increased, the bendable extension 508 bends which moves the contact point between the bendable extension 508 and the touchscreen 510 from the point 602 to a point 604 as shown in Fig 6B. A distance 606 between the point 602 and the point 604 is measured. Again a software application uses the distance 606 to determine the weight in the container 502.

Figure 7A shows a perspective view of a weighing apparatus 700 which uses a mechanism similar to the mechanism explained in detail in conjunction with Figure 5 and 6A-B above. The weighing apparatus 700 includes a frame 702 and a platform 704 on which one or more food items may be placed. The platform 704 rests on the frame 702 using a mechanism that allows the platform 704 to move down when a food item is placed on the platform 704. The platform 704 moves back up to its rest position when no food item is placed on the platform 704. An arm 706 is attached to the platform 704. A sliding extension 708 is attached to the arm 706 in a direction perpendicular to the arm 706. The sliding extension 708 includes a capacitive ball (not shown). The capacitive ball on the sliding extension 708 touches a touchscreen 710 of an electronic communication device 712. The electronic communication device 712 is held in a cradle 714 in the frame 702. When a weight is placed on the platform 704, the platform 704 moves down along with the arm 706. This moves the capacitive ball on the sliding extension 708 downwards. Therefore, the contact point between the sliding extension 708 and the touchscreen 710 moves downwards by a certain distance. Again a software application uses this distance to determine weight on the platform 704.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the electronic communication device 712 is not be kept flat on a surface (such as the electronic communication device 112), but it is held in vertical orientation on the cradle 714. This allows a user to take a picture or a video of the food item being weighed. This photo or the video is used for food identification via image recognition or for other digital uses such as sharing or recording of data.

Further, to ensure that the touchscreen of the electronic devices are not exposed to high loads, the mechanical part of the weighing apparatus is configured to only allow some of the force from the weighed ingredients to be transmitted to the touchscreen. This is accomplished by using some mechanism or by using the frame of the scales to act as a spring and then using an arm or similar to transmit a movement to the rubber ball on the touchscreen.

Further, electronic devices from any vendor may be used. Electronic devices from different vendors may have different thickness, which will change the angle of the arm (and therefore, the measured force). This is achieved by, for example, setting a zero (or otherwise placing the software application on the electronic device in calibration mode) on the software application for a particular electronic device. The software application then automatically identify the model of electronic device it is operating on based on data stored in the electronic device, use the model identity data to look up the thickness of the model of electronic device (as well as other characteristics) identified on a list stored in an electronic database of the electronic device, and automatically compensate for the change in contact angle and pressure caused by the differing electronic device thickness (and other characteristics) based on the thickness (and other characteristics). Alternatively, the user directly inputs the model of the electronic device rather than it being identified automatically. The user also measures the thickness (and other characteristics necessary to compensate for differing models) and input it manually.

Where a model is identified (either by the user or automatically by the software application) for which no thickness data is stored on the electronic database of the electronic device, the electronic device automatically contacts an external database via, for example, a wireless communication protocol such as WiFi, to look up and download the thickness (as well as other characteristics) of the electronic device. This thickness data (and other data related to the electronic device) is stored in the electronic database of the electronic device to avoid excessive downloading. Where no thickness data is stored on the external database, the electronic device interrogates the user via a user interface as to the thickness of the model of electronic device, transmit the thickness input by the user to the external database, and store it there for future use.

Alternatively, the software application is calibrated by firstly setting it to a calibration mode and then weighing an object of known weight in the weighing apparatus 500.

The proposed solution has the advantages of the prior art in that it requires no power other than that of the users existing electronic communication device. Also, the additional non-electronic frame is small enough so it is easily portable.

The communication device 112, 512, 712, contains an electronic database containing information about weighing subject matter. For example, where the weighing subject matter is a pharmaceutical, the database contains the recommended dosage of that pharmaceutical. Alternatively, if the weighing subject matter is a given food ingredient, the database contains per-weight nutritional information about the given food ingredient, and output the nutritional data for the quantity of the food ingredient weighed to the user via the touchscreen 110 or by other means.

The communication device 112, 512, 712 presents a user-interface to the user to receive user input via the touchscreen 110. Advantageously, the user-interface input fields and icons used for user-interaction can be displayed in a section of the touchscreen 110 other than that with which the sliding extension 708 or ball 108 makes contact, with a dedicated contact area for the sliding extension 708 or ball 108 identified to the user by, for example, an X or other appropriate symbol.

The communication device 112, 512, 712 also receives oral instructions from the user via a micro-phone, and output aural feedback to the user via a speaker, thus facilitating user interaction with the communication device 112, 512, 712 during use of the weighing apparatus (100, 500, 712). For example, the user orally identify the weighing subject matter by saying "apple", and the communication device 112, 512, 712 outputs a rising aural tone as increased weight is placed on the scale until a desired quantity for the weighing subject matter is reached according to a recipe stored on the electronic database is reached, at which point the communication device 112, 512, 712 outputs a different aural signal to indicate that the desired amount has been reached.

Responsive to an input identifying the weighing subject matter, and/or to a weighing result, or to input received from the user, the communication device 112, 512, 712 contacts an external database via a communications protocol such as Wi-Fi to download information, which may optionally be then stored on the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712. For example, where the communication device 112, 512, 712 receives input identifying weighing subject matter for which no data is stored on the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712, the communication device 112, 512, 712 will then contact an external database such as a cloud-based database to retrieve information related to the weighing subject matter.

Storing of data retrieved from the external database on the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712 always occurs, so as to avoid excessive downloading, or it is carried out selectively according to a rule. For example, the data retrieved from the external database is only be permanently stored on the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712 after having been downloaded a predetermined number of times, to avoid excessive use of storage capacity. Stored data is also automatically deleted from the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712 if it has not been accessed for a predetermined time, or number of operations.

The electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712 stores recipes (or pharmaceutical combinations, or other combinations of weighing subject matter). The user modifies these recipes via the user interface of the communication device 112, 512, 712 or by other means, and these modified recipes are then stored on the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712. The electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712 responds to a given recipe modification by interrogating the user via the user interface as to whether they wished to apply the same recipe modification (e.g. a reduction in sugar by a given percentage) to other recipes stored on the electronic database of the communication device 112, 512, 712.

Recipe modifications are input manually via the user interface, or are detected automatically when the user weighs more or less of a given weighing subject matter (e.g., a reduces the amount of salt relative to that specified in the recipe) than specified in the original recipe. Recipe modifications are reported to an external database, and used to automatically modify the recipes stored therein, either solely for use by the user from whom the recipe modification was received, or for all users of the external database (especially where multiple users make the same modification).

Advantageously, either the cradle 704, arm 106, or the frame 104, 504, 702 contact or are removably connected to the mobile communication device 112, 512, 712 in a fashion such as to boost the strength of wireless communications signals received and transmitted by the mobile communication device 112, 512, 712. To strengthen this aerial-like effect, the cradle 704, arm 106, or the frame 104, 504, 702 contains electrically conducting substances such as are suitable for acting as an aerial.

The cradle 704, arm 106, or the frame 104, 504, 702 provides additional functionalities to the mobile communication device 112, 512, 712, such as containing a data store connecting to the mobile communication device 112, 512, 712 via, for example, a USB connection. The cradle 704, or the frame 104, 504, 702 supplies additional electrical power from a solar panel attached to the cradle 704, or the frame 104, 504, 702. In a further alternative, the data store of the cradle 704 or the frame 104, 504, 702 is used for storing information about weighing subject matter instead of the electronic database of the mobile communication device 112, 512, 712.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for determining a load having a given mass, comprising: a support for receiving said load; and an input member associated with the support for providing an input to a touchscreen of an electronic device in dependence on said mass, whereby the mass is determinable by the electronic device from the input of the input member.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the input member and the support is arranged to be translated by a distance that is dependent upon the mass of the load.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the input member is coupled to the support, preferably wherein the input member is associated with the support such that said input member is able to be translated in unison with the support.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the input is dependent upon the distance the input member is translated.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the mass of the load is determinable by the electronic device from: the area of the input; the position of the input; the change in the area of the input and/or the change in the position of the input.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a support for supporting the load, wherein the support comprises a platform arranged to be translated in dependence upon the mass of the load.

7. An apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the input member comprises a deformable body arranged to be compressed by the weight of the load thereby changing the area of the input.

8. An apparatus according to any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the weight of the load causes translational movement of the input member thereby changing the position of the input.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means for translating the input means vertically and/or horizontally.

10. An apparatus according to any the preceding claims, wherein the input member comprises a flexible arm.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the input member has a predetermined shape, and preferably the input member is shaped as a: sphere, ellipsoid, cylinder, cone, prism, cube, cuboid, stylus-shape, leaf-spring shape, and/or a portion of these shapes.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the input member comprises: foam, rubber, metal, graphite, and/or plastic.

13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a receptacle for containing the load.

14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a dock for holding an electronic device comprising a touchscreen.

15. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, arranged to communicate with the electronic communication device.

16. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises an aerial for permitting or improving the communication capability of the apparatus and/or the electronic communication device.

17. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising: data storage; a USB input/output port; a battery; a microphone; a speaker; a solar panel; and/or an electrical input/output port for connecting to the electronic apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to any of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the apparatus is arranged to be calibrated by communicating with the electronic communication device.

19. A system of weighing a load having a mass, comprising: an apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 18; and an electronic device comprising a touchscreen, the electronic device being arranged to receive an input from the apparatus, wherein the electronic device is arranged to determine the mass of the load from the input.

20. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. A system of weighing substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.