FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a scale platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need for a combined scale with kitchen appliances has been existing to aid in weighing, measuring ingredients during the food preparation process. For example, during baking exact and relative rationed amounts of ingredients are needed to ensure the success and quality of the baking process.

One approach to provide a combined product has been to mechanically integrate a scale with the motor of a food processor or mixer such that while a mixing bowl is operational a user is able to measure the added ingredients. For example, in WO

2010/113154, a kitchen scale which is adapted for coupling or decoupling with a kitchen countertop appliance is provided. The kitchen scale is associated with the kitchen countertop appliance to facilitate the preparation of foodstuffs by weighing and measuring ingredients as they are used however maintaining functional independence of one another and allowing the scale to function independently of the kitchen appliance both while coupled or decoupled.

Yet, the kitchen scale is not involved in the control process of the kitchen appliance coupled with the kitchen scale. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application seeks to provide a scale platform with enhanced user experience. The invention is defined by the claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a scale platform. The scale platform includes a first transceiver for communicating with a mobile device using a first communication protocol; a second transceiver for communicating with at least one kitchen devices using a second communication protocol; and an electronic unit coupled with the first transceiver and the second transceiver. The first transceiver is configured to receive a first data from the mobile device, which data is a recipe having one or more ingredients and one or more target amounts for the ingredients, and the electronic unit is configured to obtain weight of ingredients to be processed by the at least one kitchen devices and process the first data based on the weight of ingredients in order to control the process of the at least one kitchen devices via the second transceiver.

The electronic unit is configured to adapt the one or more target amounts in the recipe based on the weight of ingredients and optimize one or more control parameters based on the adapted target amounts, wherein the control parameters are sent from the electronic unit via the second transceiver to the at least one kitchen devices to control the process of the at least one kitchen devices. This technical solution allows adaption of recipes based on actual weight measured. Also the optimization of the preparation function and parameters of a kitchen device based on recipe prepared with the scale is executed. This is particularly advantage for accurate control of the cooking process.

By the use of two different communication protocols for mobile device and for kitchen appliance, any kitchen appliance equipped with a compatible protocol can be easily and cheap connected to the scale and so to the mobile device.

The electronic unit in the scale platform is configured to obtain weight of ingredients and process the data received from the mobile device based on the weight of ingredients so as to control the process of at least one of the communicated kitchen appliances. In this manner, both the mobile device and the scale platform are involved in the control process of the kitchen appliance, making an improved food preparation process (including, but not limited to, cooking, blending and other preparation processes) possible.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the scale platform may further include a weight scale for measuring weight of ingredients to be processed by the at least one kitchen devices, and the electronic unit is configured to receive measured weight from the weight scale. The weight scale can be incorporated into or separate from the electronic unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first data is a recipe having one or more ingredients and one or more target amounts for the ingredients.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic unit is further configured to send the adapted target amounts to the mobile device for display. This gives a user a visual impression of intake, enhancing the user experience.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic unit is configured to retrieve nutritional value of the ingredients through internet. This solution allows capturing nutritional values of food stuff for intake. The user may for example get to know whether he or she makes a mistake and adds too much of a certain nutritional values. In one embodiment of the present invention, the scale platform may further comprise a display coupled with the electronic unit. The display is used for displaying weight and/or nutritional value of the ingredients.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second transceiver is configured to receive a second data from the at least one kitchen devices, indicating at least one of the following parameters of the at least one kitchen devices: working duration, temperature, humidity, pressure and rotation speed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second transceiver is configured to send the second data to the first transceiver, which in turn sends the second data to the mobile device. In this manner, the mobile app running on the mobile device, e.g., may receive information from the scale platform.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first data comprises control instructions, which are sent to the electronic unit via the first transceiver. The electronic unit is further configured to send the control instructions to the at least one kitchen devices via the second transceiver. By taking this technical solution, it is possible that the mobile device can control the scale platform and further control the additional coupled kitchen devices as long as the kitchen device is coupled with the scale platform.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic unit is configured to verify suitability (i.e., filter) at least some of the control instructions. Thus, a direct wrong- control of the mobile device (e.g., too long switch on time, too hot unsafe behavior) can be prevented.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second communication protocol is simpler and cheaper than the first communication protocol. This technical solution allows in a very cost effective and safe way the communication between a mobile device, the scale platform and a kitchen device. For example, the first communication protocol can be a standardized communication protocol like Bluetooth or WIFI. The second communication protocol, on the other hand, can be simple and cost saving, including but not limited to, ZigBee and ISM / IR band etc. or direct wire connection.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the scale platform can be executed as a cutting board whose surface is washable and scratch resistant. In this manner, customer can weigh the cut ingredients with no need of moving them from one place to another, which facilitates the preparation process of cooking.

The scale platform may be used with a kitchen device which includes a transceiver. The transceiver communicates with the scale platform using a different communication protocol than that used between the scale platform and a mobile device. The transceiver is configured to receive a control data from the scale platform, and the control data is generated by the scale platform at least based on both a first data received from the mobile device and weight of ingredients measured by the scale platform.

The kitchen device may further comprise: one or more sensors for sensing device parameters of the kitchen device; and an electronic unit for managing the functions of the kitchen device and controlling the communications between the transceiver and the one or more sensors.

The kitchen device may comprise a transceiver for receiving a first data from the mobile device; a weight scale for measuring weight of ingredients to be processed by the kitchen device; and an electronic unit coupled with the weight scale and the transceiver. The electronic unit is configured to obtain weight of ingredients to be processed and process the first data based on the weight of ingredients in order to control the process of the kitchen device.

The kitchen device may further comprise one or more sensors for sensing device parameters of the kitchen device. In this case, the electronic unit is further configured to manage the functions of the kitchen device and control the communications between the transceiver and the one or more sensors.

These and other aspects of the application will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It is to be appreciated that the

accompanying drawings, are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be shown in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a scale platform communicating with mobile device and one or more kitchen devices according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 2-4 schematically depict the structure of the scale platform according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIGs. 5-6 schematically depict the structure of a kitchen device for use with the scale platform; and FIG. 7 schematically depicts a cutting board according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufactures may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the following description and in the claims, the terms "include" and

"comprise" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "include, but not limited to...". Also, the term "couple" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.

Use of directional terms such as "upper", "lower", "above", "below", "in front of, "behind" etc. are intended to describe the positions and/or orientations of various components of the invention relative to one another as shown in the various Figures and are not intended to impose limitations on any position and/or orientation of any embodiment of the invention relative to any reference point external to the reference.

The scale platform 120 represents a significant advance in technology assisted cooking and mixology. As shown in FIG.l, there is provided a scale platform 120 which communicates with mobile device 110 using a first communication protocol and

communicates with one or more kitchen devices 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 using a second communication protocol. The scale platform 120 can also communicate with internet 140. Although not shown in FIG.l, in some embodiment of the present invention, the mobile device 110 or one or more kitchen devices 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 can also communicate with the internet 140. Examples of mobile device 110 include a tablet computer, mobile phone and so on. In one embodiment, the communication connection between the mobile device 110 and the scale platform 120 is wireless, including but not limited to Bluetooth and WIFI. Also, the communication connection between the scale platform and one or more kitchen devices 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 can be wireless. In preferably embodiments, the second communication protocol is simpler and cheaper than the first communication protocol. This technical solution allows in a very cost effective and safe way the communication between a mobile device, the scale platform and a kitchen device. For example, the first communication protocol can be a standardized communication protocol like Bluetooth or WIFI. The second communication protocol, on the other hand, can be simple and cost saving, including but not limited to, ZigBee and ISM / IR band etc.

The communication connection between the mobile device 110 and scale platform 120 may be one-way or two-way. Also, the communication connection between the scale platform 120 and one or more kitchen devices 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 may be one-way or two-way. The scale platform 120 using a two-way link with the mobile device 110 or the kitchen devices 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 provides even more functionality.

The mobile device 110 may have a software app running thereon. The app may be configured to receive real-time information from the scale platform 120. The app has access to information regarding actions, ingredients, and target amounts involved in a recipe. The app presents a user with actions to be performed and ingredients to be added.

In one embodiment, the app may be configured to assist the user in

maintaining the culinary ratios of a recipe. The app is configured to accept input so that a user can change the overall serving size for the recipe at any time and the target amounts of each ingredient are automatically re-calculated and displayed. If too much of one ingredient is added, the app detects this and helps the user maintain the proper ratios. The number of servings is recalculated and displayed along with new target amounts for all other ingredients.

In this implementation, the adaptation of the target amounts takes place in the mobile device 110 using the app, and the app provides the suitable control instructions for the control of the kitchen appliances 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 to follow the recipe with the adjusted target amounts. Thus, the scale platform functions as a communications gateway i.e. an intermediary, providing a bridge between the mobile device 110 and the kitchen devices.

However, recipe control and control of the target amounts may instead or additionally take place in the scale platform 120. It can receive recipes directly from the internet 140 or it can receive them from the mobile device 110, and then adapt the target amounts and the appropriate kitchen device settings accordingly. In this case, the mobile device functions more an input/output interface to the user with the recipe control and control of the kitchen appliances taking carried out by the scale platform. The different processing tasks (which amount to adapting and then following the recipe) may be split in different ways between the scale platform and the mobile device.

In one implementation, the scale platform (i.e., an electronic unit of the scale platform) is configured to adapt the one or more target amounts in the recipe based on the weight of ingredients and optimize one or more control parameters based on the adapted target amounts. In another implementation, the scale platform (i.e., the electronic unit of the scale platform) is adapted to receive from the mobile device those adapted target amounts in the recipe based on the weight of ingredients and those optimized control parameters based on the adapted target amounts.

The kitchen devices may be more passive, and function as sensors which provide sensor information to the scale platform and respond to control instruction provided by the scale platform (either generated at the scale platform or relayed by the scale platform from the mobile device).

The app running on the mobile device or the software running on the scale platform may be configured to prompt all kinds of questionnaires so as to obtain the user's personal information or background such as name, profession, age, height, weight, taste and so on. Based on these information, the app is configured to retrieve a recipe from a predefined database. The questionnaires may be dynamic or stable.

In various embodiments, the app or the software running on the scale platform can be executed with additional features such as recipe advice, calendar, recipe and food intake tracking, healthifying function, adaption of recipes to actual food weight and more.

Turning to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 schematically depicts the structure of the scale platform 120 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.2, the scale platform 120 includes a first transceiver 122, an electronic unit 124 and a second transceiver 126.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first transceiver 122 is configured to communicate with the mobile device 110 using a first communication protocol, e.g., a standard communication protocol like WIFI or Bluetooth. The second transceiver 126 is configured to communicate with at least one kitchen devices 130 using a second communication protocol which can be a simple and cost saving one, such as ZigBee, ISM/IR band etc. By the use of two different communication protocols for mobile device and for kitchen appliance, any kitchen appliance equipped with a compatible protocol can be easily and cheap connected to the scale and so to the mobile device.

The electronic unit 124 is coupled with the first transceiver 122 and the second transceiver 126. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first transceiver 122 is configured to receive a first data from the mobile device 110, and the electronic unit 124 is configured to obtain weight of ingredients to be processed by the at least one kitchen devices 130 and process the first data based on the weight of ingredients in order to control the process of the at least one kitchen devices 130 via the second transceiver 126. It is noted that although first transceiver 122, the electronic unit 124 and the second transceiver 126 are shown as separate units within the scale platform, in some embodiments, they can be combined into one unit like a microcontroller.

As mentioned above, the first data is a recipe having one or more ingredients and one or more target amounts for the ingredients.

In addition, the electronic unit 124 is configured to manage communication between the mobile device 110 and the at least one connected kitchen devices 130. The electronic unit 124 can be further configured to calculate and interpret data from sensors integrated in the scale itself and sensors integrated in the kitchen devices 130.

The electronic unit 124 in the scale platform 120 is configured to obtain weight of ingredients and process the data received from the mobile device 110 based on the weight of ingredients so as to control the process of at least one of the communicated kitchen appliances 130. In this manner, both the mobile device 110 and the scale platform 120 are involved in the control process of the kitchen appliance 130, making an improved cooking process possible.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGs 3 and 4, the scale platform 120 may further include a weight scale 128 for measuring weight of ingredients to be processed by the at least one kitchen devices 130. In this case, the electronic unit 124 in the scale platform 120 may be configured to receive measured weight from the weight scale 128. The weight scale 128 can be separate from the electronic unit 124 (as shown in FIG. 3) or incorporated into the electronic unit 124 (as shown in FIG. 4).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic unit 124 is configured to adapt the one or more target amounts in the recipe based on the weight of ingredients and optimize one or more control parameters based on the adapted target amounts, wherein the control parameters are sent from the electronic unit via the second transceiver to the at least one kitchen devices to control the process of the at least one kitchen devices. This technical solution allows adaption of recipes based on actual weight measured. Also the optimization of the preparation function and parameters of a kitchen device based on recipe prepared with the scale is executed. This is particularly advantage for accurate control of the cooking process.

For example, a recipe includes 200 grams of bread flour, 125 grams of water,

5 grams of sugar, 5 grams of salt, 5 grams of oil, 3 grams of yeast and 60 grams of walnut meat. The electronic unit 124 is configured to adapt the one or more target amounts in the recipe based on the weight of ingredients. When the weight of bread flour is measured as 333 grams which is above expected 200 grams, the entire recipe is adjusted in real-time so that the other ingredient target amounts are adjusted (i.e., water 208 grams, sugar 8 grams, salt 8 grams, oil 8 grams, yeast 5 grams and walnut meat 100 grams). Control parameters of the at least one kitchen devices 130 can be obtained by looking into a predefined database based on the adapted recipe. The control parameters may include operation mode, cooking/heating time, or any other parameters applicable. The control parameters can be sent from the electronic unit 124 via the second transceiver 126 to the at least one kitchen devices 130 so as to control their operation process.

In one embodiment, the food stuff or ingredients can be identified by following means: (a) following recipe sequence provided by application; (b) the input of the consumer in the mobile device 110; (c) the voice input using voice recognition module of the mobile device and (d) any other means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the scale platform 120 may further comprise a display (not shown) coupled with the electronic unit 124. The display is used for displaying weight and/or nutritional value of the ingredients. In one embodiment, the display can display real-time information for each ingredient including: a current ingredient indicator showing the name of current ingredient; a connection status indicator showing the connection status with the smart device; a measurement progress indicator (such as a bar graph) showing an amount of the current ingredient added proportional to its target amount; a target amount indicator showing the target amount for the current ingredient; and a measured amount indicator showing the measured amount of the current ingredient.

The scale platform 120 may have lights and audio that can be used to help inform the user when pouring/adding an ingredient. This may be easier for some users when pouring, which allows them to look at the scale platform 120 instead of a display. For example, the colour of an LED can slowly change from green to red as an ingredient is added and approaches its target amount. Audio prompts from the scale platform 120 can be played to call out ingredients and progress.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic unit 124 is further configured to send the adapted target amounts to the mobile device 110 for display. This gives a user a visual impression of intake, enhancing the user experience.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic unit 124 is configured to retrieve nutritional value of the ingredients through internet 140. This solution allows capturing nutritional values of food stuff for intake. The user may for example get to know whether he or she makes a mistake and adds too much of a certain nutritional values.

Referring back to Figures 1 and 2, the communication connection between the scale platform 120 and the at least one kitchen devices 130 or between the scale platform 120 and the mobile device 110 can be two-way. In one embodiment, the second transceiver is configured to receive a second data from the at least one kitchen devices, indicating at least one of the following parameters of the at least one kitchen devices: working duration, temperature, humidity, pressure and rotation speed. The second transceiver can be further configured to send the second data to the first transceiver, which in turn sends the second data to the mobile device.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the scale platform 120 may receive control instructions via the first transceiver 122 from the mobile device 110. In this case, the electronic unit 124 is further configured to send the control instructions to the at least one kitchen devices 130 via the second transceiver 126. By taking this technical solution, it is possible that the mobile device 110 can control the scale platform 120 and further control the additional coupled kitchen devices 130 as long as the kitchen device is coupled with the scale platform 120. Preferably, the electronic unit 124 is configured to filter some of the control instructions. Thus, a direct wrong-control of the mobile device (e.g., to long switch on time, too hot unsafe behavior) can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 5, a kitchen device 130 is shown for illustration. The kitchen device 130 may include a transceiver 132, an electronic unit 134 and one or more sensors 136. The transceiver 132 may communicate with the scale platform 120 using a different communication protocol than that used between the scale platform 120 and a mobile device 110. In some embodiments, the transceiver 132 is configured to receive a control data from the scale platform 120, and the control data is generated by the scale platform 120 at least based on both a first data received from the mobile device 110 and weight of ingredients measured by the scale platform 120. One or more sensors 136 are used for sensing device parameters of the kitchen device, such as but not limited to temperature, rotation speed and others. The electronic unit 134 is configured to control the basic function and user interface of the kitchen devices 130, and control the communications between the transceiver 132 and the one or more sensors 136.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the scale platform can be considered to be combined into the kitchen devices. As shown in FIG. 6, the kitchen device 130 may include a weight scale or unit 138, in addition to the transceiver 132, an electronic unit 134 and one or more sensors 136. The weight scale 138 is configured to measure weight of ingredients to be processed by the kitchen device. The transceiver 132 is configured to receive a first data from the mobile device 110 (instead of scale platform 120). The electronic unit 134 is coupled to the weight scale 138 and the transceiver 132, and is configured to obtain weight of ingredients to be processed and process the first data based on the weight of ingredients in order to control the process of the kitchen device 130. The one or more sensors 136 are used for sensing device parameters of the kitchen device 130. In this manner, the mobile phone 110 can communicate directly with the kitchen device 130 which includes a weight scale.

Turning to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, the scale platform can be executed as a cutting board 200 whose surface 210 is washable and scratch resistant. As can be seen from FIG. 7, a carrot 230 to be processed is put on the surface 210 of the cutting board 200. There is also a display window 220 within the cutting board 200, displaying the weight of the carrot 230 which is placed on the surface 210. In this manner, customer can weigh the cut ingredients (for example, carrot 230) with no need of moving them from one place to another, which facilitates the preparation process of cooking.

In the context of the present invention, although the scale platform is shown coupled with at least one kitchen devices 130, it is noted that in the simplest form of the execution of the scale platform, there could be no connection between kitchen devices 130 and the scale platform 120. The mobile device 110 which is coupled with the scale platform 120 can just serve as a graphical user interface with no calculation function and connectivity to the Internet. Further, the scale platform can be operated with any kitchen devices or appliances equipped with a communication module like the transceiver 132. Hence any new kitchen device can be integrated by a simple software update to the mobile application or the scale platform itself. Needless to mention the scale platform can be of course used without additional connected devices for the basic scaling function including recipe management, nutrition content approximation and intake tracking.

Having thus described several aspects and embodiments of the invention, modifications and/or improvements may be apparent to those skilled in the art and are intended to be part of this disclosure. The above description is therefore by way of example only, and includes any modifications and improvements that may be apparent to one of skill in the art. The scope of the invention should be determined from proper construction of the appended claims and their equivalents.