US5174398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multimode postage scale
Assignee: FME Corp A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1991-01-14
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Granted: 1992-12-29
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Expires: 2011-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A postage scale (1) and method of operation. The scale has two or more modes (M 1 , M 2 , M 3 ) of operation. In a first mode the scale outputs the weight of an item to within a first, coarse increment. In a second mode (M 2 ), the scale outputs the weight of an item to within a second, fine increment. In one embodiment, a third mode (M 3 ) is selected with a coarse increment depending on the type of carrier and item weight.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard K. Ng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:40
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00661; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/002; G01G19/005; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00314; G07B2017/00322; G07B2017/00701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for determining a weight of an article to be mailed comprising: (a) a scale; and (b) processing means connected to an output of said scale, said processing means having at least a first mode and a second mode of operation selectable by a user, said processing means having a coarse output precision based on said output of said scale in said first mode and a fine output precision based on said output of said scale in said second mode, wherein said processing means adjusts said output precision of said first mode and second mode based on the weight of said article to be mailed, said output of said processing means indicating said weight of an article to be mailed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for determining a weight of an article to be mailed comprising: (a) a scale; and (b) processing means connected to an output of said scale, said processing means having at least a first mode and a second mode of operation selectable by a user, said processing means having a coarse output precision based on said output of said scale in said first mode and a fine output precision based on said output of said scale in said second mode, wherein said processing means adjusts said output precision of said first mode and second mode based on the weight of said article to be mailed, said output of said processing means indicating said weight of an article to be mailed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said output of said scale is time varying, said processing means adapted to output said weight of said article to be mailed when said time varying output stabilizes to within substantially said coarse output precision in said first mode and substantially said fine output precision in said second mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and said second mode output weights in accordance with a regulatory standard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 1 adapted to display said weight of an article to within about 0.5 ounces in said first mode if said article weighs less than 5 pounds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 1 adapted to display said weight of an article to within about 1 ounce in said first mode if said article weights more than 5 pounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 1 adapted to display said weight of an article to within about 0.1 ounces in said second mode when said article weighs less than 5 pounds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 1 adapted to display said weight of an article to within about 0.5 ounces in said second mode when said article weighs more than 5 pounds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as recited in claim 1 adapted to display said weight of an article in accordance with the following table: ______________________________________
Mode
Weight Second First
______________________________________
Less than 0.1 ounce 0.5 ounce
5 lb [increments] [increments]
output precision
output precision
Greater 0.5 ounce 1 ounce
than 5 lb [increments] [increments]
output precision
output precision
______________________________________
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for determining a weight of an article to be mailed comprising: (a) a scale; and (b) processing means connected to an output of said scale, said processing means having at least a first mode and a second mode and a third mode of operation selectable by a user, said processing means having a coarse output precision based on said output of said scale in said first mode and a fine output precision based on said output of said scale in said second mode, said output of said processing means indicating said weight of an article to be mailed, said third mode of operation for automated weighing operations, said third mode of operation having a coarse output precision.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for determining a weight of an article to be mailed comprising: (a) a scale; and (b) processing means connected to an output of said scale, said processing means having at least a first mode and a second mode and a third mode of operation selectable by a user, said processing means having a coarse output precision based on said output of said scale in said first mode and a fine output precision based on said output of said scale in said second mode, said output of said processing means indicating said weight of an article to be mailed, said third mode of operation for automated weighing operations, said third mode of operation having a coarse output precision.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said processing means is adapted to adjust said coarse output precision to become coarser when a series of articles in said automated weighing operations have weights falling within selected limits.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of indicating the weight of an article in a postage system comprising the steps of: (a) weighing an article; (b) inputting a desired mode from a selection of modes from a user, said modes selected from a first, coarse mode and a second, fine mode, each mode having a corresponding output precision; (c) from a processing means, outputting said weight in said selected coarse or fine mode for issuance of postage, wherein said processing means adjusts said output precision of said at least first mode and second mode based on the weight of said article.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of indicating the weight of an article in a postage system comprising the steps of: (a) weighing an article; (b) inputting a desired mode from a selection of modes from a user, said modes selected from a first, coarse mode and a second, fine mode, each mode having a corresponding output precision; (c) from a processing means, outputting said weight in said selected coarse or fine mode for issuance of postage, wherein said processing means adjusts said output precision of said at least first mode and second mode based on the weight of said article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of making said output coarser if said article is above a predetermined weight or finer if said article is below a predetermined weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of outputting displays weights in accordance with a regulatory standard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of outputting displays a weight of an article to within about 0.5 ounces in said first mode if said article weighs less than 5 pounds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of outputting displays said weight of an article to within about 1 ounce in said first mode if said article weighs more than 5 pounds.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of outputting displays said weight of an article to within about 0.1 ounces in said second mode when said article weighs less than 5 pounds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of outputting displays said weight of an article to within about 0.5 ounces in said second mode when said article weighs more than 5 pounds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step of outputting displays said weight of an article in accordance with the following table: ______________________________________
Mode
Weight Second First
______________________________________
Less than 0.1 ounce 0.5 ounce
5 lb [increments] [increments]
output precision
output precision
Greater 0.5 ounce 1 ounce
than 5 lb [increments] [increments]
output precision
output precision
______________________________________
Claim 22
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of indicating the weight of an article in a postage system comprising the steps of: (a) weighing an article; (b) inputting a desired mode from a selection of modes from a user, said modes selected from a first, coarse mode, a second, fine mode and a third mode of operation for automated weighing operations, said third mode of operation having a coarse mode; (c) from a processing means, outputting said weight in said selected coarse or fine mode for issuance of postage.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of indicating the weight of an article in a postage system comprising the steps of: (a) weighing an article; (b) inputting a desired mode from a selection of modes from a user, said modes selected from a first, coarse mode, a second, fine mode and a third mode of operation for automated weighing operations, said third mode of operation having a coarse mode; (c) from a processing means, outputting said weight in said selected coarse or fine mode for issuance of postage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of adjusting said coarse output precision to become coarser when a series of articles in said automated weighing operations have weights falling within selected limits.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-29 | 1996-06-29 | 1996-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-06-29 | 2000-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-29 | 2004-06-29 | 2004-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |