Scale having a machine-readable code display

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a weight of a product in a machine-readable code on a scale. More specifically, the scale can include an associated display that is configured to display a machine-readable code when a product is weighed on the scale, where the machine-readable code informs a scanning computing device of the weighed amount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scale system for weighing products in a shopping facility, the scale system comprising:
 a user electronic device, the user electronic device including a sensor;   a housing;   an electronic assembly disposed within the housing;   a support assembly coupled to the electronic assembly to hang below the housing, the support assembly configured to receive the products thereon during weighing;   a mechanical connector;   a weight sensor of the electronic assembly coupled to the support assembly via the mechanical connector and configured to determine a weight of the products on the support assembly;   a product identification input device, the product identification input device configured to obtain product identification information that uniquely identifies the product;   a control circuit of the electronic assembly coupled to the product identification device and the weight sensor, the control circuit configured to receive the weight determined by the weight sensor and the product identification information from the product identification input device, and encode the weight and the product identification into a machine-readable code;   a first display of the electronic assembly configured to receive a signal from the control circuit to display the weight of the products;   a second display of the electronic assembly configured to receive a signal from the control circuit to display the machine-readable code;   a solar panel of the electronic assembly configured to supply power thereto, the solar panel configured and arranged to obtain sufficient power for operation of the electronic assembly using only artificial light;   a central server device disposed remotely from the shopping facility, the central server device communicatively coupled to the user electronic device, the central server device storing pricing information associated with the products;   wherein the user electronic device scans the machine-readable code using the sensor, retrieves the pricing information from the central server device according to the product identification information in the code, and calculates the price of the products using the pricing information and the weight.   
     
     
         2 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit configured to encode the weight into the machine-readable code comprises the control circuit configured to encode the weight into a QR code. 
     
     
         3 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel is configured to provide sufficient power for the electronic assembly to operate with a 400 lux light source. 
     
     
         4 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a bracket on a top thereof; and further comprising a support arm configured to couple to the bracket so that the housing and support assembly hangs therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm is configured to be mounted to a product display. 
     
     
         6 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the user electronic device is configured to create a list that includes the products that are weighed and to utilize the list to purchase the products at a checkout in the shopping facility. 
     
     
         7 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the product identification input device is a scanner device. 
     
     
         8 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the product identification input device is a keypad or touchscreen. 
     
     
         9 . The scale system of  claim 1 , wherein the user electronic device is a smartphone or a tablet. 
     
     
         10 . A method for encoding a weight of products in a shopping facility into a machine-readable code, the method comprising:
 receiving products on a support assembly of a scale;   obtaining product identification information for the products;   determining a weight of the products with a weight sensor of the scale;   encoding the weight and the product identification information of the products into a machine-readable code with a control circuit of the scale;   displaying the weight of the products on a first display of the scale;   displaying the machine-readable code on a second display of the scale;   powering the weight sensor, control circuit, first display, and second display with a solar panel of the scale, the solar panel configured and arranged to obtain sufficient power for operation of the electronic assembly using only artificial light;   storing pricing information associated with the products at a central server device disposed remotely from the shopping facility;   at a user electronic device that includes a sensor, scanning the machine-readable code using the sensor, retrieving the pricing information from the central server device according to the product identification information in the code, and calculating the price of the products using the pricing information and the weight.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein encoding the weight into the machine-readable code comprises encoding the weight into a QR code. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein powering the weight sensor, control circuit, first display, and second display with the solar panel comprises powering the weight sensor, control circuit, first display, and second display with a 400 lux light source. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user electronic device is configured to create a list that includes the products that are weighed and to utilize the list to purchase the products at a checkout in the shopping facility. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the product identification input device is a scanner device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the product identification input device is a keypad or touchscreen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user electronic device is a smartphone or a tablet.