A meat product fat testing system (MPFTS) for determining the percent fat content of a meat product. The MPFTS includes two embodiments: a fat testing/analyzing unit and a hand-held calculating unit. The fat testing/analyzing unit integrally houses a heating means, meat product weighing means, a fat/moisture analyzer, a microcontroller, and a display. A sample of a meat product is placed into the unit and the unit is activated. The percent fat content of the sample is automatically analyzed and the result shown on the unit's display. The hand-held calculating unit is used with a conventional scale and heat source, which are used to obtain wet and dry weight readings of a meat product sample. The readings are input into the calculating device, which then displays in a window the percent fat content of the sample.

A checkout system includes a workstation having a data capture arrangement for capturing through a horizontal window a target associated with a product to identify the product being checked out at the workstation, and a scale for weighing the product at the workstation. The scale has a scale mechanism, and a weighing platter on which the product is placed for weighing. The weighing platter is integrated with the horizontal window and overlies the scale mechanism. The weighing platter projects past the scale mechanism and has a front end that overhangs the scale mechanism. Non-threaded, interlocking connectors, which are provided on the weighing platter and the scale mechanism, prevent the weighing platter from tipping if a force is exerted on the front end of the weighing platter. The weighing platter is mounted on, and removed from, the scale mechanism without the aid of tools.

A checkout system includes a workstation having a data capture arrangement for capturing through a horizontal window a target associated with a product to identify the product being checked out at the workstation, and a scale for weighing the product at the workstation. The scale has a scale mechanism, and a weighing platter on which the product is placed for weighing. The weighing platter is integrated with the horizontal window and overlies the scale mechanism. The weighing platter projects past the scale mechanism and has a front end that overhangs the scale mechanism. Non-threaded, interlocking connectors, which are provided on the weighing platter and the scale mechanism, prevent the weighing platter from tipping if a force is exerted on the front end of the weighing platter. The weighing platter is mounted on, and removed from, the scale mechanism without the aid of tools.

A scalable tracking system includes a camera subsystem, a weight subsystem, and a central server. The camera subsystem includes cameras that capture video of a space, camera clients that determine local coordinates of people in the captured videos, and a camera server that determines the physical positions of people in the space based on the determined local coordinates. The weight subsystem determines when items were removed from shelves. The central server determines which person in the space removed the items based on the physical positions of the people in the space and the determination of when items were removed.

A scalable tracking system includes a camera subsystem, a weight subsystem, and a central server. The camera subsystem includes cameras that capture video of a space, camera clients that determine local coordinates of people in the captured videos, and a camera server that determines the physical positions of people in the space based on the determined local coordinates. The weight subsystem determines when items were removed from shelves. The central server determines which person in the space removed the items based on the physical positions of the people in the space and the determination of when items were removed.

An object tracking system that includes a sensor, a weight sensor, and a tracking system. The sensor configured to capture a frame of at least a portion of a rack within a global plane for a space. The tracking system is configured to detect a weight decrease on the weight sensor. The tracking system is further configured to receive the frame of the rack, to identify a marker on an item within a predefined zone in the frame, and to identify the item associated with the identified marker. The tracking system is further configured to determine a pixel location for a person, to determine the person is within the predefined zone associated with the, and to add the identified item to a digital cart associated with the person.

An object tracking system that includes a sensor, a weight sensor, and a tracking system. The sensor configured to capture a frame of at least a portion of a rack within a global plane for a space. The tracking system is configured to detect a weight decrease on the weight sensor. The tracking system is further configured to receive the frame of the rack, to identify a marker on an item within a predefined zone in the frame, and to identify the item associated with the identified marker. The tracking system is further configured to determine a pixel location for a person, to determine the person is within the predefined zone associated with the, and to add the identified item to a digital cart associated with the person.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to tracking material based on configuring a container with a sensor adapted to measure the quantity of a material in the container, configuring a display to visually present as a function of time the material quantity relative to a predetermined threshold, determining the material quantity change within a predetermined time period based on captured sensor data, and automatically presenting in the display the material quantity performance displayed as a function of time based on the material quantity change and the predetermined threshold. In an illustrative example, the material may be water, and the container may be a bottle. The threshold may be a consumption performance goal. In various implementations, the container may be luggage, and the threshold may be an accumulation performance goal based on a weight limit. In some examples, the luggage may be, for example, a purse, tote, backpack, or lunchbox. Various embodiments may advantageously display consumption performance as a function of time, relative to a consumption goal.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to tracking material based on configuring a container with a sensor adapted to measure the quantity of a material in the container, configuring a display to visually present as a function of time the material quantity relative to a predetermined threshold, determining the material quantity change within a predetermined time period based on captured sensor data, and automatically presenting in the display the material quantity performance displayed as a function of time based on the material quantity change and the predetermined threshold. In an illustrative example, the material may be water, and the container may be a bottle. The threshold may be a consumption performance goal. In various implementations, the container may be luggage, and the threshold may be an accumulation performance goal based on a weight limit. In some examples, the luggage may be, for example, a purse, tote, backpack, or lunchbox. Various embodiments may advantageously display consumption performance as a function of time, relative to a consumption goal.

A tray assembly for monitoring food consumed from one or more dishes supported by the tray assembly includes a housing defining an interior and having an upper surface for supporting the one or more dishes. One or more weight assemblies are disposed in the interior of the housing. Each weight assembly includes a weight sensor configured to detect a weight of one dish of the one or more dishes and to provide a weight signal corresponding to the detected weight of the one dish. A difference between the weight taken at a first time during a meal and at a second time, after the first time, during the meal being generally indicative of an amount of food consumed during the meal from the one or more dishes.