Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for scale calibration and weighing

US4909338A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
19References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 12, 1989
Grant dateMar 20, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 12, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01G23/01
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A scale utilizes a plurality of load cells positioned beneath a weighing platform for determining the weight of objects placed upon the platform. During a weighing operation, each load cell generates a voltage proportional to the response of said cell to the application of a weight to the platform. Each such generated voltage is transmitted serially through a multiplexer and is converted to a digital value by an analog-to-analog converter. These digital values are employed by a microprocessor to determine the weight of the object placed on the weighing platform. The scale is calibrated by weighing a test weight in a plurality of different locations on the weighing platform, and utilizing the individual digital values thus obtained for each load cell in a plurality of simultaneous equations, which are then solved in the microprocessor to provide constant values associated with each load cell, which are used in subsequent weighing operations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.