# US 11,445,341 B2 · Dynamic weighing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,341 B2 - Document ID: US11445341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/949,318 - Filed: 2020-10-26 - Published: 2021-04-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-25 - Assignees: Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Precision Instruments Ltd.; Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Measurement Technology Ltd.; Mettler-Toledo International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Precision Instruments Co., Ltd.; Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Measurement Technology Co., Ltd.; Mettler-Toledo International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Dake Tan; Lifeng Cai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445341B2 ## CPC - G01G 23/00: Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H04J 3/0658: {Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes} - H04L 1/0002: {by adapting the transmission rate} - H04W 84/20: Leader-follower arrangements - H04W 84/22: with access to wired networks - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A dynamic weighing device has a plurality of weighing sensors that constitute a weighing sensor network via Ethernet. One of the weighing sensors is selected as a primary node, which performs time synchronization with the other nodes via a time synchronization protocol. Alternatively, the other nodes synchronize a time offset relative to the time of the primary node. Each weighing sensor continuously packetizes and sends a plurality of consecutive pieces of weighing information to a terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus calculates a weighed weight result of the dynamic weighing device at the same moment, based on time information in the weighing information obtained through depacketization, In such a weighing sensor network, by means of the time synchronization, weighing data at each moment is accurate when the weighing data is processed on a terminal such as a meter, thereby improving the reliability of sampling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for dynamic weighing, comprising: a plurality of weighing sensors constituting a weighing sensor network via Ethernet, wherein one weighing sensor of the plurality is selected as a primary node, to perform time synchronization with each of the other weighing sensors either by way of a time synchronization protocol, or by way of the other weighing sensors synchronizing a time offset relative to a time of the primary node; wherein each weighing sensor continuously packetizes and sends a plurality of consecutive pieces of weighing information to a terminal apparatus; and wherein the terminal apparatus calculates a weighed weight result of the dynamic weighing device at the same moment, based on time information in the weighing information obtained through depacketization. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the primary node performs a time synchronization with the other weighing sensors via a Precision Timing Protocol (“PTP”) or a Network Time Protocol (“NTP”). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the primary node performs a time synchronization with the other weighing sensors at a preset time interval; or the other weighing sensors perform a time synchronization with the primary node at a preset time interval; or the other weighing sensors perform a time verification with the primary node at a preset time interval, in which any weighing sensor with a time error exceeding an error threshold performs the time synchronization with the primary node. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the primary node sends a time synchronization broadcast to the other weighing sensors; and the other weighing sensors perform a time synchronization with the primary node, or the other weighing sensors perform a time verification with the primary node, in which any weighing sensor with a time error exceeding an error threshold performs the time synchronization with the primary node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the primary node performs a time synchronization with the other weighing sensors in the network, and updates the time offsets of the other weighing sensors relative to the time of the primary node at a preset time interval; or the other weighing sensors perform a time verification with the primary node, and updates the time offsets of the weighing sensors relative to the time of the primary node at a preset time interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein: if a sum of data lengths of a continuously output weighing information by each weighing sensor reaches a threshold; or if a waiting time for packetization exceeds a threshold; then the continuously output weighing information is packetized and sent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the terminal apparatus calculates a weighed weight result of the dynamic weighing device at the same moment, based on the time of the primary node and the time and the time offsets of the other weighing sensors in the weighing information obtained through depacketization. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the weighing sensor network selects one weighing sensor as a primary node through an election mechanism; or the weighing sensor network selects one weighing sensor as a primary node, and another weighing sensor as a secondary node through an election mechanism, such that if the primary node fails, the secondary node becomes the primary node. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein when the secondary node becomes the primary node, the weighing sensor network selects a new secondary node through the election mechanism.