# US 2019/0170566 A1 · Load cell having compensation of temperature differences > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170566 A1 - Document ID: US20190170566A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/312,915 - Filed: 2017-06-23 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-27 - Assignees: Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Bizerba SE & Co. KG - Inventors: Thomas EGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170566A1 ## CPC - G01G 3/1418: {for temperature variations} - G01G 3/18: Temperature-compensating arrangements - G01K 7/02: using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples - G01K 7/16: using resistive elements - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract The invention relates to a load cell for a scale, comprising a measuring device for producing a temperature-dependent weight measurement signal corresponding to an acting weight and at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the load cell, wherein a temperature-compensated weight can be calculated by means of an evaluating unit from the produced weight measurement signal and the measured temperature. The temperature sensor is designed as a sensor, in particular a thermocouple, that measures a temperature difference between a first point, in particular a measurement point, of the load cell and a second point, in particular a comparison point, of the load cell. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A load cell for a scale, the load cell having a measuring device for generating a temperature-dependent weight measurement signal corresponding to an acting weight and at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the load cell, wherein a temperature-compensated weight can be calculated from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature by means of an evaluation unit, and wherein the temperature sensor is configured as a temperature sensor measuring a temperature difference between a first point of the load cell and a second point of the load cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The load cell in accordance with claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is configured as a thermocouple measuring a temperature difference between a measurement point of the load cell and a comparison point of the load cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The load cell in accordance with claim 16, wherein the load cell comprises a spring body; and wherein the measuring device comprises at least one strain gauge for detecting the elastic deformation of the spring body to generate a weight measurement signal, with the strain gauge or strain gauges and the temperature sensor measuring a temperature difference being respectively arranged on the spring body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The load cell in accordance with claim 18, wherein the spring body has a force reception section, a force introduction section, and a deformation section that is arranged between the force reception section and the force introduction section, with the temperature sensor measuring a temperature difference extending over the deformation section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The load cell in accordance with claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor measuring a temperature difference extends over the deformation section such that the first point lies on the force introduction section and the second point lies on the force reception section, or vice versa. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The load cell in accordance with claim 18, wherein the strain gauge or strain gauges and one of two conductors of the thermocouple are produced from the same material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The load cell in accordance with claim 16, wherein the thermocouple comprises two electrical conductors composed of different materials ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The load cell in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a further temperature sensor for measuring an absolute temperature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The load cell in accordance with claim 16, wherein the thermocouple comprises two electrical conductors, with at least one of the two conductors additionally comprising a temperature-dependent electrical resistor element. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The load cell in accordance with claim 16, wherein an evaluation unit is provided that is adapted to calculate a temperature-compensated weight from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature difference. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The load cell in accordance with claim 25, wherein the evaluation unit for calculating the temperature-compensated weight is identical to the evaluation unit for evaluating the weight measurement signals of the measuring device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The load cell in accordance with claim 25, wherein the evaluation unit is configured such that the temperature-compensated weight is calculated continuously from the respective currently generated weight measurement signal and the respective currently measured temperature difference. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The load cell in accordance with claim 25, wherein a linear or quadratic function is used as the basis for the calculation of the temperature-compensated weight from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature difference. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The load cell in accordance with claim 25, wherein the thermocouple comprises two electrical conductors, with at least one of the two conductors additionally comprising a temperature-dependent electrical resistor element; and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to apply a DC current having a predefined polarity to the thermocouple and subsequently to apply a DC current of the opposite polarity and in so doing to measure the respective voltage dropping at the thermocouple and to determine an absolute temperature and/or a temperature difference from the two measured voltages. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The load cell in accordance with claim 25, wherein the thermocouple comprises two electrical conductors, with at least one of the two conductors additionally comprising a temperature-dependent electrical resistor element; and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to apply an AC voltage to the thermocouple, to measure the effective value of the voltage dropping at the thermocouple in this respect, and to calculate an absolute temperature herefrom; and/or wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to measure the voltage dropping at the thermocouple with a thermocouple having neither current nor voltage applied and to determine a temperature difference herefrom. ### Claim 31 A scale having a load cell, the load cell comprising a measuring device for generating a temperature-dependent weight measurement signal corresponding to an acting weight and at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the load cell, wherein a temperature-compensated weight can be calculated from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature by means of an evaluation unit, and wherein the temperature sensor is configured as a temperature sensor measuring a temperature difference between a first point of the load cell and a second point of the load cell. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The scale in accordance with claim 31, wherein an evaluation unit is provided that is adapted to calculate a temperature-compensated weight from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature difference. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The scale in accordance with claim 31, wherein the evaluation unit for calculating the temperature-compensated weight is identical to the evaluation unit for evaluating the weight measurement signals of the measuring device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The load cell in accordance with claim 31, wherein the evaluation unit is configured such that the temperature-compensated weight is calculated continuously from the respective currently generated weight measurement signal and the respective currently measured temperature difference. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The scale in accordance with claim 31, wherein a linear or quadratic function is used as the basis for the calculation of the temperature-compensated weight from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature difference. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The load cell in accordance with claim 31, wherein the thermocouple comprises two electrical conductors, with at least one of the two conductors additionally comprising a temperature-dependent electrical resistor element; and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to apply a DC current having a predefined polarity to the thermocouple and subsequently to apply a DC current of the opposite polarity and in so doing to measure the respective voltage dropping at the thermocouple and to determine an absolute temperature and/or a temperature difference from the two measured voltages. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The scale in accordance with claim 31, wherein the thermocouple comprises two electrical conductors, with at least one of the two conductors additionally comprising a temperature-dependent electrical resistor element; and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to apply an AC voltage to the thermocouple, to measure the effective value of the voltage dropping at the thermocouple in this respect, and to calculate an absolute temperature herefrom; and/or wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to measure the voltage dropping at the thermocouple with a thermocouple having neither current nor voltage applied and to determine a temperature difference herefrom. ### Claim 38 A method relating to the operation of a scale having a load cell in which a temperature-dependent weight measurement signal is generated that corresponds to an acting weight and a temperature difference is measured between a first point of the load cell and a second point of the load cell, with a temperature-compensated weight being calculated from the generated weight measurement signal and from the measured temperature.