Method for fast weighing
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorsGene L. Amacher, Gene R. Mathes, John F. Paugstat, Barry M. Mergenthaler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for fast weighing on an electronic scale is disclosed. Periodic samples are taken of the weight of an object placed upon the scale, and succeeding samples are compared for similarity within a given tolerance. The overall range of the scale is divided into various regions based upon frequency of use and reliability of readings. Fewest readings are required for that scale region of most frequent use and greatest reliability, thereby minimizing the time required for completing the weighing of objects with weights falling within that region.
Claims16
A method for fast weighing using an electronic scale, comprising the following steps:
- providing an electrical signal representative of the weight of an object placed upon the scale;
- periodically sampling said electrical signal to obtain a plurality of instantaneous analog representations of the weight of said object;
- digitizing said instantaneous analog representations to provide a plurality of digital values representative of the weight of said object;
- storing said digital values;
- comparing each current digital value with the immediately preceding value to determine whether said values are similar, as defined by differing by less than a predetermined amount;
- comparing each compared current digital value which is similar to its previous value with a zero scale balance value to determine whether said compared current value is similar to said zero scale balance value as defined by differing by less than a predetermined count;
- maintaining a count of the number of values sampled;
- providing the most recent digital value which is not similar to a zero scale balance value as the desired weight when the weight is within a first range;
- and
- providing the most recent digital value as the desired weight following a first number of similar samplings when the weight is within a second range.
A method for fast weighing using an electronic scale, comprising the following steps:
- providing an electrical signal representative of the weight on the scale;
- periodically sampling said electrical signal to obtain a plurality of instantaneous analog representations of the weight on the scale;
- digitizing said instantaneous analog representations to provide a plurality of digital values representative of the weight on the scale;
- storing said digital values;
- comparing each current digital value with the immediately preceding value to determine whether said values are similar, as defined by differing by less than a predetermined amount;
- comparing each compared current digital value which is similar to its previous value with a stored zero scale balance value to determine whether said compared current value is similar to said zero scale balance value as defined by differing by less than a predetermined amount;
- maintaining a count of the number of values sampled;
- averaging the most recent digital value with a previous zero scale balance value;
- and
- providing the result of said averaging as a zero scale balance following a predetermined number of similar samplings when the current digital value is similar to said previous zero scale balance value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.