Electromagnetically controlled load cell

A weighing device, comprising:

• an electromechanical linear actuator receiving an input signal;
• a mechanical load cell coupled to said electromechanical linear actuator, said mechanical load cell directly generating an output signal in passive response to a load coupled to one of said electromechanical linear actuator and said mechanical load cell;
• a feedback controller receiving said output signal and generating said input signal received by said electromechanical linear actuator, said feedback controller adjusting said input signal to bring the load to rest;
• and
• a processor for receiving said output signal and said input signal, said processor deriving a load weight value of the load from said input signal and said output signal, wherein said input signal and said output signal are separately received by said processor.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an electromechanical linear actuator having a housing which carries a wire coil that receives an input signal, said housing coupled to a magnet assembly that is movable in response to said input signal;
• a load cell coupled to said magnet assembly and received within said housing, said load cell generating an output signal representing a first component of a load weight value;
• a feedback control system receiving said output signal and generating said input signal, said wire coil stabilizing the position of said magnet assembly when a load is coupled to one of said electromechanical linear actuator and said load cell without the benefit of a position sensor, said input signal representing a second component of the load weight value;
• and
• a processor for separately receiving said output signal and the value of said input signal, said processor deriving a load weight value of the load from said input signal and said output signal by combining said first and second components.