Weighing scale adapted for allowing a user to find an optical weighing position on the scale
AssigneeMeasurement Ltd.
InventorSteven Petrucelli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weighing scale having a display and processor for determining and identifying the optimal position coordinates for a load placed on the weighing scale includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies, each containing a load cell for receiving the weight of the load. The display includes a meter or other graphical display that identifies position coordinates along with the determined numerical weight. Individual outputs from each of the plurality (e.g. 4) of load cells are received by a processor configured to compute x,y vector coordinates associated with the weight parameters for each load cell. The determined current or actual load position relative to an optimal position is calculated and displayed along with the weight.
Claims26
A weighing scale comprising:
- a platform for supporting a load to be weighed by the scale, the platform defining an optimal weighing position for optimally positioning the load thereon;
- a plurality of load cells, each of the toad cells for sensing a portion of the load's weight and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the sensed portion of the load's weight;
- a processor, operatively coupled to the load cells and summing each of the sensed weight portions to determine a total weight of the load, summing groupings of the sensed weight portions to determine an actual position of the load on the platform, and determining how the actual position of the load on the platform deviates from the optimal position dependently upon the sums of the groupings of the sensed weight portions;
- and
- at least one of an indicator for indicating that the load is in the optimal position and a display for displaying the deviation of the actual position of the load from the optimal weighing position, so that the load can be repositioned to the optimal weighing position.
A method for accurately positioning a load on a platform of a weighing scale, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality load cells, each of the load cells being positioned to sense a portion of the load's weight and output an electrical signal indicative of the sensed portion of the load's weight;
- summing groups of the outDuts to determine a total weight and a plurality of partial weights;
- determining an actual position of the load on the platform, and how the actual position of the load on the platform deviates from an optimal weighing position using the determined total weight and at least two of the partial weights;
- and
- indicating that the load is in the optimal position.
A method for weighing a load comprising:
- providing a plurality load cells, each of the load cells being positioned to sense a portion of the load's weight and provide an electrical response indicative of the sensed portion of the load's weight;
- determining partial weights corresponding to groupings of the load cells;
- determining a deviation between the actual position of the load on the platform and an optimal weighing position using the determined partial weights;
- providing an indication indicative of the determined deviation;
- determining whether a time-out has occurred;
- and
- where a time-out is determined to have occurred, providing an indication of total sensed weight regardless of the deviation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.