System for compensating for creep and hysteresis in a load cell

A method of correcting for errors in a load cell, comprising the steps of:

• a. calibrating the load cell by:
• i. measuring load cell deflection under a prolonged load and using this measurement to determine;
• 1. a prolonged increasing load curve;
• 2. a prolonged decreasing load curve;
• and
• b. determining a measured load cell deflection after one of, either;
• i. increasing the load on the load cell;
• or
• ii. decreasing the load on the load cell;
• c. correcting for errors in the load cell by applying the measured load cell deflection to, either;
• i. the prolonged increasing load curve in the event that the determining step occurred after increasing the load on the cell;
• or
• ii. the prolonged decreasing load curve in the event that the determining step occurred after decreasing the load on the cell;
• and
• d. determining a corrected load and thus compensating for error in the load cell due to prolonged load.

A method of correcting for errors in a load cell, comprising the steps of:

• a. measuring load cell deflection under increasing loads;
• i. determining an increasing load curve;
• b. measuring load cell deflection under decreasing loads;
• i. determining a decreasing load curve;
• c. calibrating the load cell by:
• i. measuring load cell deflection under a prolonged load and using this measurement to determine;
• 1. a prolonged increasing load curve;
• 2. a prolonged decreasing load curve;
• and
• d. determining a measured load cell deflection after one of, either;
• i. increasing the load on the load cell;
• or
• ii. decreasing the load on the load cell;
• e. calculating a corrected load cell deflection by applying the measured load cell deflection to, either;
• i. the increasing load curve in the event that the determining step occurred after increasing the load on the cell;
• or
• ii. the decreasing load curve in the event that the determining step occurred after decreasing the load on the cell;
• f. correcting for errors in the load cell by applying the corrected load cell deflection to;
• i. either the prolonged increasing load curve in the event that the determining step occurred after increasing the load on the cell;
• or
• ii. the prolonged decreasing load curve in the event that the determining step occurred after decreasing the load on the cell;
• g. thereby determining a corrected load and thus compensating for error in the load cell related to increasing or decreasing loads and prolonged load.