Method of operating a balance, and balance

• US 20050092529A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Inventors: Leisinger, Roger, Kunzi, Hansruedi
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/283 Details related to a user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network

Abstract

A method is disclosed to operate and control a balance which has a control unit that is operable to execute an operating- and/or applications program and is equipped for this task with a processor and a memory unit. The balance also has at least one entry device to give command signals to the control unit. The control unit uses the command signals given by the entry device to control one of at least two function modules that are assigned to the entry device by the control unit dependent on the operating status of the operating and/or applications program. The entry device can therefore control a plurality of function modules, hardware and/or software modules, e.g., for the opening and closing of the doors of the weighing compartment, the zeroing of the balance, the setting of tare, or the printing of the measurement results. The assignment of the function modules to the entry device is signaled to the user by an indicating device. The user is further given a confirming signal by a feedback device after the entry device has been actuated. The entry device, the indicating device, and the confirming feedback device can be arranged separate from the balance in the housing of a freely movable input unit.

Claims

1. Method of operating a balance wherein the balance has a control unit that serves to execute an operating- and/or applications program and is equipped for this task with a processor and a memory unit, and wherein the balance also has at least one entry device through which command signals can be given to the control unit, wherein the control unit uses the command signals received from the entry device to control one of at least two function modules that are assigned to the entry device by the control unit dependent on the operating status of the operating- and/or or applications program, wherein the method comprises:

informing the user, by means of one or more optical indicating means, which of the function modules is assigned to the entry device; and

indicating the actuation of an entry device to the user by one or more signals by means of a confirming feedback device, wherein the entry device, the indicating means and the confirming feedback device are arranged separate from the balance, in the housing of a wireless or wire-connected freely movable input unit.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising:

indicating the completion of a new assignment of a function module to an entry device to the user by one or more signals by means of the confirming feedback device, wherein the confirming feedback device is arranged in the housing of the freely movable input unit.

3. Method according claim 1, comprising:

controlling at least one further device by means of the freely movable input unit, the connection of the freely movable input unit to the balance or to the additional device being indicated to the user by means of additional light-emitting diodes that are arranged in the housing of the freely movable input unit.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein subsequent to establishing a wire-borne or wireless connection between the balance and a freely movable input unit with a processor and a memory module, the control unit reads data stored in the freely movable input unit and takes said data into account in execution of the operating- and/or applications program, wherein said data relate to the freely movable input unit and/or to the user of the freely movable input unit.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the control unit and the freely movable input unit are equipped with network modules operating according to the Bluetooth standards, said modules serving to detect availability of services from the freely movable input unit and to use said services after communication has been established.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the function modules are hardware- and/or software units serving to perform balance functions including at least one of:

opening and closing of doors of a weighing compartment of the balance, zeroing of the balance, tare-setting for the weighing object, and printing of measurement results.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one freely selectable function module is assigned by the control unit to an entry device, and an indicating element which indicates that the assignment is effective.

8. Method of operating a balance according to claim 1, wherein there is a further input unit with operating elements, and one or more entry devices, the indicating means and the confirming feedback device are arranged in the housing of the balance or in the housing of the further input unit, wherein the one or more entry devices of the further input unit are actuated in a manner analogous to the one or more entry devices of the wireless or wire-connected freely movable input unit.

17. Method according to claim 1, wherein the optical indicating means is a liquid crystal display and/or light-emitting diodes assigned to the function modules, and wherein the confirming feedback device is an acoustical signal of a sound generator and/or an optical signal of a liquid crystal display and/or of a further light-emitting diode.

18. Method according to claim 2, wherein the confirming feedback device is an acoustical signal of a sound generator and/or an optical signal of a liquid crystal display and/or of a further light-emitting diode.

19. Method according to claim 3, wherein the one further device is an additional balance or a conveyor device.

9. Balance comprising:

a control unit to execute an operating- and/or applications program using a processor and a memory unit;

at least one entry device through which command signals can be given to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to use the command signals given by the entry device to control one of at least two function modules that are assigned to the entry device by the control unit dependent on an operating status of the operating and/or applications program;

indicating means by which the user is informed through one or more optical signals as to which of the function modules is assigned to the entry device; and

at least one confirming feedback device through which the actuation of an entry device and/or the execution of a new assignment of a function module to the entry device can be indicated to the user, wherein the entry device, the indicating means and the confirming feedback device are arranged separate from the balance, in the housing of a wireless or wire-connected freely movable input unit.

10. Balance according to claim 9, comprising:

a further input unit with operating elements, wherein one or more entry devices, indicating means, and/or a confirming feedback device are arranged in the housing of the balance or in the housing of the further input unit, wherein the one or more entry devices, the indicating means, and the confirming feedback device are analogous to those that are arranged in the housing of the wireless or wire-connected freely movable input unit.

11. Balance according to claim 9, wherein the freely movable input unit is adapted for the control of at least one further device which can be a further balance or a conveyor device, and wherein the connection of the freely movable input unit to the balance or to the further device can be optically indicated to the user through one or more indications by means of additional light-emitting diodes.

12. Balance according to claim 9, wherein the control unit, after establishing a wire-borne or wireless connection between the balance and the freely movable input unit that is equipped with a processor and a memory module, is operable to read data stored in the freely movable input unit and relate to the freely movable input unit or to the user of the latter, and to take said data into account in execution of the operating- and/or applications program.

13. Balance according to claim 9, wherein the entry device comprises:

an electromechanical sensor or an optical sensor.

14. Balance according to claim 12, wherein the control unit and the freely movable input unit are equipped with network modules functioning according to Bluetooth standards, which are operable to detect availability of services from the freely movable input unit and, subsequent to establishing communication, to utilize said services.

15. Balance according to claim 9, wherein the function modules are hardware- and/or software units operable to perform weighing functions including at least one of opening and closing of doors of a weighing compartment of the balance, zero-setting of the balance, tare-setting for the weighing object, and printing of measurement results.

16. Balance according to claim 9, wherein at least one freely selectable function module is assignable to an entry device, and an indicating element is provided for indicating that assignment of said function module is effective.

20. Balance according to claim 9, wherein the indicating means is a liquid crystal display and/or light-emitting diodes assigned to the function modules, and wherein the confirming feedback device is a further light-emitting diode, and/or a liquid crystal display and/or a sound generator, in particular a loudspeaker.

21. Balance according to claim 9, wherein the entry device comprises at least one of:

an infrared proximity sensor, a code reader, an electro-acoustical sensor, an ultrasound proximity sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor.