Weight applying unit for calibration and weight applying method for calibration

• US 20090107207A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hosiden Corporation, Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hosiden Corporation, Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Mori, Takeshi, Takeda, Kazuhiro, Umekawa, Masahiko, Ichikawa, Ryuji, Yamazaki, Hitoshi, Nagareda, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,387,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus

Abstract

A weight measuring apparatus, in which a load platform is supported by a plurality of load sensor sections and the weight of a measurement target object placed on the load platform is measured based on a load value detected by each of the plurality of load sensor sections, is supported by a support section. Thereafter, the weight applying section applies a predetermined load to each of the plurality of load sensor sections included in the supported weight measuring apparatus.

Claims

1. A weight applying unit for calibration used for performing a calibration on a weight measuring apparatus in which a load platform is supported by a plurality of load sensor sections and a weight of a measurement target object placed on the load platform is measured based on a load value detected by each of the plurality of load sensor sections, the weight applying unit for calibration comprising:

a support section for supporting the weight measuring apparatus; and

a weight applying section for applying predetermined loads to the plurality of load sensor sections, respectively.

2. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 1, wherein

the support section supports a load platform of the weight measuring apparatus such that the load platform surface is in a horizontal position, and

the weight applying section applies the predetermined loads to the plurality of load sensor sections, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the load platform surface.

3. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 2, wherein

the support section supports the weight measuring apparatus such that the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus faces a gravitational direction, and

the weight applying section applies the predetermined loads in a downward direction.

4. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 1, wherein

values of the predetermined loads applied by the weight applying section to the plurality of load sensor sections, respectively, are the same as one another.

5. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 1, further comprising a deflection generating portion for generating deflection by applying a predetermined pressure to a load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

6. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 5, wherein

the support section has a placement table for placing the weight measuring apparatus thereon,

the weight measuring apparatus is placed on the placement table such that the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus and a load surface of the placement table face horizontally toward each other, and

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body disposed so as to be interposed between the load surface of the placement table and the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

7. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 6, wherein

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body having a shape simulating an area in which the measurement target object contacts the load platform.

8. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 6, wherein

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body having a Shore hardness of Shore A70.

9. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 6, wherein

the deflection generating portion is made of ester polyurethane.

10. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 2, further comprising a deflection generating portion for generating deflection by applying a predetermined pressure to a load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

11. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 10, wherein

the support section has a placement table for placing the weight measuring apparatus thereon,

the weight measuring apparatus is placed on the placement table such that the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus and a load surface of the placement table face horizontally toward each other, and

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body disposed so as to be interposed between the load surface of the placement table and the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

12. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 11, wherein

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body having a shape simulating an area in which the measurement target object contacts the load platform.

13. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 3, further comprising a deflection generating portion for generating deflection by applying a predetermined pressure to the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

14. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 13, wherein

the support section has a placement table for placing the weight measuring apparatus thereon,

the weight measuring apparatus is placed on the placement table such that the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus and a load surface of the placement table face horizontally toward each other, and

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body disposed so as to be interposed between the load surface of the placement table and the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

15. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 14, wherein

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body having a shape simulating an area in which the measurement target object contacts the load platform.

16. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 4, further comprising a deflection generating portion for generating deflection by applying a predetermined pressure to a load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

17. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 16, wherein

the support section has a placement table for placing the weight measuring apparatus thereon,

the weight measuring apparatus is placed on the placement table such that the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus and a load surface of the placement table face horizontally toward each other, and

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body disposed so as to be interposed between the load surface of the placement table and the load platform surface of the weight measuring apparatus.

18. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 17, wherein

the deflection generating portion is an elastic body having a shape simulating an area in which the measurement target object contacts the load platform.

19. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection value obtaining section for obtaining a detection value outputted from each of the plurality of load sensor sections to which the predetermined loads are applied, respectively, by the weight applying section; and

a setting section for setting the detection value obtained by the detection value obtaining section in the weight measuring apparatus so as to be associated with each of the load sensor sections which has outputted the detection value.

20. The weight applying unit for calibration according to claim 19, wherein

the weight applying section can calibrate the load value applied to each of the plurality of load sensor sections, and

the setting section sets, in the weight measuring apparatus, data detected based on a plurality of load values by applying loads having values different from each other.

21. A weight applying method for calibration used for performing a calibration on a weight measuring apparatus in which a load platform is supported by a plurality of load sensor sections, and a calculation process is performed on a load value detected by each of the plurality of load sensor sections so as to measure a weight of a measurement target object placed on the load platform, the weight applying method for calibration comprising:

a supporting step of supporting the weight measuring apparatus; and

a weight applying step of respectively applying predetermined loads to the plurality of load sensor sections included in the weight measuring apparatus supported by the supporting step.