WEIGHING APPARATUS WITH SECURED COMMUNICATION MEANS

• US 20120095727A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Brrang, Balraj Singh
• Granted Patent: US 9,581,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/015 by adjusting to the local gravitational acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/017 Securing calibration against fraud

Abstract

A weighing apparatus 1 comprising a load cell 4, a processing unit 3 external of the load cell 4 and data means 7, 8, 9, 10 for operating the weighing apparatus wherein a portion of the data means 7, 9, 10 is distributed between the processing unit 3 and the load cell 4 with secured communication means 6 operative between the load cell 4 and the processing unit 3. Preferably the data means 7, 9, 10 distributed between the processing unit 3 and the load cell 4 is subject to legal control or legally relevant software.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. ) A weighing apparatus comprising:

—

a) a load cell

b) a processing unit external of the load cell;

c) data means for operating the weighing apparatus, said data means comprises legally relevant software and non-legally relevant software, a portion of the legally relevant software is stored and/or processed in the load cell with secured communication means operative between the load cell and the processing unit;

characterised in that said portion of the legally relevant software in the load cell comprises a metrology audit log for recording changes made to the legally relevant software.

18. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the legally relevant software stored in the load cell comprises anyone selected from calibration data and/or capacity configuration and/or gravity factor and/or load cell software.

19. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the portion of the data means distributed between the processing unit and the load cell is the legally relevant software.

20. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the legally relevant software comprises at least one of type-specific parameter and/or device-specific parameter.

21. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the secured communication operative between the load cell and the processing unit is by means of encrypted messages.

22. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the secured communication means operative between the processing unit and the load cell each comprises shared key means.

23. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the shared key means is provided by means of a dongle.

24. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one portion of the data means comprises a checksum.

25. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processing unit comprises a personal computer.

26. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the load cell further comprises processing means.

27. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the processing means is an analogue-to-digital convertor.

28. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the load cell has interface means so that the portion of the data means in the load cell interfaces with both the load cell and the portion of the data means in the processing unit to provide for one or more of the following:

a. acceptance of data updates from the processing unit;

b. acceptance of calibration data,

c. acceptance of capacity configuration data;

d. acceptance of audit log entries from the processing unit;

e. acceptance of gravity factor data;

f. weight readings to be provided to the processing unit;

g. configuration data to be provided to the processing unit;

h. audit log entries to be provided to the processing unit.

29. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the weighing apparatus comprises a GPS device interfaced with the processing unit and/or the load cell.

30. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the portion of data means in the load cell is fixed.

31. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the load cell comprises tamper indication means so as to provide evidence of tampering of the data means.

32. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the apparatus further comprises a database for storing updates or modifications of the legally relevant software.

33. ) A weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the database is stored in a flash memory in the load cell.