In-Motion Weighing System
First Claim
1. A method of determining a mass of an object while the object is situated on a support that is in motion, the method comprising:
- positioning the object on a support that is movable;
receiving a first signal representative of a load that is applied to the support due at least in part to the object while the support and the object are in motion;
receiving a second signal representative of an acceleration of the support while the support and the object are in motion; and
generating a third signal representative of the mass of the object based at least in part upon at least a portion of the first signal and at least a portion of the second signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A weighing apparatus and method enable an object to be weighed while the object and/or the weighing apparatus is in motion. The apparatus and method employ a load cell and an accelerometer that are both mounted on a platform upon which the object is situated. A signal from the load cell and a signal from the accelerometer are combined together to derive a mass of the load. Such combining of the signals may occur via signal processing that may include digital processing and/or analog processing. The load cell and the accelerometer each have an operative direction, and they may be oriented with respect to one another on the platform such that the operative directions are opposite one another to enable the two signals to be input to an analog multiplication circuit to derive a weight of the object.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining a mass of an object while the object is situated on a support that is in motion, the method comprising:
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positioning the object on a support that is movable; receiving a first signal representative of a load that is applied to the support due at least in part to the object while the support and the object are in motion; receiving a second signal representative of an acceleration of the support while the support and the object are in motion; and generating a third signal representative of the mass of the object based at least in part upon at least a portion of the first signal and at least a portion of the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A weighing apparatus being structured to be installed on a support that is movable and being further structured to determine a mass of an object while the object is situated on the support and the object and the support are motion, the weighing apparatus comprising:
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a load cell structured to generate a first signal that is representative of a load that is applied to the support which is due at least in part to the object while the support and the object are in motion; an accelerometer structured to generate a second signal representative of an acceleration of the support while the support and the object are in motion; a processing apparatus structured to receive as inputs the first and second signals and further structured to generate as an output a third signal representative of the mass of the object based at least in part upon at least a portion of the first signal being combined with at least a portion of the second signal; and the processing apparatus comprising an analog signal processing apparatus structured to receive as inputs the first and second signals, a digital processing apparatus structured to generate the third signal, and a number of analog-to-digital converters situated electronically between a number of output terminals of the analog signal processing apparatus and a number of input terminals of the digital processing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification