Electromagnetically controlled load cell
First Claim
1. An electromechanically controlled load cell, comprising:
- mechanical means for weighing a load to directly generate a first weighing signal in passive response to the load;
means for controlling said mechanical weighing means thereby generating a second weighing signal; and
means for separately processing said first weighing signal and said second weighing signal to generate a load measurement value for the load.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A weighing apparatus capable of actively weighing a load in a rapid and accurate manner is presented. The weighing device includes an electromechanical linear actuator coupled to a load cell, wherein the output of the load cell is received by a feedback controller that generates an input signal received by the electromechanical linear actuator. A processor receives both the output signal and a measured value of the input signal and derives therefrom a weight for the load coupled to the weighing device. By employing the load cell output for feedback, the need for a position sensor is eliminated. The response time of the apparatus is enhanced by the electromechanical linear actuator which functions to quickly bring the load being weighed to a mechanical equilibrium position. Weight values may also be obtained by forcing one of the input or output signals to zero and then measuring the other of the signals.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electromechanically controlled load cell, comprising:
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mechanical means for weighing a load to directly generate a first weighing signal in passive response to the load; means for controlling said mechanical weighing means thereby generating a second weighing signal; and means for separately processing said first weighing signal and said second weighing signal to generate a load measurement value for the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A weighing device, comprising:
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an electromechanical linear actuator receiving an input signal; a mechanical load cell coupled to said electromechanical linear actuator, said mechanical load cell directly generating an output signal in passive response to a load coupled to one of said electromechanical linear actuator and said mechanical load cell; a feedback controller receiving said output signal and generating said input signal received by said electromechanical linear actuator, said feedback controller adjusting said input signal to bring the load to rest; and a processor for receiving said output signal and said input signal, said processor deriving a load weight value of the load from said input signal and said output signal, wherein said input signal and said output signal are separately received by said processor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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an electromechanical linear actuator having a housing which carries a wire coil that receives an input signal, said housing coupled to a magnet assembly that is movable in response to said input signal; a load cell coupled to said magnet assembly and received within said housing, said load cell generating an output signal representing a first component of a load weight value; a feedback control system receiving said output signal and generating said input signal, said wire coil stabilizing the position of said magnet assembly when a load is coupled to one of said electromechanical linear actuator and said load cell without the benefit of a position sensor, said input signal representing a second component of the load weight value; and a processor for separately receiving said output signal and the value of said input signal, said processor deriving a load weight value of the load from said input signal and said output signal by combining said first and second components. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification