Method and apparatus for acoustically weighing moving loads
First Claim
1. A method for weighing a moving load moving over a load bearing medium, comprising:
- sending a first acoustic wave from a source acoustic transducer, attached to or embedded in the loading bearing medium, through the load bearing medium in an unloaded state;
detecting the first acoustic wave at a receiving acoustic transducer, attached to or embedded in the loading bearing medium, wherein an acoustic path is defined in the load bearing medium between the source and receiving transducers;
determining a first acoustic wave propagation time delay associated with the acoustic path in an unloaded state based on the sending and detecting of the first acoustic wave;
when the acoustic path is loaded by a moving load supported by the medium, sending and detecting a second acoustic wave from the source acoustic transducer to the receiving acoustic transducer;
determining a second acoustic wave propagation time delay associated with the acoustic path in a loaded state based on the sending and detecting of the second acoustic wave;
determining an acoustic propagation time delay difference between the first and second acoustic wave propagation time delays for the unloaded and loaded states; and
determining a weight or mass of the moving load based on the acoustic propagation time delay difference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Acoustic weight or mass sensing technology (referred to here as Acoustic Weigh In Motion (AWIN)) provides accurate weighing of any type of moving load moving over a load bearing medium. Acoustic transducers are affixed to or embedded in the load bearing medium. One or more source acoustic transducers propagate an acoustic wave over an acoustic path through the medium between the source and receiver transducers when the medium is in an unloaded state. The wave is detected at one or more receiving acoustic transducers. A propagation time delay is determined for the unloaded state. When a moving load travels over the acoustic path in the medium, the acoustic propagation time delay for that loaded state is determined. The difference between the acoustic propagation time delays for the unloaded and loaded states is determined. That acoustic propagation time delay difference is used to determine the weight or mass of the moving load.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for weighing a moving load moving over a load bearing medium, comprising:
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sending a first acoustic wave from a source acoustic transducer, attached to or embedded in the loading bearing medium, through the load bearing medium in an unloaded state; detecting the first acoustic wave at a receiving acoustic transducer, attached to or embedded in the loading bearing medium, wherein an acoustic path is defined in the load bearing medium between the source and receiving transducers; determining a first acoustic wave propagation time delay associated with the acoustic path in an unloaded state based on the sending and detecting of the first acoustic wave; when the acoustic path is loaded by a moving load supported by the medium, sending and detecting a second acoustic wave from the source acoustic transducer to the receiving acoustic transducer; determining a second acoustic wave propagation time delay associated with the acoustic path in a loaded state based on the sending and detecting of the second acoustic wave; determining an acoustic propagation time delay difference between the first and second acoustic wave propagation time delays for the unloaded and loaded states; and determining a weight or mass of the moving load based on the acoustic propagation time delay difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for weighing a moving load moving over a load bearing medium, comprising:
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a source acoustic transducer, attached to or embedded in the load bearing medium, for sending a first acoustic wave through the load bearing medium in an unloaded state; a receiving acoustic transducer, attached to or embedded in the load bearing medium, for detecting the first acoustic wave having propagated through the load bearing medium, wherein an acoustic path is defined in the load bearing medium between the source and receiving transducers; electronic circuitry configured to; determine a first acoustic wave propagation time delay associated with the acoustic path in an unloaded state based on the sending and detecting of the first acoustic wave; initiate sending a second acoustic wave from the source acoustic transducer to the receiving acoustic transducer when the acoustic path is loaded by a moving load supported by the medium; determine a second acoustic propagation time delay associated with the acoustic path in a loaded state based on sending and detecting of the second acoustic wave; determine an acoustic propagation time delay difference between the first and second acoustic propagation time delays for the unloaded and loaded states; and determine a weight or mass of the moving load based on the acoustic propagation time delay difference. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification