Method of calibrating a scale

• US 7,681,431 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Roquemore, John P. III, Collins, Donald A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEVITO, ALEX T
• Application Number:
  US11/734,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 73/11.3, 177/32, 177/45
• US Class Current: 73/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/017 Securing calibration against fraud

Abstract

A method of calibrating a scale which enforces exercise requirements. The method includes causing an interface to provide a first indication to place weight on the scale by control circuitry of the scale, receiving weight signals from a load cell by the control circuitry, causing the interface to provide a second indication that exercising has begun and of the level of weight applied by the control circuitry, determining that a minimum recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale by the control circuitry, and causing an interface to provide a third indication that the minimum recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale by the control circuitry.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a scale comprising:

(a) sensing activation of a scale calibration switch by a controller;

(b) initiating a calibration procedure, by the controller causing an interface to provide a first indication to an operator to place weight on the scale;

(c) receiving weight signals from a load cell as increasing weight is progressively placed on the scale;

(d) upon detection by the controller of the weight signals, causing the interface to provide a second indication that exercising has begun and of the level of weight applied;

(e) as the controller detects signals indicating progressively increasing levels of weight, analyzing the weight signals by the controller to determine if a recommended calibration weight approximately equal a maximum weight the scale is designed to read has been placed on the scale; and

(f) upon determination by the controller that the recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale, utilizing the controller to control an interface to provide a third indication that the recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indication comprises an instruction provided to the operator to place weight on the scale as part of the installation of a barcode scanner and scale assembly by the operator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indication comprises an instruction for the operator to manually exert downward force on the scale.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third indications comprise visual displays.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third indication comprise aural outputs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indication comprises:

activating a number of a plurality of indicator lights to form a progress bar indicating a relative weight between zero and the recommended calibration weight.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indication comprises:

activating a plurality of indicator lights, and

changing color of the indicator lights as different weight thresholds have been reached.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indication comprises:

controlling a display coupled to the scale to display actual weight added.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the third indication comprises:

activating a plurality of indicator lights to indicate that the recommended calibration weight has been reached.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the third indication comprises:

activating a plurality of indicator lights; and

changing color of the indicator lights to indicate that the recommended calibration weight has been reached.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the third step comprises:

controlling a display coupled to the scale to display a message to indicate that the recommended calibration weight has been reached.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) directing the controller to control the interface to provide a fourth indication that calibration is complete.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fourth indication comprises a visual indication.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the fourth indication comprises an aural indication.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) removing all weight placed on the scale; and

(h) repeating steps (c) through (g) a predetermined number of times.

16. A method of exercising a scale as part of calibration of the scale upon installation for commercial purpose, the method comprising:

sensing activation of a scale calibration switch by a controller;

initiating a calibration process by the controller with an exercise process;

providing an indication to an operator to load the scale with a recommended calibration weight, where the recommended calibration weight is a maximum weight the scale is designed to read;

utilizing the controller to monitor weight signals from a load cell as the scale is loaded;

determining by the controller when the recommended calibration weight is reached by analyzing the weight signals; and

providing an indication to the operator that the recommended calibration weight has been reached.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the scale is an integral part of a bar code scanner scale unit having visual and aural outputs mounted on a housing and utilized to provide the indication to the operator to load the scale and the indication to the operator that the recommended calibration weight has been reached.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising loading the scale to the recommended calibration weight and unloading and reloading multiple times prior to performing further calibration.

19. A method of calibrating a scale comprising:

(a) sensing activation of a scale calibration switch by a controller;

(b) initiating a calibration procedure, by the controller causing an interface to provide a first indication to an operator to place weight on the scale;

(c) receiving weight signals from a load cell as weight is placed on the scale;

(d) upon detection by the controller of the weight signals, causing the interface to provide a second indication that exercising has begun and of the level of weight applied;

(e) as the controller detects signals indicating increasing levels of weight, analyzing the weight signals by the controller to determine if a recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale; and

(f) upon determination by the controller that the recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale, utilizing the controller to control an interface to provide a third indication that the recommended calibration weight has been placed on the scale;

(g) removing all weight placed on the scale; and

(h) repeating steps (c) through (g) a predetermined number of times.