US3826318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital weighing scale with an incremental measuring system
Assignee: HEINDENHAIN J
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Filing: 1972-06-22
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Granted: 1974-07-30
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Expires: 1992-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A digital scale having an incremental measuring system is disclosed. The scale includes a source of light, a weightindicating movable grid and a stationary grid all in optical alignment, the two grids having alternately disposed transparent and nontransparent vertical surfaces, wherein the upper portions of said surfaces on the stationary grid are slightly offset from the lower portions thereof. Photoelectric means produce a series of leading and lagging electrical signals when the movable grid moves in response to a load placed on the scale, the signals from the upper portions of the stationary grid leading when the weight indicated by the movable grid is increasing, and the signals from the lower portions leading when the weight is decreasing. An electrical discriminator discerns which signals are leading, and converts them to electrical impulses which are passed to a countup-countdown counter for recording the weight. Testing circuitry, which determines when the scale is substantially still, produces electrical information for energizing digital means, connected to the counter at that time. During substantial movement of the scale, however, the testing circuit prevents the digital means from being energized, thereby assuring weight readings only when the scale is substantially still.
Inventors
- 👤 A Baumgartner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G23/00; G01G23/18; G01G23/38; G01G23/42; G01G23/44; G01G23/36; G01G23/361; G01G23/37; G01G23/375; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/03; Y10S177/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A digital scale comprising: incremental measuring means, for indicating the weight of a load placed on said scale, subject to oscillations of varying amplitudes about the weight of said load; signal generation means having a first terminal producing a series of first-characterized signals and a second terminal producing a series of second-characterized signals when said incremental measuring means are indicating increasing weight; said first terminal producing a series of said secondcharacterized signals and said second terminal producing a series of said first-characterized signals when said incremental measuring means are indicating decreasing weight; discrimination means, having a first output and a second output, for distinguishing said first-characterized signals from said second-characterized signals, and for produciNg a corresponding series of electrical impulses at said first output upon receipt of said first-characterized signals from said first terminal, and producing a corresponding series of electrical impulses at said second output upon receipt of said first-characterized signals from said second terminal; the duration in which electrical impulses are alternately produced at said first and second outputs corresponding to the amplitude of said oscillations of said incremental mesuring means; counting means, adding the electrical impulses received from said first output and subtracting the electrical impulses received from said second output, to register the weight of said load; digital means, coupled to said counting means, for representing the weight of said load in digital form upon energization of said digital means; and testing means, coupled to said discrimination means, for determining the duration in which electrical impulses are alternately produced at said first output and said second output; said testing means producing electrical information to energize said digital means when said duration is substantially small, whereby said digital means are energized only when said incremental measuring means are subject to substantially small oscillations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
A digital scale comprising: incremental measuring means, for indicating the weight of a load placed on said scale, subject to oscillations of varying amplitudes about the weight of said load; signal generation means having a first terminal producing a series of first-characterized signals and a second terminal producing a series of second-characterized signals when said incremental measuring means are indicating increasing weight; said first terminal producing a series of said secondcharacterized signals and said second terminal producing a series of said first-characterized signals when said incremental measuring means are indicating decreasing weight; discrimination means, having a first output and a second output, for distinguishing said first-characterized signals from said second-characterized signals, and for produciNg a corresponding series of electrical impulses at said first output upon receipt of said first-characterized signals from said first terminal, and producing a corresponding series of electrical impulses at said second output upon receipt of said first-characterized signals from said second terminal; the duration in which electrical impulses are alternately produced at said first and second outputs corresponding to the amplitude of said oscillations of said incremental mesuring means; counting means, adding the electrical impulses received from said first output and subtracting the electrical impulses received from said second output, to register the weight of said load; digital means, coupled to said counting means, for representing the weight of said load in digital form upon energization of said digital means; and testing means, coupled to said discrimination means, for determining the duration in which electrical impulses are alternately produced at said first output and said second output; said testing means producing electrical information to energize said digital means when said duration is substantially small, whereby said digital means are energized only when said incremental measuring means are subject to substantially small oscillations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The digital scale receited in claim 1 wherein said incremental measuring means include a movable grid and a stationary grid, each having alternating transparent and nontransparent vertical surface areas, the upper portion of said vertical surface areas of said stationary grid being offset relative to the lower portion of said vertical surface areas of said stationary grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
The digital scale recited in claim 2 wherein said signal generation means include a source of light aligned behind said movable grid and said stationary grid, producing a leading light signal when said light is passed through the transparent upper portions of said stationary grid and a lagging light signal when said light is passed through the transparent lower portions of said stationary grid when said incremental measuring means indicate increasing weight; said source of light producing a lagging light signal when said light is passed through the transparent upper portions of said stationary grid and a leading light signal when said light is passed through the transparent lower portions of said stationary grid when said incremental measuring means indicate decreasing weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The digital scale recited in claim 3 wherein said signal generation means further include photoconductor means for respectively converting said leading and lagging light signals into a series of leading electrical pulses and a series of lagging electrical pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The digital scale recited in claim 1 wherein said testing means include electronic logic for producing an output impulse when an electrical impulse received from one of said outputs of said discrimination means was immediately preceded by an electrical impulse from the same output; said logic circuit producing no output impulse when an electrical impulse received from one of said outputs of said discrimination means was not immediately preceded by an electrical impulse from the same output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The digital scale recited in claim 5 wherein said testing circuit further includes delay means coupled to said electronic logic, normally displaying a first voltage state; said delay means switching to a second voltage state when no output impulse is received from said electronic logic for a predetermined time; said delay means energizing said digital means after switching to said second voltage state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The digital scale recited in claim 5 wherein said predetermined time is greater than the time required to produce two of said electrical impulses by said discrimination means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The digital scale recited in claim 1 further includes a construction unit coupled between said testing means and said digital means for delaying passage of said electrical information to said digital means until afteR any existing electrical impulse produced by said discrimination means is dissipated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |