Digital Correction for Weighing Devices with Rigid Load Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct weighing technology is prone to measurement errors due to transverse forces introduced onto load cells, which can lead to significant disturbances in measurement signals, making it challenging to achieve accurate force measurements with simple, inexpensive, and reliable weighing devices.
Innovation Solution
A weighing device with a central digital measured value correction system, utilizing a digital functional model that includes error simulation modules and a learning device to simulate and correct measurement errors, allowing for precise weighing even with simple or error-prone load cells, and enabling the use of rigid connections between load cells and force absorption without elastomer bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct weighing technology is used with rigid connections between load cells and force absorption, then the device structure becomes simple and maintenance-free, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to transverse forces and lateral interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shielding approach (elastomeric bearings) with a digital signal processing approach. A correction device processes the measurement signals electronically to compensate for errors caused by transverse forces and lateral interference, allowing rigid connections to be maintained while restoring measurement accuracy through signal correction rather than mechanical isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the measurement signal through digital processing. Correction values are calculated based on the relationship between measurement signals from multiple load cells and applied to correct distorted signals, effectively changing the signal parameters to compensate for errors introduced by rigid connections and transverse forces
2Measurement precision
If elastomeric bearings are used to shield load cells from transverse forces, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical shielding components (elastomeric bearings) with a digital correction system. Instead of using physical elements to isolate load cells from transverse forces, the system uses electronic signal processing to identify and correct measurement errors, thereby simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining or improving measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the correction function from the mechanical structure and places it in the digital evaluation unit. By separating the measurement function from the shielding function, the system removes the need for complex mechanical shielding components while maintaining measurement accuracy through independent digital correction
3Measurement precision
If multiple load cells are used to improve measurement reliability, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the correction device universal by designing it to work with multiple load cells simultaneously. The correction unit processes signals from several load cells and applies appropriate correction values to each, allowing the same correction mechanism to serve multiple measurement channels and improving overall system efficiency without proportional increases in complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a weighing device and to a weighing method, with a central digital measured value correction. The weighing device is simulated on a central analytical unit including a digital function simulator of the weighing device. The digital function simulator can be trained by means of a training device so that errors of measurement of the weighing device can be compensated. In this way, it is possible to obtain reliable and precise weighing results with weighing devices of little complexity.