Neonatal Scale Flexible Cable Maintains Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing neonatal scale platforms struggle to maintain factory calibration when the bassinet is tilted at various angles, requiring additional time for calibration and potentially leading to less accurate weight measurements.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a scale platform with a flexible cable assembly that maintains a constant downward force on the scale platform cover, regardless of the bassinet's tilt position, ensuring accurate weight measurements across multiple angled positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the bassinet is tilted at various angles for therapeutic reasons, then infant comfort and therapeutic effectiveness are improved, but the scale platform loses factory calibration and measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebassinet tilt position flexibilityVSAvoidweight measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible cable assembly is introduced as an intermediary between the scale platform cover and the load cell carrier. This cable assembly maintains a constant downward force on the cover regardless of bassinet tilt position, acting as a mediator that decouples the mechanical connection from the gravitational reference frame, thereby preserving calibration across multiple angles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable assembly is designed to maintain constant tension force as a key parameter across varying bassinet angles. By controlling the force parameter to remain constant while the position parameter changes, the system maintains measurement accuracy despite angular variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the bassinet is repositioned to a calibrated horizontal position for accurate weighing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but additional time is required and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight measurement accuracyVSAvoidtime to reposition bassinet

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The scale platform is pre-calibrated to account for the constant downward force exerted by the flexible cable assembly. This preliminary calibration incorporates the cable's gravitational reference function, eliminating the need for repositioning actions before each measurement and allowing accurate weighing at any bassinet angle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid cable assembly is used to connect the load cell carrier and scale platform cover, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to maintain constant downward force during tilting is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable assembly structural stabilityVSAvoidcalibration maintenance across angles

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible cable assembly replaces the rigid cable structure. This flexible cable can bend and accommodate angular changes while maintaining constant tension, allowing the system to preserve both structural integrity and calibration accuracy across multiple bassinet tilt positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for accurate factory calibration and consistent weight measurements of the bassinet and infant at various tilt positions, eliminating the need for re-calibration and improving measurement accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible cable assembly that maintains a constant downward force on the scale platform cover, regardless of the bassinet's tilt position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250102350A1Neonatal scale platform having flexible cable for maintaining scale calibration

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 DRAGERWERK AG

AI summary

An apparatus and method of calibrating the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus may include a scale platform, a warming therapy device comprising a bassinet and at least one electrical device, the warming therapy device being disposed on the scale platform, the scale platform disposed between the warming therapy device and the base; and a conductor assembly adapted to (a) supply electrical power between a power supply and at least some of the at least one electrical device, and (b) enable the transmission of electrical signals from the at least one electrical device to the computer system, the conductor assembly comprising a scale platform cable assembly comprising a plurality of conductors, the scale platform cable assembly having a first connector end and a second connector end, the first connector end being rigidly affixed to the load cell carrier and the second connector end being rigidly affixed to the scale platform cover.