US3659665A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical weighing systems with multiple incremental readouts
Assignee: HOWE RICHARDSON Co
•
Filing: 1970-07-27
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A weighing apparatus and method wherein an electrical analog signal, having a level representative of the weight of a load, is converted into a digital pulse train by an analog-to-digital converter. A counter for counting the converter-produced pulses is connected to one or more devices that provide a readout of the weight in visual and/or printed form. A program circuit is operatively connected to the converter and the counter, and selected circuit connections are made in the program for providing a selected one or more of the following conditions: (1) the division of the pulse train by a pre-selected divisor to count in only the quotient at the counter (2) the transfer of selected information from the counter to the readout devices to cause the weight to be read out by counting in any of a plurality of different increments such as ones, twos, or fives. Additional features pertain to tare circuits for taring the weightrepresenting signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilbert Allan Godwin
- 👤 Chapin A Pratt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G3/00; G01G3/12; G01G3/14; G01G3/1402; G01G3/1406; G01G13/00; G01G13/24; G01G3/142; G01G3/147; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to sAid structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said analog signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of the analog signal applied at the input of said converter, electrical pulse counter means for producing information at its output that is representative of the number of pulse counts applied to its input, digital readout means, and circuit completing means for electrically connecting said converter to said counter means to supply converter-produced pulses to the input of said counter and for electrically connecting the output of said counter means to said readout means to transfer information supplied at the output of said counter means to said readout means for reading out the transferred information in digital form, said circuit completing means including preconditioned programming means for selectively providing any of the following: (1) division of the number of pulses in said converter-produced train of pulses by at least one predetermined divisor and application of the counts representing the quotient to the input of said counter means; and (2) the transfer of preselected information from said counter means to said readout means for causing said readout means to read out the count supplied to said counter means in equivalent one of a plurality of different increments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to sAid structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said analog signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of the analog signal applied at the input of said converter, electrical pulse counter means for producing information at its output that is representative of the number of pulse counts applied to its input, digital readout means, and circuit completing means for electrically connecting said converter to said counter means to supply converter-produced pulses to the input of said counter and for electrically connecting the output of said counter means to said readout means to transfer information supplied at the output of said counter means to said readout means for reading out the transferred information in digital form, said circuit completing means including preconditioned programming means for selectively providing any of the following: (1) division of the number of pulses in said converter-produced train of pulses by at least one predetermined divisor and application of the counts representing the quotient to the input of said counter means; and (2) the transfer of preselected information from said counter means to said readout means for causing said readout means to read out the count supplied to said counter means in equivalent one of a plurality of different increments.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of providing a digital readout of the weight of a load, said method comprising the steps of producing an electrical analog signal having magnitude that represents the weight of said load, converting said analog signal into a weight-representing train of sequentially occurring pulses wherein the number of pulses in said train is a predetermined multiple of the weight of said load, dividing the number of pulses in said train by said multiple to provide a quotient of said pulses in which the number is numerically equivalent to the weight of said load, counting the number of pulses in said quotient, and providing a digital readout that is determined by the number of counted pulses.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of providing a digital readout of the weight of a load, said method comprising the steps of producing an electrical analog signal having magnitude that represents the weight of said load, converting said analog signal into a weight-representing train of sequentially occurring pulses wherein the number of pulses in said train is a predetermined multiple of the weight of said load, dividing the number of pulses in said train by said multiple to provide a quotient of said pulses in which the number is numerically equivalent to the weight of said load, counting the number of pulses in said quotient, and providing a digital readout that is determined by the number of counted pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical D.C. signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said D.C. signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a serial train of electrical pulses having a fixed frequency wherein the number of pulses in said train is representative of a sample of said D.C. signal at the input of said converter, electrical pulse counter means comprising a plurality of cascaded decade counters having outputs respectively representing separate digits of a multi-digit decimal number, circuit completing means for electrically connecting the output of said converter to the lowest order decade counter of said plurality of counters, means forming a part of said circuit completing means for dividing the number of pulses in said train to provide a quotient in the form of a series of pulse counts, said lowest order decade counter being connected to said dividing means for counting in the counts in said quotient, and means connected to said counter means to provide a digital read-out of the counts that are counted by said counter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical D.C. signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said D.C. signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a serial train of electrical pulses having a fixed frequency wherein the number of pulses in said train is representative of a sample of said D.C. signal at the input of said converter, electrical pulse counter means comprising a plurality of cascaded decade counters having outputs respectively representing separate digits of a multi-digit decimal number, circuit completing means for electrically connecting the output of said converter to the lowest order decade counter of said plurality of counters, means forming a part of said circuit completing means for dividing the number of pulses in said train to provide a quotient in the form of a series of pulse counts, said lowest order decade counter being connected to said dividing means for counting in the counts in said quotient, and means connected to said counter means to provide a digital read-out of the counts that are counted by said counter means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of converting a signal conditioning and readout circuit from use with a first weighing apparatus having a first predetermined weighing capacity to use with a second weighing apparatus having a second predetermined weighing capacity wherein said first weighing capacity is at least twice as great as said second weighing capacity, wherein each of said first and second weighing apparatus has means for converting the weight of a load being weighed into an electrical D.C. signal whose voltage level is A function of the weight of said load, wherein said circuit has a signal amplifying network for amplifying said D.C. signal, an analog-to-digit converter for converting a sample of the amplification of said D.C. signal into a pulse train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the voltage level of said amplification of said D.C. signal and in which each pulse is representative of a predetermined increment of D.C. voltage, a pulse counter for counting the pulses in said train, and a readout device connected to said counter for reading out the number of counted pulses in the form of a decimal number, and wherein said amplifying network is set to provide a predetermined gain for amplifying the D.C. signal from said first weighing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of increasing said predetermined gain to a value substantially equal to said predetermined gain multiplied by a preselected integer than is greater than one, and dividing the number of pulses in said train by said integer before said pulses are counted by said counter.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of converting a signal conditioning and readout circuit from use with a first weighing apparatus having a first predetermined weighing capacity to use with a second weighing apparatus having a second predetermined weighing capacity wherein said first weighing capacity is at least twice as great as said second weighing capacity, wherein each of said first and second weighing apparatus has means for converting the weight of a load being weighed into an electrical D.C. signal whose voltage level is A function of the weight of said load, wherein said circuit has a signal amplifying network for amplifying said D.C. signal, an analog-to-digit converter for converting a sample of the amplification of said D.C. signal into a pulse train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the voltage level of said amplification of said D.C. signal and in which each pulse is representative of a predetermined increment of D.C. voltage, a pulse counter for counting the pulses in said train, and a readout device connected to said counter for reading out the number of counted pulses in the form of a decimal number, and wherein said amplifying network is set to provide a predetermined gain for amplifying the D.C. signal from said first weighing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of increasing said predetermined gain to a value substantially equal to said predetermined gain multiplied by a preselected integer than is greater than one, and dividing the number of pulses in said train by said integer before said pulses are counted by said counter.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of digitally reading out a weight of a load being weighed in a weighing system having a signal producing means for providing a D.C. signal whose voltage level is a function of the weight of said load, an analog-to-digital converter connected to said signal producing means for converting a sample of said D.C. signal into a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the voltage level of said D.C. signal, a pulse counter connected to said converter for counting the number of pulses in said train, and a readout device connected to said counter for reading out the number of counted pulses in decimal number form, said method comprising the steps of providing electrical connections for transferring the data from said counter to said readout device, and selectively conditioning said electrical connections to cause said read-out device to read out said decimal number in any of a plurality of different increments.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of digitally reading out a weight of a load being weighed in a weighing system having a signal producing means for providing a D.C. signal whose voltage level is a function of the weight of said load, an analog-to-digital converter connected to said signal producing means for converting a sample of said D.C. signal into a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the voltage level of said D.C. signal, a pulse counter connected to said converter for counting the number of pulses in said train, and a readout device connected to said counter for reading out the number of counted pulses in decimal number form, said method comprising the steps of providing electrical connections for transferring the data from said counter to said readout device, and selectively conditioning said electrical connections to cause said read-out device to read out said decimal number in any of a plurality of different increments.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of digitally reading out a weight of a load comprising the steps of producing a train of pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the weight of the load to be read out, counting at least a predetermined number of the pulses in said train, and selectively conditioning a program circuit for reading out a decimal number representing the counted number of pulses in any of a plurality of different, pre-selected increments.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of digitally reading out a weight of a load comprising the steps of producing a train of pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the weight of the load to be read out, counting at least a predetermined number of the pulses in said train, and selectively conditioning a program circuit for reading out a decimal number representing the counted number of pulses in any of a plurality of different, pre-selected increments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 6, wherein said pre-selected increments are increments of ones, twos, and fives.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 6 comprising the step of dividing the number of pulses in said train by a pre-selected divisor before the pulses in said train are counted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for providing an electrical D.C. signal whose voltage is a function of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, an amplifier circuit electrically connected to said signal producing means and said converter for amplifying said D.C. signal and for applying the amplification of said D.C. signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of a sample of said amplification of said D.C. signal that is applied to the converter''s input, counter means, electrical circuit completing means connecting the output of said converter to the input of said counter means, means for selectively adjusting the gain of said amplifier circuit to provide for an increase of a predetermined gain by a multiple thereof, means forming a part of said circuit completing means for dividing the number of pulses in said train by a divisor that is equal to said multiple to provide a quotient in the form of a series of pulse counts, said counter means bEing connected to said dividing means for counting the counts in said quotient, and means connected to said counter means for providing a digital readout of the counted counts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for providing an electrical D.C. signal whose voltage is a function of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, an amplifier circuit electrically connected to said signal producing means and said converter for amplifying said D.C. signal and for applying the amplification of said D.C. signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of a sample of said amplification of said D.C. signal that is applied to the converter''s input, counter means, electrical circuit completing means connecting the output of said converter to the input of said counter means, means for selectively adjusting the gain of said amplifier circuit to provide for an increase of a predetermined gain by a multiple thereof, means forming a part of said circuit completing means for dividing the number of pulses in said train by a divisor that is equal to said multiple to provide a quotient in the form of a series of pulse counts, said counter means bEing connected to said dividing means for counting the counts in said quotient, and means connected to said counter means for providing a digital readout of the counted counts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said dividing means is operative to divide the number of pulses in said train by two.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said dividing means is operative to divide the number of pulses in said train by five.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said analog signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of the analog signal applied at the input of said converter, pulse counter means, circuit completing means connecting the output of said converter to the input of said counter means, means forming a part of said circuit completing means for dividing the number of pulses in said train to provide a quotient in the form of a series of pulse counts, said counter means being connected to said dividing means for counting the counts in said quotient, and means connected to said counter means for providing a digital read-out of the counted counts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said analog signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of the analog signal applied at the input of said converter, pulse counter means, circuit completing means connecting the output of said converter to the input of said counter means, means forming a part of said circuit completing means for dividing the number of pulses in said train to provide a quotient in the form of a series of pulse counts, said counter means being connected to said dividing means for counting the counts in said quotient, and means connected to said counter means for providing a digital read-out of the counted counts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the pulses in said train are serially produced by said converter at a fixed frequency and wherein said pulse counts are serially applied to said counter means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 13, wherein said dividing means has a divide-by-two stage, a divide-by-five stage, and terminal means to provide for the division of the number of pulses in said train either by two or by five.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein said read-out means comprises a visual display device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein said readout means comprises a printer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said analog signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to recurrently produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of the analog signal applied at the input of said converter, and means operatively connected to said converter for counting at least a portion of the pulses in said train and for reading out in decimal number form the counted pulses in increments greater than ones.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for producing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter, means for applying said analog signal to the input of said converter, said converter being operative to recurrently produce at its output a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of the analog signal applied at the input of said converter, and means operatively connected to said converter for counting at least a portion of the pulses in said train and for reading out in decimal number form the counted pulses in increments greater than ones.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein said counting and readout means is operative to read out the counted pulses in increments of twos.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein said counting and readout means is operative to read out the counted pulses in increments of fives.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
94 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein said counting and readout means comprises electrical counter means for counting at least said portion of said pulses and for producing at its output a binary coded data word representative of the number of counted pulses, decoder and digital readout means for converting binary coded data information transferred to its input into a decimal number, and means for transferring only a portion of the binary coded data word supplied at the output of said counter means to the input of sad decoder and digital readout means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein said counter means has a plurality of decade couNters with one of said counters providing a four-bit binary coded data word for a units decade in the readout decimal number, and wherein said transfer means provides for the transfer of only preselected ones of the bits in said four-bit word to said decoder and readout means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for providing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to said signal producing means for converting a sample of said analog signal into a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of said signal, pulse counter means comprising a series of cascaded decade counters having data outputs respectively representing separate digits in a multi-digit decimal number, readout means for reading out said data outputs in the form of a decimal number, electrical circuit completing means for (a) connecting said converter to said counter means to apply converter-produced pulses to be counted to the input of the lowest order decade counter of said plurality of counters and (b) transferring said data outputs to said readout means, and preconditioned programming means and including electrical connections for transferring the data output of said lowest order decade counter to said readout means to provide a readout of said decimal number of increments that are greater than one.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a weighing apparatus, a structure for receiving a load to be weighed, electrical signal producing means operatively associated with said structure for providing an electrical analog signal having a level that is a function of the weight of the load applied to said structure, an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to said signal producing means for converting a sample of said analog signal into a train of electrical pulses in which the number of pulses is representative of the level of said signal, pulse counter means comprising a series of cascaded decade counters having data outputs respectively representing separate digits in a multi-digit decimal number, readout means for reading out said data outputs in the form of a decimal number, electrical circuit completing means for (a) connecting said converter to said counter means to apply converter-produced pulses to be counted to the input of the lowest order decade counter of said plurality of counters and (b) transferring said data outputs to said readout means, and preconditioned programming means and including electrical connections for transferring the data output of said lowest order decade counter to said readout means to provide a readout of said decimal number of increments that are greater than one.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein said decimal number is read out in increments of twos.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein said decimal number is read out in increments of fives.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein said converter serially produces said pulses at a fixed frequency.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
100 words
The weighing apparatus defined in claim 25 wherein said electrical circuit completing means includes first and second signal storage means having outputs connected to said readout means, said first storage means having an input that is connected by said programming means to the data output of said lowest order decade counter, and said second storage means having inputs connected directly to the data outputs of the remaining ones of said decade counters, said weighing apparatus further including means for causing said first and second storage means to store the data supplied to their inputs by said electrical circuit completing means.
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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) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |