Digitally Compensated Hydraulic Scale System

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a weighing system which incorporates hydraulic load cells, and more particularly to a hydraulic weighing system which includes a digitally compensated pressure transducer module so as to provide a more cost-effective, accurate, hydraulic weighing system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Weighing systems which incorporate hydraulic load cells are well-known in the art. A typical hydraulic load cell includes a piston which is mounted in a cylinder. The hydraulic load cell is mounted to a weighing platform such that the force applied to the weighing platform is transmitted to the piston, thereby compressing hydraulic fluid in the cylinder. Examples of hydraulic load cells are shown for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,658,143; 3,633,695; 3,646,854; 3,658,142; 4,360,071; 3,999,427; 3,889,529; 4,383,584; and 3,765,497.

One technique for measuring the load on the hydraulic load cell is to measure the pressure of the hydraulic fluid. An overview of a number of types of pressure transducers is provided in "Handbook of Transducers for Electronic Measuring Systems--Chapter 10, " H Norton, Prentice Hall, Inc. (1969). As for measuring the total weight on a weighing platform, Bradley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,946, relates to a weighing apparatus which comprises a plurality of load cells, each including a piston, a cylinder and a flexible diaphragm. The cylinders are interconnected in spaced coaxial relation on a support frame. An output signal is generated which combines the total output pressures of the independent hydraulic load cells.

Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,084 relates to a system for monitoring the load carried by a vehicle. A plurality of load cells extend between a load bed and the unsprung portion of the vehicle suspension. Each load cell includes a hydraulic cylinder which generates a hydraulic force corresponding to the load applied thereto. A pressure transducer is connected to each hydraulic cylinder, and the outputs of the transducers are summed and fed to an auto-zeroing system. The output of this system is connected to A.backslash.D converter and then to a visual display.

Huff, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,373 relates to a weighing system that includes a hydraulic cell with an analog pressure transducer. The output of the pressure transducer is coupled with an A/D converter to convert the analog signal to a digital signal. The weight is conditioned by utilizing pressure and temperature amplification, which allow the container to be zeroed and scaled to monitor the weight.

Davis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,308, relates to a weighing system that includes hydraulic load cells and pressure transducers to generate an analog signal having an amplitude proportional to the weight on the load cells. A conversion device converts the analog signal into an oscillation signal having a frequency which is proportional to the weight on the platform. A counter couples to the conversion device to monitor the oscillation signal and to provide a monitored load count which is proportional to the weight. A computer converts the load count into a signal representative of the weight.

It is desirable to have a weighing system that provides the benefits of the use of multiple hydraulic load cells and which i) is relatively inexpensive to manufacture as compared to conventional strain gauge load cells; ii) is modular with components that may be used in weighing systems having different load ranges; and iii) provides digital compensation for errors in the system components so as to provide the accuracy required of a commercial scale. None of the aforementioned devices provides each of these benefits.

The present invention is a pressure transducer module which includes a plurality of cavities, with each cavity in fluid communication with an associated source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, preferably a hydraulic load cell. Each cavity includes a diaphragm plate that deforms generally proportionately to variations in the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the cavity. A sensor mounted to the diaphragm near each cavity generates an output signal representative of the deformation of the diaphragm plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressure transducer module includes a base plate, with the diaphragm plate fixedly attached to the base plate, with the cavities formed in either the base plate or the diaphragm plate. Each sensor, which is preferably a strain gauge arranged in a wheatstone bridge, is located adjacent to its associated cavity on the other side of the diaphragm plate from the cavity.

The output signals from the sensors are multiplexed and converted to digital form, whereby the pressure transducer module generates a digital output signal comprising the outputs of the sensors. The pressure transducer module is pre-calibrated, and a computer controller stores calibration data for the module. The pre-calibration data includes data for compensating for creep, hysteresis, non-linearity and temperature properties of the pressure transducer module. The pressure transducer module also includes a temperature sensor for measuring the average temperature of the transducer module.

A modular weighing system includes a weighing platform; at least one pressure transducer module; and a plurality of hydraulic transducers positioned for measuring the load applied to the weighing platform. Each hydraulic transducer generates a hydraulic fluid output at a pressure proportional to the load applied to the hydraulic transducer. Each hydraulic transducer output is connected to an associated cavity of the pressure transducer module. A controller receives the outputs of the sensors and applies the aforementioned calibration data to the outputs of the sensors to calculate the weight of the load on the platform.

Each hydraulic transducer output preferably has a fixed pre-determined output pressure range corresponding to the load range for that hydraulic transducer, so that the controller may scale the hydraulic fluid pressure input against the pre-determined output pressure range of its associated hydraulic transducer for determining the load on each hydraulic transducer. Thus, the transducer module may be used in weighing systems having different load ranges.

The calibration data is generated by: applying a varying pressure input to the pressure transducer module; generating an accurate pressure reference signal for measuring the varying pressure; computing calibration data for the pressure transducer utilizing the pressure reference signal and the pressure transducer pressure output signals; and storing the calibration data on storage means associated with the pressure transducer module, preferably a bar-code label.

If temperature compensation is to be provided, the calibration data is generated by the following further steps:

applying a varying temperature to the pressure transducer module while varying the pressure on the pressure transducer module; generating an accurate reference signal for measuring the varying temperature; and computing the calibration data for the pressure transducer module utilizing the temperature reference signal, the pressure reference signal and the pressure transducer output signals.

A system for performing calibration includes a calibration chamber in which a varying pressure is applied to the pressure transducer module at a varying temperature. The calibration system comprises: a calibration controller for the varying the pressure and temperature, means for generating an accurate reference signal for measuring the varying pressure, and means for generating an accurate reference signal for measuring the varying temperature. The calibration controller further comprises means for reading the pressure reference signal, the temperature reference signal and the pressure transducer output signals, means for computing the calibration data for the pressure transducer module utilizing the temperature reference signal, the pressure reference signal and the pressure transducer output signals, and means for storing the calibration data on means associated with the pressure transducer.

Each hydraulic transducer may be calibrated as well. The hydraulic transducer calibration data is generated by the following steps: applying a varying load to the hydraulic transducer; generating an accurate load reference signal for measuring the varying load, computing calibration data for the hydraulic transducer utilizing the load reference signal and the hydraulic transducer output signal; and storing the hydraulic transducer calibration data on storage means associated with the hydraulic transducer. The calibration data for the hydraulic transducer is preferably generated using a calibration system which comprises: a calibration controller for the varying the load on and temperature of the hydraulic transducer, means for generating an accurate reference signal for measuring the load on the hydraulic transducer, and means for generating an accurate reference signal for measuring the varying temperature. The calibration controller preferably comprises means for computing the calibration data for the hydraulic transducer utilizing the temperature reference signal and the load reference signal, and means for storing the hydraulic transducer calibration data on means associated with the hydraulic transducer.

An improved method of performing cornering correction in a weighing system is also provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the modular hydraulic weighing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical tank scale.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical floor scale.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a typical hydraulic load cell.

FIG. 4B is a top view of the hydraulic load cell shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional side view of the hydraulic load cell shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a bottom view of the hydraulic load cell shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the modular hydraulic weighing system of the present invention attached to a truck scale.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a typical hydraulic transducer.

FIG. 7A is a top view of the pressure transducer module of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view of the pressure transducer module shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the A/D conversion and multiplexor circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view and screen displays of the keyboard/display system controller.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the improved performance of a hydraulic weighing system which includes the pre-calibrated pressure transducer module of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the present system for calibrating the pressure transducer module and hydraulic transducers.

FIG. 12A is a top view of the pressure transducer module of the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a side view of the pressure transducer module shown in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12C is an end view of the pressure transducer module shown in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12D is an end view of the pressure transducer module shown in FIG. 12A with a cover/clamping plate installed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a hydraulic scale system which employs one or more hydraulic transducers 2. Hydraulic transducers 2 may be, for example, placed under the four corners of a structure, such as a tank or hopper scale, as shown in FIG. 2, or placed under the corners of a weighing platform, such as a floor scale, as shown in FIG. 3, or a truck scale, as shown in FIG. 5. "Weighing platform," as used herein, shall mean either a structure or an actual platform. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with respect to a system using four hydraulic transducers, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is applicable to weighing systems using one or more hydraulic transducers.

FIGS. 4A-4D and 6 show embodiments of typical hydraulic transducers for use in the invention. Hydraulic transducer 2 includes a base or body 4 which is attached to the bottom of a weighing platform (FIG. 4A) or which sits on the floor below a scale platform (FIG. 6). The base 4 supports a cylindrical casing 6 having an interior volume that is filled with a hydraulic fluid 7. A piston 8, which is movable within cylinder 6, has a pad 9, preferably a rubber pad, on one end, and a sealing diaphragm 10 on the other end. A checking ring 12 may be used to protect the diaphragm 10 from side loads. As weight is applied to the weighing platform, force is applied against piston 8, which is applied to the hydraulic fluid 7 in the interior volume of the cylinder such that an increase in weight on the weighing platform causes a proportional increase in the pressure of the hydraulic fluid. The pressurized hydraulic fluid is outputted from the hydraulic transducer 2 via a conventional hydraulic line 14. The hydraulic load cells described are by way of example only, and it is foreseen that the present invention is applicable to many other hydraulic transducer designs as well.

Generally speaking, the pressure of the hydraulic fluid will vary proportionately with the area of the piston 8. The area of the piston for any given transducer having a predetermined load range is preferably scaled so that the hydraulic transducer output over the range of the transducer is in a predetermined range, typically 0-1000 psi. For example, by varying the area of the piston, it is possible to have a truck scale transducer system having an output in the range of, for example, 100-600 psi for an applied load from 4,000-24,000 lbs., and also to have a floor scale having an output in the range of 100-600 psi for an applied load from 400-2,400 lbs. It will be appreciated that, since the output of the transducer may be kept in the same range for hydraulic transducers having vastly different load ranges the present invention enables the weighing system electronics described in detail below to be used in scales of vastly different capacities.

Hydraulic transducers 2 are connected via conventional hydraulic lines 14 to a pressure transducer module 16. Pressure transducer module 16 includes hydraulic inputs 14 from the hydraulic transducers 2. Pressure transducer module 16 includes pressure transducers 17 that convert the hydraulic pressure inputs into electrical signals proportional to the pressure of the inputs. A conventional temperature sensor 19 also provides an output signal proportional to the temperature of the pressure transducer module 16.

Pressure transducer module 16 is preferably capable of measuring four or more independent pressure inputs in the range of 0-1,000 psi, although a module could be configured for any combination of two or more pressure inputs for any pressure range. As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B and 12A-12D, the pressure module utilizes a base plate 90 and a gauged diaphragm plate 92 fixedly attached thereto. The base plate 90 and gauged diaphragm plate are preferably constructed of aluminum or stainless steel. Base plate 90 (FIG. 7B) or diaphragm plate 92 (FIG. 12A) is preferably machined so as to form a plurality of cavities 104, one cavity for each hydraulic pressure input to be measured. The thickness of diaphragm plate 92 over each cavity is selected so that increasing hydraulic pressure in the cavities causes a measurable deformation in the diaphragm plate, as discussed below. Each cavity 104 is filled with hydraulic fluid and is in fluid communication with the hydraulic inputs 14. Base plate 90 is preferably machined to enable the hydraulic inputs 14 and bleed screws 94 to be inserted therein. A cover/clamp plate 96 may be placed over the module to add structural integrity and to protect the strain gauges. Four or more strain gauges are preferably bonded on the diaphragm plate over each cavity such that increasing pressure in each cavity causes the diaphragm plate to "dome", which causes two strain gauges bonded on the diaphragm plate to be in compression and two to be in tension. The four gauges are connected to form a conventional Wheatstone bridge which, when excited with an electrical voltage, gives a low level analog voltage output proportional to the pressure in the cavity. It is foreseen that i) any other type of transducer, i.e., piezoelectric transducers, may replace the strain gauges provided that such transducers could perform the functions described herein, and ii) any other type of pressure transducer can be used to convert the hydraulic pressure from pressure transducers 2 to an electrical signal. An overview of a number of other such types of pressure transducers is provided in "Handbook of Transducers for Electronic Measuring Systems--Chapter 10," H. Norton, Prentice Hall, Inc. (1969).

Temperature sensor 19 preferably provides an analog output proportional to the average temperature of the pressure transducers. In the alternative, temperature transducer 19 may be a conventional digital temperature sensor.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7A-7B, and 12A-12D, multiple pressure sensors 17, preferably four, are contained in each pressure transducer module 16. It is foreseen that modules with other a fewer number or a greater number of pressure transducers may be used.

The output of pressure transducer module 16, which consists of four analog pressure outputs 21 and an analog or digital temperature output, is connected, via electrical cable, to a quad-multiplexed converter module 18. Quad-multiplexed convertor module 18 converts the analog outputs of the pressure transducer module 16 into digital signals via a multiplexed A/D converter. The output of quad-multiplexed convertor module 18 preferably consists of a digital serial data stream comprising the temperature of the pressure transducer module 16 and the force applied to each hydraulic transducer 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, quad-multiplexed convertor module 18 preferably employs an input multiplexor 50 to sequentially switch the analog pressure and temperature signals from the hydraulic transducers 2 into the input of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuit 52 via an optional amplifier 54. The switching selection is controlled by a switching control circuit 56, which also controls the data input/output communication to the keyboard/display system controller (discussed below), insuring correlation between the input selection and the digital data output.

The quad-multiplexed convertor module 18 can utilize any type of input switches appropriate for the output level of the pressure and temperature sensors, and any A/D converter with the resolution required for the desired overall system accuracy. A simple microprocessor or sequencing circuit may be used to control the output of data and switching between inputs. It will be appreciated that, if the particular type of pressure transducer in use generates a digital output, then it will not be necessary to employ an A/D convertor.

In a preferred embodiment, the quad-multiplexed convertor module 18 is preferably integrated with the pressure transducer module 16 in an environmentally sealed housing, resulting in a cost effective, temperature compensated, multiple input pressure transducer module with a serial digital output.

The output of the quad-multiplexed convertor module 18 is connected, via a serial data bus, to a keyboard/display system controller 20. The keyboard/display system controller 20 stores calibration data, which has been downloaded from a PC or other external source, for each of the hydraulic transducers 2 and the pressure transducer module 16 and uses this compensation data to digitally compensate for errors in the transducers to obtain an overall system accuracy within commercial weighing tolerances over a wide range of environmental conditions despite the use of system components that may have an accuracy lower that the commercial weighing tolerances.

Alternatively, a microprocessor may be incorporated into pressure transducer module 16 along with an A/D convertor, and a multiplexor (these may be incorporated into the microprocessor). The calibration data for the pressure module may then be down-loaded from a calibration controller (described in detail below) into a conventional computer memory, preferably an EEPROM, in the pressure transducer module 16, which may be accessed by the microprocessor. In this embodiment, the microprocessor performs digital compensation on the outputs of the pressure transducers within the module itself, and generates a module output representative of the error-compensated pressures from the pressure transducers. Thus, each pressure transducer module may be shipped factory calibrated so that, assuming that the hydraulic transducers are within their proper specifications, only compensation for overall system errors, i.e., cornering, need be performed by keyboard/display system controller 20.

For a system which incorporates two hydraulic transducers 2, a dual pressure transducer module 16 and a dual multiplexor A/D converter 18 could be utilized to reduce costs. Likewise, on larger scales, such as truck scales and railroad scales, up to 32 hydraulic transducers using 8 quad-pressure transducer modules 16 and 8 quad-multiplexed convertor modules 18 could be connected by serial bus to a single keyboard/display system controller 20.

As shown in FIG. 9, keyboard/display system controller 20 includes a terminal for operator interface with an alphanumeric display for operator prompting, arrow keys for access through the system menus related to operation, service, calibration and other functions, and data entry/function keys for operational control and manual entry of compensation and calibration data. The keyboard/display system controller 20 also includes a flexible I/O capability to communicate with external devices, such as a bar code scanner, printer, display, modem, computer, and 16 or more dual or quad multiplexor controller modules 18. Keyboard/display system controller 20 is preferably controlled by a conventional microprocessor, and includes memory, e.g. RAM, EPROM, flash memory, EEPROM or non-volatile or battery-backed RAM, to store compensation and calibration data.

The keyboard/display system controller can store calibration and compensation data for individual elements of the system, i.e., hydraulic transducers 2 and pressure transducer modules 16, as well as for the overall scale system.

Each hydraulic transducer 2 and each pressure transducer 17 is preferably pre-calibrated and has an associated calibration data file that is loaded into the memory of keyboard/display system controller 20. As keyboard/display system controller 20 receives the serial data stream containing the pressure readings the hydraulic transducers 2 and the pressure transducers 17, it accesses the associated calibration file for each hydraulic/pressure transducer. The calibration file for the selected transducer preferably contains information for keyboard/display system controller 20 to determine an error corrected reading of the load applied to the selected hydraulic transducer 2.

In a preferred embodiment, when each hydraulic transducer and pressure transducer is calibrated, a bar code label 24 is attached to the transducer. Bar code label 24 preferably includes coded calibration data for each hydraulic/pressure transducer 2 and 17, or a serial number to reference the calibration data to be downloaded from a computer or other external source. At the time each hydraulic/pressure transducer 2 and 17 is installed in the weighing system, a bar code scanner is preferably used to scan the bar code label 24 and retrieve the calibration data for the hydraulic/pressure transducer into EEPROM 22. Bar code label 24 and the bar code scanner are preferably of the types conventionally known in the art.

Once all of the hydraulic/pressure transducers have been installed in the system, the bar code scanner may be disconnected, if desired. Rather than utilizing bar code labels to store the calibration data, the data may simply be stored on a computer or downloaded by any conventionally known means. If it is desired to enter other error correction data for a hydraulic/pressure transducer 2 or 17 that was not pre-calibrated or that otherwise requires manual entry, this error correction data may be entered via the keyboard. If desired, each hydraulic/pressure transducer 2 and 17 may include an identification symbol, e.g. a manufacturer's Serial No., to associate that hydraulic/pressure transducer with its calibration file.

Each hydraulic transducer 2 may be provided with an integral temperature sensing element which provides a temperature reference signal for calibration and to provide temperature compensation while in service. The temperature sensor is preferably integral with the hydraulic transducer and measures the absolute temperature of the hydraulic transducer. In this way, the calibration data generated during manufacture of the hydraulic transducer will preferably include calibration and compensation for temperature induced errors. Once installed in the weighing system, the hydraulic transducer temperature sensor, in conjunction with the calibrations data, will allow compensation for temperature change.

A hydraulic/pressure transducer calibration and compensation system is provided for generating calibration and compensation data for the hydraulic and pressure transducer. Generally speaking, hydraulic transducers 2 may be manufactured with sufficiently small tolerances such that once a hydraulic transducer has been calibrated, that calibration data may be used for all hydraulic transducers of the same design and manufacture. Nonetheless, it is foreseen that each hydraulic transducer may be individually calibrated using the technique described below, if desired.

With respect to pressure transducers 17, it is preferred to generate calibration data for each transducer prior to its use. To generate such calibration data a calibration system, such as that shown in FIG. 11, is used. The calibration system is preferably capable of substantially simultaneously calibrating a plurality of pressure transducers, and may also be used to calibrate hydraulic sensors. Alternatively, separate calibration systems may be used for calibrating hydraulic transducers and pressure transducers. The pressure transducer 17 to be calibrated is preferably placed in a temperature chamber 60 which allows the temperature around the transducer to be varied during calibration. Each pressure transducer 17 is then attached to a hydraulic line 62, at which time the line is bled to purge any residual air from the line. Each hydraulic line 62 is then pressurized at several predetermined pressures by any conventionally known source of pressure 64, and pressure readings are taken from the output each pressure transducer by means of a multiplexed A/D convertor 66. A/D convertor 66 and pressure source 64 are controlled by a computer controller 68, which also receives the pressure outputs from the pressure transducers 17.

In order to calibrate the pressure transducer over its intended load range, the pressurizing means 64, which is computer controlled, applies varying pressure to the hydraulic fluid in each hydraulic line 62. This force is preferably measured by a master pressure transducer 70, which generates an accurate reference signal of the pressure on each pressure transducer.

The calibration chamber preferably includes a temperature controller 76 for varying the temperature in the chamber responsive to a signal from computer controller 68. This allows each pressure transducer to be calibrated for variations in both pressure and temperature. In order to measure the temperature of the pressure transducers during testing, a conventional temperature reading instrument 74 is provided for reading the output of temperature sensor 72 in the temperature chamber and for converting it to digital form to be read by the computer controller 68. Alternatively, a digital temperature sensor may communicate directly with computer controller 68.

Computer controller 68 generates signals to apply varying pressures to the pressure transducers 17 while varying the temperature of the pressure transducers. As this is done, the computer controller reads the hydraulic transducer temperature and pressure outputs, and compares these to the outputs of the master pressure transducer and the temperature controller outputs. Using this information, the computer controller generates digital calibration and compensation data for each pressure transducer.

In addition, at various fixed pressures, the system measures changes in the output of the pressure transducer over time to determine creep characteristics for the transducer. In a preferred embodiment, each pressure transducer is tested at three different pressures, a low pressure, for example, 100 psi, a medium pressure, for example, 400 psi, and a high pressure, for example, 700 psi, and at three different temperatures, preferably -10 Celsius, +20 Celsius, and +40 Celsius. In addition, the creep characteristics are measured at a stable pressure over a fixed time period, and the hysteresis characteristics of the transducer are measured by increasing and then decreasing the pressure in steps over the working pressure range, and measuring the difference between the values for increasing pressures versus those for decreasing pressures.

As previously discussed, each pressure transducer preferably includes a bar code label which is attached to the transducer. When the calibration and compensation data has been compiled for a particular pressure transducer, this data is stored in computer memory against the bar code label number for the transducer. If desired, a separate calibration data storage means may be provided to load the pressure transducer calibration data onto a separate storage device, i.e. a disk, a PROM, or other storage device. For example, the calibration data may be stored on a disk.

If the hydraulic transducers are to be calibrated, the calibration system preferably includes a loading ram 78 or other means to apply a force equivalent to weight on the hydraulic transducer 2 for calibration. The hydraulic transducer 2 and ram 14 are preferably placed in a temperature chamber 60 such as that described above. The system may calibrate more than one hydraulic transducer at a time by multiplexing the hydraulic transducer outputs to controller 68.

To measure the output of hydraulic transducer 2, hydraulic transducer reading instrument 80 is connected to hydraulic transducer 2 via a hydraulic line. Hydraulic transducer reading instrument 80 may be any type of highly accurate pressure transducer, and preferably includes an A/D convertor for converting the pressure transducer output into digital form for computer controller 68. In order to measure the temperature of the hydraulic transducer 2, a conventional temperature reading instrument 72 may be used, as discussed above.

In order to calibrate the hydraulic transducer 2 over its intended load range, loading ram 78, which is preferably a hydraulic device in which the pressure in the ram is controlled by computer controller 18, applies a force, for example 1000 lbs, 2000 lbs, 3000 lbs, 4000 lbs, etc. to hydraulic transducer 2. The pressure output of the hydraulic transducer is accurately measured by the pressure reading instrument at various pressures so as to either verify the accuracy of the hydraulic transducer, or to generate a look up table relating the force applied to the hydraulic transducer to the hydraulic transducer output. As previously mentioned, once calibration data is generated for a hydraulic transducer, much of the data will generally be applicable to all hydraulic transducers of the same design.

Computer controller 68 preferably generates signals to apply varying loads to hydraulic transducer 2 while varying the temperature of the hydraulic transducer. As this is done, computer controller 68 reads the hydraulic transducer pressure output and the output of a highly accurate master reference load cell 100 via a master load cell reading instrument 102. Using this information, the computer controller 68 generates digital calibration and compensation data for the hydraulic transducer 2.

If desired, other methods of storing and retrieving the calibration data may be used. For example, if hydraulic transducer data storage device 28 is used to magnetically store the hydraulic transducer calibration data on a disk, this information may then be transmitted by a modem 30, or other interface device directly to the memory of the instrument in which the hydraulic transducer is eventually installed.

The compensation and calibration data for each individual pressure transducer 17 or hydraulic transducer 2 can be conveyed to the site of a weighing system by any of the following methods:

1. A telephone modem link which transmits data from a manufacturing database to the instrument memory at the scale location.

2. High density bar code label on the pressure/hydraulic transducer which is read into instrument memory at scale location.

3. Portable data storage device such as a portable computer, EEPROM, floppy disc, tape, etc. which can be transported to the scale site and data loaded into instrument memory.

4. Keyboard manual data entry at scale site from information supplied with pressure transducer.

The compensation and calibration data which is computed during the calibration phase for the pressure transducer and/or the hydraulic transducer preferably includes:

a. A temperature correction table for the hydraulic transducer for zero drift. Correction preferably occurs by adding or subtracting counts to the digital read out of the pressure transducer.

b. Correction table for ambient temperatures for span or output.

c. Linearity correction table.

d. Creep correction table which adds or subtracts digital counts as a function of pressure, ambient temperature and time.

e. Hysteresis correction.

Once each pressure/hydraulic transducer is calibrated, it generally requires no additional calibration for errors. As discussed above, hydraulic transducers may be designed such that the outputs of transducers having vastly different load ranges may be kept in the same range. Accordingly, the aforementioned pressure sensing modules may be used in a variety of different scales ranging from floor scales to truck scales, without modification. Moreover, the present system allows highly accurate weighing systems to be developed using much less expensive pressure transducers once these pressure transducers are pre-calibrated using the above-described method. Once the calibration data has been loaded, the system will provide a highly accurate reading of the pressure transducer output, without additional calibration or error correction, except that compensation due to the mechanical properties of the weighing system may be made at the installation site.

By way of example, the present system can compensate for large errors due to non-linearity and hysteresis. In the scale industry, an accuracy of 0.02% or greater is required. As shown in FIG. 10, testing was performed initially with an uncompensated pressure transducer module. The graphed results show that, uncompensated, the module failed to provide the system accuracy required to fall within the acceptable tolerance band. Once compensated, the system accuracy was well within the necessary tolerance band.

The present system also affords means for diagnostic testing of pressure transducers installed in a pressure transducer module, or hydraulic transducers. Since certain characteristics of the pressure/hydraulic transducers are stored in the system memory, diagnostic testing may be done by comparing actual readings from the transducers, either loaded or unloaded, with the predicted values. If the discrepancy exceeds a threshold, system maintenance is necessary. Alternatively, the system can be programmed to self-adjust to compensate for the errors.

If desired, the present system may be used to effectuate digital cornering of a scale incorporating multiple hydraulic transducers. In order to accomplish this, a known weight is applied over each of the hydraulic transducers on the scale, and an error (span) correction factor is determined. The span factor for each transducer is then entered into the system's memory at the time the hydraulic transducer is installed in a scale to balance the output reading of each hydraulic transducer to a common value, so that weight will read out same value on all sections of the scale.

In order to apply the known weight to each of the hydraulic transducers on the scale, automated means, i.e., a robot may be provided which automatically moves from one hydraulic transducer to the next on the scale and applies the known weight. The automated means then reads each hydraulic transducer output and computes a span factor for that hydraulic transducer.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to certain embodiments and examples, variations and modifications exist which are within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.