Patent ID: 7104139
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G01G

Abstract:
1. A system for measuring static load applied to a mechanical support component, said system comprising: a piezoelectric sensor; a discharge resistor connected directly in parallel with said piezoelectric sensor, said piezoelectric sensor generating a charge when stressed in response to a static load on the mechanical support component, thereby producing an analog voltage across said discharge resistor; electronic circuitry for converting said analog voltage to a digital value, said electronic circuitry including an integrator for integrating the analog voltage across the discharge resistor with respect to time to provide the time integral of the analog voltage across the discharge resistor, the static load on the mechanical support being measured being proportional to the time integral of the analog voltage across the discharge resistor; said discharge resistor discharging said piezoelectric sensor; and a feedback circuit to compensate for decay drift of said analog voltage.