June
2006, Issue 191
Measurement
System for Weight and Dimensions
Renesas
M16C Platform Design Contest 2005
With
John’s M16C/62P-based system, it’s quick and easy
to weigh and measure packages of various sizes for
shipment. By pressing a button, the package’s weight
and dimensions are shown on the system’s LCD. The
data is then uploaded to your PC.
by
John Peterson
Electronic
scales, most of which are easy to interface to PCs,
are commonly used in offices and warehouses to measure
the weights of packages prior to shipping. However,
for most commercial shipping services, knowing a package’s
weight alone isn’t enough. Companies like DHL, UPS,
and FedEx need to know a package’s physical dimensions
as well as its weight. To determine a package’s dimensions,
most people take measurements by hand with a measuring
tape or yardstick. This can get costly and time-consuming.
When handling packages of various sizes, measuring and
recording each package’s dimensions invariably adds
several steps to the shipping process.
My
Weasure measurement system offers a one-touch solution
to this problem (see Photo 1a). When you place a package
on the measurement frame, the system instantly displays
the weight and dimensions data on its LCD. By connecting
the system to your PC’s serial port, you can upload
the data directly to your computer. Using a shipping
application, you can then send the measurements directly
to a shipping company’s web site.
|
Photo
1a—The Weasure measures the weight and dimensions
of a package. The prototype measuring frame is made
of wood. A DIGIWEIGH DW-36XP digital scale is mounted
under the platform. b—The photocells on the measurement
frame are spaced 1² apart.
The first sensor that isn’t blocked by a package
indicates the package’s size. |
.
