Current sensor
First Claim
1. A current sensor, comprising:
- a ferromagnetic core having a substantially central opening for receiving a current conductor and a gap comprising at least two gaps portions; and
a detector comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element disposed in a first one of the gap portions and configured to generate a respective first magnetic field signal in response to a first magnetic field having a first angle with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and at least one second magnetic field sensing element disposed in a second one of the gap portions and configured to generate a respective second magnetic field signal in response to a second magnetic field having a second angle with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first and second magnetic fields are substantially equal in magnitude and wherein the first and second angles are substantially opposite in polarity.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A current sensor includes a ferromagnetic core having a substantially central opening for receiving a current conductor and a gap. A detector of the current sensor includes at least one first magnetic field sensing element disposed in a first gap portion and configured to generate a respective first magnetic field signal in response to a first magnetic field having a first angle with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element. The detector also includes at least one second magnetic field sensing element disposed in a second gap portion and configured to generate a respective second magnetic field signal in response to a second magnetic field having a second angle with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element. The first and second magnetic fields are substantially equal in magnitude and the first and second angles are substantially opposite in polarity.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A current sensor, comprising:
-
a ferromagnetic core having a substantially central opening for receiving a current conductor and a gap comprising at least two gaps portions; and a detector comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element disposed in a first one of the gap portions and configured to generate a respective first magnetic field signal in response to a first magnetic field having a first angle with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and at least one second magnetic field sensing element disposed in a second one of the gap portions and configured to generate a respective second magnetic field signal in response to a second magnetic field having a second angle with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first and second magnetic fields are substantially equal in magnitude and wherein the first and second angles are substantially opposite in polarity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of sensing a current through a current conductor disposed through an opening of a ferromagnetic core having a gap, the method comprising:
-
placing at least one first magnetic field sensing element in a first portion of the gap, the at least one first magnetic field sensing element generating a first magnetic field signal in response to a first magnetic field having a first angle with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element; placing at least one second magnetic field sensing element in a second portion of the gap, the at least one second magnetic field sensing element generating a second magnetic field signal in response to a second magnetic field having a second angle with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first and second magnetic fields are substantially equal in magnitude and wherein the first and second angles are substantially opposite in polarity; and generating a first detector output signal in response to the first magnetic field signal and the second magnetic field signal when the current through the current conductor is within a first current level range, wherein the first detector output signal is indicative of a measured current in the first current level range. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A current sensor, comprising:
-
a ferromagnetic core having a substantially central opening for receiving a current conductor and a gap; means positioned in a first portion of the gap for generating a first magnetic field signal in response to a first magnetic field having a first angle with respect to the first magnetic field signal generating means; and means positioned in a second portion of the gap for generating a second magnetic field signal in response to a second magnetic field having a second angle with respect to the second magnetic field signal generating means, wherein the first and second magnetic fields are substantially equal in magnitude and wherein the first angle and the second angle are substantially opposite in polarity. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
Specification