Current sensor and battery current monitoring system
First Claim
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1. A current sensor, comprising:
- a housing configured as a two-part clamshell;
a core disposed within the housing, the core defining a longitudinal axis between opposing end surfaces, the core being divided into at least two segments, the core defining a gap between opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces spanning longitudinally between the opposing end surfaces; and
a sensor that senses magnetic field,wherein the core is formed of a magnetic material and defines a central channel through which a wire, whose current is to be measured, can be disposed without cutting or modifying the wire,wherein the sensor is disposed in the gap formed between the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, andwherein each of the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces defines a flat portion oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and centered between the opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion.
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Abstract
A current sensor includes a two-piece ferromagnetic core clamped together over a wire to be measured by a housing to form a ferromagnetic cylinder that concentrates the magnetic flux surrounding the electrical wire to be measured. By directing the magnetic flux to a Hall effect sensor, the current can be measured in the wire without cutting or modifying the wire.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A current sensor, comprising:
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a housing configured as a two-part clamshell; a core disposed within the housing, the core defining a longitudinal axis between opposing end surfaces, the core being divided into at least two segments, the core defining a gap between opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces spanning longitudinally between the opposing end surfaces; and a sensor that senses magnetic field, wherein the core is formed of a magnetic material and defines a central channel through which a wire, whose current is to be measured, can be disposed without cutting or modifying the wire, wherein the sensor is disposed in the gap formed between the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, and wherein each of the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces defines a flat portion oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and centered between the opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of non-invasively measuring electrical current in a wire, the method comprising:
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clamping a magnetic core around the wire while leaving the wire intact; concentrating a magnetic flux surrounding the wire; directing the magnetic flux to a Hall effect sensor by; shaping each of a pair of opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of the magnetic core to define a flat portion oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the magnetic core and centering the flat portion between opposing longitudinal ends of the core, and further shaping each of the pair of opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of the magnetic core to define a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the magnetic core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the magnetic core and the flat portion; measuring the magnetic flux; and outputting a voltage corresponding to the measured magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A battery current monitoring system, comprising:
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a battery module; a charger coupled to the battery module; a load coupled to the battery module; a switch disposed between the load and the battery module; a wire coupled to the battery module; a current sensor clamped around the wire such that the wire extends through the core while leaving the wire intact, the current sensor comprising; a housing configured as a two-part clamshell; a core disposed within the housing, the core defining a longitudinal axis between opposing end surfaces, the core being divided into at least two segments, the core defining a gap between opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces spanning longitudinally between the opposing end surfaces; and a sensor that senses magnetic field, wherein the core is formed of a magnetic material and defines a central channel through which the wire can be disposed without cutting or modifying the wire, wherein the sensor is disposed in the gap formed between the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, and wherein each of the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces defines a flat portion oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and centered between the opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion; and a current monitor control board, comprising; an ADC coupled to the sensor; and a microcontroller coupled to the ADC.
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Specification