Connector device

• US 10,446,987 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Fukuhara, Toshiaki, Sugiyama, Fuminori, Mori, Yuki, Koshou, Kouzou
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgos-Guntin, Nelson R.
• Application Number:
  US15/909,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20180342841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 43962001, 43962003, 43962005, 439638, 439639, 439797, 439801
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable

Abstract

A connector device includes: a connection terminal including a first terminal connection portion electrically connected to a first counterpart terminal, a second terminal connection portion electrically connected to a second counterpart terminal, and a coupling portion having a flat plate shape, disposed between the first terminal connection portion and the second terminal connection portion electrically connected between the first terminal connection portion and the second terminal connection portion; a current sensor configured to measure current flowing in the coupling portion on the basis of magnetic flux according to the current; and a casing including a first housing portion housing the second terminal connection portion, and a second housing portion housing the coupling portion and the current sensor.

Claims

1. A connector device comprising:

a connection terminal that includes a first terminal connection portion electrically connected to a first counterpart terminal, a second terminal connection portion electrically connected to a second counterpart terminal, and a flat plate coupling portion disposed between the first terminal connection portion and the second terminal connection portion, and electrically connected between the first terminal connection portion and the second terminal connection portion;

a current sensor that measures current flowing in the flat plate coupling portion on the basis of magnetic flux according to the current; and

a casing that includes a first housing portion housing the second terminal connection portion, and a second housing portion housing the flat plate coupling portion and the current sensor, wherein

a thickness direction of the flat plate coupling portion is a direction orthogonal to a direction from the first terminal connection portion toward the second terminal connection portion.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein

the current sensor includes a signal outputting device that transmits a current measurement signal to an external device, and

the signal outputting device projects outward from an outer wall surface on a side different from a side of the first housing portion of outer wall surfaces of a wall body constituting the second housing portion.

3. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein

in the current sensor, a magnetic core member, a magnetic sensor, and a magnetic shield member are disposed in the second housing portion and a signal outputting device is disposed from the inside to the outside of the second housing portion, the magnetic core member having a core body provided with a gap portion that has a slit shape extending in a cylinder axis direction of a cylindrical body internally spaced to surround the flat plate coupling portion, the magnetic core member generating magnetic flux according to current flowing in the flat plate coupling portion, the magnetic sensor outputting a signal according to magnetic flux density in the gap portion, the magnetic shield member having a shield body that surrounds the core body from outside to block magnetism between the inside and outside of the shield body by using the shield body, the signal outputting device transmitting a current measurement signal based on an output signal from the magnetic sensor to an external device, and

the signal outputting device projects outward from an outer wall surface on a side different from a side of the first housing portion of outer wall surfaces of a wall body constituting the second housing portion.

4. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein

in an alternating-current circuit having a plurality of the connection terminals, the current sensor is provided for each of the connection terminals.

5. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein

in an alternating-current circuit having a plurality of the connection terminals, the current sensor is provided for each of the connection terminals.

6. The connector device according to claim 3, wherein

in an alternating-current circuit having a plurality of the connection terminals, the current sensor is provided for each of the connection terminals.

7. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein

the current sensor opposes the flat plate coupling portion in the thickness direction of the flat plate coupling portion.

8. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein

the current sensor surrounds the flat plate coupling portion.

9. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein

the flat plate coupling portion extends through the current sensor.