Systems and methods for closed loop current sensing
First Claim
1. A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
- a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element;
a feedback conductor configured to carry a feedback current generating a feedback magnetic field, the feedback magnetic field having a first feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different than the second feedback coupling factor;
a circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and configured to generate the feedback current for coupling to the feedback conductor based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and
a sense element coupled to the feedback conductor and configured to sense the feedback current.
6 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a conductor includes at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, with the magnetic field sensing elements configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes. The direct magnetic field has a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element. A feedback conductor configured to carry a feedback current generates a feedback magnetic field that has a first feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element. A circuit generates the feedback current based on the direct and feedback magnetic fields and a sense element senses the feedback current.
45 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element; a feedback conductor configured to carry a feedback current generating a feedback magnetic field, the feedback magnetic field having a first feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different than the second feedback coupling factor; a circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and configured to generate the feedback current for coupling to the feedback conductor based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and a sense element coupled to the feedback conductor and configured to sense the feedback current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
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providing a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element; generating a feedback magnetic field by driving a feedback current in a feedback conductor, the feedback magnetic field having a first feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different than the second feedback coupling factor; generating the feedback current for coupling to the feedback conductor based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and sensing the feedback current. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic field sensing means comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing means spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing means for detecting the direct magnetic field, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing means and the at least one second magnetic field sensing means are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing means and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing means; means for carrying a feedback current generating a feedback magnetic field, the feedback magnetic field having a first feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing and a second feedback coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing means, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different than the second feedback coupling factor; means coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing means for generating the feedback current based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and means for sensing the feedback current. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element; a feedback conductor comprising a first portion having a first number of turns corresponding to a first feedback coupling factor associated with the at least one first magnetic field sensing element, and a second portion having a second, different number of turns corresponding to a second feedback coupling factor associated with the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the feedback conductor is configured to carry a feedback current generating a feedback magnetic field comprising the first feedback coupling factor and the second feedback coupling factor, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different from the second feedback coupling factor; a circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and configured to generate the feedback current for coupling to the feedback conductor based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and a sense element coupled to the feedback conductor and configured to sense the feedback current.
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33. A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element; a feedback conductor comprising a first portion having a first width corresponding to a first feedback coupling factor associated with the at least one first magnetic field sensing element, and a second portion having a second, different width corresponding to a second feedback coupling factor associated with the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the feedback conductor is configured to carry a feedback current generating a feedback magnetic field comprising the first feedback coupling factor and the second feedback coupling factor, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different from the second feedback coupling factor; a circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and configured to generate the feedback current for coupling to the feedback conductor based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and a sense element coupled to the feedback conductor and configured to sense the feedback current.
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34. A current sensor for sensing a direct magnetic field generated by a current through a primary conductor comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements comprising at least one first magnetic field sensing element spaced from at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element are configured to sense the direct magnetic field at different magnitudes, the direct magnetic field having a first direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one first magnetic field sensing element and a second direct coupling factor with respect to the at least one second magnetic field sensing element; a feedback conductor configured to carry a feedback current generating a feedback magnetic field, the feedback magnetic field having a first feedback coupling factor corresponding to a first distance between the feedback conductor and the at least one first magnetic field sensing element, and a second feedback coupling factor corresponding to a second distance between the feedback conductor and the at least one second magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first feedback coupling factor is different than the second feedback coupling factor and the first distance is different from the second distance; a circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and configured to generate the feedback current for coupling to the feedback conductor based on the direct magnetic field and the feedback magnetic field; and a sense element coupled to the feedback conductor and configured to sense the feedback current.
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Specification