Hall-effect current detector

• US 20020190703A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanken Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Sanken Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Akira, Kato, Takashi, Goto, Hirokazu, Ohtsuka, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 6,841,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/117.00H
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/07 Hall effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48257 connecting the wire to a die pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

A current detector comprising a current-path conductor assembly and a Hall generator assembly. The current-path conductor assembly includes a sheet-metal current-path conductor and a plastic conductor holder molded in one piece therewith. The Hall generator assembly includes a Hall generator in the form of a semiconductor chip mounted to a metal-made mounting plate, a set of leads electrically connected to the Hall generator, and a plastic encapsulation enveloping the Hall generator and parts of the leads. The Hall generator assembly and the current-path conductor assembly are combined by bonding together the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly and the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly. The conductor holder and the encapsulation are shaped in interfitting relationship to each other, so that when they are united, the Hall generator is positioned to generate a Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field due to the current flowing through the current-path conductor.

Claims

1. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(A) a current-path conductor assembly comprising;

(a) a current-path conductor for carrying the current to be detected or measured; and

(b) a conductor holder of electrically insulating material integrally enveloping part of the current-path conductor; and

(B) a Hall generator assembly comprising;

(a) a Hall generator for generating a Hall voltage proportional to the strength of an applied magnetic field;

(b) a plurality of leads electrically connected to the Hall generator; and

(c) an encapsulation of electrically insulating material integrally enveloping the Hall generator and parts of the leads;

(C) the current-path conductor assembly and the Hall generator assembly being combined by joining together the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly and the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly, with the current-path conductor disposed adjacent the Hall generator in order to cause the Hall generator to generate the Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field due to the current flowing through the current-path conductor.

2. The current detector of claim 1 wherein the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly has formed therein a positioning recess for receiving the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly in prescribed positional relationship to the conductor holder.

3. The current detector of claim 2 wherein the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly has formed therein an additional set of positioning recesses for receiving the leads of the Hall generator assembly.

4. The current detector of claim 2 wherein the current-path conductor of the current-path conductor assembly is partly exposed through the positioning recess in the conductor holder.

5. The current detector of claim 1 wherein the current-path conductor of the current-path conductor assembly is a piece of sheet metal having a slit formed therein to provide a U-shaped current path, and wherein the positional relationship is such that the Hall generator is contained in the slit as seen in a direction normal to the plane of the sheet-metal current-path conductor.

6. The current detector of claim 5 wherein the current-path conductor of the current-path conductor assembly has additional slits formed therein to constrict the current path toward the Hall generator.

7. The current detector of claim 1 wherein the Hall generator assembly further comprises a metal-made mounting plate to which the Hall generator is mounted, the mounting plate being enveloped by the encapsulation.

8. The current detector of claim 7 wherein the mounting plate has a surface held opposite the current-path conductor, and wherein the Hall generator is mounted to said surface of the mounting plate.

9. The current detector of claim 7 wherein the mounting plate has a first surface held opposite the current-path conductor, and wherein the Hall generator is mounted to a second surface, which is directed away from the current-path conductor, of the mounting plate.

10. The current detector of claim 1 wherein the current-path conductor is formed to include a pair of terminal portions projecting from the casing for connection to an external circuit, the terminal portions being out of register with the leads.

11. The current detector of claim 10 wherein the pair of terminal portions of the current-path conductor project in the same direction from the casing.

12. The current detector of claim 10 wherein the pair of terminal portions of the current-path conductor project in opposite directions from the casing.

13. The current detector of claim 1 wherein the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly and the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly are bonded together via a sheet of electrically insulating material.

15. The current detector of claim 14 wherein the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly has formed therein a positioning recess for receiving the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly in prescribed positional relationship to the conductor holder.

16. The current detector of claim 15 wherein the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly has formed therein an additional set of positioning recesses for receiving the leads of the Hall generator assembly.

17. The current detector of claim 14 wherein the current-path conductor of the current-path conductor assembly is in the form of a piece of sheet metal cut into the shape of an S.

19. The current detector of claim 18 wherein the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly has formed therein a positioning recess for receiving the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly in prescribed positional relationship to the conductor holder.

20. The current detector of claim 19 wherein the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly has formed therein an additional set of positioning recesses for receiving the leads of the Hall generator assembly.

14. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(A) a current-path conductor assembly comprising;

(a) a current-path conductor for carrying the current to be detected or measured; and

(b) a conductor holder of electrically insulating material integrally enveloping part of the current-path conductor; and

(B) a Hall generator assembly comprising;

(a) a pair of Hall generators each for generating a Hall voltage proportional to the strength of an applied magnetic field;

(b) an output circuit electrically connected to the pair of Hall generators for combining the Hall voltages generated thereby;

(c) a plurality of leads electrically connected to the pair of Hall generators; and

(d) an encapsulation of electrically insulating material integrally enveloping the pair of Hall generators and the output circuit and parts of the leads;

(C) the current-path conductor assembly and the Hall generator assembly being combined by joining together the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly and the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly, with the current-path conductor disposed adjacent the Hall generators in order to cause the Hall generators to generate the Hall voltages in response to a magnetic field due to the current flowing through the current-path conductor.

18. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(A) a current-path conductor assembly comprising;

(a) a pair of elongate current-path conductors each terminating in a pair of terminal portions at both ends thereof for carrying current to be detected or measured; and

(b) a conductor holder of electrically insulating material integrally holding the pair of current-path conductors in parallel spaced relationship to each other, leaving exposed the terminal portions of both current-path conductors; and

(B) a Hall generator assembly comprising;

(a) a Hall generator for generating a Hall voltage proportional to the strength of an applied magnetic field;

(b) a plurality of leads electrically connected to the Hall generator; and

(c) an encapsulation of electrically insulating material integrally enveloping the Hall generator and parts of the leads;

(C) the current-path conductor assembly and the Hall generator assembly being combined by joining together the conductor holder of the current-path conductor assembly and the encapsulation of the Hall generator assembly into a substantially unitary casing for the current detector, the conductor holder and the encapsulation being shaped in interfitting relationship to each other in such a way that when they are interfittingly united, the Hall generator is so positioned relative to the pair of current-path conductors as to generate a Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field due to the current flowing through the current-path conductors.

21. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(a) a metal-made mounting plate;

(b) a Hall generator mounted to the mounting plate for generating a Hall voltage proportional to the strength of an applied magnetic field;

(c) a plurality of leads electrically connected to the Hall generator;

(d) a current-path conductor for carrying current to be detected or measured, the current-path conductor being disposed adjacent the Hall generator in order to cause the Hall generator to generate the Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field due to the current flowing through the current-path conductor; and

(e) a casing of electrically insulating material enveloping at least parts of all of the mounting plate and the Hall generator and the leads and the current path conductor, and holding all of the mounting plate and the Hall generator and the leads and the current path conductor in prescribed relative positions.

22. The current detector of claim 21 wherein the Hall generator is formed in a semiconductor chip affixed to the mounting plate.

25. The current detector of claim 24 wherein the casing means comprises:

(a) a conductor holder holding the pair of current-path conductors; and

(b) an encapsulation enveloping at least parts of the mounting plate and the Hall generator and the leads and secured to the conductor holder.

26. The current detector of claim 25 wherein the conductor holder has a seat where the encapsulation is mounted to the conductor holder to hold the Hall generator in position with respect to the pair of current-path conductors.

27. The current detector of claim 24 wherein the pair of current-path conductors are each in the form of a piece of sheet metal.

23. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(a) a metal-made mounting plate;

(b) Hall generator means comprising a pair of Hall generators mounted to the mounting plate each for generating a Hall voltage proportional to the strength of an applied magnetic field, and an output circuit for combining the Hall voltages generated by the Hall generators;

(c) a plurality of leads electrically connected to the pair of Hall generators;

(d) a current-path conductor for carrying current to be detected or measured, the current-path conductor providing a current path extending adjacent the Hall generators in order to cause the same to generate the Hall voltages in response to magnetic fields due to the current flowing through the current-path; and

(e) a casing of electrically insulating material enveloping at least parts of all of the mounting plate and the Hall generator means and the leads and the current path conductor, and holding all of the mounting plate and the Hall generator means and the leads and the current path conductor in prescribed relative positions.

24. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(a) a metal-made mounting plate;

(b) a Hall generator mounted to the mounting plate for generating a Hall voltage proportional to the strength of an applied magnetic field;

(c) a plurality of leads electrically connected to the Hall generator;

(d) a pair of elongate current-path conductors each terminating in a pair of terminal portions at both ends thereof, the current-path conductors extending parallel to each other on opposite sides of the Hall generator in order to cause the same to generate the Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field due to the current flowing through the current-path conductors; and

(e) casing means of electrically insulating material enveloping at least parts of all of the mounting plate and the Hall generator and the leads and the current path conductors, and holding all of the mounting plate and the Hall generator and the leads and the current path conductors in prescribed relative positions.