Apparatus for measuring an electric current flowing through an electrical conductor

• US 20080180096A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seuffer GmbH & Co. KG.
• Original Assignee: Robert Seuffer GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Dudzik, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 8,018,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/244
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0206 Three-component magnetometers

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring an electric current flowing through an electrical conductor (1), comprising a measuring device which detects a magnetic field formed by the electrical conductor in three orthogonal spatial directions and supplies measurement signals associated with the respective spatial directions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring an electric current flowing through an electrical conductor, comprising a measuring device which is arranged in the proximity of the electrical conductor and which detects the magnetic field generated by the electric current and supplies an electrical signal corresponding to the current strength, characterised in that the measuring device has a magnetic sensor device detecting the magnetic field in three orthogonal spatial directions, wherein the magnetic sensor device has magnetic field-sensitive transducers or sensors associated with the three orthogonal spatial directions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the measuring device has a least one magnetic core of magnetic material with at least one air gap, in which a magnetic field corresponding to the current strength is generated and the magnetic sensor device is arranged in the at least one air gap or in the proximity of the air gap for detecting the magnetic field present in the air gap or in the proximity of the air gap.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the surfaces, defining the air gap, of a core which forms the magnetic circuit are boundary surfaces for generating a homogeneous magnetic field in the air gap.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the boundary surfaces defining the air gap are adapted to generate a non-homogeneous magnetic field in the air gap.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 charasterised in that the magnetic field strengths measured in the orthogonal spatial directions are respectively associated with measuring regions of different measurement sensitivities.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterised in that magnetic sensor devices associated with various measuring regions involving different measurement sensitivities are provided in or in the proximity of a plurality of air gaps.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterised in that measuring regions of different measurement sensitivities are associated with the various regions of the saturation curve of the respective magnetic material of the at least one magnetic circuit.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that there are provided two or more cores for forming the magnetic circuit and one or more air gaps are formed between the cores.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the cores are formed from different magnetic materials.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the current-carrying electrical conductor is passed through bores and/or openings or around projections of the at least one core.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that it is suitable for fixing to a current connecting element, in particular a cable clamp or a pole connecting terminal clamp, in particular for vehicle batteries.