Arrangement and Method for Measuring a Current Flowing in an Electrical Conductor

• US 20100188072A1
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epcos AG (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Epcos AG (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Neudecker, Martin, Roellgen, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/117.H
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used

Abstract

An arrangement for measuring a current flowing in an electrical conductor includes a magnetic circuit, for coupling to the electrical conductor, the magnetic circuit has an air gap. A magnetic field-sensitive component that serves for measuring the magnetic field generated by the electrical conductor is situated between the arms of the magnetic circuit. Two control cores are arranged in the air gap of the magnetic circuit. The control cores each include a control winding for magnetically saturating the respective control core and are arranged on both sides of the electrical conductor.

Claims

1. An arrangement for measuring a current flowing in an electrical conductor, the arrangement comprising

a magnetic circuit having an air gap for coupling to the electrical conductor;

a magnetic field-sensitive component arranged in the magnetic circuit and configured to measure a magnetic field generated by the electrical conductor;

first and second control cores arranged in the air gap, so that the electrical conductor can be situated between the control cores, wherein the control cores each comprise a control winding for magnetically saturating the respective control core.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first control core is arranged on a first side of the electrical conductor and the second control core is arranged on a second side of the electrical conductor.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second control core is arranged parallel to the magnetic field-sensitive component.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit comprises an additional winding.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control cores lie in a common plane.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit extends around the electrical conductor.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control cores each comprise a ferrite core.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control cores each comprise a rectangular frame and each comprise a control winding for saturating the control cores on at least one side of the frame.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control cores each comprise a control winding on two opposite sides.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control cores have saturation even in a case of very large currents.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-sensitive component is a Hall sensor.

12. A method for measuring a current flowing in an electrical conductor, the method comprising:

locating the electrical conductor within an air gap of a magnetic circuit, first and second control cores being arranged in the air gap, wherein the control cores each comprise a control winding for magnetically saturating the respective control core; and

measuring a flux density permeating a magnetic field-sensitive component arranged in the magnetic circuit, the flux density being measured in a case of unsaturated control cores.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising measuring the flux density permeating the magnetic field-sensitive component in a case of saturation of the first control core.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising measuring the flux density permeating the magnetic field-sensitive component in a case of saturation of the second control core.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising measuring the flux density permeating the magnetic field-sensitive component in the case of saturation of the first and second control cores.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising calculating the current flowing through the electrical conductor from the measured values obtained.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising calculating a sensitivity of the magnetic field-sensitive component from the measured values obtained.