Current sensor adjustment and test apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for adjusting and checking a current sensor including a Hall Effect Switch and an electromagnetic coil for operating said switch, said apparatus comprising:
- a microprocessor connected to said current sensor;
a constant current source;
a test power source including a ground terminal and a power terminal; and
said constant current source including a digital-to-analog converter connected to said microprocessor, an operational amplifier connected via a noninverting input to an output of said converter, a current pass transistor including a base terminal connected to an output of said operational amplifier and having a collector terminal connected to a first terminal of an electromagnetic coil of said current sensor under test, and at least one constant sensing element including a first terminal connected to an emitter terminal of said current pass transistor and also to an inverting input of said operational amplifier, said current element including a second terminal connected to said test power source ground terminal; and
said coil connected to said power source power terminal via a second terminal;
said constant current source, operated in response to said microprocessor to apply at least a first and a second current value to said coil, said coil generating magnetic flux of different levels in response to said first and said second current values, said Hall Effect switch transmitting a first output signal to said microprocessor in response to the presence of a magnetic flux within a first predetermined range, and in the alternative said Hall Effect switch operated to transmit a second output signal to said microprocessor in response to the presence of magnetic flux within a second predetermined range;
indicating means connected to said microprocessor, operated in response to said microprocessor receiving at least one of said output signals to provide an indication of the operation of said sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for testing current sensors employing an electromagnetic coil and one or more Hall Effect switches including a microprocessor controlling a constant current source and visual and audio indicating circuits. A parameter input circuit is provided to permit an operator to select device types and to select test only, or adjustment and test sequences to be executed. The constant current source is adapted to apply a threshold, must-not-operate, and a must-operate current values to the electromagnetic coil. The visual and audio indicating circuits are adapted to provide messages, pass/fail indications, and audio signals signaling test success or failure results to an operator.
13 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for adjusting and checking a current sensor including a Hall Effect Switch and an electromagnetic coil for operating said switch, said apparatus comprising:
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a microprocessor connected to said current sensor; a constant current source; a test power source including a ground terminal and a power terminal; and
said constant current source including a digital-to-analog converter connected to said microprocessor, an operational amplifier connected via a noninverting input to an output of said converter, a current pass transistor including a base terminal connected to an output of said operational amplifier and having a collector terminal connected to a first terminal of an electromagnetic coil of said current sensor under test, and at least one constant sensing element including a first terminal connected to an emitter terminal of said current pass transistor and also to an inverting input of said operational amplifier, said current element including a second terminal connected to said test power source ground terminal; and
said coil connected to said power source power terminal via a second terminal;said constant current source, operated in response to said microprocessor to apply at least a first and a second current value to said coil, said coil generating magnetic flux of different levels in response to said first and said second current values, said Hall Effect switch transmitting a first output signal to said microprocessor in response to the presence of a magnetic flux within a first predetermined range, and in the alternative said Hall Effect switch operated to transmit a second output signal to said microprocessor in response to the presence of magnetic flux within a second predetermined range; indicating means connected to said microprocessor, operated in response to said microprocessor receiving at least one of said output signals to provide an indication of the operation of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification