Thermo-optical current sensor and thermo-optical current sensing systems
First Claim
1. A thermo-optical current sensor for measuring the current flowing between a pair of conductors, comprising:
- an optical-sensing element having a resistive or semiconducting electrical property and an optical property that is a function of the temperature of said sensing element, said pair of conductors being connected between spaced apart locations on said sensing element so that the temperature of said optical-sensing element varies as a function of the current through said conductors and the temperature dependant optical property of said sensing element varies accordingly, the optical dependent property of said optical-sensing element varying over a range as a function of a temperature; and
pickup means for monitoring the temperature dependent optical property of said an optical-sensing element at a stationary area of said sensing element, said pickup means including an optical fiber extending from said stationary area of said sensing element whereby the temperature dependent optical property monitored through pickup means is a function of the current through said conductors, and said pickup means monitor the spectral properties of the optical sensing element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermo-optical current sensor includes a resistive or semiconducting sensing element that has an optical property that varies as a function of temperature. Current to be measured flows through the sensing element thereby causing heating that is detected by a change in the optical property. The sensing element may be either a resistive or semiconducting material having a temperature dependent optical property or a resistive or semiconducting material that is in thermal contact with an optical temperature sensor. The thermo-optical current sensor may be used as a field meter to measure the intensity of an electromagnetic field or as a current meter to measure the current flowing through a power line.
36 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A thermo-optical current sensor for measuring the current flowing between a pair of conductors, comprising:
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an optical-sensing element having a resistive or semiconducting electrical property and an optical property that is a function of the temperature of said sensing element, said pair of conductors being connected between spaced apart locations on said sensing element so that the temperature of said optical-sensing element varies as a function of the current through said conductors and the temperature dependant optical property of said sensing element varies accordingly, the optical dependent property of said optical-sensing element varying over a range as a function of a temperature; and pickup means for monitoring the temperature dependent optical property of said an optical-sensing element at a stationary area of said sensing element, said pickup means including an optical fiber extending from said stationary area of said sensing element whereby the temperature dependent optical property monitored through pickup means is a function of the current through said conductors, and said pickup means monitor the spectral properties of the optical sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for monitoring the current applied to a detonator through a pair of actuating leads on which spurious signals are picked up from the ambient electromagnetic signals, said system comprising:
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an optical-sensing element having a resistive or semiconducting electrical property and an optical property that is a function of the temperature of said sensing element, said sensing element being connected to at least one of said actuating leads so that the current flowing through said sensing element is a function of the magnitude of said spurious signals whereby the temperature of said optical-sensing element varies as a function of the magnitude of said spurious signals and the temperature dependant optical property of said sensing element varies accordingly, the optical dependent property of said optical-sensing element varying over a range as a function of said temperature; and an optical fiber extending from a stationary area of said optical sensing element for monitoring the temperature dependant optical property of said optical-sensing element whereby the temperature dependent optical property monitored through said optical fiber is a function of the magnitude of said spurious signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification