Current transducer

• US 5,103,163 A
• Filed: 10/17/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: McLyman, W. T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Application Number:
  US07/599,293
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117 H, 324/127, 324/251, 307/309, 338/32 H, 336/221
• 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

Abstract

A current transducer for rugged environments uses a solid permalloy core including a magnetic gap for a Hall effect generator and rigid mounting extensions.

Claims

1. A current transducer, comprising:

a one piece solid electromagnetic core having a gap between ends thereof;

a current sense coil wound on the core;

a Hall effect generator in the gap in the core;

a constant current source for exciting the generator;

means responsive to the generator for measuring the current in the sense coil; and

extension means rigidly fixed to the ends of the core surrounding the gap for mounting the current transducer to control gap spacing.

2. The current transducer claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant current source and the means for measuring sense coil current both further comprise:

active electronic elements formed from portions of a single electronic component to minimize temperature errors.

3. The current transducer claimed in claim 1, wherein the one piece solid electromagnetic core is rigid.

4. The method for measuring current, comprising;

forming an electromagnetic core from a single, solid block of ferromagnetic material including a magnetic gap and rigid mounting extensions surrounding the gap;

rigidly mounting the extensions to control gap spacing;

applying the current to a sense coil wound around the core;

positioning a Hall effect generator in the magnetic gap;

applying a constant current source to the Hall effect generator; and

measuring the resultant voltage across the generator.