Power calculating device

• US 5,497,077 A
• Filed: 07/21/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Toko Meter Systems Co., Ltd. (Takaoka Toko Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nukui, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHOSRAVI, KOURO
• Application Number:
  US08/278,311
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117 H, 324/130, 324/141, 324/142, 324/251, 364/847
• US Class Current: 324/117.00H
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/08 by using galvanomagnetic-effect devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices

Abstract

A power calculating device including a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal. The control signal determines a power calculating period and an imbalance compensation period. The device also includes an input voltage changeover unit for changing over between a first voltage corresponding to a voltage of a system under measurement and a constant voltage under the control of the control signal to generate a second voltage, which is the first voltage during the power calculating period and the constant voltage during the imbalance compensation period. The device further includes a Hall element member for generating a third voltage corresponding to a product of the second voltage and a magnetic density generated by a magnetic field applied to the Hall element member. The device also includes an imbalance detecting unit for generating an offset compensation signal based on the third voltage, and a variable resistor connected to the Hall element member. The resistance value thereof is changed by the offset compensation signal, whereby an imbalance voltage of the Hall element member is compensated.

Claims

1. A power calculating device, comprising:

control signal generating means for generating a control signal determining a power calculating period and an imbalance compensation period;

input voltage changeover means which receives a first voltage corresponding to a voltage of a system under measurement and said control signal for changing over between said first voltage and a constant voltage under the control of said control signal to generate a second voltage;

said second voltage being said first voltage during said power calculating period and said constant voltage during said imbalance compensation period;

a Hall element member which receives a current corresponding to said second voltage for flowing said current in said Hall element member between current terminals thereof to generate a third voltage corresponding to a product of said second voltage and a magnetic density generated by a magnetic field applied to said Hall element member;

imbalance detecting means which receives said control signal and said third voltage for detecting an offset of said Hall element member based on said third voltage when said control signal shows said imbalance compensation period to generate an offset compensation signal corresponding to said offset;

variable resistor means connected to said Hall element member and which receives said offset compensation signal, a resistance value thereof being changed by said offset compensation signal; and

power value outputting means which receives said third voltage and said control signal for outputting said third voltage when said control signal shows said power calculating period as an output of said power calculating device corresponding to a power of said system under measurement;

whereby an imbalance voltage of said Hall element member being compensated.

2. The power calculating device according to claim 1:

wherein said variable resistor means includes one of a Field Effect Transistor and a cadmium sulfide photocoupler.

3. The power calculating device according to claim 1:

wherein said control signal generating means receives said first voltage for generating said control signal in synchronism with said first voltage.

4. The power calculating device according to claim 1:

wherein in said input voltage changeover means, said changing over between said first voltage and said constant voltage is performed so that the power calculating period equals the imbalance compensation period.

5. The power calculating device according to claim 1, wherein said control signal generating means includes:

a comparator which receives said first voltage for comparing said first voltage and a reference potential to generate a comparison output signal based on a comparison result;

a D flip-flop which receives said comparison output signal for generating said control signal based on said comparison output signal; and

said control signal including a first control signal for determining said power calculating period and a second control signal for determining said imbalance compensation period.

6. The power calculating device according to claim 1, wherein said input voltage changeover means includes:

a constant voltage source for generating said constant voltage;

a first switch which receives said first control signal and said first voltage for generating said first voltage as said second voltage during said power calculating period determined by said first control signal; and

a second switch which receives said second control signal and said constant voltage for generating said constant voltage as said second voltage during said imbalance compensation period determined by said second control signal.

7. The power calculating device according to claim 1, wherein:

said power value outputting means includes a fifth switch which receives said first control signal and said third voltage for outputting said third voltage as said output of said power calculating device during said power calculating period determined by said first control signal.

8. The power calculating device according to claim 1, wherein said imbalance detecting means includes:

a third switch which receives said second control signal and said third voltage for outputting said third voltage during said imbalance compensation period determined by said second control signal; and

an integrator for integrating an output signal of said third switch duping said imbalance compensation period to generate said offset compensation signal.

9. The power calculating device according to claim 1, wherein said imbalance detecting means includes:

a pulse width conversion unit which receives said second control signal and said third voltage for detecting said offset of said Hall element member based on said third voltage during said imbalance compensation period determined by said second control signal to generate a pulse signal with a pulse width;

said pulse width of said pulse signal corresponding to said offset of said Hall element member; and

an integrator for integrating said pulse signal outputted from said pulse width conversion unit during said imbalance compensation period to generate said offset compensation signal.

10. The power calculating device according to claim 9, wherein said pulse width conversion unit includes:

a comparator which receives said third voltage for comparing said third voltage with a reference potential to generate a comparison output signal based on said comparison result;

a first AND gate which receives said comparison output signal and said second control signal for generating a first AND output signal;

an inverter for inverting said comparison output signal to generate an inverted comparison output signal;

a second AND gate which receives said inverted comparison output signal and said second control signal for generating a second AND output signal;

a positive constant voltage source for generating a positive constant voltage;

a negative constant voltage source for generating a negative constant voltage;

a sixth switch which receives said first AND output signal and said positive constant voltage for outputting said positive constant voltage as said pulse signal during when said first AND output signal shows a prescribed value; and

a seventh switch which receives said second AND output signal and said negative constant voltage for outputting said negative constant voltage as said pulse signal during when said second AND output signal shows said prescribed value.

11. The power calculating device according to claim 9, wherein said pulse width conversion unit includes:

a comparator which receives said third voltage for comparing said third voltage with a reference potential to generate a comparison output signal based on said comparison result; and

a three-state buffer which receives said comparison output signal and said second control signal for generating said pulse signal with said pulse width corresponding to said offset of said Hall element member.

12. The power calculating device according to claim 1:

wherein said Hall element member receives said magnetic field caused by a current under measurement which is asymmetric.

13. The power calculating device according to claim 1:

wherein said variable resistor means is connected between an output terminal of said Hall element member and one of the ground and said current terminals.