Magnetic current sensor
First Claim
1. A current determiner for providing at an output thereof representations of input currents provided therein from a source of such currents, said current determiner comprising:
- a substrate;
an input conductor supported on said substrate suited for conducting said input currents therethrough; and
a first current sensor supported on said substrate adjacent to, yet spaced apart from, said input conductor to thereby be electrically isolated from any direct circuit interconnection therewith on said substrate but positioned in those magnetic fields arising from said input currents, said first current sensor being formed of a plurality of magnetoresistive, anisotropic, ferromagnetic thin-film layers at least two of which are separated from one another by a nonmagnetic layer positioned therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A current determiner having an output at which representations of input currents are provided having an input conductor for the input current and a current sensor supported on a substrate electrically isolated from one another but with the sensor positioned in the magnetic fields arising about the input conductor due to any input currents. The sensor extends along the substrate in a direction primarily perpendicular to the extent of the input conductor and is formed of at least a pair of thin-film ferromagnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic conductive layer. The sensor can be electrically connected to a electronic circuitry formed in the substrate including a nonlinearity adaptation circuit to provide representations of the input currents of increased accuracy despite nonlinearities in the current sensor, and can include further current sensors in bridge circuits.
172 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A current determiner for providing at an output thereof representations of input currents provided therein from a source of such currents, said current determiner comprising:
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a substrate; an input conductor supported on said substrate suited for conducting said input currents therethrough; and a first current sensor supported on said substrate adjacent to, yet spaced apart from, said input conductor to thereby be electrically isolated from any direct circuit interconnection therewith on said substrate but positioned in those magnetic fields arising from said input currents, said first current sensor being formed of a plurality of magnetoresistive, anisotropic, ferromagnetic thin-film layers at least two of which are separated from one another by a nonmagnetic layer positioned therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification