Active optical current measuring system

• US 6,034,521 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Eckardt, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US08/913,738
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 324/96, 324/126, 324/127, 324/117 R
• US Class Current: 324/96
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/22 using light-emitting devices, e.g. LED, optocouplers G01R31/31901 takes precedence

Abstract

An active optical current-measuring system (2) including a sensor (4) which is provided with current connecting busbars (12, 14) and a light guide connector. The sensor includes two parts (8, 10) which, when assembled, form a hollow cavity (16) within which an electronic sensor component (6) is mounted. The electronic sensor is connected at the output to the light guide connector. A measuring resistor is provided as the sensor (4). The current-measuring system (2) is also capable of detecting direct currents. The electronic sensor component,(6) is mechanically protected and electromagnetically shielded.

Claims

1. An active optical current-measuring system, comprising:

a first busbar;

a second busbar;

at least one light guide connector;

a sensor coupled to the first busbar, the second busbar, and the at least one light guide connector, wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor part and a second sensor part, the first sensor part and the second sensor part forming a hollow cavity in the sensor; and

an electronic sensor component mounted within the hollow cavity, the-electronic sensor component having an output coupled to the at least one light guide connector.

2. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a measuring resistor.

3. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic sensor component has an input connected to a first measuring point and to a second measuring point, the first measuring point being located proximate to the second measuring point,

a measuring-circuit voltage is picked up at the first measuring point and the second measuring point,

the first measuring point is located on an inside portion of the sensor,

the second measuring point is coupled to an additional point on the-inside portion of the sensor by an insulated line running along the inside portion of the sensor, and

the second measuring point and the additional point are located on substantially opposite ends of the sensor.

4. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 3, wherein the second measuring point is connected to the additional point on the inside portion of the sensor by a plurality of insulated lines running along the inside portion of the sensor.

5. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of insulated lines runs in a direction of a sensor current, and wherein the plurality of insulated lines forms a cage.

6. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 5, wherein the cage forms a closed casing.

7. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor component includes a plurality of electronically controlled potentiometers.

8. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first sensor part and the second sensor part is coupled to at least one of the first busbar and the second busbar.

9. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises manganin.

10. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first busbar and the second busbar comprises copper.

11. The active optical measuring system according to claim 1, comprising at least two light guide connectors.

12. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor forms an electromagnetic shield for the electronic sensor component.

13. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanically protects the electronic sensor component.

14. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor component includes a measurement unit.

15. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor component includes an energy converter.

16. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor component includes an electronic processor component.

17. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor component includes a pulse-width modulator.

18. The active optical current measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic sensor component includes an electro-optical system.