Current sensor and electric circuit using the same

• US 6,515,468 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Gohara, Takashi, Tamai, Yasuhiro, Ikuta, Yoshinori, Morimoto, Mitsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/644,681
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.H, 324/117.R, 324/127, 324/207.2, 324/251, 327/511, 338/32.H
• US Class Current: 324/117.00H
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/088 Terminals for switching devices which make the devices interchangeable, e.g. with fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/08 Terminals; Connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/125 characterised by sensing elements, e.g. current transformers for differential protection H01H83/144

Abstract

A current sensor including a cabinet 10, a sensor conductor 20 partially accommodated in the cabinet 10 and secured to the cabinet 10 and having opposite ends pulled out from the cabinet 10, and a Hall element 30 accommodated in the cabinet 10 and secured to the cabinet 10, and disposed in the vicinity of the sensor conductor 20. An electric circuit including the current sensor, and a wire conductor 60 used for wiring of the electric circuit and having fitting portions 61 to be fitted to terminals 1 and 2 of the sensor conductor 20 of the current sensor.

Claims

1. A current sensor comprising:

a cabinet;

a sensor conductor partially accommodated in said cabinet and secured to said cabinet, and said sensor conductor having both ends pulled out from said cabinet;

a magnetic-electric power converting element accommodated in said cabinet, secured to said cabinet, and disposed substantially in the center of said sensor conductor inside said cabinet; and

square magnetic-force collecting cores respectively disposed on said cabinet such that magnetic-force sensing faces of said magnetic-electric power converting element are disposed between said square magnetic-force collecting cores.

2. A current sensor according to claim 1, wherein both ends of said sensor conductor are formed to have compatibility with an end of a fuse.

3. A current sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying information corresponding to an electric signal from said magnetic-electric power converting element, wherein a male connector-like connecting portion is attachably fitted with a female connector-like connecting portion provided with said sensor conductor.

4. An electric circuit comprising:

a current sensor including a cabinet, a sensor conductor partially accommodated in said cabinet and secured to said cabinet, said sensor conductor having both ends pulled out from said cabinet;

a magnetic-electric power converting element accommodated in said cabinet and secured to said cabinet, and disposed substantially in the center of said sensor conductor inside said cabinet;

square magnetic-force collecting cores respectively disposed on said cabinet such that magnetic-force sensing faces of said magnetic-electric power converting element are disposed between said square magnetic-force collecting cores; and

a wire conductor used for wiring of said electric circuit and having fitting portions to be fitted to terminals of said sensor conductor of said current sensor.

5. An electric circuit according to claim 4, wherein said wire conductor have branch path formed with fitting portions, said terminals of said sensor conductor of said current sensor are fitted to said fitting portions formed on said branch path.