Battery clamp with integrated current sensor

• US 6,544,078 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Palmisano, Andrew J., Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gushi, Ross
• Application Number:
  US09/908,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 439/762, 439/503, 439/504, 439/506, 439/502, 439/488, 439/620, 439/622, 320/165, 320/162, 324/433
• US Class Current: 439/762
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06788 Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/18 using inductive devices, e.g. transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes

Abstract

An apparatus configured to couple to a battery contact is provided. The apparatus includes an electrical connector for connection to a battery contact and a current sensor coupled to the electrical connector, the current sensor is used for measuring current through an electrical conductor. In addition, a method of coupling an electrical circuit to a battery contact is provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to couple to a battery comprising:

an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to a battery contact; and

a current sensor coupled to the electrical connector, the current sensor configured to measure current flowing through an electrical conductor, connected to the battery contact, when the electrical connector of the apparatus is not connected to the battery contact.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical system is an automobile electrical system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor is further adapted to measure battery current.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is adapted to electrically couple a single ended electrical connection to the battery contact.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is adapted to electrically couple a Kelvin connection to the battery contact.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises:

an arm; and

a grasping member positioned at a front end of the arm and adapted to grip the battery contact.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector includes a bolt-on clamp.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector includes a clip-on clamp.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a Plier-Type clip.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises an Alligator clip.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a Kelvin clip.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a Pee-Wee clip.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the Hall-effect sensor is positioned between an air gap of a soft iron core.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the soft iron core is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion to operably couple to a clip-type electrical connector.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a magnetometer current sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a magnetoresistive current sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a magneto-optic current sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a current shunt sensor.

20. A battery tester employing the electrical connector with coupled current sensor of claim 1.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the current sensor is adapted to measure current simultaneously during battery testing.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the current sensor is adapted to measure total current flowing through a battery bank.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the current sensor is coupled to a microprocessor included in the battery tester, such that feedback from the current sensor is used to compute battery test results.

24. A battery charger employing the electrical connector with coupled current sensor of claim 1.

25. A method of forming a device that couples an electrical circuit to a battery contact, the method comprising:

(a) providing an electrical connector configured to electrically connect the electrical circuit to the battery contact; and

(b) coupling a current sensor to the electrical connector, the current sensor configured to measure current flowing through an electrical conductor, connected to the battery contact, when the electrical connector of the apparatus is not connected to the battery contact.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the electrical system is an automobile electrical system.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the current sensor is further adapted to measure battery current.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the electrical connector is capable of electrically coupling a single ended electrical connection to the battery contact.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the electrical connector is capable of electrically coupling a Kelvin connection to the battery contact.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a bolt-on clamp.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a clip-on clamp.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a Plier-Type clip.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing an Alligator clip.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a Kelvin clip.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a Pee-Wee clip.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the coupling a current sensor step (b) includes coupling a Hall-effect sensor.