Hall-effect current detector

• US 6,781,358 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanken Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Sanken Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Kumakura, Hiromichi, Kato, Takashi, Goto, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLSEN, ERNEST F
• Application Number:
  US10/188,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.H, 324/117.R, 324/127, 324/251, 324/252, 338/32.H, 327/511, 323/294, 257/425, 257/E43.002
• US Class Current: 324/117.00H
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08

Abstract

A current detector comprising a first and a second current-path detector each in the form of a sheet-metal punching having a pair of relatively broad terminal webs of rectangular shape joined together via a bridge of arcuate shape. The bridges are slender compared to the terminal webs for concentrated current flow therethrough. Various arrangements are possible for the two current-path conductors, but their bridges are invariably placed in superposition upon one another. A Hall generator is positioned between the bridges so as to be acted upon by magnetic fields created upon current flow therethrough. One of the terminal webs of the first current-path conductor is electrically connected to one terminal web of the second, in such a way that the magnetic lines of force due to current flow through the two bridges act in the same direction upon the Hall generator.

Claims

1. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(a) a first current-path conductor comprising a pair of terminal webs and a bridge joining the pair of terminal webs;

(b) a second current-path conductor comprising a pair of terminal webs and a bridge joining the pair of terminal webs;

(c) the first and the second current-path conductor being so arranged relative to each other that the bridges thereof are superposed one upon the other with a spacing therebetween;

(d) a Hall generator disposed in the spacing between the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor in order to be acted upon by magnetic fields that are created upon current flow through the bridges; and

(e) a coupling conductor interconnecting a preselected one of the terminal webs of the first current-path conductor and a preselected one of the terminal webs of the second current-path conductor so that magnetic lines of force due to current flow through the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor act in the same direction on the Hall generator.

2. The current detector of claim 1 wherein the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor are each arcuate in shape.

3. The current detector of claim 2 wherein the first and the second current-path conductor are disposed in two parallel planes, and wherein, as seen in a direction normal to the planes of the current-path conductors, the bridge of each current-path conductor surrounds not less than half of a periphery of the Hall generator.

4. The current detector of claim 1 further comprising a casing of electrically insulating material enveloping at least parts of the first and the second current-path conductor and the Hall generator and holding the same in prescribed relative positions.

5. The current detector of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic overlay covering at least part of at least either of the first and the second current-path conductor in order to keep the magnetic lines of force from dispersion.

6. A current detector utilizing the Hall-effect for detection or measurement of electric current, comprising:

(a) a first current-path conductor of sheet-metal material integrally comprising a pair of terminal webs which are aligned with each other, and a bridge of substantially arcuate shape joining the pair of terminal webs, the bridge projecting laterally of the pair of aligned terminal webs and being constricted to cause concentrated current flow therethrough;

(b) a second current-path conductor of sheet-metal material integrally comprising a pair of terminal webs which are aligned with each other, and a bridge of substantially arcuate shape joining the pair of terminal webs, the bridge of the second current-path conductor projecting laterally of the pair of aligned terminal webs thereof and being constricted to cause concentrated current flow therethrough;

(c) the first and the second current-path conductor being arranged in two parallel planes, with at least the bridges thereof superposed one upon the other with a spacing therebetween;

(d) a Hall generator disposed in the spacing between the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor and so positioned relative to the bridges as to be thereby surrounded, as seen in a direction normal to the planes of the current-path conductors, in order to be acted upon by magnetic fields that are created upon current flow through the bridges; and

(e) a coupling conductor interconnecting a preselected one of the terminal webs of the first current-path conductor and a preselected one of the terminal webs of the second current-path conductor so that magnetic lines of force due to current flow through the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor act in the same direction on the Hall generator.

7. The current detector of claim 6 wherein the pairs of aligned terminal webs of the first and the second current-path conductor are disposed side by side, as seen in a direction normal to the planes of the current-path conductors, and wherein the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor extend toward each other into overlapping relationship.

8. The current detector of claim 6 wherein the pairs of aligned terminal webs of the first and the second current-path conductor are disposed at right angles, as seen in a direction normal to the planes of the current-path conductors, with one of the terminal webs of the first current-path conductor overlapping one of the terminal webs of the second current-path conductor, and wherein the bridges of the first and the second current-path conductor extend into overlapping relationship with each other.

9. The current detector of claim 6 wherein the first and the second current-path conductor are disposed in superposition, with the bridges thereof extending in the same direction from the associated pairs of terminal webs in overlapping relationship to each other.

10. The current detector of claim 6 further comprising a casing of electrically insulating material enveloping at least parts of the first and the second current-path conductor and the Hall generator and holding the same in prescribed relative positions.

11. The current detector of claim 6 further comprising a magnetic overlay covering at least part of at least either of the first and the second current-path conductor in order to keep the magnetic lines of force from dispersion.