Resistor arrangement, manufacturing method, and measurement circuit

• US 7,170,295 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Isabellenhuette Heusler GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Isabellenhuette Heusler GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Hetzler, Ullrich
• Primary Examiner(s): DEB, ANJAN K
• Application Number:
  US10/872,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 324/504, 324/522, 324/526, 324771-772, 324/126, 324/548, 338/49
• US Class Current: 324/522
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/203 Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 1/14 Terminals or tapping points or electrodes specially adapted for resistors in general H01R; Arrangements of terminals or tapping points or electrodes on resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 1/16 Resistor networks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49082 Resistor making

Abstract

The invention relates to a resistor arrangement, especially for current measurement in a vehicle electrical system, with two plate-shaped connection elements separated from each other and a plate-shaped first resistive element, which is arranged between the two connection elements and is electrically and mechanically connected to these elements. According to the invention, at least one of the other plate-shaped resistive elements, which are separated from the first resistive element and which are arranged between one of the two connection elements of the first resistive element and another connection element is connected electrically and mechanically to these connection elements.

Claims

1. A resistor arrangement

having two plate-shaped connection elements, separated from each other, and a plate-shaped first resistive element which is arranged between the two connection elements and which is connected to these elements electrically and mechanically,

at least a second plate-shaped resistive element, separated from the first resistive element by a separation recess, arranged between one of the two connection elements connected to the first resistive element and a third connection element, and being connected to one of the two plate-shaped connection elements and to the third connection element electrically and mechanically, wherein one of the two plate-shaped connection elements and the third connection element are coplanar and are separated from each other by a separation recess that is contiguous with the separation recess disposed between the first and second plate-shaped resistive elements.

2. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein measurement connections are provided for detecting the electric voltage drop across the first and second plate-shaped resistive elements which are connected electrically and mechanically to the individual connection elements.

3. A resistor arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the measurement connections are each arranged directly adjacent to the first and second plate-shaped resistive elements and/or to the side edges of the connection elements.

4. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit board with a measurement circuit, wherein the circuit board is arranged in parallel with the first and second plate-shaped resistive elements and is electrically connected to these elements.

5. A resistor arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the circuit board with the measurement circuit is mechanically connected to the connection elements by the measurement connections.

6. A resistor arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the circuit board with the measurement circuit is mechanically connected via a spacer to the connection elements and/or the resistive elements.

7. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1 wherein one of the two plate-shaped connection elements and the third connection element are each electrically connected through the first and second plate-shaped resistive elements, respectively, to the other of the two plate-shaped connection elements, which is a common connection element, and a through-hole for influencing the current distribution is arranged in the common connection element of the resistive elements.

8. A resistor arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the through-hole is arranged in the center between the two plate-shaped resistive elements.

9. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the connection elements are welded to the resistive elements.

10. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the connection elements consist of copper or a copper alloy.

11. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the resistive elements consist of a CuMnNi alloy.

12. A resistor arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the common connection element of the two resistive elements has two connection contacts for current transfer.

13. A method of manufacturing resistor arrangements comprising the following steps:

mechanically and electrically connecting an elongated band made from a resistive material on its longitudinal edges to an elongated band made from an electrically conductive material,

separating the bands connected to each other into several resistor arrangements along several perpendicular separating lines,

generating in the individual resistor arrangements perpendicular recesses between two adjacent separating lines,

wherein the recesses extend from a longitudinal edge of the resistor arrangements starting inwards at least up to the band made from the resistor material in order to form two connection elements separated from each other.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 13, wherein the perpendicular recesses extend inwards at least up to the opposite band made from electrically conductive material in order to form two resistive elements separated from each other.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 14 wherein the generating step for generating the recesses and/or the separating lines further comprises stamping.

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 13 wherein the generating step for generating the recesses and/or the separating lines further comprises stamping.

17. The manufacturing method according to claim 13 wherein the bands are welded to each other.

18. The manufacturing method according to claim 13 wherein the individual resistor arrangements are connected to an integrated measurement circuit electrically and/or mechanically.

19. A measurement circuit comprising:

a first resistive element arranged in a first circuit branch,

a first voltage tap for measuring the electric voltage drop across the first resistive element,

a second resistive element arranged in a second circuit branch separated from the first resistive element by a separation recess, and

a second voltage tap for measuring the electric voltage drop across the second resistive element,

wherein the two resistive elements are arranged in common in a resistor arrangement and are connected mechanically to each other by a common connection to a plate-shaped common connection element at one of their ends, and to a first and second connection element, respectively, at the opposite end from the connection of the resistive element to the common connection element.

20. The measurement circuit according to claim 19, wherein the two resistive elements are connected mechanically to each other through the common connection element for current transfer and/or supply, and are disposed on the same side of the common connection element.

21. The measurement circuit according to claim 20, further comprising third circuit branch having a starter connected to the common connection element.

22. The measurement circuit according to claim 20, wherein a third circuit branch having a battery is connected to the common connection element.

23. The measurement circuit according to claim 22, wherein a starter is arranged in the first circuit branch and a generator is arranged in the second circuit branch.

24. The measurement circuit according to claim 22, wherein a parallel circuit made up of a starter and a generator are arranged in the first circuit branch, while at least one load is arranged in the second circuit branch.

25. The measurement circuit according to claim 19 wherein a battery is arranged in the first circuit branch and at least one load is arranged in the second circuit branch.

26. The measurement circuit according to claim 19 wherein a battery is arranged in the first circuit branch and a generator is arranged in the second circuit branch.

27. The measurement circuit according to claim 19 wherein the resistor arrangement is connected on the ground side.

28. The measurement circuit according to claim 19 wherein the resistor arrangement is connected on the voltage side.