Current sensor

• US 7,936,165 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumura, Norio, Aoki, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Ha Tran T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benitez; Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/545,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.R, 324/117.H, 324/120, 324126-127, 324250-252
• US Class Current: 324/126
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements

Abstract

A current sensor includes a housing having a pair of first slits, a bus bar supported by the housing and electrically connected to a battery post provided on a battery, an annular shield member arranged so as to surround an axis extending in a direction in which a current is flowed in the bus bar, and a magnetic-electric conversion element provided on the housing to detect a magnetic flux density of a magnetic field generated when the current is flowed in the bus bar and produce an electric signal. The magnetic-electric conversion element is arranged between the first slits. The shield member is inserted into the first slits so that the shield member is mounted on the housing.

Claims

1. A current sensor comprising:

a housing having a pair of first slits;

a bus bar supported by the housing and electrically connected to a battery post provided on a battery;

an annular shield member arranged so as to surround an axis extending in a direction in which a current is flowed in the bus bar; and

a magnetic-electric conversion element provided on the housing to detect a magnetic flux density of a magnetic field generated when the current is flowed in the bus bar and produce an electric signal,

wherein the magnetic-electric conversion element is arranged between the first slits; and

wherein the shield member is inserted into the first slits so that the shield member is mounted on the housing.

2. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein a tip of an external output terminal for outputting the electric signal from the magnetic-electric conversion element is loosely inserted into and passed through a second slit provided on the bus bar, and extends in a direction orthogonal to an end face of the battery where the buttery post is provided.

3. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the tip of an external output terminal for outputting the electric signal from the magnetic-electric conversion element extends, in parallel to an end face where the battery post is provided, so as to away from the battery.

4. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the shield member has a box like shape having a lower wall and side walls which a perpendicular to the lower wall;

and

wherein the side walls are inserted into the first slits of the housing.