Proximity electric current sensing device and method

• US 8,836,318 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Du, Ming-Jhe, Cheng, Shih-Hsien, Cho, Lien-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes-Vivour, Temilade S
• Application Number:
  US13/329,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.R, 324/117.H, 324/750.22, 324/750.19, 324/529, 324/263, 324/262, 324/260, 324/259, 324/252, 324/247, 324/246, 324/244, 324/243, 324/242, 324/212, 324/207.24, 324/207.23, 324/207.22, 324/207.21, 324/207.2, 324/207.13
• US Class Current: 324/117.R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/148 involving the measuring of a magnetic field or electric field G01R15/18, G01R15/20, G01R15/24, G01R15/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/181 using coils without a magnetic core, e.g. Rogowski coils
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/20 using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices , i.e. measuring a magnetic field via the interaction between a current and a magnetic field, e.g. magneto resistive or Hall effect devices

Abstract

A proximity electric current sensing device includes a main body, a first and second adjusting components, a first to third sensing units. The main body has a hole for a conducting wire to go through. The first and second adjusting components are disposed on a first and second sides of the main body respectively for adjusting a first and second positions of the conducting wire. The first to third sensing units are disposed on the main body and adjacent to a first to third sides of the conducting wire respectively for sensing a first to third magnetic fluxes of the conducting wire. The processing unit rotates the adjusting components to ensure the third sensing unit is right above the center of the conducting wire according to the first and second magnetic flux, estimates an installation position, and calculates an amount of an electric current according to the third magnetic flux.

Claims

1. A proximity electric current sensing device, comprising:

a main body having a hole for a conducting wire to go through the main body;

a first adjusting component disposed on a first side of the main body for adjusting a first position of the conducting wire;

a second adjusting component disposed on a second side of the main body for adjusting a second position of the conducting wire;

a first sensing unit disposed on the main body and adjacent to a first side of the conducting wire for sensing a first magnetic flux of the conducting wire;

a second sensing unit disposed on the main body and adjacent to a second side of the conducting wire for sensing a second magnetic flux of the conducting wire;

a third sensing unit disposed on the main body and adjacent to a third side of the conducting wire for sensing a third magnetic flux of the conducting wire;

a processing unit coupled to the first sensing unit, the second sensing unit and the third sensing unit being configured to determine a position of the conducting wire according to the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux, and to calculate an amount of an electric current according to the third magnetic flux;

a third adjusting component disposed on a third side of the main body for adjusting a third position of the conducting wire;

a fourth adjusting component disposed on a fourth side of the main body for adjusting a fourth position of the conducting wire; and

a fourth sensing unit disposed on the main body and adjacent to a fourth side of the conducting wire for sensing a fourth magnetic flux of the conducting wire;

wherein the processing unit is further coupled to the fourth sensing unit for determining another position of the conducting wire according to the third magnetic flux and fourth magnetic flux.

2. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third sensing unit includes:

a first sensing coil disposed on the main body and adjacent to the third side of the conducting wire; and

a second sensing coil disposed on the main body and adjacent to the first sensing coil at a preset distance.

3. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes:

a first comparing unit coupled to the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit for receiving and comparing the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux for generating a first comparison result; and

a first computing unit coupled to the first comparing unit and the third sensing unit for determining the position of the conducting wire according to the first comparison result, and calculating the amount of the electric current according to the third magnetic flux.

4. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes:

a second comparing unit coupled to the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit for receiving and comparing the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux for generating a second comparison result;

a third comparing unit coupled to the third sensing unit and the fourth sensing unit for receiving and comparing the third magnetic flux and the fourth magnetic flux for generating a third comparison result; and

a second computing unit coupled to the second comparing unit, the third comparing unit and the third sensing unit being configured to determine the position of the conducting wire according to the second comparison result, to determine another position of the conducting wire according to the third comparison result, and to calculate the amount of the electric current according to the third magnetic flux.

5. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adjusting component, the second adjusting component, the third adjusting component and the fourth adjusting component respectively includes:

a first bar; and

a first knob connected to the first bar, and the first bar being configured to perform a reciprocating motion by turning the first knob, so that the first bar is capable of being inserted into or out of the main body.

6. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first display unit coupled to the processing unit for displaying the position, the another position, and the amount of the electric current of the conducting wire.

7. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conducting wire is a dual core power cord.

8. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adjusting component and the second adjusting component respectively includes:

a second bar; and

a second knob connected to the second bar, and the second bar being configured to perform a reciprocating motion by turning the second knob, so that the second bar is capable of being inserted into or out of the main body.

9. The proximity electric current sensing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit coupled to the processing unit for displaying the position and the amount of the electric current of the conducting wire.

10. A proximity electric current sensing method, comprising:

using a first sensing unit for sensing a first magnetic flux of a conducting wire, wherein the first sensing unit being adjacent to a first side of the conducting wire;

using a second sensing unit for sensing a second magnetic flux of the conducting wire, the second sensing unit being adjacent to a second side of the conducting wire;

using a third sensing unit for sensing a third magnetic flux of the conducting wire, the third sensing unit being adjacent to a third side of the conducting wire, the third sensing unit comprising a first sensing coil disposed adjacent to the third side of the conducting wire; and

a second sensing coil disposed adjacent to the first sensing coil at a preset distance;

determining a position of the conducting wire according to the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux, wherein determining the position of the conducting wire comprises;

comparing the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux in order for generating a first comparison result; and

determining the position of the conducting wire according to the first comparison result; and

calculating an amount of an electric current according to the third magnetic flux.

11. The proximity electric current sensing method as claimed in claim 10, further including:

using a fourth sensing unit for sensing a fourth magnetic flux of the conducting wire, the fourth sensing unit being adjacent to a fourth side of the conducting wire; and

determining another position of the conducting wire according to the third magnetic flux and the fourth magnetic flux.

12. The proximity electric current sensing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of calculating a position of the conducting wire according to the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux includes:

comparing the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux for generating a second comparison result; and

determining the position of the conducting wire according to the second comparison result.

13. The proximity electric current sensing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of determining another position of the conducting wire according to the third magnetic flux and the fourth magnetic flux includes:

comparing the third magnetic flux and the fourth magnetic flux for generating a third comparison result; and

determining the another position of the conducting wire according to the third comparison result.

14. The proximity electric current sensing method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the position, the another position and the amount of the electric current of the conducting wire.

15. The proximity electric current sensing method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

displaying the position and the amount of the electric current of the conducting wire.