Device for measuring a current flowing through an electric cable

• US 8,963,537 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Melexis Technologies NV (Sensinnovat BVBA)
• Original Assignee: Melexis Technologies NV (Sensinnovat BVBA)
• Inventors: Racz, Robert, Krummenacher, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US13/483,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.H
• US Class Current: 324/117.H
• 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 device for measuring a current flowing through an electric cable comprises a printed circuit board, a magnetic field sensor and a ferromagnetic component. The ferromagnetic component comprises two tongues whose front faces are disposed opposite of each other and are separated by an air gap and further comprises at least two feet, with the tongues and/or the feet being bent off. The cable is guidable through an opening which is enclosed by the ferromagnetic component. The ferromagnetic component and the magnetic field sensor are mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board. The magnetic field sensor is sensitive to a magnetic field extending parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board. The tongues of the ferromagnetic component extend parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board (2).

Claims

1. A device for measuring a current flowing through an electric cable, comprising:

a printed circuit board,

a magnetic field sensor, and

a ferromagnetic component of sheet metal which is bent in a U-shaped manner and comprises a middle part and two legs,

wherein

the magnetic field sensor and the ferromagnetic component are mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board,

the magnetic field sensor is sensitive to a magnetic field extending parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board,

the ferromagnetic component comprises two tongues whose front faces are disposed opposite of each other and are separated by an air gap, wherein the tongues are punched out from the legs and bent relative to the legs, so as to

extend parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board and either rest on the magnetic field sensor or be arranged at a distance from the magnetic field sensor above the magnetic field sensor, and

wherein the middle part and the tongues of the ferromagnetic component enclose an opening for the cable.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic component consists of two components, so that the device is mountable on a fixedly mounted cable.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the legs of the ferromagnetic component are formed to include feet and wherein the printed circuit board comprises slots or boreholes or depressions, into which the feet are insertable.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the legs of the ferromagnetic component are formed to include feet that are bent at an angle in relation to the legs so that the feet extend parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board and wherein the feet are glued or soldered to the printed circuit board.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the ferromagnetic component comprises further feet which are insertable into slots or bores or depressions of the printed circuit board.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a semiconductor chip with at least one integrated Hall element and two magnetic field concentrators which are arranged on the semiconductor chip and are separated by an air gap, and wherein the at least one Hall element is arranged in the region of said air gap.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the tongues of the ferromagnetic component and the magnetic field concentrators overlap one another at least in part.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetoresistive sensor or a fluxgate sensor.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the legs of the ferromagnetic component are formed to include feet, and wherein the printed circuit board comprises slots or boreholes or depressions, into which the feet are insertable.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the legs of the ferromagnetic component are formed to include feet that are bent at an angle in relation to the legs so that extend parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board and wherein the feet are glued or soldered to the printed circuit board.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the ferromagnetic component comprises further feet which are insertable into slots or bores or depressions of the printed circuit board.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a semiconductor chip with at least one integrated Hall element and two magnetic field concentrators which are arranged on the semiconductor chip and are separated by an air gap, and wherein the at least one Hall element is arranged in the region of said air gap.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the tongues of the ferromagnetic component and the magnetic field concentrators overlap one another at least in part.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetoresistive sensor or a fluxgate sensor.