Sensor devices and methods for use in sensing current through a conductor
First Claim
1. A utility meter for use in transmitting electrical energy from a power source to a user, said utility meter comprising:
- a sensor device positionable at least partially around a conductor to sense current flowing through said conductor and to output a signal representative of said sensed current, said sensor device comprising;
a non-magnetic substrate comprising a plurality of bobbins;
a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about said substrate, said coil defining an aperture through which said conductor is to be received, wherein at least one of said plurality of turns is wound about each of said plurality of bobbins; and
a dielectric material having a dielectric constant and positioned adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture such that said dielectric material is between said coil and said conductor when said conductor is received through said aperture; and
a meter control board in communication with said sensor device to receive said signal representative of said sensed current from said sensor device and to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through said conductor from the power source to the user over time;
wherein said dielectric constant of said dielectric material is selected to reduce a capacitive coupling between said coil and said conductor and to consequently reduce a sensitivity of said sensor device such that said meter control board comprises only one calibration coefficient for calibrating said sensor device over a current range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A utility meter and related methods are disclosed. The utility meter includes a sensor device positioned around a conductor to sense current flowing through the conductor. The sensor device includes a non-magnetic substrate, a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about the substrate, and a dielectric material having a dielectric constant and positioned between the coil and the conductor. The utility meter also includes a meter control board in communication with the sensor device to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through the conductor from the power source to the user over time. The dielectric constant of the dielectric material is selected to reduce a capacitive coupling between the coil and the conductor and to reduce a sensitivity of the sensor device such that the meter control board comprises only one calibration coefficient for calibrating the sensor device over a current range.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A utility meter for use in transmitting electrical energy from a power source to a user, said utility meter comprising:
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a sensor device positionable at least partially around a conductor to sense current flowing through said conductor and to output a signal representative of said sensed current, said sensor device comprising; a non-magnetic substrate comprising a plurality of bobbins; a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about said substrate, said coil defining an aperture through which said conductor is to be received, wherein at least one of said plurality of turns is wound about each of said plurality of bobbins; and a dielectric material having a dielectric constant and positioned adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture such that said dielectric material is between said coil and said conductor when said conductor is received through said aperture; and a meter control board in communication with said sensor device to receive said signal representative of said sensed current from said sensor device and to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through said conductor from the power source to the user over time; wherein said dielectric constant of said dielectric material is selected to reduce a capacitive coupling between said coil and said conductor and to consequently reduce a sensitivity of said sensor device such that said meter control board comprises only one calibration coefficient for calibrating said sensor device over a current range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of fabricating a utility meter for use in transmitting electrical energy from a power source to a user, said method comprising:
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providing a sensor device positionable at least partially around a conductor to sense current flowing through said conductor and to output a signal representative of said sensed current, wherein providing said sensor device comprises; forming a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about a non-magnetic substrate, said coil defining an aperture through which said conductor is to be received, wherein forming the coil includes winding at least one turn of the coil on each of a plurality of bobbins of the substrate; positioning a dielectric material adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture such that said dielectric material is between said coil and said conductor when said conductor is received through said aperture; and connecting a meter control board with said sensor device to receive said signal representative of said sensed current from said sensor device and to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through said conductor from the power source to the user over time; selecting said dielectric material such that a dielectric constant of said dielectric material reduces a capacitive coupling between said coil and said conductor and consequently reduces a sensitivity of said sensor device such that said meter control board comprises only one calibration coefficient for calibrating said sensor device over a current range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification