Non-contact current and voltage sensor having detachable housing incorporating multiple ferrite cylinder portions
First Claim
1. A sensor for sensing an electric potential on a wire of a power distribution system and a current passing through the wire, the sensor comprising:
- a housing for detachably coupling the sensor to the wire, wherein the housing comprises two portions mechanically coupled together such that the housing is closed around the wire when the sensor is coupled to the wire;
a current sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a first output indicative of the current passing through the wire, the current sensing device including at least three ferrite cylinder portions disposed within corresponding ones of the housing portions, wherein when the housing is coupled to the wire, the wire passes through a central void defined by the ferrite cylinder portions extending through a central axis thereof, and wherein a gap is defined along a circumference of a cylinder formed by the ferrite cylinder portions, and wherein the current sensing device further comprises a semiconductor magnetic field sensor disposed within the gap, wherein the gap is located at an circumferential position substantially rotated away from the junctions of the housing portions, whereby the semiconductor magnetic field sensor is configured to be coupled to an external circuit without interfering with the operation of the housing, wherein the first output is an output of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor; and
a voltage sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a second output indicative of the electric potential on the wire, wherein the voltage sensing device and the current sensing device do not make electrical contact with the wire.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detachable current and voltage sensor provides an isolated and convenient device to measure current passing through a conductor such as an AC branch circuit wire, as well as providing an indication of an electrostatic potential on the wire, which can be used to indicate the phase of the voltage on the wire, and optionally a magnitude of the voltage. The device includes a housing formed from two portions that mechanically close around the wire and that contain the current and voltage sensors. The current sensor is a ferrite cylinder formed from at least three portions that form the cylinder when the sensor is closed around the wire with a hall effect sensor disposed in a gap between two of the ferrite portions along the circumference to measure current. A capacitive plate or wire is disposed adjacent to, or within, the ferrite cylinder to provide the indication of the voltage.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A sensor for sensing an electric potential on a wire of a power distribution system and a current passing through the wire, the sensor comprising:
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a housing for detachably coupling the sensor to the wire, wherein the housing comprises two portions mechanically coupled together such that the housing is closed around the wire when the sensor is coupled to the wire; a current sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a first output indicative of the current passing through the wire, the current sensing device including at least three ferrite cylinder portions disposed within corresponding ones of the housing portions, wherein when the housing is coupled to the wire, the wire passes through a central void defined by the ferrite cylinder portions extending through a central axis thereof, and wherein a gap is defined along a circumference of a cylinder formed by the ferrite cylinder portions, and wherein the current sensing device further comprises a semiconductor magnetic field sensor disposed within the gap, wherein the gap is located at an circumferential position substantially rotated away from the junctions of the housing portions, whereby the semiconductor magnetic field sensor is configured to be coupled to an external circuit without interfering with the operation of the housing, wherein the first output is an output of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor; and a voltage sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a second output indicative of the electric potential on the wire, wherein the voltage sensing device and the current sensing device do not make electrical contact with the wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification