Devices for sensing current

• US 9,488,699 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Peczalski, Andy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/457,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 340/657, 340/660, 340/664, 324/244, 324/251, 324/252, 324/260, 324/261
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0011 comprising means, e.g. flux concentrators, flux guides, for guiding or concentrating the magnetic flux, e.g. to the magnetic sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/07 Hall effect devices

Abstract

Devices for sensing current are described herein. One device includes a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a first magnetic field associated with a current conductor while the current conductor is conducting a current, a second magnetic sensor, a particular distance from the first magnetic sensor, configured to determine a second magnetic field associated with the current conductor while the current conductor is conducting the current, and a fastener configured to secure the current sensor to the current conductor such that the first and second magnetic sensors are on a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the current conductor.

Claims

1. A current sensor, comprising:

a first magnetic sensor mounted on a first face of a circuit board and configured to determine a first magnetic field associated with a current conductor while the current conductor is conducting a current;

a second magnetic sensor mounted on the first face of the circuit board and configured to determine a second magnetic field associated with the current conductor while the current conductor is conducting the current, wherein the circuit board curves around the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor such that the first magnetic sensor abuts the second magnetic current sensor; and

a fastener configured to secure the current sensor to the current conductor such that each magnetic sensor of the current sensor is on a single radial line extending outward from a point on or within the current conductor, and the first magnetic sensor is disposed between the second magnetic sensor and the current conductor.

2. The current sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the magnetic sensors includes a tunneling magnetoresistance element.

3. The current sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the magnetic sensors includes an anisotropic magnetoresistance element.

4. The current sensor of claim 1, wherein the current sensor includes a third magnetic sensor connected to a second face of the circuit board.

5. The current sensor of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board including at least one of polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene.

6. The current sensor of claim 1, wherein the current sensor includes a notification functionality configured to provide a notification responsive to the first and second magnetic sensors determining the first and second magnetic fields, respectively.

7. The current sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are individually packaged.

8. A current sensor, comprising:

a first magnetic sensor mounted on a first portion of a first face of a circuit board;

a second magnetic sensor mounted on a second portion of the first face of the circuit board and disposed on a surface of the first magnetic sensor opposing the first portion of the first face of the circuit board;

a third magnetic sensor disposed on a second face of the circuit board; and

a fastener configured to secure the current sensor to a current conductor such that each magnetic sensor of the current sensor is on a single radial line extending outward from a point on or within the current conductor, and the first magnetic sensor is disposed between the second magnetic sensor and the current conductor.

9. The current sensor of claim 8, wherein the first and second magnetic sensors have a first orientation with respect to the circuit board and the third magnetic sensor has a second orientation with respect to the circuit board.

10. The current sensor of claim 8, wherein:

the first, second, and third magnetic sensors are individually packaged.

11. A current sensor, comprising:

a fastener configured to secure the current sensor to a current conductor, while the current conductor is conducting a current, wherein upon being secured, the current sensor is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the current conductor;

a plurality of magnetic sensors, wherein each magnetic sensor of the current sensor is on a single radial line extending outward from a point on or within the current conductor such that, upon being secured, a first magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors mounted on a first face of a circuit board abuts and is disposed between a second magnetic sensor of the plurality of sensors mounted on the first face of the circuit board and the current conductor, wherein the circuit board curves around the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor, and wherein each magnetic sensor of the current sensor is configured to determine a respective magnetic field associated with the current conductor at each of a plurality of rotational positions while the current sensor is being rotated about the longitudinal axis of the current conductor; and

a notification functionality configured to provide a notification responsive to at least one of the determined magnetic fields exceeding a threshold.

12. The current sensor of claim 11, wherein the current sensor is configured to be secured to the current conductor such that a third magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors contacts the current conductor.

13. The current sensor of claim 11, wherein the fastener includes a plurality of clip portions, each configured to engage the current conductor.

14. The current sensor of claim 13, wherein the fastener includes a pivot portion connecting the plurality of clip portions.

15. The current sensor of claim 11, wherein the current sensor is configured to determine the current conducted by the current conductor based, at least in part, on the at least one determined magnetic field associated with a rotational position of the current sensor corresponding to the respective determined magnetic fields exceeding the threshold.

16. The current sensor of claim 15, wherein the current sensor is configured to combine the plurality of magnetic fields determined by the plurality of magnetic sensors.

17. The current sensor of claim 11, wherein the notification functionality includes a light emitting diode.