Sensor devices and methods for use in sensing current through a conductor
First Claim
1. A sensor device for use in detecting current in a conductor, said sensor device comprising:
- a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture through which a conductor is received;
a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about at least a portion of said substrate; and
a housing enclosing said substrate and said coil, said housing including the aperture formed by said non-magnetic substrate and comprising;
a dielectric material having a dielectric constant, said dielectric material positioned adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture for said dielectric material to be disposed between said coil and said conductor when said conductor is received through said aperture; and
an offset ring fitting within said aperture with an outer end of the offset ring projecting perpendicular to an outer face of said housing for said ring to be offset from said housing, said offset ring including at least one spacer extending between said offset ring and said conductor so to maintain a position of said coil relative to said conductor, said spacer extending into said aperture from said outer end of said offset ring so to be offset from said aperture, said offset ring ensuring that said sensor device is spaced a distance away from any object in a meter with which said sensor device is used.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor device for use in detecting current in a conductor is provided. The sensor includes a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture structured to receive a conductor therein, a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about at least a portion of the substrate, and a housing for enclosing the substrate and coil. The housing includes a dielectric material having a dielectric constant and positioned adjacent to the coil and at least partially within the aperture such that the dielectric material is disposed between the coil and the conductor when the conductor is received through the aperture and at least one spacer coupled to the aperture to facilitate maintaining a position of the coil relative to the conductor, wherein each of the spacers is positioned offset from the dielectric material such that each of the spacers does not radially extend between the coil and the conductor.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A sensor device for use in detecting current in a conductor, said sensor device comprising:
- a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture through which a conductor is received;
a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about at least a portion of said substrate; and
a housing enclosing said substrate and said coil, said housing including the aperture formed by said non-magnetic substrate and comprising;
a dielectric material having a dielectric constant, said dielectric material positioned adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture for said dielectric material to be disposed between said coil and said conductor when said conductor is received through said aperture; and
an offset ring fitting within said aperture with an outer end of the offset ring projecting perpendicular to an outer face of said housing for said ring to be offset from said housing, said offset ring including at least one spacer extending between said offset ring and said conductor so to maintain a position of said coil relative to said conductor, said spacer extending into said aperture from said outer end of said offset ring so to be offset from said aperture, said offset ring ensuring that said sensor device is spaced a distance away from any object in a meter with which said sensor device is used. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture through which a conductor is received;
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10. A utility meter for use in transmitting electrical energy from a power source to a user;
- said utility meter comprising;
a first sensor device positioned at least partially around a first conductor to sense a current flowing through said first conductor and to output a signal representative of said sensed current, said first sensor device comprising;
a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture structured to receive said first conductor therein;
a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about at least a portion of said substrate; and
a housing enclosing said substrate and said coil, said housing comprising;
a dielectric material having a dielectric constant and positioned adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture defined by said non-magnetic substrate for said dielectric material to be disposed between said coil and said first conductor when said first conductor is received through said aperture;
an offset ring fitting within said aperture with an outer end of the offset ring projecting perpendicular to an outer face of said housing for said ring to be offset from said housing, said offset ring including at least one spacer extending between said offset ring and said first conductor to maintain a position of said coil relative to said first conductor, said spacer extending into said aperture from said outer end of said of said offset ring so to be offset from said aperture, said offset ring ensuring that said sensor device is spaced a distance away from any object in a meter with which said sensor device is used; and
a meter control board in communication with said first sensor device to receive said signal representative of said sensed current from said first sensor device and to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through said first conductor from the power source to the user over time;
wherein said first sensor device is positioned relative to said first conductor to reduce a sensitivity of said first sensor device such that said meter control board requires only one calibration coefficient for calibrating said first sensor device over a current range which extends from approximately 0.2 A to approximately 25,000 A. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- said utility meter comprising;
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20. A method of fabricating a utility meter for use in transmitting electrical energy from a power source to a user, the method comprising:
- providing a first sensor device positioned at least partially around a first conductor to sense a current flowing through said first conductor and to output a signal representative of said sensed current, wherein providing said first 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 first conductor is received, and enclosing in a housing said coil and said non-magnetic substrate, wherein enclosing in said housing comprises;
positioning a dielectric material adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture such that said dielectric material is disposed between said coil and said first conductor when said first conductor is received through said aperture; and
positioning an offset ring within said aperture with an outer end of said offset ring projecting perpendicular to an outer face of said housing for said ring to be offset from said housing, said offset ring including at least one spacer extending between said offset ring and said first conductor so to maintain a position of said coil relative to said first conductor, said spacer extending into said aperture from said outer end of said offset ring so to be offset from said aperture, said offset ring ensuring that said sensor device is spaced a distance away from any object in a meter with which said sensor device is used;
connecting a meter control board with said first sensor device to receive said signal representative of said sensed current from said first sensor device and to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through said first conductor from the power source to the user over time;
positioning said first sensor device relative to said first conductor to reduce a sensitivity of said sensor device whereby said meter control board requires only one calibration coefficient for calibrating said sensor device over a current range extending between approximately 0.2 A and approximately 25,000 A. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
- providing a first sensor device positioned at least partially around a first conductor to sense a current flowing through said first conductor and to output a signal representative of said sensed current, wherein providing said first sensor device comprises;
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23. A sensor device for use in detecting current in a conductor, said sensor device comprising:
- a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture through which a conductor is received;
a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about at least a portion of said substrate; and
a housing enclosing said substrate and said coil, said housing including the aperture formed by said non-magnetic substrate and comprising;
a dielectric material having a dielectric constant, said dielectric material positioned adjacent to said coil and at least partially within said aperture for said dielectric material to be disposed between said coil and said conductor when said conductor is received through said aperture; and
an offset ring fitting within said aperture with an outer end of the offset ring projecting perpendicular to an outer face of said housing for said ring to be offset from said housing, said offset ring including three spacers circumferentially spaced around said offset ring and extending between said offset ring and said conductor so to maintain the position of said coil relative to said conductor, each said spacer extending into said aperture from said outer end of said offset ring so to be offset from said aperture, and each spacer being shaped as a crushed rib with a curved point.
- a non-magnetic substrate defining an aperture through which a conductor is received;
Specification