Current sensing system

• US 9,696,349 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB SPA (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Prabhakaran, Satish, Wang, Ruxi, Burdick, Jr., William Edward, Nicholas, Raymond John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alejnikov, Jr., Robert P
• Application Number:
  US14/315,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20150377929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 324117 R, 324348, 324354, 324263, 324156, 336200, 336206-208, 336232, 361600
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/181 using coils without a magnetic core, e.g. Rogowski coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2027/2809 on stacked layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/055 Folded back on itself
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09036 Recesses or grooves in insulating substrate recess in metallic substrate H05K2201/09745
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/097 Alternating conductors, e.g. alternating different shaped pads, twisted pairs; Alternating components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2045 Protection against vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0191 Using tape or non-metallic foil in a process, e.g. during filling of a hole with conductive paste
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0221 Perforating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0228 Cutting, sawing, milling or shearing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/107 Using laser light shaping a substrate by laser ablation H05K3/0026
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/282 for inhibiting the corrosion of the circuit, e.g. for preserving the solderability

Abstract

A detecting unit is presented. The detecting unit includes a flexible circuit having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The flexible circuit includes a plurality of cells defined therein, each of the plurality of cells having a first side and a second side respectively corresponding to the first side and the second side of the flexible circuit. Moreover, the flexible circuit includes a plurality of conductive windings disposed on at least one of the first and second sides of the plurality of cells. Further, the flexible circuit includes a stress reduction feature between each of the plurality of cells. Also, the detecting unit includes a sealing element configured to secure the flexible circuit in a stacked configuration. A sensing system and a method of making a detecting unit are also presented.

Claims

1. A sensing system comprising:

a rigid support structure having a hollow space at a center portion;

a plurality of detecting units disposed on the rigid support structure such that they are electrically coupled, wherein the plurality of detecting units comprises;

a flexible circuit having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the flexible circuit comprising

a plurality of cells defined therein, each of the plurality of cells having a first side and a second side respectively corresponding to the first side and second side of the flexible circuit;

a plurality of conductive windings disposed on at least one of the first and second sides of the plurality of cells;

a stress reduction feature between each of the plurality of cells;

a sealing element configured to secure the flexible circuit in a stacked configuration;

a packaging unit disposed surrounding the rigid support structure and the plurality of detecting units, wherein the packaging unit is filled with a compound to provide electrical isolation for the plurality of detecting units and the rigid support structure; and

a current carrying conductor extending through the hollow space of the rigid support structure.

2. The sensing system of claim 1, further comprising a conductive trace disposed on the rigid support structure to provide a conducting path between the plurality of detecting units.

3. The sensing system of claim 1, further comprising an amplifying circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of detecting units.

4. The sensing system of claim 3, wherein the amplifying circuit is disposed on the rigid support structure.

5. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detecting units further comprise one or more electronic circuits disposed on the flexible circuit.