AC current or voltage sensor
First Claim
1. A current sensing device for producing a signal indicative of an alternating current flowing in a conductor, the current sensing device comprising:
- a support element defining a main central axis and having a central opening extending axially therethrough for accommodating the conductor substantially coaxially through the support element,a carrier comprising an elongated primary substrate defining opposite first and second major surfaces formed into a multi-channel arcuate configuration defining a plurality of adjacent channels extending parallel to the main central axis by bending the primary substrate along spaced apart transversely extending bend lines to form opposite side walls of the channels, the primary substrate being located in the support element in the multi-channel arcuate configuration extending around the main central axis with the bend lines and the channels extending substantially parallel to the main central axis, and the side walls defining planes extending substantially longitudinally along and substantially radially from the main central axis,a plurality of planar coils formed on the first and second major surfaces of the primary substrate on the respective side walls of the channels with the planar coils defining respective planes extending substantially along and substantially radially from the main central axis, and being circumferentially spaced apart around the main central axis of the support element and being electrically connected in series, so that voltages induced in the planar coils by an alternating current flowing in the conductor extending through the central opening in the support element are summed in phase to produce the signal indicative of the alternating current flowing in the conductor, anda shield for minimizing the effect of external stray electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of the current sensing device on the planar coils.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A current sensing device (1) for producing a voltage indicative of an alternating current flowing in a conductor (2) comprises a support element (5) within which a carrier element (11) is located. The carrier element (11) comprises a primary substrate (12) which is formed into a multi-channel arcuate configuration defining a plurality of longitudinally extending channels (13) with side walls (16) on which planar coils (17) are formed on respective opposite first and second major surfaces (14,15) of the primary substrate (12). The carrier element (11) is located and retained in the multi-channel arcuate configuration in a primary retaining recess (38) in the support element (5) with the planar coils (17) defining planes which extend radially from a main central axis (6) defined by the support element (5). The planar coils (17) are connected in series so that the voltages produced in the coils by the alternating current flowing in the conductor (2) are summed in phase and the sum of the respective voltages is produced across terminals (20,21) of a first output port (19). Capacitive plates of a capacitor may also be formed on the first and second major surfaces (14,15) of the primary substrate (12) or on a separate substrate in order to produce a signal indicative of the alternating voltage in the conductor (2).
22 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A current sensing device for producing a signal indicative of an alternating current flowing in a conductor, the current sensing device comprising:
-
a support element defining a main central axis and having a central opening extending axially therethrough for accommodating the conductor substantially coaxially through the support element, a carrier comprising an elongated primary substrate defining opposite first and second major surfaces formed into a multi-channel arcuate configuration defining a plurality of adjacent channels extending parallel to the main central axis by bending the primary substrate along spaced apart transversely extending bend lines to form opposite side walls of the channels, the primary substrate being located in the support element in the multi-channel arcuate configuration extending around the main central axis with the bend lines and the channels extending substantially parallel to the main central axis, and the side walls defining planes extending substantially longitudinally along and substantially radially from the main central axis, a plurality of planar coils formed on the first and second major surfaces of the primary substrate on the respective side walls of the channels with the planar coils defining respective planes extending substantially along and substantially radially from the main central axis, and being circumferentially spaced apart around the main central axis of the support element and being electrically connected in series, so that voltages induced in the planar coils by an alternating current flowing in the conductor extending through the central opening in the support element are summed in phase to produce the signal indicative of the alternating current flowing in the conductor, and a shield for minimizing the effect of external stray electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of the current sensing device on the planar coils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for producing a signal indicative of an alternating current flowing in a conductor, the method comprising:
-
providing a support element defining a main central axis and having a central opening extending axially therethrough for accommodating the conductor substantially coaxially to the support element, providing a carrier comprising an elongated primary substrate defining opposite first and second major surfaces, bending the primary substrate along spaced apart transversely extending bend lines into a multi-channel arcuate configuration defining a plurality of adjacent channels having opposite side walls, locating the primary substrate in the support element in the multi-channel arcuate configuration extending around the main central axis with the bend lines and the channels extending substantially parallel to the main central axis, and the side walls defining planes extending substantially longitudinally along and substantially radially from the main central axis, forming a plurality of planar coils on the first and second major surfaces of the primary substrate on the respective side walls of the channels with the planar coils defining respective planes extending substantially along and substantially radially from the main central axis of the support element and being spaced apart circumferentially around the main central axis, providing a shield means shield for minimizing the effect of external stray electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of the current sensing device on the planar coils, electrically connecting the planar coils in series so that voltages induced in the planar Coils the alternating current flowing in the conductor are summed in phase to produce the signal indicative of the alternating current flowing in the conductor, and locating the conductor in the central opening extending coaxially through the central opening of the support element, and reading the produced signal indicative of the alternating current flowing in the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
Specification