Current-sensing assembly

• US 9,933,461 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Buffenbarger, Ryan Lee, Huang, Hao, Brown, Chad Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T
• Application Number:
  US14/180,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 361752-753, 361760-762, 361807-810, 439 762
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08

Abstract

A current-sensing assembly that includes a power module, for providing switchable power, having a current output extending through and directly away from the top exterior surface of the power module, a Hall sensor, capable of measuring current traversing through a conductor, having an opening, and the current output extending through the opening.

Claims

1. A current-sensing assembly comprising:

a power module assembly having an elongated body with a set of sides and a top exterior surface and a current output extending through and directly away from the top exterior surface, wherein the top exterior surface is substantially perpendicular to the set of sides; and

a Hall sensor having an elongated body with a first exterior surface and defining an opening;

wherein the power module assembly and Hall sensor are substantially parallel and in overlying relationship such the top exterior surface of the power module and the first exterior surface of the hall sensor are in a confronting relationship and the current output extends into the opening; and

a bus bar in a confronting relationship with a second surface of the Hall sensor, wherein the second surface of the Hall sensor is substantially parallel to the first surface, and the bus bar provides for at least one output connection to the current output.

2. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the current output extends through the opening.

3. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the power module assembly further comprises at least one non-conductive mounting point.

4. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein a height of the current-sensing assembly, the height defined as coplanar with the direction of the current output extension, is less than 1.7 inches.

5. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the power module assembly further comprises a gate drive assembly, and the gate drive assembly is mounted to the power module assembly away from the current output such that electromagnetic interference generated at the current output does not interfere with gate drive operation.

6. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the Hall sensor further comprises a communicative coupling, and the communicative coupling is located on the Hall sensor away from the current output such that electromagnetic interference generated at the current output does not interfere with the communicative coupling.

7. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a third exterior surface confronting an exterior surface of the Hall Sensor, opposing the exterior surfaces in the confronting relationship, and in an overlying relationship with both the power module assembly and the Hall sensor.

8. The current-sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the power module assembly further comprises at least one of an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and a silicon carbine (SiC) MOSFET.

9. The current-sensing assembly of claim 2 wherein the bus bar further comprises a plurality of conductive output connections.

10. The current-sensing assembly of claim 3 wherein the exterior surface of the Hall sensor comprises at least one mounting connector corresponding to the at least one mounting point.

11. The current-sensing assembly of claim 9 wherein at least one of the plurality of output connections further comprises a post.

12. The current-sensing assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one mounting point and at least one mounting connector are configured to reduce vibrations between the power module assembly and the Hall sensor.

13. The current-sensing assembly of claim 11 wherein the post is configured to couple with a mechanical connector.

14. The current-sensing assembly of claim 13 wherein the mechanical connector is a mechanical fastener.

15. A current-sensing assembly comprising:

a power module assembly that includes an elongated body having a set of sides and a top exterior surface, wherein the top exterior surface is substantially perpendicular to the set of sides, and at least one of the length or width of the top exterior surface is greater than a height of sides included in the set of sides;

a closed-loop Hall Effect current sensor having an elongated body with a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface that is substantially parallel to the first exterior surface, and defining an opening,

wherein the closed-loop Hall Effect current sensor is disposed on the power module assembly such that the top exterior surface of the power module and the first exterior surface of the hall sensor are in a confronting relationship;

an output terminal extending through and directly away from the top exterior surface of the power module assembly, and into the opening of the closed-loop Hall Effect current sensor; and

a bus bar in a confronting relationship with the second surface of the closed-loop Hall Effect current sensor, wherein the bus bar provides for at least one output connection to the current terminal.

16. The current-sensing assembly of claim 15, wherein the power module assembly further comprises at least one of an insulated gate bipolar transistor, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and a silicon carbine (SiC) MOSFET.

17. The current-sensing assembly of claim 15, wherein the elongated body of the power module assembly includes at least one non-conductive mounting post.