Non-contact current and voltage sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor for sensing an electric potential on a wire of a power distribution system and a current passing through the wire, the sensor comprising:
- a housing for detachably coupling the sensor to the wire;
a current sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a first output indicative of the current passing through the wire, wherein the current sensing device comprises at least two ferrite cylinder portions disposed within the housing, wherein when the housing is coupled to the wire, the wire passes through a central void defined by the ferrite cylinder portions extending through a central axis thereof, and wherein a gap is defined along a circumference of a cylinder formed by the ferrite cylinder portions, and wherein the current sensing device further comprises a semiconductor magnetic field sensor disposed within the gap, wherein the second output is a voltage output of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor; and
a voltage sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a second output indicative of the electric potential on the wire, wherein the voltage sensing device and the current sensing device do not make electrical contact with the wire.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A detachable current and voltage sensor provides an isolated and convenient device to measure current passing through a conductor such as an AC branch circuit wire, as well as providing an indication of an electrostatic potential on the wire, which can be used to indicate the phase of the voltage on the wire, and optionally a magnitude of the voltage. The device includes a housing that contains the current and voltage sensors, which may be a ferrite cylinder with a hall effect sensor disposed in a gap along the circumference to measure current, or alternative a winding provided through the cylinder along its axis and a capacitive plate or wire disposed adjacent to, or within, the ferrite cylinder to provide the indication of the voltage.
80 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A sensor for sensing an electric potential on a wire of a power distribution system and a current passing through the wire, the sensor comprising:
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a housing for detachably coupling the sensor to the wire; a current sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a first output indicative of the current passing through the wire, wherein the current sensing device comprises at least two ferrite cylinder portions disposed within the housing, wherein when the housing is coupled to the wire, the wire passes through a central void defined by the ferrite cylinder portions extending through a central axis thereof, and wherein a gap is defined along a circumference of a cylinder formed by the ferrite cylinder portions, and wherein the current sensing device further comprises a semiconductor magnetic field sensor disposed within the gap, wherein the second output is a voltage output of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor; and a voltage sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a second output indicative of the electric potential on the wire, wherein the voltage sensing device and the current sensing device do not make electrical contact with the wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A sensor for sensing an electric potential on a wire of a power distribution system and a current passing through the wire, the sensor comprising:
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a hinged clamshell cylindrical housing that can be secured around the wire, whereby the wire can be detachably coupled to the sensor; at least two ferrite cylinder portions disposed within the housing, wherein when the housing is coupled to the wire, the wire passes through a central void defined by the ferrite cylinder portions extending through a central axis thereof, and wherein a gap is defined along a circumference of a cylinder formed by the ferrite cylinder portions; a semiconductor magnetic field sensor disposed within the gap for providing a first output indicative of the current passing through the wire; and at least one metal cylinder portion disposed within the housing for capacitively coupling the wire to a second output indicative of the electric potential on the wire. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor for sensing an electric potential on a wire of a power distribution system and a current passing through the wire, the sensor comprising:
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a housing for detachably coupling the sensor to the wire; a current sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a first output indicative of the current passing through the wire, wherein the current sensing device comprises at least two ferrite cylinder portions disposed within the housing, wherein when the housing is coupled to the wire, the wire passes through a central void defined by the ferrite cylinder portions extending through a central axis thereof, and wherein the current sensing device further comprises a winding forming a current loop along of at least one of the ferrite cylinder portions passing inside and outside of the central void substantially parallel to the central axis, and wherein the second output is provided by the terminals of the winding; and a voltage sensing device integrated in the housing for providing a second output indicative of the electric potential on the wire, wherein the voltage sensing device and the current sensing device do not make electrical contact with the wire.
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Specification