Electrical connector with integrated current sensor
US11289857B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An example electrical connector includes a magnetic core embedded in the overmold and encircling conductive paths therein and a Hall-effect sensor embedded in the overmold and configured to sense a magnetic field of the magnetic core. The Hall-effect sensor generates an output that indicates whether or not the supply current flowing through the connector matches the return current flowing through the connector, and this output may be used to detect stray-current faults in which current bypasses the connector to return via alternative paths such as through a device chassis. The connector may include one or more supply wires embedded in the overmold, one or more return wires embedded in the overmold, one or more supply terminals embedded in the overmold and terminating the supply wires, and one or more return terminals embedded in the overmold and terminating the return wires. The magnetic core embedded in the overmold may encircle (a) the supply terminals or the supply wires or both, and (b) the return terminals or the return wires or both.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.