Current sensor and method utilizing multiple layers of thin film magneto-optic material and signal processing to make the output independent of system losses
US4973899A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 1989 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R15/246
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensor (1) for sensing the magnitude of current flowing in a conductor (12) based upon the Faraday effect. The sensor (10) includes a light source (14) for emitting a beam of light which is transmitted through the magneto-optic material (28) with one or more layers which causes a rotation of the plane of polarization of the light beam in proportion to the current flowing in the conductor (12). The beam of light with the rotated plane of polarization is split by a beam splitter (38) into two components which are then processed to produce an outputs (62, 63) indicative of the AC and DC components of the current flowing in the conductor. The outputs (62, 63) produced are independent of system losses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.