Cost effective measurement of high currents
US6528960B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 3, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R15/18
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The increasing use of vehicles powered completely or in part by electric motors has created a need for measuring high currents in an inexpensive, reliable and convenient manner for digital motor control. Because the operating voltages of traction motors may be high, it is desirable that the motor current sensors be noncontacting. High-current sensors are commercially available, but tend to be large and costly. According to an aspect of the invention, a noncontacting current sensor having a rated capacity significantly less than the motor (or other) current to be measured is coupled to an electrical conductor for sensing the current in that conductor. The electrical conductor is paralleled by one or more additional similar conductors, so that only a fraction or portion of the current to be measured flows through the conductor associated with the sensor. The current sensor elements may be mounted on a printed-circuit board, which supports the elements, and also has one or more printed patterns which define a conductor associated with the sensor and at least one other conductor through which current can flow in parallel with the current in the sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.