Back to results
US 10,295,575 B2Granted
Current sensor and battery current monitoring system
AssigneePALCELLs Technology, Inc.
InventorsWin Sheng Cheng, Jeff Yeu-Farn Hsieh, YiChien Hwang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A current sensor includes a two-piece ferromagnetic core clamped together over a wire to be measured by a housing to form a ferromagnetic cylinder that concentrates the magnetic flux surrounding the electrical wire to be measured. By directing the magnetic flux to a Hall effect sensor, the current can be measured in the wire without cutting or modifying the wire.
Claims18
A current sensor, comprising:
- a housing configured as a two-part clamshell;
- a core disposed within the housing, the core defining a longitudinal axis between opposing end surfaces, the core being divided into at least two segments, the core defining a gap between opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces spanning longitudinally between the opposing end surfaces;
- and
- a sensor that senses magnetic field,
- wherein the core is formed of a magnetic material and defines a central channel through which a wire, whose current is to be measured, can be disposed without cutting or modifying the wire,
- wherein the sensor is disposed in the gap formed between the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, and
- wherein each of the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces defines a flat portion oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and centered between the opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion.
4 more elements
A method of non-invasively measuring electrical current in a wire, the method comprising:
- clamping a magnetic core around the wire while leaving the wire intact;
- concentrating a magnetic flux surrounding the wire;
- directing the magnetic flux to a Hall effect sensor by:
- shaping each of a pair of opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of the magnetic core to define a flat portion oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the magnetic core and centering the flat portion between opposing longitudinal ends of the core, and
- further shaping each of the pair of opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of the magnetic core to define a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the magnetic core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the magnetic core and the flat portion;
- measuring the magnetic flux;
- and
- outputting a voltage corresponding to the measured magnetic flux.
5 more elements
A battery current monitoring system, comprising:
- a battery module;
- a charger coupled to the battery module;
- a load coupled to the battery module;
- a switch disposed between the load and the battery module;
- a wire coupled to the battery module;
- a current sensor clamped around the wire such that the wire extends through the core while leaving the wire intact, the current sensor comprising:
- a housing configured as a two-part clamshell;
- a core disposed within the housing, the core defining a longitudinal axis between opposing end surfaces, the core being divided into at least two segments, the core defining a gap between opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces spanning longitudinally between the opposing end surfaces;
- and
- a sensor that senses magnetic field,
- wherein the core is formed of a magnetic material and defines a central channel through which the wire can be disposed without cutting or modifying the wire,
- wherein the sensor is disposed in the gap formed between the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces of adjacent segments of the core, and
- wherein each of the opposing lengthwise edge surfaces defines a flat portion oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and centered between the opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a first sloped portion disposed between a first of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion, and a second sloped portion disposed between a second of the opposing longitudinal ends of the core and the flat portion;
- and
- a current monitor control board, comprising:
- an ADC coupled to the sensor;
- and
- a microcontroller coupled to the ADC.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.