Current sensor and current sensor manufacturing method

A current sensor comprising

• a housing of molded plastics,
• a metallic current conductor through which a current to be measured flows,
• a magnetic field sensor chip containing at least one magnetic field detection element, the magnetic field sensor chip placed on a side of the current conductor,
• a flux concentrator placed on the magnetic field sensor chip for urging a flux generated by the current flowing through the current conductor to pass through the at least one magnetic field detection element, and
• input and output terminals an end of each of which is electrically connected to a terminal of the magnetic field sensor chip, wherein a portion of the current conductor carrying the magnetic field sensor chip lies in a first plane and the ends of the input and output terminals electrically connected to the terminals of the magnetic field sensor chip lie in a second plane oriented substantially parallel to the first plane, wherein a distance between the first and second plane substantially disappears or is substantially the same as a thickness of the magnetic field sensor chip.

A method of manufacturing a current sensor, comprising the steps of:

• forming a thin plate-like metal into a leadframe containing a current conductor and input and output terminals,
• placing a magnetic field sensor chip containing at least one magnetic field detection element on a side of the current conductor,
• connecting electrical terminals of the magnetic field sensor chip to the input and output terminals,
• forming a plastic housing by molding the current conductor, the magnetic field sensor chip and the input and output terminals, and
• separating the current conductor and the input and output terminals from each other.