US 2014/0210454 A1 · COMPACT SHUNT FOR CURRENT MEASUREMENT

Abstract

Conductive strips are stacked, insulated, folded, and formed into geometric shapes to provide a low resistance, low inductance, shunt, wherein the geometric shape readily enables cooling to reduce changes in resistance due to self-heating effects. One such geometric shape is attained by winding the conductive strips into a spiral. Another geometric shape is a shape resembling a wave. Both geometric shapes allow cooling by directing airflow from a fan across their surface portions. A variable-speed cooling-fan is controlled in response to measured temperature of the shunt, or in response to a measurement of the current through the shunt. Differential cooling may be employed by means of changing the amount of airflow across various portions of the shunt in response to measured temperature of the shunt.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A low inductance electrical shunt for use in an electrical circuit, comprising:

multiple elongated conductive strips stacked to form a stack of conductive layers in overlying relationship;
insulative layers on at least one of the multiple strips such that each of the stacked conductive strips are electrically insulated from one another;
and
exposed opposite ends on each of the elongated conductive strips;
the stacked conductive strips being folded into a doubled stack at approximately a lengthwise midpoint;
and
the doubled stack of conductive strips being contoured along a lengthwise dimension such that an airflow can pass over the doubled stack of conductive strips for cooling.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compact shunt for current measurement

Life of this patent

Compact shunt for current measurement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12