# US 2019/0170791 A1 · Measuring arrangement for measuring an electric current in the high-current range > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170791 A1 - Document ID: US20190170791A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/326,028 - Filed: 2017-08-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-17 - Assignees: Isabellenhuette Heusler GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Isabellenhuette Heusler GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Ullrich HETZLER; Michael POLLMANN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170791A1 ## CPC - G01R 1/203: {Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts (resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract The invention relates to a measuring arrangement (12) for measuring an electric current (I) in the high-current range, in particular in the current range of more than 1 kA, having a low-resistance current sense resistor (1) for measuring current in accordance with four conductor technology and a physically integrated measuring circuit (17) for measuring the voltage which is dropped across the current sense resistor (1). The invention provides several pairs of voltage taps for measuring the electrical voltage which is dropped across the resistor element (4), wherein the pairs of voltage taps are connected to the measuring circuit (17). The invention further provides two busbar connections (13, 14) for connection to two busbars (15, 16). Corrections of the temperature coefficient, the thermoelectric voltage and the offset and also a high sampling rate and resolution allow high-resolution measurement of a DC current in a high AC current. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 Measuring arrangement for measuring an electric current in a high-current range, comprising: a) a low-resistance current sense resistor for current measurement in accordance with the four-wire technology, with a1) a first connecting part made of a conductor material for introducing the electric current to be measured into the current sense resistor, a2) a second connecting part made of a conductor material for conducting the electric current to be measured out of the current-measuring resistor, and a3) a resistor element made of a resistance material, the resistor element being electrically connected between the first terminal part and the second terminal part and the current to be measured flowing through it, b) a structurally integrated measuring circuit, the measuring circuit measuring the electrical voltage which drops across the resistor element, c) a plurality of pairs of voltage taps for measuring the electric voltage falling across the resistor element, the pairs of voltage taps being connected to the measuring circuit, d) a first busbar connection made of a conductive material for electrical and mechanical connection to a first busbar, the first busbar connection being electrically connected to the first connecting part of the current sense resistor, and e) a second busbar connection made of a conductor material for electrical and mechanical connection to a second busbar, the second busbar connection being electrically connected to the second connecting part of the current sense resistor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the first busbar connection has a plurality of parallel connecting plates which are arranged one above the other and consist of a conductor material, and b) the second busbar connection has a plurality of parallel connecting plates which are arranged one above the other and are made of a conductor material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the first busbar connection and the second busbar connection are designed for screw mounting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the first busbar connection and the second busbar connection are at least partially nickel-plated. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring arrangement has a plurality of low-resistance current sense resistors which are connected electrically in parallel, so that the current to be measured is divided into a plurality of partial currents which flow through the individual current sense resistors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) Measuring arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the current sense resistors are arranged one above the other in a plurality of planes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) Measuring arrangement according to claim 21, wherein in each of the planes in each case a plurality of current sense resistors are arranged next to one another. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring arrangement has a structurally integrated data interface for transmitting and/or receiving data. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Measuring arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the data interface has an optocoupler. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Measuring arrangement according to claim 24, wherein an optical fibre is connected to the optocoupler. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) Measuring arrangement according to claim 24, wherein the data interface together with the optical fibre forms an electrical isolation. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) Measuring arrangement according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the measuring circuit and the data interface are encapsulated in an electrical shielding made of a conductor material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the measuring circuit and the data interface are encapsulated in an electrical shielding made of a conductor material. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) Measuring arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the electrical shielding is formed at least partially from the busbar connections and spacers made of a conductor material between the busbar connections and from lateral reinforcing plates made of a conductor material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the pairs of voltage taps are arranged next to one another transversely to the direction of current flow. ### Claim 31 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring circuit measures the voltages falling at the pairs of voltage taps synchronously at a high sampling rate of at least 4 kHz. ### Claim 32 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring circuit calculates an average value from the voltages measured at the pairs of voltage taps. ### Claim 33 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring circuit calculates a direct current from the voltages measured at the pairs of voltage taps and the values for the temperature and temperature difference. ### Claim 34 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) at least one temperature sensor is provided for temperature measurement at the current sense resistor, b) the measuring circuit is connected to the temperature sensor, c) the current sense resistor has a temperature-dependent resistance value, and d) the measuring circuit compensates the temperature dependence of the resistance value in accordance with the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 35 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the resistor element of the current sense resistor has a specific thermoelectric force which generates a specific thermoelectric voltage in the event of a temperature difference between the resistor element on the one hand and the connecting parts on the other hand, and b) a compensating element is provided for compensating the thermoelectric voltage which drops across the resistor element, c) the compensating element is thermally connected to the two connecting parts and is thus exposed to the same temperature differences as the resistor element, d) the compensating element generates a specific thermoelectric voltage in the event of a temperature difference between the compensating element on the one hand and the connecting parts on the other hand, and e) the compensating element and the resistor element are electrically connected in series in a measuring circuit for voltage measuring and are connected to the measuring circuit so that the thermoelectric voltages of the resistor element on the one hand and of the compensating element on the other hand at least partially compensate each other. ### Claim 36 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) for measuring the temperature difference across the resistor element, a thermocouple is provided for the purpose of computationally compensating the thermoelectric voltage which arises over the resistor element, and b) the measuring circuit is connected to the thermocouple. ### Claim 37 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) voltage taps are provided for sensing the electrical voltage falling across the current sense resistor, and b) the voltage taps are integrated into a flat ribbon cable. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the flat ribbon cable is soldered onto the current sense resistor. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the ribbon cable is multi-layered. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the flat ribbon cable forms a strip conductor. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on the ribbon cable. ### Claim 42 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the compensating element which serves to compensate the thermoelectric voltage is mounted on the flat ribbon cable. ### Claim 43 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the thermal element used for temperature difference measurement is mounted on the flat ribbon cable. ### Claim 44 (depends on 37) Measuring arrangement according to claim 37, wherein a) a plate made of a conductor material is arranged between the flat ribbon cable and the current sense resistor, b) the plate is connected to the current sense resistor by soldering, sintering, welding or conductive adhesive bonding, c) the plate has connecting pins for making electrical contact with the flat ribbon cable, and d) the connecting pins of the plate are connected to electrical connection points of the flat ribbon cable. ### Claim 45 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring arrangement has a high-voltage transformer for supplying power to the measuring circuit. ### Claim 46 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring arrangement for supplying power to the measuring circuit has a photovoltaic cell which is irradiated by a light source for generating current via a light guide. ### Claim 47 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the current sense resistor has a plurality of planar composite material plates which each comprise the resistor element and the connecting parts, b) the composite material plates are arranged parallel to each other, c) the adjacent composite material plates are electrically and mechanically connected to each other at the connecting parts, d) the adjacent composite material plates in the region of the resistor element are electrically separated from one another by an insulating gap, and e) the composite material plates each have a plurality of slots which run longitudinally to the direction of current flow and are arranged next to one another transversely to the direction of current flow and, in the composite material plates, each separate a plurality of resistor elements from one another. ### Claim 48 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the current sense resistor has a resistance value of not more than 1 mΩ, b) the resistance material of the current sense resistor is one of the following materials: b1) a copper-manganese-nickel alloy, b2) a copper-manganese-tin alloy, and b3) a nickel-chromium alloy, c) the conductor material is copper or a copper alloy, and d) the conductor material has a lower resistivity than the resistor material. ### Claim 49 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the measuring arrangement can be pulse-loaded with a short-term maximum current of at least 10 kA with a pulse duration of 100 ms, and b) the measuring arrangement can be loaded with a continuous current of at least 1 kA. ### Claim 50 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the resistor element has a length in the direction of current flow not exceeding 50 mm. ### Claim 51 (depends on 23) Measuring arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the measuring circuit and the data interface are arranged within an electrical shielding. ### Claim 52 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring circuit and the data interface are arranged within an electrical shielding. ### Claim 53 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the measuring arrangement has a linearity error of less than 0.1%, b) the measuring circuit is offset-free, and c) the measuring circuit has a sampling rate of at least 500 Hz. ### Claim 54 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a) the resistor element of the current sense resistor is plate-shaped, and b) the first connecting part and the second connecting part of the current sense resistor is plate-shaped. ### Claim 55 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring arrangement has a low internal thermal resistance of less than 1 K/W. ### Claim 56 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the measuring circuit has a first measuring channel with a first sampling rate for continuous current detection and a separate second measuring channel with a higher second sampling rate for overcurrent detection. ### Claim 57 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the resistor element is connected to the first connecting part and to the second connecting part by a welded joint. ### Claim 58 (depends on 16) Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the current sense resistor has a plurality of slots which run longitudinally to the current flow direction and are arranged next to one another transversely to the current flow direction and separate a plurality of resistor elements from one another so that the electric current to be measured is divided and flows through the individual resistor elements.