High resolution current and magnetic field sensor
AssigneeSiemens Energy, Inc.
InventorsEvangelos V. Diatzikis, Edward David Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor for detecting an amount of current flowing in a wire wherein displacement of a sensing mirror is used in an interferometer to enable determination of the amount of current. The sensor includes a magnetostrictive element located within a magnetic field formed by the wire. The sensor also includes a position sensor that detects a size increase of the magnetostrictive element. In addition, the sensor includes an amplifying device that amplifies the size increase of the magnetostrictive element by a predetermined amplification factor to provide an amplified size increase. Further, the sensor includes a displacement device that displaces the sensing mirror by an amount corresponding to the amplified size increase.
Claims20
A sensor for detecting an amount of current flowing in a wire, wherein the current generates a magnetic field and wherein displacement of a sensing mirror is used in an interferometer to enable determination of the amount of current, comprising:
- a magnetostrictive element located within the magnetic field generated by the current wherein the magnetic field causes a change in size in the magnetostrictive element;
- a position sensor that detects a size increase of the magnetostrictive element due to the magnetic field;
- an amplifying device that amplifies the size increase of the magnetostrictive element by a predetermined amplification factor to provide an amplified size increase;
- and
- a displacement device that displaces the sensing mirror by an amount corresponding to the amplified size increase wherein displacement of the sensing mirror is indicative of the amount of current in the wire.
A sensor for detecting an amount of current flowing in a wire, wherein the current generates a magnetic field and wherein displacement of a sensing mirror is used in an interferometer to enable determination of the amount of current, comprising:
- a magnetostrictive element located within the magnetic field generated by the current wherein the magnetic field causes a change in size in the magnetostrictive element and wherein the magnetostrictive element includes a first rack gear;
- a second rack gear that includes the sensing mirror;
- and
- a gear set that engages the first and second rack gears wherein a size increase of the magnetostrictive element due to the magnetic field causes linear movement of the first rack gear wherein the first and second rack gears and the gear set amplify the size increase of the magnetostrictive element by a predetermined amplification factor to provide an amplified size increase that displaces the second rack and sensing mirror by an amount corresponding to the amplified size increase wherein displacement of the sensing mirror is indicative of the amount of current in the wire.
A method for detecting an amount of current flowing in a wire, wherein the current generates a magnetic field and wherein displacement of a sensing mirror is used in an interferometer to enable determination of the amount of current, comprising:
- providing a magnetostrictive element located within the magnetic field generated by the current wherein the magnetic field causes a change in size in the magnetostrictive element and wherein the magnetostrictive element includes a first rack gear;
- providing a second rack gear that includes the sensing mirror;
- and
- providing a gear set that engages the first and second rack gears wherein a size increase of the magnetostrictive element due to the magnetic field causes linear movement of the first rack gear;
- amplifying the size increase of the magnetostrictive element by a predetermined amplification factor to provide an amplified size increase;
- displacing the second rack and sensing mirror by an amount corresponding to the amplified size increase wherein displacement of the sensing mirror is indicative of the amount of current in the wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.