Method for sensing electrical current
AssigneeRockwell Technologies, LLC
InventorsJun Jason Yao, Gerard J. Sullivan, Robert J. Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for sensing and measuring an electrical current. The current to be measured is applied to a deflectable member in a sensing module in the presence of a magnetic field. Deflection of the member is detected as an indication of the current. A nulling current may be applied to one or more additional deflectable members mechanically linked to the deflectable member. Feedback or readout signals indicative of deflection of the members are monitored. The nulling current is modulated to drive the feedback signals to a desired level. The nulling current value is converted to a value representative of the current to be measured.
Claims23
A method for sensing electrical current, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a current to be measured to a deflectable sensing element in the presence of a magnetic field to urge the element towards a deflected position;
- and
- sensing deflection of the sensing element and producing a readout signal representative thereof.
A method for sensing electrical current comprising the steps of:
- providing a magnetic field;
- applying an electrical current to be sensed to a deflectable sensing element in the magnetic field;
- applying a nulling current to a deflectable nulling element coupled to the sensing element;
- and
- modulating the nulling current to control deflection of the sensing element.
A method for sensing electrical current, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a current to be sensed in the presence of a stationary magnetic field across input and output terminals of a sensing array, the sensing array including a plurality of sensing modules having deflectable sensing members, deflectable nulling members coupled to the sensing members, and feedback devices for detecting deflection of the sensing and nulling members, the first input and output busses being coupled to the sensing elements;
- applying a nulling current to second input and output busses of the sensing array, the second input and output busses being coupled to the nulling members of the sensing modules;
- and
- detecting feedback signals from the feedback devices.
A method for measuring electrical current, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a current to be measured to a first deflectable member in a first polarity in the presence of a magnetic field;
- applying a compensating current to a second deflectable member in a second polarity opposite to the first polarity in the presence of the magnetic field, the second deflectable member being mechanically linked to the first deflectable member;
- detecting deflection of the first and second deflectable members;
- determining the current to be measured based upon the detected deflection and the compensating current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.