Abstract
A current sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor and a T-shaped ferromagnetic structure having an air gap. The current sensor is arranged in a recess of a busbar.
Claims
1. A current sensor for measuring a current intensity in an electrical conductor, the current sensor comprising: a magnetic field sensor; and a T-shaped ferromagnetic structure including a first component and a second component spaced from the first component, the first and second components defining an air a there between.
2. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first component and the second component is an L-shaped ferromagnetic element.
3. The current sensor according to claim 2, wherein the air gap is at least partially defined in one side by a leg of the L-shaped ferromagnetic elements.
4. The current sensor according to a claim 1, wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is a ferromagnetic termination element.
5. The current sensor according to claim 4, wherein the air gap is at least partially defined on one side by the ferromagnetic termination element.
6. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor is arranged inside the air gap.
7. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a circuit board.
8. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the current sensor is encased in a housing.
9. An electrical system, comprising: an electrical conductor including a recess; and a current sensor inserted into the recess, the current sensor including a magnetic field sensor and a T-shaped ferromagnetic structure including first and second components spaced from each other and defining an air gap therebetween.
10. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensor is arranged outside the air gap.
11. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are L-shaped ferromagnetic elements spaced from each other along a first axis; wherein the T-shaped ferromagnetic structure includes a ferromagnetic termination element spaced from the first and second components along a second axis transverse to the first axis; wherein the first component defines at least a portion of one side of the air gap, and the second component defines at least a portion of another side of the air gap; wherein the ferromagnetic termination element defines at least a portion of one side of a second air gap, and the first and second components define another side of the second air gap, the second air gap intersecting the air gap.
12. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one of the first component and the second component is an L-shaped ferromagnetic element.
13. The electrical system according to claim 12, wherein the air gap is at least partially defined on one side by a leg of the L-shaped ferromagnetic element.
14. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the first component or the second component is a ferromagnetic termination element.
15. The electrical system according to claim 14, wherein the air gap is at least partially defined on one side by the ferromagnetic termination element.
16. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field sensor is arranged inside the air gap.
17. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field sensor is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a circuit board.
18. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the current sensor is encased in a housing.
19. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field sensor is arranged outside the air gap.
20. The electrical system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second components are L-shaped ferromagnetic elements spaced from each other along a first axis; wherein the T-shaped ferromagnetic structure includes a ferromagnetic termination element spaced from the first and second components along a second axis transverse to the first axis; wherein the first component defines at least a portion of one side of the air gap, and the second component defines at least a portion of another side of the air gap; wherein the ferromagnetic termination element defines at least a portion of one side of a second air gap, and the first and second components define another side of the second air gap, the second air gap intersecting the air gap.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The disclosure and the advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows one exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows another exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows another exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary busbar in which a current sensor can be inserted.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows another exemplary busbar in which a current sensor can be inserted.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the current sensor of FIG. 2 inserted in a busbar.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows another exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the current sensor of FIG. 7 inserted in a busbar.
[0026] FIG. 9 shows another exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0027] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of another exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0028] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of another exemplary current sensor inserted in a busbar.
[0029] FIG. 12 shows the current sensor of FIG. 7 with a housing, inserted in a busbar.
[0030] FIG. 13 shows another exemplary current with a housing, inserted in a busbar.
[0031] FIG. 14 shows a side view of an exemplary current sensor with a housing, inserted in a busbar.
[0032] FIG. 15 shows a side view of another exemplary current sensor with a housing, inserted in a busbar.
[0033] FIG. 16 shows a side view of another exemplary current sensor with a housing, inserted in a busbar.
[0034] The drawings represent only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings are in no way to be interpreted as a restriction of the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4, which in this example forms an electrical conductor. The illustration is a cross-sectional view, so that two parts of the busbar 4 are visible, on either side of a recess 40 in the busbar 4 provided for the current sensor 1. The current sensor 1 has a T-shaped ferromagnetic structure 2, which in the embodiment shown has two L-shaped ferromagnetic elements 20 and two ferromagnetic termination elements 23, one for each L-shaped element 20. Each L-shaped element 20 has a first leg 21 and a second leg 22. In the example shown, the first legs 21 and the termination elements 23 together form the stem of the T-shaped structure 2, while the second legs 22 together form the crossbar of the T-shaped structure 2. In the embodiment shown, the first legs 21 and the termination elements 23 define a first air gap 51 and a second air gap 52. The first air gap 51 and second air gap 52 intersect.
[0036] A magnetic field sensor 3 is arranged in the air gap 51 in order to determine a current intensity in the busbar 4 by measuring a magnetic field. Examples of possible alternative positions 31, 32 for the magnetic field sensor are shown in dashed lines. Such alternative positions are also possible in principle for the other embodiments shown. The person skilled in the art will select the position and orientation of the magnetic field sensor depending on the type of magnetic field sensor and depending on the specific installation situation of the current sensor 1.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4. The embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, for which the elements shown have already been explained. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the T-shaped structure 2 has no termination elements 23. The stem of the T is formed by the first legs 21 of the L-shaped ferromagnetic elements 20, which define an air gap 5 therebetween. Since there are no termination elements 23 present, there is no second air gap 52. The magnetic field sensor 3 is arranged in the air gap 5. Alternative positions for the magnetic field sensor 3 are not shown.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4. In this embodiment, the T-shaped ferromagnetic structure 2 includes a ferromagnetic main part 25 and a ferromagnetic termination element 23; the main part 25 and termination element 23 define an air gap 5. A magnetic field sensor 3 is arranged in the air gap 5.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a busbar 4 which has a recess 40, here of rectangular shape. A current sensor 1 according to the disclosure can be inserted into the recess 40. A direction 100 of a current flow through the busbar 4 is also shown.
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a busbar 4 which has a recess 40, here of elliptical shape. A current sensor 1 according to the disclosure can be inserted into the recess 40. A direction 100 of a current flow through the busbar 4 is also shown.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4. More precisely, the stem of the T-shaped ferromagnetic structure 2 is inserted into the recess 40 in the busbar 4. The configuration of the current sensor 1 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the T-shaped structure 2 is formed by two ferromagnetic elements 20 defining an air gap 5 therebetween. A magnetic field sensor 3 is shown in the air gap 5, for which connection pins 33 are also shown. Further, a direction 100 of a current flow through the busbar 4 is shown.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a current sensor 1 analogous to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, inserted in a busbar 4. In addition to the elements already explained for FIG. 2, the current sensor 1 here comprises a circuit board 7, which is used to control and read out the magnetic field sensor 3. The magnetic field sensor 3 is connected to the circuit board 7 by connection pins 33. The circuit board 7 has one or more connection pins 71 for connecting the circuit board 7 to a higher-level system.
[0043] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4, corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. All of the shown elements of the current sensor 1 have already been discussed in relation to FIG. 7. Further, a direction 100 of a current flow through the busbar 4 is shown.
[0044] FIG. 9 shows a current sensor 1 analogous to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, inserted in a busbar 4. In addition to the elements already explained for FIG. 1, the current sensor 1 here comprises a circuit board 7, which is used to control and read out the magnetic field sensor 3. The circuit board 7 has one or more connection pins 71 for connecting the circuit board 7 to a higher-level system. Apart from the configuration of the T-shaped ferromagnetic structure 2, the embodiment shown here differs from that shown in FIG. 7 by the different arrangement of the circuit board 7 relative to the other components of the current sensor 1. Here, the circuit board 7 is partially inserted into the recess 40 in the busbar 4 as well.
[0045] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4, analogous to FIG. 8. The embodiment shown here differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in the arrangement of the circuit board 7, which is connected to the magnetic field sensor 3 via connection pins 33. The arrangement of the circuit board corresponds to that shown in FIG. 9. Here, the circuit board 7 is partially inserted into the recess 40 in the busbar 4 as well.
[0046] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a current sensor 1, which is inserted in a busbar 4. The illustration largely corresponds to a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9. Only for the magnetic field sensor 3 in FIG. 9 are alternative positions 31, 32 shown in FIG. 11. Further, a direction 100 of a current flow through the busbar 4 is shown.
[0047] FIG. 12 shows a current sensor 1, which largely corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. In addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the current sensor 1 is encased in a housing 8 here. Only the connection pins 71 for connecting the circuit board 7 to a higher-level system are accessible from outside the housing 8. The housing 8 is also T-shaped here, and the stem of the T is inserted into the recess 40 in the busbar 4. For the other elements shown, reference is made to the description of FIG. 7.
[0048] FIG. 13 shows a current sensor 1, which largely corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, except for an alternative position for the magnetic field sensor 3. In addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the current sensor 1 is encased in a housing 8 here. Only the connection pins 71 for connecting the circuit board 7 to a higher-level system are accessible from outside the housing 8. The housing 8 is cross-shaped here, and the stem is inserted into the recess 40 in the busbar 4. For the other elements shown, reference is made to the description of FIG. 9.
[0049] FIG. 14 shows a side view of an exemplary current sensor 1 according to the disclosure with a housing 8. The housing 8 is inserted in a busbar 4. An L-shaped ferromagnetic element 20 is shown of the current sensor 1, as well as connection pins 33 of a magnetic field sensor 3 hidden here to connect the magnetic field sensor 3 to a circuit board 7. Only the connection pins 71 for connecting the circuit board 7 to a higher-level system are accessible from outside the housing 8. Further, a direction 100 of a current flow through the busbar 4 is shown.
[0050] FIG. 15 shows a side view of another exemplary current sensor 1 according to the disclosure with a housing 8. The main difference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is the arrangement of the circuit board 7.
[0051] FIG. 16 shows a side view of another exemplary current sensor 1 according to the disclosure with a housing 8. The current sensor 1 together with the housing 8 is inserted here in a busbar 4, which has an angled profile. The circuit board 7 and connection pin 33 for connecting the circuit board 7 to a magnetic field sensor 3 are also shown for the current sensor 1. The magnetic field sensor 3 is covered by one of the L-shaped ferromagnetic elements 20. The circuit board 7 is connected to a higher-level circuit board 300 via connection pin 71.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0052] 1 Current sensor [0053] 2 T-shaped ferromagnetic structure [0054] 3 Magnetic field sensor [0055] 4 Electrical conductor (busbar) [0056] 5 Air gap [0057] 7 Circuit board [0058] 8 Housing [0059] 20 L-shaped ferromagnetic element [0060] 21 First leg [0061] 22 Second leg [0062] 23 Ferromagnetic termination element [0063] 25 Main part (of the T-shaped structure) [0064] 31 Alternative position (current sensor) [0065] 32 Alternative position (current sensor) [0066] 33 Connection pin [0067] 40 Recess (in busbar) [0068] 51 First air gap [0069] 52 Second air gap [0070] 71 Connection pin [0071] 100 Current direction [0072] 300 Higher-level circuit board
