Current Sensor with Double-Thickness Conductor

Abstract

The present invention provides a current sensor with a double-thickness conductor, which includes a double-thickness conductor and a magnetic sensor. The double-thickness conductor is used to provide a flow-through channel for the current to be measured. The double-thickness conductor includes a first-thickness conductor and a second-thickness conductor, and the thickness of the first-thickness conductor is greater than that of the second-thickness conductor. The magnetic sensor is located around the double-thickness conductor and detects the current to be measured according to the magnetic field generated by the current in the double-thickness conductor. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can not only carry a higher current but also does not reduce the detection accuracy of the current.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of current sensors, and particularly to a current sensor with a dual-thickness conductor.

Background Art

[0002] Current sensors for measuring the magnitude of current are widely used in various electronic devices. In an existing current sensor, a U-shaped conductor is integrated inside, and two magnetoresistive sensors are placed around the conductor. The current to be measured flows through the U-shaped conductor integrated inside the sensor, and the two magnetoresistive sensors perform differential measurement on the magnetic field generated by the current in the conductor, so as to achieve the purpose of detecting (or measuring) the current to be measured.

[0003] However, for a current sensor, in order to carry a higher current, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the conductor. Process factors determine that the width and spacing of the conductor should be increased accordingly, which makes the distance between the magnetic sensor units larger, is not conducive to eliminating the influence of the external magnetic field, and thus reduces the detection accuracy of the current.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to propose an improved technical solution to overcome the above problems.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a current sensor with a dual-thickness conductor, which can not only carry a higher current but also does not reduce the detection accuracy of the current.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a current sensor, which includes a dual-thickness conductor and a magnetic sensor. The dual-thickness conductor is used to provide a flow channel for the current to be measured. The dual-thickness conductor includes a first-thickness conductor and a second-thickness conductor, and the thickness of the first-thickness conductor is greater than the thickness of the second-thickness conductor. The magnetic sensor is located around the dual-thickness conductor and detects the current to be measured according to the magnetic field generated by the current in the dual-thickness conductor.

[0007] Further, the first-thickness conductor includes a current input pin and a current output pin that are opposite and spaced apart, the second-thickness conductor connects the current input pin and the current output pin, and the current to be measured sequentially flows through the current input pin, the second-thickness conductor, and the current output pin.

[0008] Further, the second-thickness conductor includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, and a U-shaped conductor. One end of the U-shaped conductor is connected to the current input pin through the first connection portion, and the other end of the U-shaped conductor is connected to the current output pin through the second connection portion.

[0009] Further, the second thickness conductor further includes a bypass conductor. One end of the bypass conductor is connected to the current input pin through a first connection portion, and the other end of the bypass conductor is connected to the current output pin through a second connection portion.

[0010] Further, the measured current enters from the current input pin, passes through the first connection portion, is shunted to the U-shaped conductor and the bypass conductor, and then converges to the second connection portion and flows out from the current output pin.

[0011] Further, the U-shaped conductor includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third connection portion. The first leg and the second leg are on the same side of the third connection portion. One end of the first leg is connected to the first connection portion, and the other end thereof is connected to one end of the third connection portion; one end of the second leg is connected to the second connection portion, and the other end thereof is connected to the other end of the third connection portion.

[0012] Further, the magnetic sensor includes a first magnetic sensor unit and a second magnetic sensor unit. The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are located around the U-shaped conductor to form a differential output.

[0013] Further, the magnetic sensor is a magnetoresistive sensor. The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are respectively located above the first leg and the second leg; or the first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are respectively located below the first leg and the second leg.

[0014] Further, the magnetic sensor is a Hall sensor. The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are respectively located in front of and behind the third connection portion.

[0015] Further, the measured current carried by the double thickness conductor exceeds 100 amperes.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the current sensor in the present invention is provided with a double thickness conductor, which includes a first thickness conductor and a second thickness conductor, and the thickness of the first thickness conductor is greater than that of the second thickness conductor. In this way, the current sensor in the present invention can not only carry a higher current, but also does not reduce the detection accuracy of the current.

Description of the Drawings

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts. Among them:

[0018] Figure 1 Top view of a current sensor with a double-thickness conductor in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 Is a schematic cross-sectional view along the Figure 1 A-A sectional line of;

[0020] Figure 3 Top view of a current sensor with a double-thickness conductor in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 Is a schematic cross-sectional view along the Figure 3 B-B sectional line of;

[0022] Figure 5 Is Figure 1 Stereoscopic perspective view of the double-thickness conductor 101 shown.

Detailed implementation manners

[0023] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation manners.

[0024] As used herein, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation manner of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" that appears in different places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the terms indicating electrical connection such as "connected", "coupled", and "joined" in this article all mean directly or indirectly electrically connected.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 Shown, which is a top view of a current sensor with a double-thickness conductor in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The current sensor with a double-thickness conductor shown includes a double-thickness conductor 101 and a magnetic sensor 102.

[0026] Please refer to Figure 5 Shown, which is Figure 1 Stereoscopic perspective view of the double-thickness conductor 101 in. Figure 1 And Figure 5 The double-thickness conductor 101 shown is used to provide a flow path for the current I to be measured, so that the current I to be measured can flow through the double-thickness conductor 101. The double-thickness conductor 101 includes a first-thickness conductor 101a and a second-thickness conductor 101b, and the thickness of the first-thickness conductor 101a is greater than the thickness of the second-thickness conductor 101b.

[0027] In Figure 1 And Figure 5In the illustrated embodiment, the first thick conductor 101a includes a current input pin 103 and a current output pin 104 that are opposite and spaced apart. The second thick conductor 101b connects the current input pin 103 and the current output pin 104. The measured current I sequentially flows through the current input pin 103, the second thick conductor 101b, and the current output pin 104.

[0028] In Figure 1 and Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the second thick conductor 101b includes a first connection portion 105, a second connection portion 106, a U-shaped conductor 107, and a bypass conductor 108. One end of the U-shaped conductor 107 is connected to the current input pin 103 via the first connection portion 105, and the other end of the U-shaped conductor 107 is connected to the current output pin 104 via the second connection portion 106. One end of the bypass conductor 108 is connected to the current input pin 103 via the first connection portion 105, and the other end of the bypass conductor 108 is connected to the current output pin 104 via the second connection portion 106. That is to say, the current input pin 103, the U-shaped conductor 107, and the bypass conductor 108 are connected via the first connection portion 105, and the current output pin 104, the U-shaped conductor 107, and the bypass conductor 108 are connected via the second connection portion 106.

[0029] In Figure 1 and Figure 5 In the specific embodiment shown, the second thick conductor 101b is located on one side of the first thick conductor 101a; the first connection portion 105 and the second connection portion 106 are disposed opposite to each other, and the current input pin 103 and the current output pin 104 are respectively located on one side of the first connection portion 105 and the second connection portion 106, and the U-shaped conductor 107 is located on the other side of the first connection portion 105 and the second connection portion 106; the bypass conductor 108 is located between the first connection portion 105 and the second connection portion 106.

[0030] In Figure 1 and Figure 5 In the specific embodiment shown, the U-shaped conductor 107 includes a first leg 107a, a second leg 107b, and a third connection portion 107c located between the first leg 107a and the second leg 107b, wherein the first leg 107a and the second leg 107b are located on the same side of the third connection portion 107c. One end of the first leg 107a (which serves as one end of the U-shaped conductor 107) is connected to the first connection portion 105, and the other end thereof is connected to one end of the third connection portion 107c; one end of the second leg 107b (which serves as the other end of the U-shaped conductor 107) is connected to the second connection portion 106, and the other end thereof is connected to the other end of the third connection portion 107c.

[0031] The measured current I flows into the current input pin 103, passes through the first connection part 105, is shunted to the U-shaped conductor 107 and the bypass conductor 108, and then converges at the second connection part 106 and flows out through the current output pin 104. The current I1 in the U-shaped conductor 107, the current I2 in the bypass conductor 108, and the measured current I satisfy I1 + I2 = I.

[0032] The magnetic sensor 102 is located around the double-thickness conductor 101, and detects the measured current I according to the magnetic induction intensity (or magnetic field) generated by the current in the double-thickness conductor 101.

[0033] In Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic sensor 102 is a magnetoresistive sensor, which includes a first magnetic sensor unit 102a and a second magnetic sensor unit 102b. The first magnetic sensor unit 102a and the second magnetic sensor unit 102b are respectively located above the first leg 107a and the second leg 107b. In another embodiment, the first magnetic sensor unit 102a and the second magnetic sensor unit 102b are respectively located below the first leg 107a and the second leg 107b.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 2 as shown, which is a schematic cross-sectional view along the Figure 1 A-A sectional line. The measured current I generates a magnetic field H 11 in the first magnetic sensor unit 102a and a magnetic field -H 12 in the second magnetic sensor unit 102b. The signal output of the first magnetic sensor unit 102a is V 11 = (H 11 I + H0)S, where H0 is the external magnetic field and S is the sensitivity of the magnetoresistive sensor with respect to the magnetic field; the signal output of the second magnetic sensor unit 102b is V 12 = (-H 12 I + H0)S. The signal output of the magnetic sensor 102 is V 11 - V 12 = (H 11 + H 12 )SI.

[0035] In summary, Figure 1 the technical advantages of the double-thickness conductor current sensor shown: on the one hand, the thinner U-shaped conductor 107 enables the first magnetic sensor unit 102a and the second magnetic sensor unit 102b to be very close, which can well eliminate the influence of the external magnetic field, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the current; on the other hand, the thicker first-thickness conductor 101a and the bypass conductor 108 make the resistance of the double-thickness conductor 101 very small, and can carry a current of more than 100 amperes.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 3 as shown, which is a top view of a current sensor with a double-thickness conductor in another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 The shown current sensor with a double-thickness conductor includes a double-thickness conductor 101 and a magnetic sensor 202.

[0037] Figure 3 The shown double-thickness conductor 101 is Figure 1 identical in structure to the double-thickness conductor 101 shown. For details, please refer to the description of the double-thickness conductor 101 in Figure 1 above, and will not be elaborated here.

[0038] Figure 3 The shown magnetic sensor 202 is Figure 1 different from the magnetic sensor 102 shown. Figure 3 The shown magnetic sensor 202 is a Hall sensor, which includes a first magnetic sensor unit 202a and a second magnetic sensor unit 202b. The first magnetic sensor unit 202a and the second magnetic sensor unit 202b are respectively located on the front side (the side where the first leg 107a and the second leg 107b are located) and the rear side (the side opposite to the first leg 107a and the second leg 107b) of the third connecting portion 107c of the U-shaped conductor 107.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 4 as shown, which is a schematic cross-sectional view along the Figure 3 B-B section line. The measured current I generates a magnetic field H 21 in the first magnetic sensor unit 202a and a magnetic field -H 22 in the second magnetic sensor unit 202b. The signal output of the first magnetic sensor unit 202a is V 21 =(H 21 I + H0)S, where H0 is the external magnetic field and S is the sensitivity of the Hall sensor with respect to the magnetic field; the signal output of the second magnetic sensor unit 202b is V 22 =(-H 22 I + H0)S. The signal output of the magnetic sensor 202 is V 21 -V 22 =(H 21 +H 22 )SI.

[0040] In summary, Figure 3Technical advantages of the double-thickness conductor current sensor shown: On the one hand, the thinner U-shaped conductor 107 enables the first magnetic sensor unit 202a and the second magnetic sensor unit 202b to be very close, which can well eliminate the influence of the external magnetic field, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the current; on the other hand, the thicker first-thickness conductor 101a and the bypass conductor 108 make the resistance of the double-thickness conductor 101 very small, and can carry a current of more than 100 amperes.

[0041] In the present invention, terms indicating electrical connection such as "connected", "linked", "joined", "connected", etc., without special instructions, indicate direct or indirect electrical connection.

[0042] The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Any equivalent modification or change made by those of ordinary skill in the art according to the disclosure of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. A current sensor, characterized in that, It includes a double-thickness conductor and a magnetic sensor, The double-thickness conductor is used to provide a flow channel for the current to be measured. The double-thickness conductor includes a first-thickness conductor and a second-thickness conductor, and the thickness of the first-thickness conductor is greater than that of the second-thickness conductor; The magnetic sensor is located around the double-thickness conductor, and it detects the current to be measured according to the magnetic field generated by the current in the double-thickness conductor; The first-thickness conductor includes a current input pin and a current output pin that are opposite and spaced apart. The second-thickness conductor connects the current input pin and the current output pin, and the current to be measured flows through the current input pin, the second-thickness conductor, and the current output pin in sequence; The second-thickness conductor includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a bypass conductor, and a U-shaped conductor. One end of the U-shaped conductor is connected to the current input pin through the first connection portion, and the other end of the U-shaped conductor is connected to the current output pin through the second connection portion; One end of the bypass conductor is connected to the current input pin through the first connection portion, and the other end of the bypass conductor is connected to the current output pin through the second connection portion.

2. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein The current to be measured enters from the current input pin, passes through the first connection portion, is shunted to the U-shaped conductor and the bypass conductor, then converges to the second connection portion, and flows out from the current output pin.

3. The current sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The U-shaped conductor includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third connection portion. The first leg and the second leg are on the same side of the third connection portion, One end of the first leg is connected to the first connection portion, and the other end thereof is connected to one end of the third connection portion; One end of the second leg is connected to the second connection portion, and the other end thereof is connected to the other end of the third connection portion.

4. The current sensor according to claim 3, wherein The magnetic sensor includes a first magnetic sensor unit and a second magnetic sensor unit, The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are located around the U-shaped conductor to form a differential output.

5. The current sensor according to claim 4, wherein The magnetic sensor is a magnetoresistive sensor, The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are respectively located above the first leg and the second leg; or The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are respectively located below the first leg and the second leg.

6. The current sensor according to claim 4, wherein The magnetic sensor is a Hall sensor, The first magnetic sensor unit and the second magnetic sensor unit are respectively located in front of and behind the third connection portion.

7. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein The current to be measured carried by the double-thickness conductor exceeds 100 amperes.

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