Sensor arrangement, line arrangement and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor device (1) having a sensor element (2) and at least one first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor, the sensor element (2) being designed to detect a current flowing through the first conductor and a current flowing through the second conductor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor device, a circuit device and a device. Background Art

[0002] US2019 / 0260293 A1 discloses a power converter.

[0003] US2022 / 0214382 A1 describes an integrated current sensor used in a bus bar. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The sensor device has a sensor element and at least one first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor. The core of the present invention in terms of the sensor device is that the sensor element is configured to detect the current flowing through the first conductor and the current flowing through the second conductor.

[0005] The background of the present invention is that a single sensor element is sufficient for measuring the current in multiple conductors. In particular, if the currents do not flow in the conductors simultaneously, accurate measurement can be performed with reduced overhead. If multiple currents flow simultaneously, the sum of the currents is detected. Thus, threshold exceedance situations can always be identified. Here, through the corresponding selection and calibration of the current direction, the threshold exceedance situation can also be assigned to the corresponding conductor.

[0006] Other advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to an advantageous design, the spacing between the first conductor and the sensor element is smaller than the spacing between the second conductor and the sensor element. Thereby, the current measurement range can be matched to the entrance area of the sensor element.

[0008] Herein, it is advantageous that the sensor element is arranged, in particular equipped, on a circuit board, wherein the first conductor and / or the second conductor are made as printed conductors on the circuit board, in particular wherein the printed conductors are arranged on different conductor layers of the circuit board. Thereby, the sensor device can be made compact.

[0009] According to another advantageous design, the first conductor and / or the second conductor are made as bus bars. Thereby, the sensor device can be designed robustly.

[0010] The sensor element is advantageously made as a magnetic field sensor, in particular as a Hall effect sensor. Thereby, the current flowing through the conductor can be indirectly detected by the magnetic field generated by the current in the conductor. Herein, the magnetic fields of the corresponding conductors are superimposed at the sensor element, and the sensor element detects the superimposed magnetic field signal.

[0011] The core of the present invention in terms of the circuit device lies in that the circuit device has at least one electrical energy storage and the sensor device as described above or as claimed in the claims related to the sensor device.

[0012] The background of the present invention is that reliable current detection can be carried out with a reduced number of components in the circuit device. The current detection is advantageously implemented at least partially redundantly.

[0013] According to an advantageous design, the circuit device has interfaces for a load and a converter as well as a charging interface, wherein the only sensor element is configured to detect the current in the feeder line leading to the interface for the load or the converter and the current in the feeder line leading to the charging interface. Since the current either flows from the charging interface to the electrical energy storage or from the electrical energy storage to the load or the converter, the corresponding current can be accurately detected by means of the only sensor element.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the circuit device has a first and a second electrical energy storage, wherein the only second sensor element is configured to detect the current from the first electrical energy storage and the current from the second electrical energy storage. Here, the sum composed of the current from the first electrical energy storage and the current from the second electrical energy storage is detected.

[0015] According to another advantageous design, the circuit device has an interface for a first auxiliary load and an interface for a second auxiliary load, wherein the only third sensor element is configured to detect the current in the feeder line leading to the first auxiliary load and the current in the feeder line leading to the second auxiliary load. Here, the sum composed of the current in the feeder line leading to the first auxiliary load and the current in the feeder line leading to the second auxiliary load is detected.

[0016] The core of the present invention in terms of a device, in particular a vehicle, lies in that the device has the circuit device as described above or as claimed in any one of the claims related to the circuit device.

[0017] The background of the present invention is that reliable current detection can be carried out with a reduced number of components in the device. The current detection is advantageously implemented at least partially redundantly.

[0018] The above-mentioned design and improvement solutions can be arbitrarily combined with each other as long as it makes sense. Other possible design solutions, improvement solutions and embodiments of the present invention also include combinations of features described in the foregoing or following embodiments of the present invention that are not explicitly mentioned. In particular, those skilled in the art will add various aspects as improvements or supplements to the corresponding basic forms of the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0019] In the following paragraphs, the present invention is explained by means of examples. Other inventive features result from the examples, but the invention is not limited to the examples within its scope. The examples are shown in the drawings.

[0020] Wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 Fig. shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the sensor device 1 according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 Fig. shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the sensor device 11 according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 Fig. shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the sensor device 21 according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 Fig. shows a first variant of the switching circuit 100 for a vehicle according to the present invention; and

[0025] Figure 5 Fig. shows a second variant of the switching circuit 200 for a vehicle according to the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] In Figure 1 a first embodiment of the sensor device 1 is schematically shown. The sensor device 1 has a sensor element 2, in particular a magnetic field sensor, preferably a Hall effect sensor, a circuit board 4, a first bus bar 3 and a second bus bar 5.

[0027] The sensor element 2 is arranged on the circuit board 4. For example, the sensor element 2 is manufactured as a surface-mounted structural element and is mounted on the circuit board 4.

[0028] The circuit board 4 having the sensor element 2 is arranged between the first bus bar 3 and the second bus bar 5. Here, the distance between the sensor element 2 and the first bus bar 3 is smaller than the distance between the sensor element 2 and the second bus bar 5.

[0029] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the distance between the first bus bar 3 and the sensor element 2 is the same as the distance between the second bus bar 5 and the sensor element.

[0030] The first bus bar 3 is flowed through by a first current I1, which generates a first magnetic field around the first bus bar 3. This first magnetic field is proportional to the first current I1.

[0031] The second bus bar 5 is flowed through by a second current I2, which generates a second magnetic field around the second bus bar 5. This second magnetic field is proportional to the second current I2.

[0032] At the sensor element 2, a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field are superimposed and detected by the sensor element 2 as a superimposed magnetic field signal.

[0033] With the aid of the superimposed magnetic field signal, the magnitudes of the first current I1 and / or the second current I2 can be inferred. In the case where only one current is flowing, this determination can be made precisely. However, if the first current I1 and the second current flow simultaneously, short-circuit identification can also be performed using a threshold value. The threshold value is selected such that it is greater than the sum of the two maximum current values I1 and I2.

[0034] If there is only one (positive or negative) threshold value, the current directions in the busbars 3, 5 can be adjusted such that the two magnetic fields are oriented in the same direction.

[0035] If there is a positive threshold value and a negative threshold value, the current directions in the busbars 3, 5 can be adjusted such that, for example, the positive threshold value is assigned to the first busbar 3 and the negative threshold value is assigned to the second busbar 5.

[0036] By the corresponding arrangement of the sensor element 2 relative to the busbars 3, 5, the level of the threshold value can be adjusted because only the spacing relative to the sensor element 2 affects the intensity of the magnetic fields generated by the respective busbars 3, 5 at the sensor element 2.

[0037] In order to fully utilize the measurement ranges of the two currents I1 and I2, that is, when the maximum first current I1 is not equal to the maximum second current I2, the spacing can be varied.

[0038] If the maximum first current I1 is greater than the maximum second current I2, the first busbar 3 is arranged further away from the sensor element 2 than the second busbar 5 in order to be able to advantageously use the same overcurrent threshold value in the sensor element 2.

[0039] To calibrate the sensor device, respective calibration values are determined for each of the busbars 3, 5, and the calibration values depend on the mechanical tolerances of the sensor device 1.

[0040] Figure 2 A second embodiment of the sensor device 11 is shown. The sensor device has a sensor element 2, in particular a magnetic field sensor, preferably a Hall effect sensor, a circuit board 4, a first busbar 3, a second busbar 5, a third busbar 13, and a fourth busbar 15.

[0041] The sensor element 2 is arranged on the circuit board 4. For example, the sensor element 2 is manufactured as a surface-mounted structural element and mounted on the circuit board 4.

[0042] The circuit board 4 with the sensor element 2 is arranged between a first bus bar 3, a second bus bar 5, a third bus bar 13, and a fourth bus bar 15. Here, the first bus bar 3 and the third bus bar 13 are arranged side by side in one layer. The second bus bar 5 and the fourth bus bar 15 are arranged side by side in another layer, which extends parallel to and is spaced apart from the said layer in the illustrated embodiment. The circuit board 4 with the sensor element 2 extends between the said layer and the other layer.

[0043] The distance between the sensor element 2 and the third bus bar 13 is smaller than the distance between the sensor element 2 and the third bus bar 13, which in turn is smaller than the distance between the sensor element 2 and the fourth bus bar 15, and this distance is in turn smaller than the distance between the sensor element 2 and the second bus bar 5.

[0044] The first bus bar 3 is flowed through by a first current I1, and the first current generates a first magnetic field around the first bus bar 3. This first magnetic field is proportional to the first current I1.

[0045] The second bus bar 5 is flowed through by a second current I2, and the second current generates a second magnetic field around the second bus bar 5. This second magnetic field is proportional to the second current I2.

[0046] The third bus bar 13 is flowed through by a third current I3, and the third current generates a third magnetic field around the third bus bar 13. This third magnetic field is proportional to the third current I3.

[0047] The fourth bus bar 15 is flowed through by a fourth current I4, and the fourth current generates a fourth magnetic field around the fourth bus bar 15. This fourth magnetic field is proportional to the fourth current I4.

[0048] At the sensor element 2, the first magnetic field, the second magnetic field, the third magnetic field, and the fourth magnetic field are superimposed and detected by the sensor element 2 as a superimposed magnetic field signal.

[0049] Similar to the first embodiment, the corresponding currents (I1, I2, I3, I4) can be determined through the corresponding bus bars (3, 5, 13, 15).

[0050] Figure 3 A third embodiment of the sensor device 21 is shown. The sensor device 21 has a circuit board 24 on which the sensor element 2 is arranged. Inside the circuit board 24, a first printed wire 23, a second printed wire 25, and a third printed wire 26 extend.

[0051] The first printed wire 23 is flowed through by a first current I1, and the first current generates a first magnetic field around the first printed wire 23. This first magnetic field is proportional to the first current I1.

[0052] A second printed conductor 25 is flowed through by a second current I2, and the second current generates a second magnetic field around the second printed conductor 25. This second magnetic field is proportional to the second current I2.

[0053] A third printed conductor 26 is flowed through by a third current I3, and the third current generates a third magnetic field around the third printed conductor 26. This third magnetic field is proportional to the third current I3.

[0054] The printed conductors (23, 25, 26) and the sensor element 2 are arranged such that the sensor element 2 is configured to detect the magnetic fields of the printed conductors (23, 25, 26). For this purpose, the printed conductors (23, 25, 26) are preferably arranged in different layers of the circuit board 24.

[0055] The distance of the sensor element 2 from the first printed conductor 23 is less than the distance of the sensor element 2 from the second printed conductor 25, and this distance is in turn less than the distance of the sensor element 2 from the third printed conductor 26.

[0056] At the sensor element 2, the first magnetic field, the second magnetic field, and the third magnetic field are superimposed and detected by the sensor element 2 as a superimposed magnetic field signal.

[0057] Similar to the first embodiment, the corresponding currents (I1, I2, I3) can be determined by the corresponding printed conductors (23, 25, 26).

[0058] Figure 4 A first variant of a switching circuit 100 for a vehicle according to the invention is shown.

[0059] The switching circuit 100 has a first electrical energy storage 101 and a second electrical energy storage 111, as well as a first switching unit S1, a second switching unit S2, a third switching unit S3, a fourth switching unit S4, a fifth switching unit S5, a sixth switching unit S6, and a seventh switching unit S7.

[0060] The respective switching units (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) are made as semiconductor switches, in particular as MOSFETs, preferably as a series circuit consisting of two anti - serially connected semiconductor switches, or are configured as mechanical switches, in particular contactors.

[0061] By means of the first, second, third, and fourth switching units (S1, S2, S3, S4), the electrical energy storages (101, 111) can be connected to a load 107, in particular the vehicle on - board circuit.

[0062] With the aid of the sixth switching unit S6 and the seventh switching unit S7, the electrical energy storage device (101, 111) can be connected to the charging device 108 or the charging interface.

[0063] With the aid of the second, third, and fifth switching units (S2, S3, S5), the electrical energy storage devices 101, 111 can be connected in series or in parallel. For this purpose, the fifth switching unit S5 is arranged between the electrical energy storage devices (101, 111). With the aid of the second switching unit S2, the mid-tap between the first electrical energy storage device 101 and the fifth switching unit S5 can be connected to the load 107 or the charging device 108. With the aid of the third switching unit S3, the mid-tap between the second electrical energy storage device 111 and the fifth switching unit S5 can be connected to the load 107 or the charging device 108.

[0064] To monitor the switching circuit 100, two spatially separated first measurement points (102a, 102b) are provided in the feed line to the load 107 or in the feed line to the charging device 108. The first sensor element is thus arranged such that it can detect the respective current at the two first measurement points (102a, 102b). Since the current either flows from the charging device 108 to the electrical energy storage device (101, 111) or from the electrical energy storage device (101, 111) to the load 107, the first sensor element always precisely detects exactly one current.

[0065] In addition, two spatially separated second measurement points (112a, 112b) are respectively provided between the electrical energy storage devices (101, 111) and the fifth switching circuit S5. The second sensor element is thus arranged such that it can detect the respective current at the two second measurement points (112a, 112b). The second sensor element hereby detects the sum of the currents from the two electrical energy storage devices (101, 111).

[0066] In addition, two spatially separated third measurement points (122a, 122b) are provided between the second switching unit S2 or the third switching unit S3 and the load 107 and / or the charging device 108. The third sensor element is thus arranged such that it can detect the respective current at the two third measurement points (122a, 122b). The third sensor element hereby detects the sum of the currents from the two electrical energy storage devices (101, 111).

[0067] Figure 5 A second variant of the switching circuit 200 for a vehicle according to the invention is shown.

[0068] The switching circuit 200 has an electrical energy storage device 201, a first switching unit S21, a second switching unit S22, a third switching unit S23, a fourth switching unit S24, a fifth switching unit S25, a sixth switching unit S26, an interface for the converter 209, an interface for the charging device 208, and an interface for the first auxiliary load 210a and an interface for the second auxiliary load 210b.

[0069] The converter 209 can, for example, feed an electric drive device or an electric motor of at least partially electrically driven vehicle.

[0070] The corresponding auxiliary loads (210a, 210b) are, for example, auxiliary loads of at least partially electrically driven vehicle, such as an air conditioning compressor or other loads with a typical current demand of 5 A to 30 A.

[0071] The corresponding switching units (S21, S22, S23, S24, S25, S26) are made as semiconductor switches, preferably made as MOSFETs, especially made as a series circuit composed of two anti - series connected semiconductor switches or made as mechanical switches, especially contactors.

[0072] The charging device 208 can be connected to the electrical energy storage device 201 by means of the first switching unit S21, the third switching unit S23 and the fourth switching unit S24. For this purpose, the first switching unit S21 is arranged between the first interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the first charging interface of the charging device 208. The fourth switching unit S24 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the second charging interface of the charging device 208. The third switching unit S23 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the fourth switching unit S24.

[0073] The converter 209 can be connected to the electrical energy storage device 201 by means of the second switching unit S22 and the third switching unit S23. For this purpose, the second switching unit S22 is arranged between the first interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the first interface of the converter 209. The third switching unit S23 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the second interface of the converter 209.

[0074] The first auxiliary load 210a can be connected to the electrical energy storage device 201 by means of the second switching unit S22, the third switching unit S23 and the fifth switching unit S25. For this purpose, the second switching unit S21 is arranged between the first interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the first interface of the first auxiliary load 210a. The fifth switching unit S25 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the second interface of the first auxiliary load 210a. The third switching unit S23 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage device 201 and the fifth switching unit S25.

[0075] The second auxiliary load 210b can be connected to the electrical energy storage 201 by means of the second switching unit S22, the third switching unit S23, and the sixth switching unit S26. For this purpose, the second switching unit S21 is arranged between the first interface of the electrical energy storage 201 and the first interface of the second auxiliary load 210b. The sixth switching unit S26 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage 201 and the second interface of the second auxiliary load 210b. The third switching unit S23 is arranged between the second interface of the electrical energy storage 201 and the sixth switching unit S26.

[0076] The third switching unit S23 advantageously has two semiconductor switches arranged in anti-series, with a node arranged between the semiconductor switches, which node is connected to the fourth switching unit S24, the fifth switching unit S25, and the sixth switching unit S26. The fourth, fifth, and sixth switching units (S24, S25, S26) each have only a single semiconductor switch, which semiconductor switches are each connected in anti-series with the semiconductor switch of the third switching unit S23 arranged between the respective switching unit (S24, S25, S26) and the electrical energy storage 201.

[0077] To monitor the switching circuit 200, two mutually spaced-apart first measuring points (202a, 202b) are provided in the feed line to the converter 209 or in the feed line to the charging device 208. The first sensor element is thus arranged such that it can detect the respective current at the two measuring points 202a, 202b. Since the current either flows from the charging device 208 to the electrical energy storage 201 or from the electrical energy storage 201 to the converter 209, the first sensor element always accurately detects exactly one current.

[0078] Furthermore, two mutually spaced-apart second measuring points (212a, 212b) are provided in the feed line to the first auxiliary load 210a or in the feed line to the second auxiliary load 210b. The second sensor element is thus arranged such that it can detect the respective current at the two second measuring points (112a, 112b). The second sensor element here detects the sum of the currents from the two auxiliary loads (210a, 210b).

Claims

1. A sensor device (1, 11, 21) comprising a sensor element (2) and at least one first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor, It is characterized in that The sensor element (2) is designed to detect a current flowing through a first conductor and a current flowing through a second conductor.

2. The sensor device (1, 11, 21) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The distance between the first conductor and the sensor element (2) is smaller than the distance between the second conductor and the sensor element (2).

3. The sensor device (1, 11, 21) according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The sensor element (2) is arranged, in particular mounted, on a circuit board (4, 24), wherein the first conductor and / or the second conductor is produced as a conductor track (23, 25, 26) on the circuit board (24), in particular wherein the conductor tracks are arranged on different conductor levels of the circuit board (24), And / or wherein the first conductor and / or the second conductor is made as a busbar (3, 5, 13, 15).

4. The sensor device (1, 11, 21) according to any of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The sensor element (2) is designed as a magnetic field sensor, in particular as a Hall effect sensor.

5. A circuit arrangement (100, 200) having at least one electrical energy storage device (101, 111, 201) and a sensor arrangement (1, 11, 21) according to one of the preceding claims.

6. The circuit arrangement (100, 200) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The circuit arrangement (100, 200) has an interface for a load (107) or a converter (209) and a charging interface. A single sensor element (2) is designed to detect the current in the supply line to the connection for the load (107) or the inverter (209) and the current in the supply line to the charging connection.

7. The circuit arrangement (100, 200) according to claim 5 or 6, It is characterized in that The circuit arrangement (100, 200) comprises a first and a second electrical energy storage device (101, 111), A single second sensor element (2) is designed to detect a current from a first electrical energy store (101) and a current from a second electrical energy store (111).

8. The circuit arrangement (100, 200) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, It is characterized in that The circuit arrangement (100, 200) has an interface for a first auxiliary load (210a) and an interface for a second auxiliary load (210b), The only third sensor element (2) is designed to detect a current in a feeder line to a first auxiliary load (210a) and a current in a feeder line to a second auxiliary load (210b).

9. A device, in particular a vehicle, having a circuit arrangement according to claim 8.

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