Non-contact electrical parameter measuring device having a clamp jaw assembly, and electrical parameter measuring method
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FLUKE CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-05
Smart Images
Figure 0007901121000001 
Figure 0007901121000002 
Figure 0007901121000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to an electrical parameter measuring device, and more particularly to a clamp jaw assembly for an electrical parameter measuring device.
Background Art
[0002] A voltmeter is an instrument used to measure the voltage in an electrical circuit. An instrument that measures more than one electrical property is called a multimeter or digital multimeter (DMM), and operates to measure several parameters commonly required for service, troubleshooting, and maintenance applications. Such parameters typically include alternating current (AC) voltage and current, direct current (DC) voltage and current, and resistance or continuity. Other parameters such as power characteristics, frequency, capacitance, and temperature can also be measured to meet the requirements of specific applications.
[0003] A clamp meter type electrical parameter measuring device is a current measuring device that can measure the current flow in a wire without interrupting the current flow. An electrical parameter measuring device generally has two clamp jaws that are movable relative to each other. During measurement, the distal ends of the two clamp jaws abut so as to engage substantially with each other.
[0004] Conventional devices for measuring voltage or current may require at least two measuring electrodes or probes to be in galvanic contact with the conductor, often necessitating the disconnection of the insulation from the insulated wire or the provision of pre-existing measuring terminals. The step of bringing the probe into contact with the exposed wire or terminal is not only necessary for galvanic contact but can also be relatively dangerous due to the risk of shock or electrocution. "Non-contact" measuring devices are sometimes used to detect the presence of voltage or current without requiring galvanic contact with the circuit. Because these devices may have a relatively large measuring area compared to the diameter of the wire under test, users may struggle to determine the best position within the measuring area where the conductor yields the best measurement accuracy. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 8330449 [Overview of the project]
[0006] The electrical parameter measuring device comprises a main body and a clamp jaw assembly connected to the main body, comprising: a first clamp jaw having a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite to the proximal end; and a second clamp jaw having a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the distal end of the second clamp jaw is asymmetrical to the distal end of the first clamp jaw and has a hook-shaped portion for receiving the conductor under test; the first and second clamp jaws are movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position; and in the closed position, each of the first and second clamp jaws The clamp jaw assembly can be summarized as comprising: a second clamp jaw whose distal ends are in contact with each other, defining a measurement area enclosed between a first clamp jaw and a second clamp jaw, and in the open position, the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws are separated from each other, defining a gap that allows the conductor under test to pass through and enter and exit the measurement area; and at least one voltage sensor positioned inside the first or second clamp jaw and near the hook-shaped portion, and positioned adjacent to the conductor under test when the hook-shaped portion receives the conductor under test. The electrical parameter measuring device may further include a visual indicator positioned in close proximity to at least one voltage sensor on the surface of the first clamp jaw or the second clamp jaw, which operates to guide the operator of the electrical parameter measuring device to position the conductor under test in close proximity to the visual indicator and to provide accurate electrical parameter measurements. The visual indicator may include a first color of the first portion of the surface of the first clamp jaw or the second clamp jaw, which is different from the second color of the second portion of the first clamp jaw or the second clamp jaw surrounding the visual indicator.
[0007] The first clamp jaw may be pivotably mounted to the main body so as to pivot relative to a second clamp jaw fixed to the main body. The visual indicator may include a color-based visual indicator. The visual indicator may include a surface color of the first or second clamp jaw that is different from the color of a portion of the first or second clamp jaw surrounding the visual indicator. The visual indicator may include one or more of a text-based indicator, a graphic-based indicator, or a physical shape indicator. At least one sensor may include at least one voltage sensor or at least one current sensor. At least one sensor may include a plurality of voltage sensors, at least one of the plurality of voltage sensors positioned inside the first clamp jaw close to its distal end, and at least one of the plurality of voltage sensors positioned inside the second clamp jaw close to its distal end. The visual indicator may be placed on each surface of the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws, respectively, that are close to the plurality of sensors. The distal end of one of the first and second clamp jaws may have a hook-shaped portion for receiving a conductor when the electrical parameter measuring device is suspended from the conductor under test.
[0008] The electrical parameter measuring device may further include an actuator operably coupled to at least one of the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw, which, during operation, moves the clamp jaw assembly from a closed position to an open position in response to user operation.
[0009] The actuator may bias the clamp jaw assembly to the closed position. At least one sensor may include at least one of the following: a non-contact voltage sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a fluxgate sensor, a Rogowski coil, an anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensor, or a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor.
[0010] The electrical parameter measuring device may further include a control circuit communicatively coupled to at least one sensor, which, during operation, receives sensor data indicating a signal detected by at least one sensor, processes the received sensor data, and determines at least one electrical parameter of the conductor under test.
[0011] The electrical parameter measuring device may further include a wireless communication subsystem operably coupled to the control circuit, which, during operation, wirelessly transmits the determined electrical parameters to an external system.
[0012] The electrical parameter measuring device may further include a display that visually presents the determined electrical parameters to the user of the electrical parameter measuring device during operation.
[0013] A clamp jaw assembly for measuring electrical parameters within an insulated conductor comprises a first clamp jaw having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, and a second clamp jaw having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the distal end of the second clamp jaw is asymmetrical with respect to the distal end of the first clamp jaw and has a hook-shaped portion for receiving the conductor under test, and the first and second clamp jaws are movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, and in the closed position, the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws The device can be summarized as comprising: a second clamp jaw whose ends are adjacent to each other, defining a measurement area enclosed between a first clamp jaw and a second clamp jaw, and in the open position, the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws are separated from each other, defining a gap that allows the conductor under test to pass through and enter and exit the measurement area; and at least one voltage sensor positioned inside the first or second clamp jaw and near the hook-shaped portion, and positioned adjacent to the conductor under test when the hook-shaped portion receives the conductor under test. The clamp jaw assembly may include a visual indicator positioned in close proximity to at least one voltage sensor on the surface of the first or second clamp jaw, which operates to guide the operator to position the conductor under test in close proximity to the visual indicator and to provide electrical parameter measurements. The visual indicator may include a first color of the first portion of the surface of the first or second clamp jaw, which is different from the second color of the second portion of the first or second clamp jaw surrounding the visual indicator.
[0014] The visual indicator may include a color-based visual indicator. The visual indicator may include one or more of the following: a text-based indicator, a graphic-based indicator, or a physical shape indicator. At least one sensor may include at least one voltage sensor or at least one current sensor.
[0015] An apparatus for measuring electrical parameters in an insulated conductor comprises a main body, a clamp jaw assembly connected to the main body, a first clamp jaw having a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, a second clamp jaw having a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the first and second clamp jaws are movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws are in contact with each other to define a measurement area enclosed between the first and second clamp jaws, and in the open position the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws are separated from each other to define a gap that allows the conductor under test to pass through and enter and exit the measurement area, a first sensor positioned inside the first clamp jaw close to the distal end of the first clamp jaw, and inside the second clamp jaw The apparatus can be summarized as including: a second sensor positioned in close proximity to the distal end of a second clamp jaw; visual indicators positioned in close proximity to each of the first and second sensors, which guide the operator of the apparatus to position the conductor under test in close proximity to the visual indicators and provide electrical parameter measurements, and which include a first color of a first portion of the surface of the first or second clamp jaw, different from a second color of a second portion of the first or second clamp jaw surrounding the visual indicator; a display; and a control circuit that can be communicatively coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the display, which, during operation, receives sensor data indicating signals detected by the first and second sensors, processes the received sensor data to determine at least one electrical parameter of an insulating conductor, and causes the display to present the determined at least one electrical parameter to the user. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0016] In drawings, similar elements or functions are identified by the same reference number. The dimensions and relative positions of elements in drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve the clarity of the drawing. Furthermore, the specific shapes of elements shown are not necessarily intended to convey any information about the actual shape of the element, but may simply be selected for ease of recognition in the drawing. [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram of an electrical parameter measuring device, comprising a clamp jaw assembly containing one or more sensors, according to one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the jaw assembly being positioned in a closed position and surrounding an insulated conductor under test. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram of the electrical parameter measuring device of Figure 1 according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, showing the clamp jaw assembly open and in a state where the insulated conductor to be tested can be inserted into and removed from the clamp jaw assembly. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the clamp jaw assembly of the electrical parameter measuring device of Figure 1, according to one non-limiting, exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrical parameter measurement system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical parameter measurement system operating as a remote sensor, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0017] One or more embodiments of this disclosure do not require a galvanic connection between the conductor and the electrical parameter sensor probe, and do not require an insulated or unprocessed non-insulated conductor (e.g., an insulated wire). This specification covers systems and methods for measuring electrical parameters (e.g., voltage, current, power) within an insulated conductor. Generally, non-galvanic contact (or "non-contact") electrical parameter measuring devices are provided for measuring one or more electrical parameters within an insulated conductor. Such systems that do not require galvanic connection are referred to herein as "non-contact." As used herein, "electrically coupled" includes both direct and indirect electrical coupling unless otherwise specified.
[0018] In at least some embodiments, a non-contact electrical parameter measuring device is provided that operates to accurately measure at least one of current and voltage in an insulated conductor under test. This electrical parameter measuring device may include a clamp jaw assembly (or "jaw assembly") used to measure electrical parameters in conductors of various shapes and sizes. In at least some embodiments, this electrical parameter measuring device includes a body and a clamp jaw assembly coupled to the body, which is movable between an open position that allows the conductor under test to enter and exit a measurement area and a closed position that fixes the insulated conductor within the measurement area so that one or more measurements can be obtained. The jaw assembly may include one or more coupled non-contact sensors, such as those positioned within the internal space of one or both jaws of the clamp jaw assembly. One or more sensors may include voltage sensors, current sensors, both of these, or other types of sensors. During operation, a user may apply force to an actuator (e.g., a trigger, a slide switch) that moves one or both jaws of the jaw assembly from the normally closed position to the open position. The user may then position the insulated conductor under test within the measurement area of the jaw assembly, and then release the force or apply a different force (e.g., a force in the opposite direction) to the actuator, thereby returning one or more jaws to the closed position and securing the conductor within the measurement area.
[0019] The measurement area within the jaw assembly may be relatively large compared to the diameter of the test wire, and thus the jaw assembly can accommodate conductors of various sizes. Further, one or more sensors disposed within one or both of the jaws of the jaw assembly and thus invisible may be positioned such that a specific area that provides a more accurate measurement value by the test conductor exists within the measurement area compared to other areas. Thus, it may be desirable for the user to position the conductor within a specific area of the measurement area to obtain the best measurement value.
[0020] Advantageously, in at least some embodiments, one or both of the jaws of the jaw assembly may include a visual indicator proximate to one or more of the sensors. The visual indicator guides the user to place the test conductor adjacent to the visual indicator, and as a result, the conductor is adjacent to the sensors within the optimal area, thereby improving the measurement accuracy. Examples of visual indicators include color-based indicators, text-based indicators, graphic-based indicators, physical shapes (e.g., indentations, protrusions, or other indicators), or any other type of indicator that provides the user with a visual guide as to where to position the test conductor to obtain the most accurate measurement results.
[0021] Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, the jaw assembly and the sensor may be of a shape and dimension that automatically directs the test conductor towards an area of the measurement area that provides the highest accuracy. Specifically, in the case of a vertical conductor, the jaw assembly may have a distorted shape such that when the conductor is within the measurement area, the user can pull an electrical parameter measuring device towards them, and the jaw assembly automatically guides the conductor towards the optimal area of the measurement area. In the case of a horizontal conductor, due to the weight of the electrical parameter measuring device, the electrical parameter measuring device may be naturally "suspended" over the conductor within the measurement area, and when positioned in such a way, the conductor automatically adjacently contacts the sensor within the optimal area of the measurement area.
[0022] Once a measurement value is obtained, the user may move the jaw assembly back to the open position so that the insulating conductor can be removed from the measurement area. Referring to FIGS. 1-5, specific features of embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below.
[0023] In the following description, specific specific details are described so that a complete understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure can be obtained. However, those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments can be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, well-known structures related to computer systems, server computers, and / or communication networks are not shown or described in detail so as not to obscure the description of the embodiments more than necessary.
[0024] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the following specification and claims, the term "comprising" is synonymous with the term "including" and is inclusive, that is, not limiting (i.e., it does not exclude additional elements or acts of the method not further described).
[0025] Referring throughout this specification to "one implementation" or "an implementation" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described with respect to the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one implementation" or "in an implementation" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Further, in one or more implementations, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner.
[0026] In use within this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" refer to multiple subjects unless otherwise explicitly indicated. It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally used to include "and / or" in its meaning unless otherwise explicitly indicated by the context.
[0027] The headings and abstracts provided in this disclosure are for convenience only and do not describe the scope or meaning of the embodiments.
[0028] Figures 1 to 3 show an electrical parameter measuring device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 shows the external structure of the electrical parameter measuring device 100 in the closed position, Figure 2 shows the electrical parameter measuring device in the open position, and Figure 3 shows a portion of the jaw assembly of the electrical parameter measuring device with one of the jaws cut out to show the inside of the jaw assembly. In a particular embodiment, the electrical parameter measuring device 100 can be used to measure voltage, current, power, or other electrical parameters in a conductor 109.
[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the electrical parameter measuring device 100 includes a body 102 and a clamp jaw assembly 104. The clamp jaw assembly 104 is attached to the body 102 and extends from the body 102. The body 102 has a body housing 106 which may be made of a lightweight material such as plastic, and the body housing 106 is adapted to enclose typical electrical and mechanical components of the electrical parameter measuring device 100, such as a measuring and control circuit 120. The body housing 106 may include a distal end 106a closer to the clamp jaw assembly 104 and a proximal end 106b on the opposite side.
[0030] The main unit 102 may include an input user interface 122 which may include a control dial 122a, a display 122b, control buttons 122c, or other user interface elements. The display 122b may be any suitable type of display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED display, a plasma display, or an electronic ink display. The main unit 102 may include one or more audio or tactile output units (not shown), such as one or more speakers, buzzers, or vibration devices. In exemplary embodiments, the input user interface 122 includes a plurality of buttons and dials, but in other embodiments, the user interface may additionally or alternatively include one or more other types of input devices, such as a touchpad, touchscreen, wheel, knob, dial, or microphone.
[0031] The main unit 102 may also include a power supply, such as a battery or battery pack, for supplying power to various components of the electrical parameter measuring device 100. The main unit 102 also includes a control circuit 120 that controls various operations of the electrical parameter measuring device 100, such as receiving signals from sensors, determining one or more electrical parameters of the insulated conductor 109 under measurement, and outputting measurement data (for example, to a display 122b or an external system). The control circuit 120 includes one or more processors (e.g., microcontroller, DSP, ASIC, FPGA). It may include one or more types of memory (e.g., ROM, RAM, flash memory, other non-temporary storage media), and / or one or more other types of processing or control-related components.
[0032] In at least some embodiments, the main unit 102 is Bluetooth® The main unit 102 may include a wireless communication subsystem that may include one or more modules such as a Wi-Fi® module, a ZIGBEE® module, or a near-field communication (NFC) module. The main unit 102 may operate via the wireless communication subsystem to wirelessly communicate with an external receiving system such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, or personal digital assistant in order to transmit measurement results to the external system or to receive command signals or input information from the external system. The main unit 102 may additionally or alternatively include a wired communication subsystem such as a USB interface.
[0033] In at least some embodiments, multiple different types of jaw assemblies or sensor probes may be detachably coupled to the main body 102 of the electrical parameter measuring device 100. The multiple jaw assemblies or sensor probes may differ in at least one of the following: shape, structure, or function, for example, to provide the electrical parameter measuring device 100 with various functionalities.
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the clamp jaw assembly 104 includes a first clamp jaw 108 and a second clamp jaw 110, each having proximal ends 108b, 110b and distal ends 108a, 110a. The first clamp jaw 108 includes an outward-facing surface 108c and an inward-facing surface 108d. Similarly, the second clamp jaw 110 includes an outward-facing surface 110c and an inward-facing surface 110d. The first clamp jaw 108 is pivotably mounted to the body 102, and the second clamp jaw 110 is fixedly mounted to the body 102. The first clamp jaw 108 is rotatable with respect to the second clamp jaw 110. In certain other embodiments, the first clamp jaw 108 may be slidably mounted to the body 102 so as to be able to slide relative to the second clamp jaw 110. More generally, the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 are movable relative to each other, thereby allowing them to switch between the closed position shown in Figure 1 and the open position shown in Figure 2.
[0035] In the closed position shown in Figure 1, the distal end 108a of the first clamp jaw 108 and the distal end 110a of the second clamp jaw 110 are in contact with each other, such as by contacting or engaging with each other, defining a measurement area 112 enclosed between the first clamp jaw 108, the second clamp jaw 110, and the distal end 106a of the main housing 106. The first clamp jaw 108 includes a sensor 124a in its internal space near its distal end 108a, and the second clamp jaw 110 includes sensors 124a and 124b in its internal space near its distal end. Sensors 124a, 124b, and 124c (collectively, "sensors 124") may be sensors that operate to sense voltage, current, or both in a conductor located within the measurement area 112 without galvanic contact with the conductor. The sensor 124 is indicated by a dashed line, showing that it is located within the internal space, or volume, of the clamp jaws 108 and 110 and is invisible to the user.
[0036] In at least some embodiments, the sensor 124 may be used to determine one or more calibration coefficients to apply to pinpoint the exact location of the conductor under test and / or to improve the measurements of the electrical parameter measuring device 100. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor 124 may be relatively small (e.g., 3 × 3 mm) and provide substantially radial fluctuations in the detected signal rather than linear fluctuations provided by a linear sensor. The sensor 124 may be strategically positioned in a location that can most accurately determine the location of the conductor under test within the measurement area 112.
[0037] The first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 may additionally or alternatively have an inductance coil in their internal space. As an example, Figure 3 shows a portion of the clamp jaw assembly 104, in which a portion of the second clamp jaw 110 is cut out to show an inductance coil 128 positioned within the internal space of the second clamp jaw. In such a configuration, when the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 are in the closed position and the conductor under test passes through the enclosed measurement area 112 between the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110, the inductance coil (e.g., inductance coil 128) can sense a change in current flow within the conductor under test and generate a sensing current indicating the amplitude of the current under test. In some cases, in the closed position, the distal end 108a of the first clamp jaw 108 and the distal end 110a of the second clamp jaw 110 are in contact, forming a gap (i.e., an air gap) of a predetermined length or less between them. Under these conditions, the inductance coils inside the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 can still sense the current flow in the conductor under test and generate the sensed current at the required ratio. Furthermore, in the open position shown in Figure 2, the distal end 108a of the first clamp jaw 108 and the distal end 110a of the second clamp jaw 110 are separated from each other, defining an opening between them. The opening is configured to allow at least the conductor under test 109 to pass through, so that the conductor under test can move to a position between the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 for measurement.
[0038] In at least some embodiments, the body 102 may include a port 126 located at the proximal end 106b of the body housing 106, which operates to receive one or more types of peripheral components, such as a flexible current probe or a test probe.
[0039] The sensor 124 and inductance coil 128 may include various types of sensors, such as non-contact voltage sensors, Hall effect elements, current transformers, fluxgate sensors, Rogowski coils, anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensors, giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors, other types of sensors that operate to sense the electrical parameters of the conductor 109 without requiring galvanic contact, or any combination thereof. Various non-limiting examples of non-contact sensors are disclosed in U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62 / 421,124 (filed November 11, 2016), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 345,256 (filed November 7, 2016), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 413,025 (filed January 23, 2017), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 412,891 (filed January 23, 2017), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 604,320 (filed May 24, 2017), and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 625,745 (filed June 16, 2017), which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0040] The first clamp jaw 108 has a proximal end 108b opposite to a distal end 108a that can move, such as by rotating, relative to the body 102. The proximal end 108b has an inner part that is positioned within the body 102 and an outer part that is separate from the body 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner part of the proximal end 108b is substantially received within the body 102, while the outer part of the proximal end 108b is positioned outside the body 102 and is operable by an operator. The actuation part, i.e., the trigger 114, is generally located on the outward-facing surface 108c of the proximal end 108b of the first clamp jaw 108.
[0041] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the side of the main body housing 106 has a housing opening (not shown) that allows the proximal end 108b of the first clamp jaw 108 to pass through. The operator can operate the first clamp jaw 108, such as by pushing the trigger 114 toward the main body 102, thereby causing part or all of the proximal end 108b to pass through the housing opening and enter the main body 102, leaving the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 in the open position shown in Figure 2.
[0042] By releasing the force applied to the trigger 114, the operator may rotate the distal end 108a of the first clamp jaw 108 around the pivot point 130 (Figure 3) and return it toward the distal end 110a of the second clamp jaw 110, so that the distal end 108a of the first clamp jaw approaches (for example, adjacent to) the distal end 110a of the second clamp jaw 110. In this manner, part or all of the proximal end 108b of the first clamp jaw 108 moves out of the body 102 through the housing opening. In this way, the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 can move to the closed position. In certain embodiments, the first clamp jaw 108 may be biased to the closed position by a biasing subsystem 116 which may include a spring or one or more other components that act to bias one or both of the first and second clamp jaws 108 and 110 toward the closed position. In at least some embodiments, the electrical parameter measuring device 100 may include a locking subsystem that acts to lock the first and second clamp jaws in at least one of the closed or open positions.
[0043] Advantageously, in at least some embodiments, one or both jaws of a jaw assembly may include a visual indicator adjacent to one or more sensors. In the illustrated example, the first clamp jaw 108 includes a visual indicator 118a adjacent to its distal end 108a near sensor 124a, and the second clamp jaw 110 includes a visual indicator 118b adjacent to its distal end 110a near sensors 124b and 124c. The visual indicators 118a and 118b (collectively, “visual indicators 118”) guide the user to position the insulated conductor under test 109 adjacent to the visual indicators so that the conductor is also adjacent to the sensor 124 within an optimal area of the measurement area 112, thereby improving measurement accuracy.
[0044] The visual indicator 118 may include a color-based indicator. For example, the visual indicator 118 may be a first color, and the first clamp jaw 108 and the second clamp jaw 110 may be a second color different from the first color. In a non-limiting example, the first and second clamp jaws 108 may be red, and the visual indicator 118 may be orange. In other embodiments, the visual indicator 118 may be a text-based indicator (e.g., "Place the wire here"), a graphic-based indicator (e.g., an arrow, a picture), a physical shape indicator (e.g., a notch, a raised arrow, a raised part), a combination thereof, or any other type of indicator that provides the user with guidance (e.g., a visual guide) on where to place the conductor under test 109 to obtain the most accurate measurement result.
[0045] Furthermore, in at least some embodiments, the clamp jaw assembly 104 may be shaped and sized to automatically direct the conductor under test 109 to a region of the measurement area 112 that yields the highest accuracy. In this example, the optimal region within the measurement area may be near the sensor 124. Since the measurement area 112 may be significantly larger than the diameter of the conductor under test, it is desirable to guide the user on where to position the conductor 109 within the measurement area 112 to ensure the best measurement results. Figure 3 shows examples of an intermediate-sized conductor 109, a smaller wire 111, and a larger conductor 113 within the measurement area 112. Specifically, in the illustrated example, for a vertical conductor, the clamp jaw assembly 104 may have a curved shape, i.e., a "U" or "V" shape, that allows the user to pull the electrical parameter measuring device 100 toward the conductor 109 when the conductor 109 is within the measurement area 112, and the clamp jaw assembly 104 automatically guides the conductor 109 to an optimal area of the measurement area 112 close to the distal ends 108a and 110a, where the conductor 109 is close to the sensor 124. For a horizontal conductor, the user may clamp the clamp jaw assembly 104 around the conductor as described above, and due to the weight of the electrical parameter measuring device 100, the jaw assembly 104 may naturally "suspend" the electrical parameter measuring device from the conductor 109. Once the electrical parameter measuring device 100 is suspended from the conductor 109, the conductor is automatically positioned close to the sensor 124 within an optimal area of the measurement area 112 to obtain the most accurate measurement. This can be particularly advantageous if the user intends to operate the electrical parameter measuring device 100 as a "leave-behind" electrical parameter measuring device, where the device acquires measurements over a long period of time (e.g., minutes, hours, weeks, years).
[0046] As shown in the figure, in this example, the distal end 110a of the second clamp jaw 110 has a hook-shaped portion that receives the conductor under test 109 when the electrical parameter measuring device 100 is pulled toward the user or suspended from the conductor. Due to the asymmetric shape of the distal ends 108a and 110a, when the electrical parameter measuring device is suspended from the conductor 109, most of the force applied by the conductor is applied to the hook portion of the second clamp jaw 110. This may be advantageous over embodiments in which the distal ends 108a and 110a are symmetric, because in such embodiments the conductor 109 is positioned at the confluence of the distal ends, thereby allowing the clamp jaws to separate from each other if sufficient force is applied by the conductor (for example, when the user pulls the electrical parameter measuring device 100 toward the conductor with a fairly large force).
[0047] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of a non-contact measuring device 400 that provides non-contact voltage measurement and non-contact current measurement functions. The non-contact measuring device 400 can also determine one or more AC or DC electrical parameters (e.g., power, energy, frequency, harmonics) derived from voltage and / or current measurements. The non-contact measuring device 400 includes a voltage sensor 402 and a current sensor 404, each communicably coupled to a processor 406. In some embodiments, each of the voltage sensor 402 and the current sensor 404 may include multiple voltage sensors or current sensors, respectively. In some embodiments, the non-contact measuring device 400 may include only voltage sensors or only current sensors.
[0048] The voltage sensor 402 and / or processor 406 may be similar to or identical to any of the measuring devices discussed herein. The processor 406 may include one or more logic circuit processing units, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The non-contact measuring device 400 may also include a memory 408 communicably coupled to the processor 406 for storing at least one of instructions or data. The memory 408 may include one or more solid-state memories, such as flash memory or solid-state drives (SSDs), which provide the measuring device 400 with non-volatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data. Although not shown in the figures, the non-contact measuring device 400 may employ other non-temporary computer-readable media or processor-readable media, such as a hard disk drive, optical disc drive, or memory card media drive.
[0049] The non-contact measuring device 400 may include a user interface 410, which may include any number of inputs (e.g., buttons, dials, switches, touchscreens) and any number of outputs (e.g., displays, LEDs, speakers, buzzers). The non-contact measuring device 400 may also include one or more displays 412 that display the read information 414 and / or waveforms 416.
[0050] During operation, the processor 406 receives signals from the voltage sensor 402 and the current sensor 404 and obtains voltage and current measurements, respectively. The processor 406 may use these voltage and current measurements to derive further AC electrical parameters based on the combination of measurements. Such parameters may include, for example, power (true power, apparent power, etc.), phase (e.g., three-phase), frequency, harmonics, and energy.
[0051] The voltage sensor signals and current sensor signals may be acquired by the respective voltage sensor 402 and current sensor 404 during a common measurement time interval, the common measurement time interval may have a relatively short duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms), 100 ms, 1 second, 10 seconds). For example, the voltage sensor 402 and current sensor 404 may acquire measurements at least partially in parallel with each other. In another embodiment, one of the voltage sensor 402 and current sensor 404 may acquire a measurement approximately immediately after the other of the voltage sensor and current sensor acquires a measurement, so that the measurements are acquired approximately simultaneously. In some embodiments, the voltage sensor 402 and current sensor 404 may operate to repeatedly acquire measurements simultaneously or consecutively at specified intervals (e.g., every 10 ms, every 100 ms, every 1 second, every 10 seconds). Generally, both the voltage sensor 402 and current sensor 404 acquire their respective measurements within the measurement time interval. The measurement time interval is short enough that pairs of voltage and current measurements correspond to each other, and thus, one or more AC electrical parameters (e.g., power, phase) can be accurately derived or determined using the acquired current and voltage measurements.
[0052] The processor 406 may provide readout information 414 of one or more measured or derived parameters, and may provide a graphical representation of one or more characteristics. Such graphical representations may include waveforms, harmonic bar graphs, etc. Exemplary signal characteristics that may be presented via the display 412 include voltage, current, frequency, power parameters (e.g., watts, kVA), phase, energy, harmonics, and phase sequence detection.
[0053] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a measuring device 500 that provides non-contact voltage measurement and / or non-contact current measurement functions. Since the measuring device 500 is similar in many respects to, or identical to, the measuring device 400 in Figure 4, only the relevant differences will be discussed in this specification for the sake of brevity.
[0054] In this embodiment, the measuring device 500 does not need to include a display and may instead be used as a “residual” sensor that remotely monitors electrical equipment via a processor-based external device 506. The processor-based external device 506 can be various types of devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, wearable computers, servers, cloud computers, and so on. The processor-based external device 506 may include a display that shows data collected by the measuring device 500 over a period of time (e.g., minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years).
[0055] To communicate with one or more processor-based external devices, the measuring device 500 may include one or more wired communication interfaces 502 and / or one or more wireless communication interfaces 504.
[0056] Non-exclusive examples of wireless communication interfaces 504 include Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, Zigbee®, 6LoWPAN®, Optical IR, and wireless HART. Non-exclusive examples of wired communication interfaces 502 include USB®, Ethernet, PLC, HART, MODBUS, FireWire®, and Thunderbolt®.
[0057] In addition to transmitting data to the processor-based external device 506, in at least some embodiments, the measuring device 500 may receive at least one of data or instructions (e.g., control instructions) from the processor-based external device 506 via one or more wired communication interfaces 502 and / or one or more wireless communication interfaces 504.
[0058] In the detailed description above, various embodiments of the apparatus and / or process have been described using block diagrams, schematic diagrams, and embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that, insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and embodiments include one or more functions and / or operations, each function and / or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or embodiments can be individually and / or collectively implemented by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or substantially any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the subject matter of the present invention may be carried out via an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments disclosed herein can be equivalently implemented in a standard integrated circuit as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more control devices (e.g., microcontrollers), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors), as firmware, or substantially any combination thereof, and that circuit design and / or coding for software and / or firmware is well within the scope of the knowledge of those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure.
[0059] Those skilled in the art will understand that many of the methods or algorithms described herein may employ additional actions, omit some actions, and / or perform actions in an order different from that specified.
[0060] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms taught herein can be distributed as program products in various forms, and that typical embodiments are equally applicable regardless of the specific type of signal-carrying medium used to actually carry out distribution. Examples of signal-carrying media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordable media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD-ROMs, digital tapes, and computer memory.
[0061] Further embodiments may be provided by combining the various embodiments described above. To the extent that they do not conflict with certain teachings and definitions herein, U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62 / 421,124 (filed November 11, 2016), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 345,256 (filed November 7, 2016), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 413,025 (filed January 23, 2017), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 412,891 (filed January 23, 2017), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 604,320 (filed May 24, 2017), and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 625,745 (filed June 16, 2017) are disclosed and incorporated herein by reference. The aspects of the embodiments may be modified as necessary to provide further embodiments using systems, circuits, and concepts from various patents, applications, and publications.
[0062] In consideration of the above description, these and other modifications to the embodiments may be made. Generally, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed as limiting the claims to any particular embodiment disclosed in the specification and claims, but rather as encompassing all conceivable embodiments along with the entire scope of the equivalents that grant rights to such claims. Accordingly, the scope of the claims is not limited by this disclosure.
Claims
1. The main unit and An electrical parameter measuring device comprising a clamp jaw assembly connected to the main body, wherein the clamp jaw assembly is A first clamp jaw having a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, A second clamp jaw comprising a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the distal end of the second clamp jaw is asymmetrical to the distal end of the first clamp jaw and has a hook-shaped portion configured to receive the conductor under test in a manner such that the second clamp jaw is suspended from the conductor under test, and the majority of the force applied by the conductor under test when suspended from the conductor under test is applied to the second clamp jaw, and the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw The clamp jaws are movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, and in the closed position, the distal ends of the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw are in contact with each other, defining a measurement area enclosed between the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw, and in the open position, the distal ends of the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw are separated from each other outward, defining a gap that allows the conductor under test to pass through and enter and exit the measurement area, and the second clamp jaw The system comprises at least one voltage sensor positioned inside the first clamp jaw or the second clamp jaw and near the hook-shaped portion, and positioned adjacent to the conductor under test when the hook-shaped portion receives the conductor under test, An electrical parameter measuring device having a distorted "U" or "V" shape, which allows the electrical parameter measuring device to be attracted relative to the conductor under test and automatically guide the conductor under test to an optimal region of the measurement area close to the distal ends of the first and second clamp jaws.
2. The electrical parameter measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the first clamp jaw is pivotably mounted to the main body so as to pivot with respect to the second clamp jaw which is fixedly mounted to the main body.
3. The electrical parameter measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one voltage sensor comprises a first voltage sensor and a second voltage sensor, the first voltage sensor being positioned inside the first clamp jaw close to its distal end, and the second voltage sensor being positioned inside the second clamp jaw close to its distal end.
4. The electrical parameter measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an actuator operably connected to at least one of the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw, wherein during operation, in response to operation by a user, the actuator moves the clamp jaw assembly from the closed position to the open position.
5. The electrical parameter measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the actuator biases the clamp jaw assembly to the closed position.
6. An electrical parameter measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising at least one current sensor.
7. The control circuit is further connected to at least one voltage sensor in a communicative manner, and during operation, the control circuit The system receives sensor data indicating a signal detected by the at least one voltage sensor. An electrical parameter measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which processes the received sensor data to determine at least one electrical parameter of the conductor under test.
8. The electrical parameter measuring device according to claim 7, further comprising a wireless communication subsystem operably coupled to the control circuit, wherein during operation, the wireless communication subsystem wirelessly transmits the at least one electrical parameter to an external system.
9. The electrical parameter measuring device according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a display for visually presenting the at least one electrical parameter to the user of the electrical parameter measuring device during operation.
10. A clamp jaw assembly for measuring electrical parameters within an insulated conductor, A first clamp jaw having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, A second clamp jaw having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the distal end of the second clamp jaw is asymmetrical to the distal end of the first clamp jaw and has a hook-shaped portion for receiving the insulating conductor, the hook-shaped portion of the second clamp jaw enabling the second clamp jaw to be suspended from the insulating conductor in such a manner that most of the force applied by the insulating conductor when the second clamp jaw is suspended from the insulating conductor is applied to the second clamp jaw, and the first clamp The jaws and the second clamp jaw are movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, and in the closed position, the distal ends of the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw have a curved shape and are in contact with each other, defining a measurement area enclosed between the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw, and in the open position, the distal ends of the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw are separated from each other outward, defining a gap that allows the insulating conductor to pass through and enter and exit the measurement area, The device comprises at least one voltage sensor positioned inside the first clamp jaw or the second clamp jaw and near the hook-shaped portion, and positioned adjacent to the insulating conductor when the hook-shaped portion receives the insulating conductor, A clamp jaw assembly in which, when the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw are in the closed position, the curved shape automatically guides the insulating conductor to an optimal area of the measurement area for voltage measurement by the at least one voltage sensor.
11. The clamp jaw assembly according to claim 10, further comprising at least one current sensor.
12. A clamp meter comprising a first clamp jaw having a distal end and a second clamp jaw having a hook-shaped distal end, wherein the measuring area between the first clamp jaw and the second clamp jaw has a distorted shape. The gap between the distal end of the first clamp jaw and the distal end of the second clamp jaw is opened by separating their distal ends outwards from each other. The method involves receiving the conductor under test at the distal end of the hook shape of the second clamp jaw, wherein the distal end of the hook shape of the second clamp jaw allows the clamp meter to be suspended from the conductor under test in such a manner that most of the force applied by the conductor under test is applied to the second clamp jaw, and the curved shape automatically guides the conductor under test to an optimal area of the measurement area adjacent to the voltage sensor. The gap between the distal end of the first clamp jaw and the distal end of the second clamp jaw is closed by bringing their distal ends together. An electrical parameter measurement method comprising measuring the voltage of the conductor under test based on the voltage sensor positioned in the optimal region of the measurement area adjacent to the distal end of the hook shape of the second clamp jaw.
13. The electrical parameter measurement method according to claim 12, further comprising providing a visual indicator having a first color, which is positioned in close proximity to the distal end of the hook shape of the second clamp jaw, wherein the first color is different from the second color of the second clamp jaw.