Current Sensor Flux Concentrator Layout for Isolation and Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensors face a trade-off between maintaining a sufficient clearance to prevent dielectric breakdown and ensuring high sensitivity and response speed, as increasing the clearance reduces magnetic flux density and sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
The current sensor incorporates a magnetic flux concentrator positioned to concentrate magnetic fields on the magnetosensitive surface of the magnetoelectric conversion element while maintaining a clearance, improving sensitivity and response speed by reducing the gain factor of the amplifier circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clearance between the conductor and magnetoelectric conversion element is increased to prevent dielectric breakdown, then the withstand voltage is improved, but the magnetic flux density on the magnetosensitive surface is reduced, causing sensitivity and response speed to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic flux concentrator is introduced as an intermediary component between the conductor and the magnetoelectric conversion element. This concentrator gathers and directs magnetic flux from the conductor toward the magnetosensitive surface, enabling the maintenance of high sensitivity even when the clearance is increased for dielectric breakdown prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic permeability of the magnetic flux concentrator is optimized to enhance its flux-gathering capability. By selecting materials with appropriate magnetic permeability parameters and optimizing the geometric parameters of the concentrator, the system achieves improved magnetic flux density at the magnetosensitive surface while maintaining the required clearance
2Reliability
If the clearance between the conductor and magnetoelectric conversion element is increased to prevent dielectric breakdown, then the reliability is improved, but the response speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic flux concentrator serves as a mediator that accelerates the magnetic flux transmission process. By concentrating and directing the flux, it reduces the time required for the magnetoelectric conversion element to detect changes in current, thereby improving response speed despite the increased clearance
Solution Approach 2:
Optimization of the magnetic flux concentrator's geometric parameters, including its height, width, and position relative to the conductor and magnetoelectric conversion element, enables faster magnetic flux accumulation and transmission, improving response speed while maintaining the necessary clearance for reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances both sensitivity and response speed by concentrating magnetic flux effectively, while ensuring a high withstand voltage and reliability through strategic positioning of the magnetoelectric conversion element and magnetic flux concentrator.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic flux concentrator 36 that is arranged on the upper surface of the magnetoelectric conversion element 34
Implementation Method 2
a magnetoelectric conversion element which is juxtaposed with a conductor to detect a magnetic field that is generated around the conductor as a result of a to-be-measured current flowing through the conductor
Data Source
AI summary
A current sensor 100 comprises: a conductor 24 in which a to-be-measured current flows; a magnetoelectric conversion element 34 that is arranged to be separated from the conductor, whose upper surface is positioned below a center of the conductor in a thickness direction in a side view, and the upper surface is positioned above a lower surface of the conductor; a magnetic flux concentrator 36 that is arranged on the upper surface of the magnetoelectric conversion element, whose upper end is positioned above an upper surface of the conductor in a side view, and whose lower end is positioned below the center of the conductor in the thickness direction; a support member 18 that supports the magnetoelectric conversion element; and a package 9 that encapsulates the conductor, the magnetoelectric conversion element, the magnetic flux concentrator, and the support member.