Hall Current Sensor Spacer Structure for High-Temperature Epoxy Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sensors, such as Hall current sensors, face challenges with protective materials like epoxy not fully curing due to contaminants and high curing temperatures damaging electrical components, leading to insufficient protection of Hall sensing elements.

Innovation Solution

A current sensor design featuring a housing with a magnetic core and a spacer structure that stabilizes the gap, using a metal spacer to prevent contaminants and allow full curing of epoxy at high temperatures while protecting the Hall sensing element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If epoxy is used as protective material for Hall sensing elements, then protection from contaminants is improved, but insufficient curing occurs due to contaminants and temperature constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of Hall sensing elementVSAvoidcuring completeness of epoxy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A spacer structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the magnetic core and the epoxy. This spacer prevents contaminants from the magnetic core from mixing with the epoxy, allowing the epoxy to cure properly without contamination while still providing protective coverage for the Hall sensing element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The curing temperature parameter is changed from standard temperatures to elevated temperatures (125°C or higher). This parameter change enables complete curing of the epoxy while the spacer structure simultaneously prevents contamination that would otherwise occur at these temperatures, resolving the contradiction between curing completeness and protection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If high curing temperature (125°C or above) is applied to epoxy, then complete curing is achieved, but electrical components may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring completeness of epoxyVSAvoidtemperature damage to electrical components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer structure serves as a thermal intermediary that isolates the epoxy curing process from the electrical components. It allows high curing temperatures to be applied to the epoxy without transmitting excessive heat to the sensitive electrical components, enabling complete curing while preventing thermal damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different temperature conditions are applied to different parts of the system: high temperature (125°C+) is applied locally to the epoxy for complete curing, while the electrical components are protected from excessive heat through the spacer structure. This local differentiation of thermal conditions resolves the contradiction between curing completeness and component safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If spacer structure is added to prevent contaminants, then epoxy curing is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring completeness of epoxyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the magnetic core, the spacer structure, and the epoxy-protected Hall sensing element. This segmentation allows the spacer to be designed as a simple, dedicated component whose sole function is to prevent contamination and enable proper curing, achieving manufacturing precision without excessive overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer structure is designed as a simple intermediary component with minimal complexity. It performs the critical function of preventing contamination and enabling epoxy curing without introducing complex mechanisms, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving complete curing and maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design ensures complete curing of the epoxy at or above 125 degrees Celsius, effectively protecting the Hall sensing element from contaminants and high temperatures, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

the epoxy is configured to cure at or above 125 degrees Celsius

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCuring: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4685497A1Current sensor having a structure configured to improve curing
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4685497A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4685497A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4685497A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A current sensing system may include a housing having a chamber configured to contain an epoxy, the housing further comprising a magnetic core having a gap configured to surround the chamber and a spacer structure mechanically coupled to the magnetic core configured to stabilize the gap of the magnetic core. The current sensing system may further include a Hall sensing element comprised within the chamber and surrounded by the epoxy. The spacer structure may be further configured to allow the epoxy to sufficiently cure at temperatures at or above a predetermined threshold.