Shunt Resistor Slit Structure for Accurate Current Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shunt resistors face challenges in accurately determining current values due to interference from resistance values of current and coupling regions, leading to power loss and weak mechanical strength, while also being difficult to downsize.

Innovation Solution

A shunt resistor design with conductors separated by insulating resin-filled slits, ensuring accurate resistance values between voltage regions and mechanical strength without increasing size, achieved by open ends of slits on inner conductor faces and strategic slit placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the slit extends from the outer end face toward the inner end face and terminates midway, then the conductor is separated into current and voltage regions, but the resistance value between voltage regions is affected by current region and coupling region resistance making accurate current detection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent detection accuracyVSAvoidresistance value accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor is divided into current regions and voltage regions by slits that extend from the outer end face to the inner end face, completely separating the current path from the voltage detection path. This segmentation eliminates the coupling region that causes measurement errors, allowing the voltage difference between voltage regions to accurately reflect only the resistance of the resistive element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful coupling region is eliminated by extending the slits to the inner end face where they connect to the resistive element. This extraction removes the source of measurement error (the coupling region resistance) from the measurement path, ensuring that only the resistive element's resistance contributes to the voltage difference used for current detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If the slit is open on the outer end face with free ends, then the conductor structure is simplified, but the mechanical strength against external stress becomes weak

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconductor structure simplicityVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The slits are designed to terminate at the inner end face rather than extending beyond it, providing a natural stop that prevents stress concentration at free ends. The connection of slit ends to the resistive element provides structural support, cushioning against external stress before it can cause damage to the conductor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the slit has a certain degree of width to prevent current passage, then electrical insulation between current and voltage regions is achieved, but downsizing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulationVSAvoidshunt resistor size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary substance filling the slits to prevent current passage between current and voltage regions. This allows the slits to be made very narrow (improving downsizing) while still achieving reliable electrical insulation through the insulating material that lines the slit walls.

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 precise resistance measurement and improved mechanical strength by isolating current and voltage regions, reducing power loss and enabling efficient manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

a first insulating resin filling the first slit; a second insulating resin filling the second slit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP4235707B1Shunt resistor and manufacturing method therefor
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 SUNCALL CORP
  • EP4235707B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4235707B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4235707B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a shunt resistor of the present invention, a first slit (40(1)-40D(1); 70(1): 80(1)) filled with a first in□sulating resin (50(1)) separates a first conductor (20(1)) into a first current region (30(1)) and a first voltage region (35(1)), and a second slit (40(2)-40D(2); 70(2); 80(2)) filled with a second insulating resin (50(2)) separates a second conductor (20(2)) into a second current region (30(2)) and a second voltage region (35(2)). The first slit (40(1)-40D(1); 70(1); 80(1)) has a first end (41(1); 71(1); 81(1)) open on an inner end face (21(1)), which is joined to a first joint face (11(1)) of a resistive element (10), so that the first current region (30(1)) and the first voltage region (35(1)) both have a region joined to the first joint face (11(1)), and the second slit (40(2)-40D(2); 70(2); 80(2)) has a first end (41(2); 71(2); 81(2)) open on an inner end face (21(2)), which is joined to a second joint face (11(2)) of the resistive element (10), so that the sec□ond current region (30(2)) and the second voltage region (35(2)) both have a region joined to the second joint face (11(2)).