US2015338444A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus for in situ current measurement in a conductor

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Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCPriority: Feb 5, 2013Filed: Jul 30, 2015Published: Nov 26, 2015
Est. expiryFeb 5, 2033(~6.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mikhail Valeryevich IvanovSiva Raghuram Prasad ChennupatiViola Schaffer
G01R 15/20G01R 15/148G01R 33/0005G01R 33/09G01R 15/207G01R 33/02
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Claims

Abstract

Improved current sensing methods and apparatus and conductor apparatus are presented for sensing current in a bus bar or other conductor using one or more circular magnetic sensors or multiple magnetic sensors disposed on a substrate in a pattern surrounding a longitudinal path within the outer periphery of the conductor to avoid or mitigate sensed magnetic field crosstalk and to facilitate use of high sensitivity magnetic sensors at locations inside the conductor periphery in which the magnetic field is relatively small.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a conductor having a longitudinal body and an outer periphery circumscribing the longitudinal body, the conductor defining a recess protruding from the outer periphery into the longitudinal body; and   an integrated circuit including:
 a magnetic sensor adapted for placement in the recess of the conductor, the magnetic sensor having a sensing direction traversing across the longitudinal body of the conductor, the magnetic sensor configured to generate a sensing signal upon sensing a magnetic field along the sensing direction; and 
 a sensor interface coupled with the magnetic sensor to receive the sensing signal, the sensor interface configured to generate an output signal based on the sensing signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the longitudinal body extends along a longitudinal direction and is adapted to conduct an electric current along the longitudinal direction; and   the sensing direction of the magnetic sensor is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the longitudinal body has a cross-section defining a cross-sectional center; and   the magnetic sensor is adapted for placement within the outer periphery and laterally outward of the cross-sectional center of the longitudinal body.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the longitudinal body has a cross-section defining a vertical extent and a lateral extent; and   the magnetic sensor is adapted for placement near a cross-center of the vertical extent and the lateral extent.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the integrated circuit defines a point within the recess; and   the magnetic sensor includes:
 a first magnetic sensor positioned away from the point by a first distance, the first magnetic sensor having a first sensing direction tangential to a first circular path surrounding the point; and 
 a second magnetic sensor positioned away from the point by a second distance, the second magnetic sensor having a second sensing direction tangential to a second circular path surrounding the point. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second sensing direction directly opposes the first sensing direction. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second sensing direction is perpendicular to the first sensing direction. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first circular path overlaps with the second circular path. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second circular path circumscribes the first circular path. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a conductor having a longitudinal body and an outer periphery circumscribing the longitudinal body, the conductor defining a recess protruding from the outer periphery into the longitudinal body; and   a magnetometer fitted for placement in the recess of the conductor, the magnetometer defining a point inside the conductor, the magnetometer including:
 a first magnetic sensor positioned away from the point by a first distance, the first magnetic sensor having a first sensing direction tangential to a first circular path surrounding the point; and 
 a second magnetic sensor positioned away from the point by a second distance, the second magnetic sensor having a second sensing direction tangential to a second circular path surrounding the point. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first magnetic sensor is configured to generate a first sensing signal upon sensing a first magnetic flux along the first sensing direction;   the second magnetic sensor is configured to generate a second sensing signal upon sensing a second magnetic flux along the second sensing direction; and   the magnetometer includes a sensor interface coupled to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor to receive the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal, the sensor interface configured to generate an output signal based on a summation of the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the longitudinal body extends along a longitudinal direction and is adapted to conduct an electric current along the longitudinal direction; and   the first sensing direction and the second sensing direction are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the longitudinal body has a cross-section defining a cross-sectional center; and   the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are adapted for placement within the outer periphery and laterally outward of the cross-sectional center of the longitudinal body.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the longitudinal body has a cross-section defining a vertical extent and a lateral extent; and   the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are adapted for placement near a cross-center of the vertical extent and the lateral extent.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second sensing direction directly opposes the first sensing direction. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second sensing direction is perpendicular to the first sensing direction. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first circular path overlaps with the second circular path. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second circular path circumscribes the first circular path. 
     
     
         19 . A magnetometer fitted for placement in a slot of a conductor having a longitudinal body and an out periphery circumscribing the longitudinal body, the magnetometer comprising:
 a substrate fitted for placement in the slot, the substrate defining a point along a cross-section of the conductor;   a first magnetic sensor formed on the substrate, the first magnetic sensor positioned away from the point by a first distance, the first magnetic sensor having a first sensing direction tangential to a first circular path surrounding the point, and the first magnetic sensor configured to generate a first sensing signal upon sensing a first magnetic flux along the first sensing direction;   a second magnetic sensor formed on the substrate, the second magnetic sensor positioned away from the point by a second distance, the second magnetic sensor having a second sensing direction tangential to a second circular path surrounding the point, and the second magnetic sensor configured to generate a second sensing signal upon sensing a second magnetic flux along the second sensing direction; and   a sensor interface formed on the substrate and coupled to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor to receive the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal, the sensor interface configured to generate an output signal based on a summation of the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the point is defined within the outer periphery and laterally outward of a cross-sectional center of the longitudinal body. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the point is defined near a cross-sectional center of the longitudinal body. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the second sensing direction directly opposes the first sensing direction. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the second sensing direction is perpendicular to the first sensing direction. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first circular path overlaps with the second circular path. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the second circular path circumscribes the first circular path.

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