CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/612,099 filed March 16, 2012 and entitled "ELECTRICAL CURRENT SENSOR," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

One or more embodiments of the invention relate generally to sensors and more particularly, for example, to electrical current and/or voltage sensors and other types of sensors to measure various electrical parameters.

BACKGROUND

Clamp meters are a common form of current sensor used to measure current flowing in conductors. Such clamp meters include a spring-actuated clamp that a user may open up and clamp about a conductor (or conductors) that a user would like to measure. Auxiliary flexible probes, which can be connected via external leads to conventional meters, are also popular for current measurement applications. Thus, combination clamp meters with auxiliary current probe options have been developed. Regardless of whether a user measures current with a clamp meter or an auxiliary flexible probe, the user must spend considerable time positioning the meter or probe correctly. While auxiliary probes may provide more flexibility than clamps, it is still cumbersome to carry, route, connect, or otherwise handle the external lead wires of auxiliary probes. Moreover, the user's close proximity to high voltages or currents in the conductors may be dangerous. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved electrical sensors that diminish the amount of manual labor necessary and associated risk to the user. SUMMARY

Various techniques are disclosed for providing electrical current and/or voltage sensor probes or tags integrated with measurement circuitry. For example, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, an electrical sensor includes a probe adapted to be arranged to at least partially encircle a conductor to be measured, wherein the probe has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a base portion that houses measurement circuitry. The base portion may also include electrical components suitable for displaying, wirelessly transmitting, and/or otherwise conveying the measured electrical parameters. In some embodiments, the distal end of the probe may be removably received by the base portion, such that the probe forms a loop encircling the conductor when measuring it. In other embodiments, the probe may resiliently clip on to the conductor.

In an example according to another embodiment of the disclosure, an electrical sensor includes an attachable tag that can be mounted to the conductor to be measured. For example, the tag can be mounted magnetically or by using adhesives. The tag includes electrical components suitable for measuring current and/or voltage, and for displaying, wirelessly transmitting, and/or otherwise conveying the measured electrical parameters.

In various embodiments, the electrical sensor may be configured to measure the current flowing through the conductor. For example, in some embodiments, the electrical sensor may utilize a Rogowski coil, an iron (or ferrite) core current transformer, or other appropriate component for sensing current through induction. In some embodiments, the electrical sensor may utilize a Hall effect sensor, which can allow both AC and DC measurements. In various embodiments, the electrical sensor may be configured to measure the voltage associated with the conductor. For example, in some embodiments, the electrical sensor may be configured to sense voltage via capacitive coupling. In other embodiments, the electrical sensor may utilize physical connectors to measure voltage directly. In some embodiments, the electrical sensor may be configured to measure both the current and the voltage associated with the conductor. In such embodiments, the measurement circuitry may be further configured to calculate electrical power and/or measure voltage harmonics.

Therefore, various embodiments of the electrical sensor disclosed herein may permit convenient measurement of various electrical parameters associated with a conductor without a need for conventional meter devices or external leads required to connect to such conventional meter devices.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 A illustrates an electrical sensor implemented as a probe having a base portion integrated with a display and measurement circuitry, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure IB illustrates an alternative embodiment of the electrical sensor of Figure 1A.

Figure 1C illustrates another alternative embodiment of the electrical sensor of Figure 1 A.

Figure 2 is a close-up view of the display and the base portion of the probe in the electrical sensor of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of circuitry within the base portion of the probe of Figures 1A, IB, or 1C, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 4 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the electrical sensor of Figure 1A, wherein a loop formed by the probe may be adjusted for size.

Figure 5 A illustrates another alternative embodiment of the electrical sensor of Figure 1A , wherein the probe may be resiliently clipped to a conductor to be measured.

Figure 5B is a top view of the electrical sensor of Figure 5 A.

Figure 5C illustrates the electrical sensor of Figure 5 A clipped on to a conductor.

Figure 6A illustrates is a clip-on type electrical sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view along line 6B-6B of the electrical sensor of Figure 6A.

Figure 7A illustrates electrical sensors implemented as attachable tags integrated with a display and measurement circuitry, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 7B illustrates the electrical sensor of Figure 7A being interrogated in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To address the shortcomings in the electronic sensor arts, various techniques are disclosed herein for providing electrical current and/or voltage sensor probes or tags integrated with measurement circuitry. As further described herein, such sensor probes or tags do not require external meter devices or external lead wires for connecting to external meter devices. Such sensor probes or tags may also be configured to display and/or wirelessly transmit data indicative of measured electrical parameters. Electrical sensor embodiments having a probe will be described first. Turning now to the drawings, Figure 1 A shows an electrical sensor 100 having a flexible probe 110 that terminates in a base portion 115 integrated with measurement circuit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Electrical sensor 100 may be configured to measure current and/or voltage in a conductor 105 at least partially encircled by flexible probe 110. In some embodiments, electrical sensor 100 may measure other electrical parameters. It is contemplated for other embodiments that flexible probe 110 may instead be substantially rigid, such that the probe substantially retains its shape.

In some embodiments, electrical sensor 100 is an inductive sensor, although in other embodiments capacitive sensor embodiments may also be used. For the inductive embodiments, flexible probe 110 may comprise a Rogowski coil, an iron (or ferrite) core current transformer, or other appropriate transducer. In some embodiments, electrical sensor 100 may comprise a Hall effect sensor that allows both AC and DC measurements. In some embodiments, flexible probe 110 may comprise a coil or transducer configured for measurement of voltage associated with conductor 105 via a capacitive coupling technique known in the art.

One end 112 of flexible probe 110 may terminate in base portion 115 that may house measurement circuitry and other electronic components. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1 A, base portion 115 may be configured to removably receive an opposing end 114 of flexible probe 110, such that flexible probe 110 forms a loop encircling conductor 105 as shown.

Also in the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1A, base portion 115 is shown as comprising an optional display 120. In some embodiments, display 120 may include digital or alphanumeric display implemented using a segmented LCD display, dot matrix display, TFT LCD screen, or other appropriate display component suitable for presenting measured electrical parameters in numbers. In some embodiment, display 120 may include indicator LEDs or other types of indicator suitable for indicating various conditions associated with conductor 105 being measured. For example, display 120 may include colored light indicators for indicating a "Normal" or "Abnormal" condition to allow users to quickly understand the condition of conductor 105, or may include light bars that light up to visually convey various electrical parameters associated with conductor 105.

An example base portion 215 may be better seen in a close-up view in Figure 2. In an example embodiment, one end 212 of flexible probe 110 may terminate in a base portion 215 comprising display 120, where as an opposing end 214 of flexible probe 110 may be removably received by a socket 216 or other appropriate connector that allows opposing end 214 to be detachably coupled to base portion 215. This allows flexible probe 110 to form a loop encircling conductor 105, by detaching opposing end 214, looping flexible probe 110 about conductor 105, and coupling opposing end 214 back to socket 216, in accordance with an embodiment.

Referring now to Figure IB, another example of an electrical sensor 100B is shown according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In electrical sensor 100B, a flexible probe HOB may comprise one end 112B terminating in base portion 115 described above for Figure 1A, but also an opposing end 114B that terminates in a connector 130 (e.g., an alligator clip) adapted to form an electrical connection with conductor 105 for measuring electrical parameters associated with conductor 105. In some embodiments, electrical sensor HOB may optionally comprise an additional flexible probe 111 that terminates in a connector 131 (e.g., an alligator clip) as desired for particular applications. Electrical sensor 100B having connectors 130 and/or 131 may be useful where voltage measurement via capacitive coupling is undesirable or unavailable.

Figure 1C shows yet another example of an electrical sensor lOOC according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Electrical sensor lOOC may comprise both flexible probe 110 of the embodiment in Figure 1 A and flexible probe 110B of the embodiment in Figure IB. In some embodiments, electrical sensor lOOC may comprise the optional flexible probe 111 of the embodiment in Figure IB. It is also contemplated for other embodiments that flexible probe HOB and/or flexible probe 111 may be substantially rigid as to substantially retain its shape.

Figure 3 shows example measurement circuitry 300 that may be housed within base portion 115, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 302 digitally converts the analog current and/or voltage induced in flexible probe 110. A logic circuit, such as for example a microcontroller or microprocessor 305, can be configured to determine a current and/or voltage associated with conductor 105 based on the digitally converted output. In some embodiments, the logic circuit (e.g., microprocessor 305) may be configured to calculate power associated with conductor 105 based on the measured current and voltage. In some embodiments, the logic circuit (e.g., microprocessor 305) may be configured to determine voltage and/or current harmonics based on measurements obtained over some duration. In some embodiments, measurement circuitry 300 may include a low pass filter that limits frequency to below a certain level.

Battery 315 provides power to measurement circuitry 300. Optionally for some embodiments, measurement circuitry 300 may comprise a power harvesting circuit 310 adapted to divert power induced in flexible probe 110 (or from an ancillary coil) for storage in battery 315. Alternatively, battery 315 may be a replaceable battery in lieu of power harvesting circuit 310. In some embodiments, a photovoltaic panel (not shown) may be utilized for generating power additionally or alternatively to power harvesting circuit 310.

In some embodiments, measurement circuit 300 may include a wireless transceiver 312 that may be utilized to wirelessly transfer data indicative of the measured electrical parameters and/or other data to an external device and/or over a network (e.g., including the Internet).

Wireless transceiver 312 may in some embodiments be RF-based. For example, in some embodiments, wireless transceiver 312 may be configured to transmit and/or receive data via standard wireless communication protocols/standards such as the IEEE 801.11 WiFi standards, the Bluetooth™ standard, and/or the ZigBee™ standard. In another example, wireless transceiver 312 may implement a proprietary RF -based communication protocol.

Wireless transceiver 312 in other embodiments may implement an optical transmission technique. In such embodiments, base portion 112 may comprise, on an exterior surface thereof, an optical transmitter (e.g., an LED) and/or an optical sensor. For example, wireless transceiver 312 may be configured to transmit modulated pulses of light that encodes data. The light may be infrared or near infrared light as used in IrDA specifications, laser, or any other suitable light. In another example, rather than actively generating transmitting light pulses, wireless transceiver 312 may be implemented using a modulating retro-reflector (MRR) that can modulate incoming light (e.g., by selectively reflecting using actuating mirrors or altering surface reflectivity) to transmit data. It is also contemplated for some embodiments that a photosensor may be used to detect a triggering light (e.g., a laser light pointed to it), so that measurement circuitry 300 may be responsively activated to perform measurements or other operations.

Measurement circuit 300 in some embodiments may optionally include a memory device 314. Microprocessor 305 or other logic device may be configured to store measurement data, even data, and/or other data onto memory device 314 for data logging and other purposes.

Memory device 314 may also be configured to store a unique identifier associated with electrical sensor 100/lOOB/lOOC. The unique identifier may be utilized, for example, to associate measurement data with a specific electrical sensor. In some embodiments, memory device 314 may internally fixed to electrical sensor 100/lOOB/lOOC. In other embodiments, memory device 314 may additionally or alternatively include a removable memory such as a Secure Digital (SD) card memory or other similar removable non- volatile memory.

As may be understood, various components of circuitry 300 are given above as an example, and as such, the various components of measurement circuitry 300 may be combined into fewer components or further divided into more components without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Moreover, although base portion 115 may be rigid, it will be appreciated that measurement circuitry 300 may be mounted on a substrate and covered by a flexible insulating material to form base portion 115.

Figure 4 illustrates an electrical sensor 400 in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. Electrical sensor 400 may be an alternative embodiment of electrical sensor 100 of Figure 1 A. As shown, base portion 415 of flexible probe 110 may include a pass-through port 416 for accommodating unneeded length of flexible probe 110. Opposing end 114 of flexible probe 110 can be threaded through pass-through port 416 to adjust the length of the loop formed by flexible probe 110 as necessary to accommodate a given conductor 105 or conductors.

Figures 5A-5C illustrate an electrical sensor 500 wherein a probe 510 is configured to be resiliently clipped on to conductor 105, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Probe 510 may terminate at one end in a base portion 515, which may comprise measurement circuitry 300 of Figure 3 and also optionally comprise display 120 similar to electrical sensor 100/lOOB/l lOC described above. As with flexible probe 110 described above, probe 510 may comprise a Rogowski coil, an iron (or ferrite) core current transformer, a Hall-effect sensor, or other appropriate transducer.

Probe 510 may be flexible yet more rigid than flexible probe 110 of electrical sensor 100 above, such that probe 510 retains its shape. For example, probe 510 may comprise walls made of rubber or soft plastic. As seen in Figure 5C, probe 510 may be appropriately dimensioned and have appropriate rigidity and friction, such that probe 510 may be resiliently clipped on to conductor 105 (e.g., a cable or cable bundle) and held in place via elastic and frictional force. Thus, electrical sensor 500 may be conveniently mounted onto conductor 105 in a permanent or semi-permanent fashion. For example, electrical sensor 500 may be installed on a conductor within an electrical cabinet. Such cabinets contain a number of relatively-dangerous conductors due to the high amounts of current or voltages. Even if such conductors are fully insulated, it is cumbersome and/or dangerous for a user to manually clamp them with a clamp meter or encircle them with an auxiliary flexible probe. But electrical sensor 500 may be installed during construction (or later) of the electrical cabinet so that subsequent users need merely open the electric cabinet and view display 120 or wirelessly obtain a quick reading of the current and/or voltage.

The probe type electrical sensor in its various embodiments described above may be utilized to obtain a measurement by performing the following: To obtain a measurement of one or more electrical properties associated with a target object (e.g., a cable, bundle of cables, or other type of conductor), probe 110/510 may be arranged relative to the target object such that probe 110/510 at least partially encircles the target object. For example, probe 110 may be looped about the target object. Opposing end 114 of probe 110 may be releasably attached to socket 216 or other engagement mechanism on base portion 115 to form a closed loop for some embodiments, or threaded through pass-through port 416 to achieve a desired length of the loop formed by probe 110 for other embodiments. For probe 510, it may be deformed against the target object so that probe 510 elastically receives the target object as described above with respect to Figure 5. Connector 130/131 of probe 1 lOB/111 may also be connected to the target object for embodiments that comprise connector 130/131.

The measurement circuitry may be activated so that it determines an electrical property associated with the target object. For some embodiments, the activation may be by pressing a button or otherwise engaging an input mechanism provided on the electrical sensor. In some embodiments, the measurement circuitry may be wirelessly activated. For example, an activation command may be transmitted to the measurement circuitry via wireless transceiver 312. In another example, a triggering light beam may be directed to a photosensor on the electrical sensor to trigger a measurement and/or wireless transmission operation, as described above.

In some embodiments, the measurement may then be obtained by viewing alphanumeric characters presented on display 120, or by observing indicator lights or light bars on display 120. In some embodiments, the measurement may be wirelessly received by various mechanisms described above for wireless transceiver.

Turning now to Figure 6A, a clip-on type electrical sensor 600 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In such an embodiment, a housing 650 may include an internal capacitive or inductive sensor for sensing current and/or voltage in a conductor 605. Housing 650 may also house measurement circuitry 300 and optionally include display 120 described above. As also shown in Figure 6B illustrating a cross-sectional view along line 6B- 6B of electrical sensor 600, one or more circular clips 660 may be utilized to grasp conductor 605 to hold housing securely to conductor 605. For example, circular clips 660 may be more suitable for clipping onto a thinner cable or bundle of cables than those suitable for probe 510 of electrical sensor 500. However, circular clip 660 may be modified as desired to accommodate conductor 605 of other sizes.

To decrease the costs and increase the convenience even further, an electrical sensor implemented as a small attachable tag may be used. For example, Figure 7A shows electrical sensor tags 700 A attached to conductors 105, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Sensor tag 700A is shown as comprises an optional display 720 for numerically presenting electrical parameters associated with conductor 105. Display 720 may be similar to display 120, except that display 720 is miniaturized and/or formed on a flexible substrate (e.g., flexible LCD sheet) as needed for electrical sensor tag applications. As discussed above for display 120, in some embodiments display 720 may additionally or alternatively include light indicators or indicator bars. Thus, for example, a user may obtain a measurement of the electrical parameters by viewing numbers presented on display 720 and/or observing light indicators on display 720.

Figure 7B shows an electrical sensor tag 700B without the optional display. Electrical sensor tag 700B is shown in Figure 7B with its exterior surface in a semi-transparent form to better illustrate electrical traces 715 included in electrical sensor tag 700A/700B. Electrical traces 715 may be formed to suitably function as internal inductive and/or capacitive sensor coils to be used for sensing current and/or voltage associated with conductor 105. Electrical sensor tag 700A/700B may include a backing (not shown) having an adhesive or a magnet for mounting electrical sensor tag 700A/700B to conductor 105. In some embodiments, the backing may be flexible so as to accommodate the shape of conductor 105. Thus, a user may affix electrical sensor tags 700A/700B, magnetically, adhesively, or by other means, onto various target objects that the user wishes to obtain measurements of.

Electrical sensor tag 700A/700B may comprise measurement circuitry that is similar to measurement circuitry 300 described above, but miniaturized and/or otherwise modified to be suitable for attachable tag applications. For example, in some embodiments, the measurement circuitry may be implemented using flexible electronic components formed on flex circuit boards (e.g., flex -rigid PCBs). In another example, the wireless transceiver (corresponding to wireless transceiver 312) in electrical sensor tag 700A/700B may implement the RFID hardware and protocols, which may be more suitable for small attachable electrical tag applications.

Figure 7B also shows electrical sensor tag 700B being interrogated by a user using an external reader 790. As described above for wireless transceiver 312, electrical sensor tag 700A/700B may similarly include a photosensor that can be used to detect a triggering light 780 (e.g., a laser pulse). In response to detecting triggering light 780, the measurement circuitry of sensor tag 700A/700B may be activated to measure various electrical parameters and/or wirelessly transmit (e.g., via WiFi™, Bluetooth™, ZigBee™, or RFID communication) measured and/or stored data. As also described above for wireless transceiver 312, in some embodiments, electrical sensor tag 700A/700B may comprise a modulating retro-reflector or other suitable mechanism to optically transmit data to external reader 790 by selectively reflecting or otherwise modulating incoming light 780. Therefore, for example, a large number of electrical sensor tags 700A/700B may be attached to various conductors inside and outside an electrical cabinet 770, and can conveniently and safely be interrogated at a distance from conductors 105.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.