Patents Assigned to Alps Green Devices Co. Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8564250
    Abstract: Disclosed is a current sensor including magnetic sensors disposed on a conductor having at least two separated current-carrying areas with different current magnitudes and detecting a magnetic field generated according to currents flowing through the conductor and a controller controlling outputs of the magnetic sensors, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed in at least two respective areas having different current magnitudes and the controller switches outputs of the magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Tamura
  • Publication number: 20130257469
    Abstract: A current sensor including electromagnetic conversion elements to detect magnetic fields generated when current flows through a current path under test, a chassis that stores the electromagnetic conversion elements and includes a channel to which the current path under test is disposed, and an installation member securable to the chassis, with the installation member including two arm units and a connecting unit to movably connect each end of the two arms, in which hook units are provisioned on the outer side of the two arm units, and holes are provisioned on the channel of the chassis to engaged with the hook units of the installation member, and when the current path under test and the installation member is disposed in the channel, the current path under test is securely supported, and at the same time the hook units and the holes are engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahito ARIMA
  • Publication number: 20130249531
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetic sensor module including a plurality of magnetic sensor units connected in series. The magnetic sensor units each include a first magnetic sensor element and a second magnetic sensor element which have sensitivity axes oriented in opposite directions. A first terminal of the first magnetic sensor unit is connected to a first potential source. A third terminal of the first magnetic sensor unit is connected to a second potential source. A second terminal and a fourth terminal of the last magnetic sensor unit are connected to constitute a sensor output terminal. The first terminal of each of the magnetic sensor units excluding the first magnetic sensor unit is connected to the second terminal of the next magnetic sensor unit and the third terminal thereof is connected to the fourth terminal of the next magnetic sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo ARATONO, Masahiro IIZUKA, Masamichi SAITO, Akira TAKAHASHI, Shigenobu MIYAJIMA, Kenji ICHINOHE, Yoshihiro NISHIYAMA, Yosuke IDE, Shinji MITSUYA
  • Publication number: 20130221959
    Abstract: An electrical current sensor includes a first laminated body having a magnetic detection element disposed over a first substrate, a protective film formed over the first substrate and the magnetic detection element, and a coil formed over the protective film, and a second laminated body having a shield layer formed over a second substrate and which is formed by bonding the first laminated body and the second laminated body to each other with an adhesion layer interposed therebetween such that the magnetic detection element and the shield layer face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Alps Green Device Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130221998
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetoresistive element that has a stripe shape and that has a sensing axis in a certain direction. The magnetoresistive element includes element portions that are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the stripe shape, and permanent magnet portions, each of which is disposed between adjacent ones of the element portions. Each element portion has a layered structure including a free magnetic layer whose magnetization direction is changed with respect to an external magnetic field, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a ferromagnetic pinned layer whose magnetization direction is pinned. The permanent magnet portion includes a hard bias layer, and an electrode layer that is disposed so as to cover the hard bias layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8519704
    Abstract: A magnetic-balance-system current sensor includes: a magnetoresistive element, a resistance value of the magnetoresistive element being changed by applying an induction magnetic field generated by a measurement target current; magnetic cores disposed near the magnetoresistive element; a feedback coil disposed near the magnetoresistive element and configured to generate a cancelling magnetic field that cancels out the induction magnetic field; and a magnetic-field detecting bridge circuit having two outputs. The measurement target current is measured on the basis of a current flowing through the feedback coil when the induction magnetic field and the induction magnetic field and the cancelling magnetic field cancel each other out. The feedback coil, the magnetic cores, and the magnetic-field detecting bridge circuit are formed on a same substrate. The feedback coil is of a spiral type, and the magnetic cores are provided above and below the feedback coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Ide, Masamichi Saito, Akira Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Nojima, Shigenobu Miyajima, Naoki Sakatsume, Kenji Ichinohe, Yoshihiro Nishiyama, Tatsuya Kogure, Hidekazu Kobayashi, Masahiro Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8487612
    Abstract: A current sensor including a magnetic detecting bridge circuit which is constituted of four magneto-resistance effect elements with a resistance value varied by application of an induced magnetic field from a current to be measured, and which has an output between two magneto-resistance effect elements. The four magneto-resistance effect elements have the same resistance change rate, and include a self-pinned type ferromagnetic fixed layer which is formed by anti-ferromagnetically coupling a first ferromagnetic film and a second ferromagnetic film via an antiparallel coupling film therebetween, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a soft magnetic free layer. Magnetization directions of the ferromagnetic fixed layers of the two magneto-resistance effect elements providing the output are different from each other by 180°. The magnetic detecting bridge circuit has wiring symmetrical to a power supply point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ichinohe, Masamichi Saito, Akira Takahashi, Yosuke Ide
  • Publication number: 20130162245
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a current path to be measured, a neighboring current path that is provided in the vicinity of the current path to be measured, first and second magnetoelectric transducers having a main sensitivity axis parallel to a direction of a magnetic field generated by a current to be measured flowing in the current path to be measured, and are provided so that the directions of the magnetic fields generated by the current to be measured are applied in mutually opposite directions, and third and fourth magnetoelectric transducers having a main sensitivity axis being non-orthogonal to a direction of a magnetic field generated by the neighboring current while being orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field generated by the current to be measured, and are provided so that the directions of the magnetic fields generated by the current to be measured are applied in mutually opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130156072
    Abstract: An internal impedance of an electrical storage device is measured by using a signal of a frequency which ions in the electrical storage device are difficult to follow (e.g., a frequency equal to or higher than 10 kHz), and an internal temperature of the electrical storage device is calculated from a measured value of the internal impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130154631
    Abstract: A current sensor includes: a conductive member through which a current to be measured flows; first and second magnetic sensors which output output signals having reversed phases to each other due to an induction magnetic field from the current to be measured; and a control unit which performs differential operation on the output signal of the first magnetic sensor and the output signal of the second magnetic sensor, wherein sensing axis directions of the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are fixed in the same direction, form a predetermined angle with respect to an application direction of the induction magnetic field from the current to be measured applied to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor, and are fixed so that the induction magnetic fields are applied to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor in reverse directions to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130154630
    Abstract: A current sensor includes: a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor; a first analog-to-digital converter which is connected to the first magnetic sensor and converts an output signal of the first magnetic sensor from an analog signal to a digital signal so as to be output; a second analog-to-digital converter which is connected to the second magnetic sensor and converts an output signal of the second magnetic sensor from an analog signal to a digital signal so as to be output; and an operation device which is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and the second analog-to-digital converter, and outputs an operation value by subjecting the output signal of the first analog-to-digital converter and the output signal of the second analog-to-digital converter to differential operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8465859
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetic balance sensor and a switching circuit. The magnetic balance sensor includes a feedback coil which is disposed near a magnetic sensor element varying in characteristics due to application of an induction field caused by measurement current and which produces a canceling magnetic field canceling the induction field. The switching circuit switches between magnetic proportional detection and magnetic balance detection. The magnetic proportional detection is configured to output a voltage difference as a sensor output. The magnetic balance detection is configured to output, as a sensor output, a value corresponding to current flowing through the feedback coil when a balanced state in which the induction field and the canceling magnetic field cancel each other out is reached after the feedback coil is energized by the voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Murata, Manabu Tamura, Shinji Mitsuya, Hiroyuki Hebiguchi
  • Patent number: 8461835
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetic equilibrium sensor including a magnetic sensor element with characteristics changed by an inductive magnetic field from a measurement target current and a feedback coil provided in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor element and generating a canceling magnetic field canceling the inductive magnetic field, a shunt resistor connected to a current line through which the measurement target current flows, and a switching unit switching between shunt resistor detection of sensing and outputting a voltage difference of the shunt resistor, and magnetic equilibrium detection of sensing and outputting a current flowing in the feedback coil in an equilibrium state where current flows in the feedback coil according to the inductive magnetic field and the inductive magnetic field and the canceling magnetic field cancel each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20130127456
    Abstract: A magnetic balance type current sensor includes: a magnetic detection bridge circuit of which output varies due to an induced magnetic field from a current wire; a magnetic field attenuation unit that attenuates the induced magnetic field that acts on a magnetoresistive effect element; and a feedback coil which generates a cancel magnetic field that cancels the induced magnetic field in accordance with the output of the magnetic detection bridge circuit, and through which a current corresponding to the current to be measured flows when it enters a balanced state in which the cancel magnetic field and the induced magnetic field cancel each other, wherein the feedback coil is provided in such a manner that a direction of the cancel magnetic field that acts on the magnetic field attenuation unit is opposite to a direction of the induced magnetic field that acts on the magnetic field attenuation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8437107
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling type isolator includes: a magnetic field generator for generating an external magnetic field by an input signal; a magnetoresistive element for detecting the external magnetic field and converting the detected magnetic field into an electric signal, the magnetoresistive element being electrically insulated from the magnetic field generator and positioned in a location capable of being magnetically coupled so as to be overlapped with the magnetic field generator as seen in a top plan view; and first and second shield films overlapped with the magnetic field generator and the magnetoresistive element as seen in a top plan view, wherein a distance between the magnetoresistive element and the second shield film is set to 8 to 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Ide, Masamichi Saito, Akira Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Nojima, Yoshihiro Nishiyama, Hidekazu Kobayashi, Kenji Ichinohe, Naoki Sakatsume
  • Publication number: 20130106412
    Abstract: An electrical current sensor includes a magnetic detection element whose characteristics are changed by an inductive magnetic field from a current to be measured, a plurality of coils that are connected in series with each other and which are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detection element, and generates a canceling magnetic field for canceling the inductive magnetic field by a feedback current flowing in the coils, and a switch circuit that selects a coil electrically connected with an input terminal and/or an output terminal of the feedback current from the plurality of coils, and controls a coil for allowing the feedback current to flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130099775
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a first support configured to include a cutout portion, a first magnetic detector element group configured to be provided in the first support, a second support configured to include a cutout portion, and a second magnetic detector element group configured to be provided in the second support. The cutout portion includes a supporting surface supporting a current line. In the current sensor, when the current line conducting therethrough a current to be measured is attached, the first support and the second support are displaced in the circumferential direction of the current line and fixed, and the current line is supported by supporting surfaces, in different positions in the axis line direction of the corresponding current line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8421452
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetic detection element having a resistance value changed by applying inductive magnetic field from measurement target current, a magnetic core provided in the vicinity of the magnetic detection element, and a coil generating magnetic field attenuating the inductive magnetic field. A constant level current in a predetermined range of output voltage of the magnetic detection element flows in the coil, and the measurement target current is detected on the basis of the output voltage of the magnetic detection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Tamura, Masaru Koishi, Masatoshi Nomura, Hiroyuki Hebiguchi
  • Publication number: 20130082698
    Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetic sensor including magnetoresistive sensors configured to detect induction fields generated by a measurement current passing through a current line, a magnetic field application unit configured to apply to the magnetoresistive sensors a magnetic field having a direction perpendicular to sensitivity directions of the magnetoresistive sensors; and a computing unit configured to calculate from an output of the magnetic sensor a compensation value for the output. The computing unit is configured to be capable of calculating the compensation value from the outputs of the magnetic sensor obtained in at least two states in which magnetic fields applied by the magnetic field application unit are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirofumi FUKUI
  • Patent number: D693253
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahito Arima