Abstract: The increasing use of electrically powered vehicles has created a need for inexpensively and effectively measuring high currents for motor control, as for example digital motor control. Because the high operating voltages of traction motors, the motor current sensors should be non-contacting. A non-contacting current sensor having a rated capacity significantly less than the motor winding current is coupled to one or more of the conductors of a paralleled multiconductor motor winding for sensing the current in that conductor. The paralleled electrical motor conductors are paralleled by additional similar conductors, so that only a fraction of the current to be measured flows through the conductor(s) associated with the sensor. The current sensor elements may be mounted on a pc board, which supports the elements, and also has one or more printed patterns which define conductors associated with the sensor.

Abstract: A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) has a cut-out that permits a monolithic copper or aluminum heatsink to be mounted flush with the surface of the PCB. Electrical devices can be mounted to the monolithic heat sink. The heat sink is bent to extend out of the plane of the PCB. The heatsink can have parts mounted to connect with either face of the PCB, and can extend from either side of the PCB. The heatsink is stepped to present one surface flush with the PCB and another surface that lies along the face of the PCB.