Abstract: A sensing system is provided for contactless sensing of current. The system includes a conductor for generating a magnetic field as electric current flows through the conductor, the conductor having a predetermined width and comprising a hole with a predetermined hole width passing through the whole thickness of the conductor, and a magnetic sensor for measuring at least one component of the magnetic field generated by the conductor. The magnetic sensor overlaps the hole. The current sensing is done based on the measured magnetic field. The sensor is positioned at a predetermined distance over a top surface of the conductor. The width of the hole is at least 0.15 times the width of the conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a current sensor device comprising: current sensing means for sensing a current, a circuit arranged to convert a signal received from the current sensing means into a signal indicative of the sensed current, storage means for storing a plurality of values of the signal indicative of the sensed current, a processing circuit arranged for receiving a subset of the plurality of values stored in the storage means, for detecting or predicting an event based on a function of the subset, said function being stored in the storage means, and for generating a corresponding event signal, said current supervisory device further comprising an interface circuit arranged to output the corresponding event signal.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor is provided for sensing a current flowing in a first direction divided in at least two conductor portions separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. It includes at least a first sensing element and second sensing element and at least one integrated magnetic concentrator for sensing the magnetic field at respectively first and second positions in a region between the two conductor portions. The sensing elements are adapted in combination with the concentrator to sense the field with a highest sensitivity in a sensing direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the two positions are separated by a predetermined distance in a spacing direction perpendicular to the sensing direction.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for sensing a current flowing in a first direction divided in at least two conductor portions separated in a second direction, the sensor comprising at least two sensing elements for sensing the magnetic field at two positions in a region between the two conductor portions, wherein the at least two sensing elements are adapted to sense the field at the respective position with the highest sensitivity in a direction being between 20 degrees and 160 degrees from a third direction being perpendicular to both the first and second direction, wherein the two positions are separated by a predetermined distance in the third direction

Abstract: A current sensor system for accurately measuring an AC electrical current having frequencies up to 2 kHz, the system comprising: an electrical conductor (e.g. busbar) for conducting said AC current thereby creating a first magnetic field; a magnetic sensor device for measuring a magnetic field component or gradient; an object (e.g. a metal plate) having an electrically conductive surface arranged in the vicinity of said conductor for allowing eddy currents to flow in said surface, thereby creating a second magnetic field which is superimposed with the first magnetic field; wherein the magnetic sensor device is configured for determining the current as a signal or value proportional to the measured component or gradient. The metal plate may have an opening. The current sensor system may further comprise a shielding.

Abstract: A current sensor arrangement for measuring an AC electrical current, comprising: an electrical conductor having three transverse rectangular cut-outs; a sensor device comprising two sensor elements spaced apart along a first direction for measuring two magnetic field components oriented in said first direction, and configured for determining a magnetic field difference or magnetic field gradient, and for determining the AC current based on said difference or gradient. The sensor device is positioned at a particular location relative to the second cut-out, such that the magnetic field difference or gradient is substantially proportional to the AC current for frequencies from 100 Hz to 2 kHz. A current sensor system. A method of measuring an AC current with improved accuracy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor system for safety-critical applications comprising at least one sensor device, which includes a sensor for measuring a physical parameter and generating a corresponding signal, a signal processing chain for processing this signal, and an interface for handling an external synchronization signal. The device also features a transient signal generator that produces a transient and a coupling element for introducing the transient signal into the signal processing chain's input such that the transient signal which is coupled to the signal processing chain has a predetermined relation with the synchronization signal. This configuration allows for the detection of errors within the sensor device and/or calibration of the sensor system by measuring the time difference between the synchronization signal and the detection moment of the transient signal.

Abstract: A current sensor system has a conductor and a packaged integrated circuit for sensing a current in the conductor. The conductor is external to the packaged integrated circuit. The packaged integrated circuit includes a substrate having an active surface and a back surface; one or more magnetic sensing elements; a processing circuit arranged to process signals received from the one or more magnetic sensing elements to derive an output signal indicative of a sensed current in the conductor; a housing; a plurality of leads; electrical connections between the leads and the active surface. The back surface of the substrate is disposed on a support formed by at least two inner lead portions of the plurality of leads and the active side of the substrate is oriented towards the outer ends of the outer lead portions of the leads in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support.

Abstract: A sensor device includes at least one integrated magnetic sensor structure having: a semiconductor substrate; a magnetic flux concentrator IMC disposed on top of the semiconductor substrate, the IMC having a predefined shape with an elongated portion extending in a first direction parallel to the substrate; a horizontal Hall element situated under a centre of the IMC; a processing circuit connected to said horizontal Hall element, and configured to provide a signal or a value indicative of at least one magnetic field gradient or a signal or value derived therefrom.

Abstract: A lead frame for a current sensor is provided. The frame includes a conductive piece with an average thickness, and a sensing zone for generating a signal detectable by a current sensing element when current flows through the lead frame. It also includes a routing zone outside the sensing zone for routing current towards the sensing zone. The routing zone comprises a region with the largest area having a predetermined average thickness. At least the sensing zone includes additional material disposed on the conductive piece so the total thickness of the sensing zone is thicker than the average thickness of said largest area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current sensor for sensing a through two different conductors. The sensor comprises a magnetic sensor configured to read a magnetic field induced by the first and second currents. The sensor is configured also to provide a first signal representative of a magnetic field parameter in a first direction and configured to provide at least a second signal representative of a magnetic field parameter in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A current sensor is provided for a target conductor, of a plurality of conductors. It includes at least one magnetic sensor configured to provide two signals representative of two different parameters of the field being different components or directional derivatives (e.g. a gradient) thereof. It also includes a processor configured for deriving a signal indicative of the current based on a linear combination of the first signal and the at least second signal. At least one of these signals is weighted by a coefficient, being a constant chosen in accordance with a distance, in at least the first or second direction, between the sensor and at least one conductor of the plurality. The coefficient is chosen to reduce a contribution of a parasitic magnetic field in the signal indicative of the current in the first conductor, where the parasitic magnetic field is generated by at least a further conductor.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a silicon substrate having an active surface; a first sensing area disposed near a first edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate such that the first sensing area has at least one first magnetic sensing element is made of a first compound semiconductor material and contact pads; and a second sensing area disposed near a second edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate, such that the second edge is substantially opposite to the first edge, such that the second sensing area has at least one second magnetic sensing element made of a second compound semiconductor material and contact pads. A processing circuit is disposed of in the silicon substrate and is electrically connected via wire bonds and/or a redistribution layer with the contact pads of the first and second sensing areas.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a silicon substrate having an active surface; a first sensing area disposed near a first edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate such that the first sensing area has at least one first magnetic sensing element is made of a first compound semiconductor material and contact pads; and a second sensing area disposed near a second edge of the active surface of the silicon substrate, such that the second edge is substantially opposite to the first edge, such that the second sensing area has at least one second magnetic sensing element made of a second compound semiconductor material and contact pads. A processing circuit is disposed of in the silicon substrate and is electrically connected via wire bonds and/or a redistribution layer with the contact pads of the first and second sensing areas.

Abstract: A current sensor system for accurately measuring an AC electrical current having frequencies up to 2 kHz, the system comprising: an electrical conductor (e.g. busbar) for conducting said AC current thereby creating a first magnetic field; a magnetic sensor device for measuring a magnetic field component or gradient; an object (e.g. a metal plate) having an electrically conductive surface arranged in the vicinity of said conductor for allowing eddy currents to flow in said surface, thereby creating a second magnetic field which is superimposed with the first magnetic field; wherein the magnetic sensor device is configured for determining the current as a signal or value proportional to the measured component or gradient. The metal plate may have an opening. The current sensor system may further comprise a shielding.

Abstract: A current sensor system has a conductor and a packaged integrated circuit for sensing a current in the conductor. The conductor is external to the packaged integrated circuit. The packaged integrated circuit includes a substrate having an active surface and a back surface; one or more magnetic sensing elements; a processing circuit arranged to process signals received from the one or more magnetic sensing elements to derive an output signal indicative of a sensed current in the conductor; a housing; a plurality of leads; electrical connections between the leads and the active surface. The back surface of the substrate is disposed on a support formed by at least two inner lead portions of the plurality of leads and the active side of the substrate is oriented towards the outer ends of the outer lead portions of the leads in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support.

Abstract: A current sensor system for accurately measuring an AC electrical current having frequencies up to 2 kHz, the system comprising: an electrical conductor (e.g. busbar) for conducting said AC current thereby creating a first magnetic field; a magnetic sensor device for measuring a magnetic field component or gradient; an object (e.g. a metal plate) having an electrically conductive surface arranged in the vicinity of said conductor for allowing eddy currents to flow in said surface, thereby creating a second magnetic field which is superimposed with the first magnetic field; wherein the magnetic sensor device is configured for determining the current as a signal or value proportional to the measured component or gradient. The metal plate may have an opening. The current sensor system may further comprise a shielding.

Abstract: A current sensor arrangement for measuring an AC electrical current, comprising: an electrical conductor having three transverse rectangular cut-outs; a sensor device comprising two sensor elements spaced apart along a first direction for measuring two magnetic field components oriented in said first direction, and configured for determining a magnetic field difference or magnetic field gradient, and for determining the AC current based on said difference or gradient. The sensor device is positioned at a particular location relative to the second cut-out, such that the magnetic field difference or gradient is substantially proportional to the AC current for frequencies from 100 Hz to 2 kHz. A current sensor system. A method of measuring an AC current with improved accuracy.

Abstract: A current sensor system for measuring an AC electrical current, includes: a busbar having a beam shaped portion having a length and a width; a sensor device comprising two sensor elements spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the beam shaped portion. The sensor device is configured for measuring a magnetic field difference or a magnetic field gradient, and for determining the AC current based on said difference or gradient.

Abstract: A current sensor system has a conductor and a packaged integrated circuit for sensing a current in the conductor. The conductor is external to the packaged integrated circuit. The packaged integrated circuit includes a substrate having an active surface and a back surface; one or more magnetic sensing elements; a processing circuit arranged to process signals received from the one or more magnetic sensing elements to derive an output signal indicative of a sensed current in the conductor; a housing; a plurality of leads; electrical connections between the leads and the active surface. The back surface of the substrate is disposed on a support formed by at least two inner lead portions of the plurality of leads and the active side of the substrate is oriented towards the outer ends of the outer lead portions of the leads in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support.