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 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 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 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 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: The present invention relates to a current-sensor structure comprising a conductor for conducting electrical current in a current direction. The conductor has one or more conductor surfaces. At least one current sensor is disposed on, over, adjacent to or in contact with the conductor and is offset from a centre of the conductor in an offset direction orthogonal to the current direction and optionally parallel to a conductor surface. The current-sensor structure can comprise a substrate on which the conductor is disposed. The current sensor can be located on a side of the conductor opposite or orthogonal to a surface of the substrate. The current sensor can be aligned with, near to or adjacent to an edge of the conductor. The current-sensor structure can comprise a shield, such as a U-shaped laminated shield that at least partially surrounds the conductor and the current sensor.

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.

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 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, comprising: a busbar having a thickness and a width; a sensor device comprising two sensor elements spaced apart along a first direction for measuring two magnetic field components oriented in a second direction; the sensor device configured for determining a magnetic field difference, and for determining the AC current based on said difference. The sensor device is positioned relative to the busbar such that a reference point in the middle between the two sensor elements is located at a first distance from a side of the busbar from 70% to 110% or from 70% to 95% of the width of the busbar and is located at a second distance from 0.5 to 4.0 mm from the busbar.

Abstract: A current sensor device for measuring a current of at least 30 Amps, comprising: a leadframe with a electrical conductor having a centerline; a substrate mounted to the electrical conductor and comprising a first and a second magnetic sensor configured for providing a first and second value; and a processing circuit for determining the current based on a difference or weighted difference between the first and second value. The first and second magnetic sensor are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the centerline.

Abstract: A current-sensor structure comprises a conductor for conducting electrical current in a current direction. The conductor has one or more conductor surfaces and an edge. At least one current sensor is disposed on, over, adjacent to or in contact with the conductor and is offset from a centre of the conductor in an offset direction orthogonal to the current direction. The current sensor is aligned with the edge of the conductor or the conductor has a width W and the current sensor is within a distance of W/2.5, W/3, W/4, W/5 or W/6 of the conductor edge. The current-sensor structure can comprise a substrate on which the conductor is disposed.