6 Universal Current Sensor

The Universal Current Sensor Seminar Report
INTRODUCTION
The measurement of electric current strength is not always easy, especially

when the measured signal requires further electronic conditioning. Simply connecting
an ammeter to an electrical circuit and reading out the value is no longer enough. The
current signal must be fed into a computer in which sensors convert current into a
proportional voltage with minimal influence on the measured circuit. The basic sensor
requirements are galvanic isolation and a high bandwidth, usually from DC up to at
least 100 kHz. Conventional current measurement systems therefore tend to be
physically large and technically complex.
www.SeminarSlide.com
www.seminarSlide.com 1
EARLY SOLUTIONS
BY MEASURING THE VOLTAGE ACROSS THE RESISTORS
The oldest technique is to measure the voltage drop across a resistor placed in
the current path. To minimize energy losses the resistor is kept very small, so the
measured voltage must be highly amplified. The amplifier’s offset voltage must be as
small as possible and its supply voltage must be at the potential of the circuit, often
110v mains with high parasitic peaks from which its output must be isolated. This
requirement increases overall system cost
BY USING TRANSFORMER
Another wide spread principle is the transformer. Its construction is much

simpler, but it doesn’t allow the measurement of DC signals. Isolation between primary
and secondary sides is implicitly given. A problem is the limited frequency range.
HALL CURRENT SENSORS
This is an improved current sensor. Hall sensors also measure the magnetic
field surrounding the conductor but, unlike current transformers, they also sense DC
currents. A circular core of soft magnetic material is placed around the conductor to
concentrate the field. The Hall element, which is placed in a small air gap, delivers a
voltage that is proportional to the measured current. This sensor also offers galvanic
isolation.
The very small output voltage of the hall element must be highly amplified
and the sensitivity is temperature dependent and requires adequate compensation. There
is an inevitable offset, that is; a small DC voltage at zero current; the offset amplitude
and temperature coefficient are subject to significant fluctuations.
The two types of Hall Effect current sensors are open loop and closed loop. In
the former, the amplified output signal of the hall element is directly used as the
measurement value. The linearity depends on that of the magnetic core. Offset and drift
are determined by the hall element and the amplifier. The price of these sensors is low,
but so is their sensitivity.
Closed loop hall sensors are much more précis. The hall voltage is firstly
amplified, and the amplifier’s output current then flows through a compensation coil on
the magnetic core. It generates a magnetization whose direction is opposite to that of the
primary current conductor. The result is that the magnetic flux in the core is
compensated to zero. The nonlinearity and the temperature dependence of the hall
element are thus compensated but the offset remains. Closed loop current sensors work
up of frequencies of 150 kHz. They are not cheap, and for high currents they become
very bulky.
MAGNETORESISIVE SENSORS
Conventional sensors are physically large and technically complex; also they
have disadvantages as stated above. Hence they are replaced by magnetoresistive
current sensors. The magnetic field sensors are based on the magnetoresistive effect.
These sensors can be easily fabricated by means of thin film technologies wit widths
and lengths in the micrometer range. To reduce temperature dependence, they are
usually configured as a half bridge or a full bridge. In one arm of the bridge, the barber
poles are placed in opposite directions above the two magnetoresistors, so that in the
presence of a magnetic field the value of the first resistor increases and the value of the
second decreases.
MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT
The anisotropic magnetoresistive effect is known to be present in a whole

family of ferromagnetic alloys. Most of these alloys are composed of iron, nickel, and
chromium, and may be primary or ternary. They have in common a more or less strong
anisotropy in their magnetic properties. Whenever these materials are exposed to a
magnetic field during crystal formation, a preferred orientation in magnetization will
result. The same happens when the materials are forced into shape that is a mechanical
anisotropy is imposed.
It is found that changing the orientation of the magnetic moment in the wire
caused a current passing through it to change correspondingly. The orientation could be
changed by apply in an external magnetic field, and generally an increase in current was
observed. This phenomenon is called anisotropic magnetoresistive effect.
The ferromagnetic materials can be deposited as thin films and structured into
small strips that are typically 40mm thick,10mm wide, and 100mm long. In most
general case, the electrical resistance of AMR material depends on the angle between
the direction of the magnetization, and the direction of the current going through it.
When the current and magnetic moment are parallel, the resistance of the strip is
greatest; when they are at a 90 degree angle to each bother, it is smallest.
Magnetoresistive field sensors are usually configures as a half or full bridge. The barber
poles are positioned such that in the presence of magnetic field the value of first resistor
increases and that of second decreases.
The Permalloy strip has an orientation of the inner magnetic moment, MO, parallel to its
long axis. When an external magnetic fields is applied, the total magnetization of the
strip is turned at an angle, u.
MAIN FEATURES
EASY FABRICATION
The ferromagnetic materials can be formed into thin films and can be
structured into small strips that are typically 40mm thick, 10mm wide and 100mm long.
This makes the fabrication of the sensor very easy
TEMPERATURE INDEPENDENCE
To reduce temperature dependence, they are configured as half bridge or as

full bridge.
LINEARITY
Measured quantity is directly proportional to the output. The current flowing

through Permalloy conductor generates a magnetic field that exactly compensates the
magnetic field generated in the conductor that is to be measured. Hence the device is
linear.
NO MAGNETIC SHIELDING IS REQUIRED
Magnetoresistive sensors are not affected by the external magnetic field. This
is achieved by the full bridge configuration of four magneto resistors. Barber poles have
the same orientation in the two arms, so no external field will affect the system.
COMPACT AND CHEAP
Permalloy can be drawn into thin sheets or thin films or thin strands. Hence
they are compact and easy to fabricate and cheap.
WORKING
Magnetic field sensors based on the magnetoresistive effect can be easily

fabricated by means of thin film technologies with widths and lengths in micrometer
range. For best performance, these sensors must have a very good linearity between the
measured quantity and the output signal. Even when improved by the barber poles, the
linearity magnetoresistive sensor is not very high, so the compensation principle used
on hall sensors is also applied here. An electrically isolated aluminum compensation
conductor is integrated in the same substrate above the Permalloy resistors. The current
flowing through this conductor generates a magnetic field exactly compensates that of
the conductor to be unmeasured. In this way the MR element always work at the same
operating point; their nonlinearity therefore becomes irrelevant. The temperature
dependence is also almost completely eliminated. The current in the compensation
conductor is strictly proportional to the measured amplitude of the field; the voltage
drop across a resistor forms the electrical output signal.
Magnetoresistive sensors, as are hall elements are very well suited or the
measurement of electric currents. In such applications it is important that external
magnetic fields do not distort the measurement. This achieved by forming a full bridge
are specially separated. The barber poles have the same orientation in the two arms, so
that only a field difference between the two positions is sensed. This configuration is
insensitive to external homogenous perturbation fields. The primary conductor is U
shaped under the substrate, so that the magnetic fields acting on the two arms of the
bridge have the same amplitude but opposite directions. This way the voltage signals of
the two half-bridges are added.
The sensors require neither a core nor a magnetic shielding, and can therefore
be assembled in a very compact and cheap way. The output is calibrated by a laser
trimming process or by a digital calibration.
This figure shows the construction of magnetoresistive current sensor
The actual sensing element consists of magnetoresistive Permalloy strips integrated onto
a silicon chip.
In this cross section of a magnetoresistive sensor with compensation, the

isolated aluminum compensation conductor can be seen above the Permalloy strips and
barber poles.
ADVANTAGES
 Smaller volume
 Light weight
 Both AC and DC currents can be measured.
 Wide frequency range.
 No auxiliary supply is necessary
 Low system costs
 PCB mounting I very easy
 Linearity property
MEASUREMENT OF HIGH CURENTS
In the standard sensor types described so far, the nominal current is se by the
geometry of the primary conductor that is part of the primary conductor that is the part
of the system. For the measurement of currents in high current bus bar need not be
interrupted or guided through hole, as required with hall transducers. Instead, it can
simply be shaped in the form of a bus bar plate. A sensor module realized as a dual in-
line surface mount device component can be mounted on the power PCB board placed
above the bus bar plate sop that the current flow can be directly measured.
High current can be directly measured from the conductor. The sensor module
is simply clipped in to a slot made in the conductor. The result is a differential field
measurement system that is insensitive to the homogenous external magnetic
perturbations. The sensor is encapsulated in a plastic package. With this sensor, a broad
range of currents can be measured simply by adapting the geometry of the conductor.
Potentially heterogeneous perturbation fields can be easily shielded. Its advantages are
small, compact, light, cheap, easy to fabricate, easy to mount etc.
The magnetic field lines and the position of the two sensing elements are
shown in a cross section of a sensor capable of measuring a broad range of currents
simply by adapting the geometry of the conductor.
The latest type of magnetoresistive current sensor is placed into a slot in a

straight conductor, in this case a 200 A copper bus bar.
APPLICATIONS
 Invertors
 Servo Regulators
 Solar Technology
 Electrical Devices
 UPS
 Safety Devices
 Robotics
CURRENT SENSORS IN TOMORROW’S CARS
Fuel efficiency first- this is the present motto of automotive development

world wide. Not only in combustion engine, but all other automobil4e components as
well are being optimized to achieve this goal. Many components that are at present
powered by the car’s engine will in the near future operate on electricity— air
conditioning compressors, water pumps, oil pumps etc. due to continuously changing
engine speed, these components have rather poor efficiency ratings. Electric motors
have the capability of optimizing their operation, independent of engine speed.
CONCLUSION
The measurement of electric current is not always easy especially when the
measured signal requires further electronic conditioning. The basic sensor requirements
are galvanic isolation and high bandwidth. Also the conventional current sensors are
physically large and technically complex. Hence conventional current sensors are
replaced by a new generation current sensors which is based on the magnetoresistive
effect. This type of current sensors is extremely compact and offers tight measurement
tolerances and a high bandwidth at a very low price. These types of sensors can be used
in tomorrow’s cars.
REFERENCES
 Interfacing optical current sensors in a substation, by J D T HRADLUIK,July

2001 Summer power meeting
 Magnetic sensor,by DAFINA TANASE, DELFT University of technology . Page
No 868 – 871.
 Hall Sensors ,Japanese Journal of Applied Physics,Volume 43,2004,Page No:
777 –778.
 Optically powered current transformer for metering protection,
www.photonics.com
 www.sensitec.com
ABSTRACT
The measurement of electric strength is not always easy especially when the
measured signal requires electronic conditioning. The sensor requirements are galvanic
isolation and high bandwidth. Conventional current measurement systems therefore tend
to be physically large and technically complex. Hence the conventional current sensors
can be replaced by Magnetoresistive current sensors which are based on the
magnetoresistive effect. Magnetoresistive sensors are extremely compact and offer tight
measurement tolerances and posses high bandwidth at very low cost.
CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 EARLY SOLUTIONS
 MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSORS
 MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT
 MAIN FEATURES
 WORKING
 ADVANTAGES
 MEASUREMENT OF HIGH CURRENTS
 APPLICATIONS
 CURRENT SENSORS IN TOMORROW’S CARS
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES
www.SeminarSlide.com

6 Universal Current Sensor

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

6 Universal Current Sensor

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

The Universal Current Sensor Seminar Report

The measurement of electric current strength is not always easy, especially

BY MEASURING THE VOLTAGE ACROSS THE RESISTORS

Another wide spread principle is the transformer. Its construction is much

HALL CURRENT SENSORS

The anisotropic magnetoresistive effect is known to be present in a whole

To reduce temperature dependence, they are configured as half bridge or as

Measured quantity is directly proportional to the output. The current flowing

NO MAGNETIC SHIELDING IS REQUIRED

COMPACT AND CHEAP

Magnetic field sensors based on the magnetoresistive effect can be easily

This figure shows the construction of magnetoresistive current sensor

In this cross section of a magnetoresistive sensor with compensation, the

MEASUREMENT OF HIGH CURENTS

The latest type of magnetoresistive current sensor is placed into a slot in a

CURRENT SENSORS IN TOMORROW’S CARS

Fuel efficiency first- this is the present motto of automotive development

 Interfacing optical current sensors in a substation, by J D T HRADLUIK,July

Potrebbero piacerti anche