Connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9431776-B2
Application number	US-201514681453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2014
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A connector for being attached to a power-supply unit including a switching element includes a connecting terminal including an end portion connected to an output terminal in a casing of the power-supply unit, a housing fixed to the casing and enclosing at least a portion of the connecting terminal, a current sensor to detect a magnetic field generated by an electric current flowing through the connecting terminal, and a signal line for transmitting an output signal of the current sensor. The signal line includes an extension region with a predetermined length from one end on a side of the current sensor. The extension region extends in a direction orthogonal to a direction of electric current flowing through the connecting terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for being attached to a power-supply unit comprising a switching element, the connector comprising:
a connecting terminal comprising an end portion connected to an output terminal in a casing of the power-supply unit;
a housing fixed to the casing and enclosing at least a portion of the connecting terminal, including an inner housing formed from resin;
a current sensor to detect a magnetic field generated by an electric current flowing through the connecting terminal; and
a signal line for transmitting an output signal of the current sensor,
wherein the signal line comprises an extension region with a predetermined length from one end on a side of the current sensor, and
wherein the extension region extends in a direction orthogonal to a direction of electric current flowing through the connecting terminal.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ones of the connecting terminal are arranged in parallel in a predetermined alignment direction so as to correspond to a plurality of ones of the output terminal for outputting multi-phase currents from the power-supply unit, and wherein the extension region of the signal line extends along the alignment direction.

3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ones of the current sensor are mounted on a substrate held by the housing so as to each detect a magnetic field generated by the multi-phase currents outputted from the power-supply unit, and wherein the one end of the signal line is connected to an electrode on the substrate.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the current sensor comprises a GMR sensor comprising a giant magnetoresistive element, and wherein a detection axis of the giant magnetoresistive element is along a direction of a magnetic field generated by the electric current flowing through the connecting terminal.

Assignees

• Hitachi Metals Ltd

Inventors

• Futakuchi Naoki
• Akimoto Katsuya
• Suzuki Sachio
• Umetsu Jun
• Hayashi Shinya
• Futatsumori Takahiro

Classifications

• H02M7/003

  Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections · CPC title

• G06F1/16

  Constructional details or arrangements · CPC title

• H01R13/70

  with built-in switch · CPC title

• H01R13/6658

  on printed circuit board (H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/6683 Primary

  with built-in sensor · CPC title