Electrical sensor systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9778285-B2
Application number	US-201414486882-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2014
Priority date	Mar 16, 2012
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for providing electrical current and/or voltage sensor probes or tags integrated with measurement circuitry. For example, an electrical sensor is provided that includes a probe adapted to be arranged to at least partially encircle a conductor to be measured, wherein the probe has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a base portion that houses measurement circuitry. The base portion may also include electrical components suitable for displaying, wirelessly transmitting, and/or otherwise conveying the measured electrical parameters. In some embodiments, the distal end of the probe may be removably received by the base portion, such that the probe forms a loop encircling the conductor when measuring it. In other embodiments, the probe may resiliently clip on to the conductor. In another example, an electrical sensor includes an attachable tag that can be mounted to the conductor to be measured.

First claim

I claim:

1. An electrical sensor for determining an electrical property associated with a target object, the electrical sensor comprising:
a flexible probe configured to be looped around to at least partially encircle the target object;
wherein the flexible probe has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a base portion; and
wherein the base portion comprises:
measurement circuitry housed within the base portion and configured to determine a current and/or voltage associated with the target object and sensed via the flexible probe; and
a display on an external surface of the base portion, wherein the display is configured to display information associated with the determined current and/or voltage.

2. The electrical sensor of claim 1 , wherein:
the flexible probe is elongated and tubular;
the base portion comprises a socket for removably receiving the distal end of the flexible probe such that the flexible probe forms a closed loop to completely encircle the target object when the distal end of the flexible probe is received in the socket; and
the flexible probe comprises Rogowski coil, an iron or a ferrite core current transformer, or a Hall effect sensor configured to sense the current associated with the target object.

3. The electrical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the flexible probe is configured to resiliently clip onto the target object, and wherein the measurement circuitry comprises a power harvesting circuit configured to divert electrical power induced in the flexible probe for use by the electrical sensor.

4. The electrical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the flexible probe is configured to capacitively couple to the target object to sense the voltage associated with the target object, and wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to determine voltage harmonics and/or electrical power associated with the target object.

5. The electrical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the display information comprises a numerical value and/or a light indication representative of the current and/or voltage determined by the measurement circuitry.

6. The electrical sensor of claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuitry is associated with a unique identifier and comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the determined current and/or voltage over radio frequency (“RF”) or by optical light modulation.

7. The electrical sensor of claim 6 , wherein:
the base portion comprises a photosensor configured to sense light; and
the measurement circuitry is configured to detect a triggering light using the photosensor and wirelessly transmit the data via the wireless transmitter in response to detecting the triggering light.

8. A method of obtaining a measurement using the electrical sensor of claim 1 , the method comprising:
arranging the flexible probe relative to the target object so as to at least partially encircle the target object;
activating the measurement circuitry to determine the current and/or voltage associated with the target object; and
obtaining data indicative of the determined current and/or voltage by viewing the display disposed on the base portion of the flexible probe and/or by receiving a wireless transmission of the data from a wireless transmitter of the measurement circuitry.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the arranging the flexible probe comprises:
looping the flexible probe about the target object; and
releasably attaching the distal end of the flexible probe to a socket on the base portion such that the flexible probe forms a closed loop around the target object.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the arranging the flexible probe comprises deforming the flexible probe against the target object so that the probe elastically receives the target object.

11. An electrical sensor for attaching to and determining an electrical property associate with a target object, the electrical sensor comprising:
a tag having a substantially planar shape and being flexible to at least partially conform to the shape of the target object;
a backing provided on a posterior surface of the tag and configured to attach magnetically or adhesively to the target object;
conductive traces provided in the tag and configured to form at least one of a capacitive sensor or an inductive sensor; and
measurement circuitry provided in the tag and electrically connected to the conductive traces, the measurement circuitry being configured to determine a current and/or voltage associated with the target object sensed via the conductive traces.

12. The electrical sensor of claim 11 , further comprising a display provided on a front surface of the tag and configured to present a numerical value and/or a light indication representative of the current and/or voltage determined by the measurement circuitry.

13. The electrical sensor of claim 11 , wherein the measurement circuitry is associated with a unique identifier and comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the determined current and/or voltage over radio frequency (“RF”) or by optical light modulation.

14. The electrical sensor of claim 13 , further comprising a photosensor provided on a front surface of the tag and configured to sense light, wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to detect a triggering light using the photosensor and wirelessly transmit the data via the wireless transmitter in response to detecting the triggering light.

15. The electrical sensor of claim 11 , wherein the measurement circuitry comprises a power harvesting circuit configured to divert electrical power induced in the conductive traces for use by the electrical sensor.

16. A method of obtaining a measurement using the electrical sensor of claim 11 , the method comprising:
affixing the electrical sensor onto the target object adhesively or magnetically via the backing;
activating the measurement circuitry to determine the current and/or voltage associated with the target object; and
obtaining data indicative of the determined current and/or voltage by viewing a display disposed on the tag and/or by receiving a wireless transmission of the data from a wireless transmitter of the measurement circuitry.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the activating the measurement circuitry comprises directing a beam of light onto a photosensor disposed on the tag, so that the measurement circuitry detects the beam of light to responsively start determining the current and/or voltage associated with the target object.

18. An electrical sensor, comprising:
a flexible probe configured to be looped around to at least partially encircle a target object;
wherein the flexible probe has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end terminating in a base portion; and
wherein the base portion comprises:
a photosensor configured to sense light; and
measurement circuitry comprising a wireless transmitter, wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to:
determine an electrical parameter associated with the target object and sensed via the flexible probe;
detect a triggering light using the photosensor; and
wirelessly transmit data indicative of the determined electrical parameter via the wireless transmitter in response to detecting the triggering light.

19. The electrical sensor of claim 18 , wherein the triggering light is a first triggering light, and wherein the measurement circuitry is further configured to:
detect a second triggering light using the photosensor,
wherein the electrica

Assignees

• Flir Systems

Inventors

• Fox Michael

Classifications

• G01R15/202

  using Hall-effect devices (Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08) · CPC title

• G01R1/06788 Primary

  Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments (end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18) · CPC title

• G01R15/142 Primary

  Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26 · CPC title

• G01R15/181

  using coils without a magnetic core, e.g. Rogowski coils · CPC title