JP2007198904A - Current detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a current detecting device capable of accurately detecting current to be detected over a wide range. <P>SOLUTION: A core 1 is made annular and has a gap section 1a in its portion, and a magnetic field is generated at the gap section 1a in accordance with the magnitude of the current to be detected flowing in a surrounding current line 10. A Hall IC 2 is disposed in the gap section 1a of the core 1 and outputs a Hall voltage corresponding to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated at the gap section 1a. A filter 3 whose time constant is variable, is disposed on the signal output side of the Hall IC 2. A controller 4 varies the time constant of the filter 3, so as to increase it on the low-load side, from a drive signal (engine start signal) of a starter motor 12 connected to the current line 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a current detection device using a Hall element.

As a current detection device using a Hall element, a Hall element is arranged in a gap (gap) in an annular core, and when a current to be detected flows in a current line arranged in a space surrounded by the core, a current is detected in the gap of the core. A structure in which a magnetic field corresponding to the magnitude of the detected current is generated and this magnetic field is detected as the Hall voltage of the Hall element is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-163974

  However, in a current detection device in which a Hall element is arranged in the gap of the core, if the core is designed for a large current to measure the current in a region where the magnetic hysteresis of the core does not occur, it will be affected by noise when measuring a minute current. Cheap. On the other hand, if the core is designed to accurately measure a minute current, magnetic hysteresis occurs when measuring a large current. Thus, it was possible to measure a current value of a large current (500 amperes or more), and it was not possible to accurately measure a current value of several amperes.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a current detection device capable of accurately measuring a detected current over a wide range.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the invention described in claim 1, based on a noise removal filter that is provided on the signal output side of the Hall element and that can change the time constant, and a drive signal of a load connected to the current line A gist of the present invention is to provide a current detecting device including time constant changing means for changing the time constant of the noise removal filter in a direction to increase the time constant on the low load side.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the time constant of the noise removal filter is set based on the drive signal of the load connected to the current line by the time constant changing means for the noise removal filter provided on the signal output side of the Hall element. On the low load side, the direction is increased. In the case described above, the core is designed so that the magnetic hysteresis of the core does not occur even when measuring a large current, and the time constant of the filter is increased when measuring a minute current to improve the noise resistance (S / N ratio is improved) and high accuracy is achieved. Therefore, the detected current can be accurately measured over a wide range.

  As described in claim 2, in the current detection device according to claim 1, the noise removal filter is an RC type low-pass filter having a variable resistor, and the time constant changing means is a variable resistor of the RC type low-pass filter. It is preferable to change the time constant by changing the resistance value.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the current detection device according to the first aspect, the noise removal filter is an RC type low pass filter having a variable capacitor, and the time constant changing means is a variable capacitor of the RC type low pass filter. The time constant may be changed by changing the capacitance value.

As described in claim 4, in the current detection device according to claim 1, the noise removal filter may be a secondary low-pass filter.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a noise removal filter provided on the signal output side of the Hall element, a first state in which a signal on the output side of the Hall element is bypassed from the noise removal filter, and a signal on the output side of the Hall element The signal path switching means that can be switched to the second state that passes the noise removal filter, and the signal path switching means based on the drive signal of the load connected to the current line to control the signal path switching means to the first state on the high load side, Further, the gist of the present invention is a current detection device including switching control means for switching to the second state on the low load side.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the signal path switching means is controlled by the switching control means based on the drive signal of the load connected to the current line, with respect to the noise removal filter provided on the signal output side of the Hall element. The high load side is switched to the first state, and the low load side is switched to the second state. In the case described above, the core is designed so that the magnetic hysteresis of the core does not occur even when measuring a large current, and the noise resistance is improved by passing a noise removal filter when measuring a minute current (S / N). The ratio is improved) and high accuracy is achieved. Therefore, the detected current can be accurately measured over a wide range.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the current detection device according to the fifth aspect, the signal path switching means includes a bypass line that bypasses the noise removal filter, and a changeover switch provided at a branching portion of the bypass line. It is good also as a structure.

As described in claim 7, in the current detection device according to claim 5, the noise removal filter may be a secondary low-pass filter.
As described in claim 8, in the current detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the current line is a bus bar having a rectangular cross section, and the bus bar has a rectangular cross section. It is preferable to arrange the Hall element perpendicular to the plane constituted by the long sides.

  As described in claim 9, in the current detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the current line is a wiring that connects the battery and at least the starter motor, and the drive signal of the load is: An engine start signal for driving the starter motor may be used.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a current detection apparatus according to this embodiment. This device is mounted on an automobile.

  The current detection device includes a core (magnetic core) 1, a Hall IC 2, a low-pass filter 3, and a controller 4. The plate-like core 1 has an annular shape and has a gap 1a in a part thereof. The core 1 surrounds the current line 10, and a magnetic field is generated in the gap 1 a according to the magnitude of the detected current If flowing in the current line 10. The current line 10 is a wiring that connects the battery 11 and at least the starter motor 12. Specifically, it is a line connecting the in-vehicle battery 11 and various in-vehicle loads including the starter motor 12, and is composed of a wiring wire. In FIG. 1, a load other than the starter motor is denoted by reference numeral 13. A large current and a small current flow through the current line 10 depending on the driving state of the in-vehicle device (such as the starter motor 12). For example, when the engine is started, the starter motor 12 is driven and a large current flows. When the engine is completely started, the starter motor 12 is stopped and the flowing current becomes small.

  The Hall IC 2 is obtained by integrating a Hall element and an amplification IC. The Hall IC 2 is disposed in the gap 1 a of the core 1. The Hall element outputs a Hall voltage corresponding to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated in the gap 1a of the core 1, and the signal is amplified and output from the Hall IC 2.

  The low-pass filter 3 is a noise removal filter that is provided on the signal output side of the Hall IC (Hall element) 2 and that can change the time constant. A specific configuration of the filter is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the filter 3 is an RC type low-pass filter, and includes a variable resistor 3a and a capacitor 3b. The time constant of the filter 3 can be changed by changing the resistance value of the variable resistor 3a. The resistance value of the variable resistor 3a can be changed by an external signal.

  In FIG. 1, a controller 4 as time constant changing means is connected to the filter 3 and has a function of changing the resistance value of the variable resistor 3a. The controller 4 inputs an engine start signal. The engine start signal (load drive signal) is a signal for driving the starter motor 12.

  On the other hand, the output of the Hall IC 2 (the signal after amplifying the Hall voltage) is taken in as a battery current value to the monitoring computer (not shown) via the low-pass filter 3 and the A / D converter (not shown). The monitoring computer monitors the battery 11 and (indirectly) monitors the starter motor 12 and other loads 13. Specifically, if the product (power consumption) of the battery current value and the separately obtained battery voltage value is large, an excessive load may be applied to the starter motor 12 or the like as an alarm or the like. The action to avoid is to be executed.

Next, the operation of the current detection device in this embodiment will be described.
The controller 4 as the time constant changing means reduces the time constant of the filter 3 because it is a time of measuring a large current when the engine start signal is being input, while measuring a minute current when the engine start signal is not input. The time constant of the filter 3 is increased as it is time. Specifically, for example, when the engine start signal is input, the time constant is 10 milliseconds (ms). When the engine start signal is not input, the time constant is switched to 1 second. Alternatively, for example, the time constant may be switched between 10 milliseconds, 100 milliseconds, and 1 second according to the size of the load (high load time = 10 milliseconds, medium load time = 100 milliseconds, low load = 1 second).

  As described above, the controller 4 determines the time constant of the low-pass filter 3 as a noise removal filter based on the engine start signal as the drive signal of the starter motor (load connected to the current line 10) when the starter motor 12 is driven. It is small and large when the starter motor 12 is not driven. More specifically, the core 1 is designed so that the magnetic hysteresis of the core 1 does not occur even when measuring a large current, and when measuring a minute current that does not cause a problem in monitoring the battery 11 even if the time constant is large and the response is poor. Increase the time constant of the low-pass filter to improve noise resistance (improve the S / N ratio) and improve accuracy.

  In this way, a battery monitoring device (power management system) for automobiles wants to measure a large current when the engine is started and a minute current during normal operation. Therefore, by reducing the time constant of the low-pass filter (LPF) in order to measure a large current by starting the engine based on the engine start signal, and by increasing the time constant of the low-pass filter (LPF) in normal times, Can be measured and a minute current can be measured with high accuracy.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A filter based on a drive signal of a low-pass filter (noise removal filter) 3 provided on the signal output side of the Hall IC (Hall element) 2 and capable of changing the time constant, and a load (12) connected to the current line 10 3 is provided with a controller (time constant changing means) 4 that increases the time constant of 3 in the direction of increasing on the low load side, so that the detected current can be accurately measured over a wide range.

  (2) The filter 3 is an RC type low-pass filter having a variable resistor 3a, and the controller 4 changes the time constant by changing the resistance value of the variable resistor 3a of the RC type low-pass filter. Excellent in properties.

  In FIG. 2, the low-pass filter 3 as a noise removal filter is an RC-type low-pass filter having a variable resistor 3a, and the controller 4 changes the time constant by changing the resistance value of the variable resistor 3a of the RC-type low-pass filter. However, instead of this, the low-pass filter 3 as a noise removal filter is an RC type low-pass filter having a variable capacitor, and the controller 4 changes the time constant by changing the capacitance value of the variable capacitor of the RC type low-pass filter. You may do it.

In FIG. 2, the filter 3 is a first-order RC low-pass filter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a second-order low-pass filter can be used by connecting the CR circuit of FIG. Also good. In short, any noise removal filter that can change the time constant may be used.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration of the filter portion of the current detection device according to the present embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the low-pass filter (noise removal filter) 3 of the present embodiment has a fixed time constant.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the core 1 shown in FIG. 1, the Hall IC (Hall element) 2, and the noise removal filter (3) provided on the signal output side of the Hall element (2), FIG. The signal path switching means 20 and the controller 30 shown in FIG.

  The signal path switching means 20 in FIG. 3 includes a bypass line 21 that bypasses the low-pass filter 3 as a noise removal filter, and a change-over switch 22 provided at a branch portion of the bypass line 21. Then, the first state in which the output signal of the Hall IC 2 (the signal on the output side of the Hall element) is bypassed from the low-pass filter 3, and the output signal of the Hall IC 2 (the signal on the output side of the Hall element) is passed through the low-pass filter 3. Switching between two states is possible. Specifically, a changeover switch 22 is inserted in the output side wiring 24 of the filter 3. One end of the bypass line 21 is connected to the input side wiring 23 of the filter 3. The other end of the bypass line 21 can be connected to the output side wiring 24 of the filter 3 via the changeover switch 22. The changeover switch 22 includes an A side (first state) connecting the bypass line 21 and the downstream wiring 24 of the switch 22, and a B side (second state) connecting the output terminal of the filter 3 and the downstream wiring 24 of the switch 22. And can be switched. The switch 22 is controlled by the controller 30.

Next, the operation of the current detection device in this embodiment will be described.
The controller 30 switches the switch 22 to the A side when the engine start signal is input, and switches the switch 22 to the B side when the engine start signal is not input. That is, the controller 30 switches the transmission path of the Hall element output signal at the time of engine start and normal time so that it does not pass through the low-pass filter 3 at the time of engine start, and passes through the low-pass filter 3 at times other than at the time of engine start. Yes.

  Thus, the controller 30 as the switching control means controls the signal path switching means 20 based on the drive signal of the starter motor 12 as the load connected to the current line 10 to enter the first state on the high load side, Switch to the second state on the low load side. That is, the core 1 is designed so that the magnetic hysteresis of the core 1 does not occur even when measuring a large current, and the low-pass filter is used when measuring a minute current that has no problem in monitoring the battery 11 even if the time constant is large and the response is poor. No. 3 is passed and noise resistance is improved (S / N ratio is improved) to improve accuracy. As a result, the detected current can be accurately measured over a wide range.

  In the present embodiment, the filter 3 may be a primary RC low-pass filter as shown in FIG. 2, or a secondary low-pass filter may be used by connecting the CR circuit of FIG. 2 in series in two stages. .

In addition, you may change each said embodiment as follows.
As shown in FIG. 4, the current line may be a bus bar 40 instead of a wire. Specifically, the bus bar 40 has a rectangular cross section. And it is good to arrange | position Hall IC (Hall element) 2 perpendicular | vertical to the surface comprised by the long side in the cross section which makes | forms the rectangular shape in this bus-bar 40. FIG.

  Further, although the Hall IC 2 is disposed in the gap 1a of the core 1, it goes without saying that the Hall element may be disposed in a single form.

The whole block diagram of the electric current detection apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The specific block diagram of a filter. The electrical block diagram of the filter part of the electric current detection apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram of the electric current detection apparatus at the time of using the bus bar of another example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Core, 1a ... Gap part, 2 ... Hall IC, 3 ... Low pass filter, 3a ... Variable resistor, 4 ... Controller, 10 ... Current line, 11 ... Battery, 12 ... Starter motor, 20 ... Signal path switching means, 21 ... Bypass line, 22 ... Changeover switch, 30 ... Controller, 40 ... Busbar.

Claims (9)

A core that has an annular shape and has a gap portion (1a) at a part thereof, and generates a magnetic field in the gap portion (1a) according to the magnitude of the detected current (If) flowing through the enclosed current line (10). (1) and
A Hall element (2) arranged in the gap (1a) of the core (1) and outputting a Hall voltage corresponding to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated in the gap (1a);
A noise removal filter (3) provided on the signal output side of the Hall element (2) and capable of changing a time constant;
Time constant changing means (4) for changing the time constant of the noise removal filter (3) to be increased on the low load side based on the drive signal of the load (12) connected to the current line (10);
A current detection device comprising: The noise removal filter (3) is an RC type low-pass filter having a variable resistor (3a), and the time constant changing means (4) changes the resistance value of the variable resistor (3a) of the RC type low-pass filter. The current detection device according to claim 1, wherein the constant is changed. The noise removal filter (3) is an RC low-pass filter having a variable capacitor, and the time constant changing means (4) changes the time constant by changing the capacitance value of the variable capacitor of the RC low-pass filter. The current detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The current detection device according to claim 1, wherein the noise removal filter is a secondary low-pass filter. A core that has an annular shape and has a gap portion (1a) at a part thereof, and generates a magnetic field in the gap portion (1a) according to the magnitude of the detected current (If) flowing through the enclosed current line (10). (1) and
A Hall element (2) arranged in the gap (1a) of the core (1) and outputting a Hall voltage according to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated in the gap (1a);
A noise removal filter (3) provided on the signal output side of the Hall element (2);
A first state in which the signal on the output side of the Hall element (2) is bypassed from the noise removal filter (3), and a second state in which the signal on the output side of the Hall element (2) is passed through the noise removal filter (3) A signal path switching means (20) switchable between
Based on the driving signal of the load (12) connected to the current line (10), the signal path switching means (20) is controlled to switch to the first state on the high load side and to the second state on the low load side. Switching control means (30);
A current detection device comprising: The signal path switching means (20) includes a bypass line (21) that bypasses the noise removal filter (3), and a changeover switch (22) provided at a branch portion of the bypass line (21). The current detection device according to claim 5. The current detection device according to claim 5, wherein the noise removal filter is a secondary low-pass filter. The current line is a bus bar (40) having a rectangular cross section, and the Hall element (2) is arranged perpendicularly to the plane formed by the long sides of the rectangular cross section of the bus bar (40). The current detection device according to claim 1, wherein: The current line (10) is a wiring connecting the battery (11) and at least the starter motor (12), and the load drive signal is an engine start signal for driving the starter motor (12). The current detection device according to any one of?

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