WO2021166635A1 - Current sensor and circuit breaker terminal cover - Google Patents

Abstract

This current sensor for measuring the current flowing through a current path (11) comprises a plurality of magnetosensitive elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and a computation circuit. The plurality of magnetosensitive elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) are respectively disposed on corresponding imaginary circles (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) that are centered around the center (O) of the current path (11) in a plane orthogonal to the direction in which the current path (11) extends and have different radiuses. The computation circuit calculates a value for the current flowing through the current path (11) on the basis of the output of the plurality of magnetosensitive elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d). The plurality of magnetosensitive elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) include at least two magnetosensitive elements (20a, 20c) that have parallel sensitivity axes (21) facing in different directions.

Description

Terminal covers for current sensors and circuit breakers

The present disclosure relates to a terminal cover of a current sensor and a circuit breaker that measures the current flowing in the current path.

Conventionally, a current sensor that detects a change in a magnetic field caused by a current flowing in a current path by a magnetic sensing element is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a current sensor in which a plurality of magnetic sensing elements are arranged on a virtual circle centered on the center of the current path in a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path. In such a current sensor, six or eight magnetic sensing elements are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle, and the influence of the disturbance magnetic field is relatively canceled by adding the outputs of these plurality of magnetic sensing elements. ..

International Publication No. 2015/029736

However, the above-mentioned technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it cannot be applied when a plurality of magnetic sensing elements cannot be arranged at equal intervals on the same virtual circle in a region to be arranged by the plurality of magnetic sensing elements. be.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present disclosure is to obtain a current sensor capable of suppressing the influence of disturbance while increasing the degree of freedom in arranging a plurality of magnetic sensing elements.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the current sensor of the present disclosure is a current sensor that measures a current flowing in a current path, and includes a plurality of magnetic sensing elements and an arithmetic circuit. The plurality of magnetic sensing elements are arranged on the corresponding virtual circles among the plurality of virtual circles having the center of the current path as the center and the radii different from each other in the plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path. The arithmetic circuit calculates the value of the current flowing in the current path based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetizing elements. The plurality of magnetic sensitive elements include at least two magnetic sensitive elements whose sensitivity axes are parallel and opposite to each other.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the influence of disturbance while increasing the degree of freedom in arranging a plurality of magnetic sensing elements.

The figure which shows an example of the structure of the current sensor which concerns on Embodiment 1. The figure which shows an example of the arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements in the current sensor which concerns on Embodiment 1. The figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the arithmetic circuit of the current sensor which concerns on Embodiment 1. An exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment. Top view of the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment Sectional view taken along the line VI-VI shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the relationship between the circuit breaker main body and the substrate of the terminal cover which concerns on Embodiment 2. The figure which shows an example of the arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements on the substrate of the measuring part included in the terminal cover which concerns on Embodiment 2. The figure which shows the relationship between the 2nd angle and the total value of the induced magnetic field by the non-target current path detected by a plurality of magnetizing elements when the 1st angle which concerns on Embodiment 2 is a specific angle. The figure which shows the relationship between the 2nd angle and the total value of a disturbance component when the 1st angle concerning Embodiment 2 is 0 degree. The figure which shows the relationship between the 2nd angle and the total value of the disturbance component when the 1st angle which concerns on Embodiment 2 is 10 degrees. The figure which shows the relationship between the 2nd angle and the total value of the disturbance component when the 1st angle which concerns on Embodiment 2 is 14 degrees. The figure which shows the relationship between the 2nd angle and the total value of the disturbance component when the 1st angle which concerns on Embodiment 2 is 20 degrees. The figure which shows another example of arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements on the substrate of the measuring part included in the terminal cover which concerns on Embodiment 2. The figure which shows an example of the structure of the current sensor which concerns on Embodiment 3. The figure which shows an example of the arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements on the substrate of the measuring part included in the terminal cover which concerns on Embodiment 3. The figure for demonstrating the positional relationship with a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements for detecting the vertical position of the electric current path which concerns on Embodiment 3. The figure which shows an example of the relationship between the vertical position of the electric current path which concerns on Embodiment 3 and the calculation result using the magnetic field component detected by a magnetic sensitive element. The figure for demonstrating the positional relationship between the electric current path which concerns on Embodiment 3 and a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements for detecting a position in a lateral direction. The figure which shows an example of the relationship between the lateral position of the electric current path which concerns on Embodiment 3 and the calculation result using the magnetic field component detected by a magnetic sensitive element. The figure which shows an example of the relationship between the deviation amount of the lateral displacement of the current path which concerns on Embodiment 3 and a correction coefficient. The figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the current sensor which concerns on Embodiment 3.

The terminal covers of the current sensor and the circuit breaker according to the embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the current sensor according to the first embodiment. The current sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a sensor that measures the current flowing in the current path. The current sensor 1 is based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d for detecting the magnetic fields generated by the currents flowing in the current path, and the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. It is provided with an arithmetic circuit 22 that calculates an instantaneous value of a current flowing through the path.

The types of the magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are not particularly limited as long as they can detect a magnetic field. For example, the magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are magnetoresistive elements such as GMR (Giant Magneto Resistance) elements or TMR (Tunnel Magneto Resistance) elements, Hall elements, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensing elements in the current sensor according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the extending direction of the current path 11 is defined as the “Y-axis direction”, the plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path 11 is defined as the “XZ-axis plane”, and the center of the current path 11 in the XZ-axis plane is defined as “O”. ". Then, FIG. 2 shows the positions of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d projected on the XZ axis plane. For the sake of simplicity, in FIG. 2, the substrate on which the magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are mounted is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the current path 11 is a conductive member having a circular cross section. Around the current path 11, an induced magnetic field represented by magnetic field lines 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d is formed by the current flowing through the current path 11. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the direction of the current flowing through the current path 11 is the positive direction of the Y-axis, and the induced magnetic field in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 is formed around the current path 11. The current path 11 may have any form as long as it can guide the current to be measured, and may be, for example, a flat plate-shaped conductive member or a thin-film conductive member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are arranged on the corresponding virtual circles among the plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, respectively. Specifically, the magnetic sensing element 20a is arranged on the virtual circle 30a, the magnetic sensing element 20b is arranged on the virtual circle 30b, the magnetic sensing element 20c is arranged on the virtual circle 30c, and the magnetic sensing element 20d is virtual. It is arranged on the circle 30d.

The plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d are concentric circles, and their radii are different from each other with the center O of the current path 11 as the center in the XZ axis plane. Hereinafter, when each of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d is shown without distinction, it may be referred to as a magnetic sensing element 20. Further, when each of the plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d is shown without distinction, it may be described as virtual circle 30.

The magnetic sensing element 20a outputs a voltage signal Va having a magnitude directly proportional to the detected magnetic field to the arithmetic circuit 22. The magnetic sensing element 20b outputs a voltage signal Vb having a magnitude directly proportional to the detected magnetic field to the arithmetic circuit 22. The magnetic sensing element 20c outputs a voltage signal Vc having a magnitude directly proportional to the detected magnetic field to the arithmetic circuit 22. The magnetic sensing element 20d outputs a voltage signal Vd having a magnitude directly proportional to the detected magnetic field to the arithmetic circuit 22. Hereinafter, when each of the voltage signals Va, Vb, Vc, and Vd is shown without distinction, it may be described as a voltage signal V.

FIG. 2 shows the sensitivity axis 21a of the magnetic sensing element 20a, the sensitivity axis 21b of the magnetic sensing element 20b, the sensitivity axis 21c of the magnetic sensing element 20c, and the sensitivity axis 21d of the magnetic sensing element 20d. Hereinafter, when each of the plurality of sensitivity axes 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d is shown without distinction, it may be described as the sensitivity axis 21. The sensitivity axis 21 is an axis indicating the magnetic field detection direction, which is the direction of the magnetic field at which the detection sensitivity of the magnetic field is maximized. When the magnetic field line of the magnetic field is parallel to the sensitivity axis 21, the output of the magnetic sensing element 20 is the largest. Become. Further, when the direction of the magnetic field line of the magnetic field is the same as the direction of the sensitivity axis 21, the magnetic sensing element 20 outputs a positive voltage signal V, and when the direction of the magnetic field line of the magnetic field is opposite to the direction of the sensitivity axis 21. The magnetic sensing element 20 outputs a negative voltage signal V. The direction of the sensitivity axis 21 is the positive direction of the sensitivity axis, and in FIG. 2, the direction of the sensitivity axis 21 is indicated by an arrow.

The arithmetic circuit 22 is a voltage indicating an instantaneous value of the current flowing in the current path 11 by performing addition processing or the like on the voltage signals Va, Vb, Vc, Vd output from the magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. Generate a signal Vdet. The arithmetic circuit 22 outputs the generated voltage signal Vdet.

The magnetic line L1 connecting the magnetic sensing element 20a and the magnetic sensing element 20c passes through the current path 11, and the sensitivity shaft 21a of the magnetic sensing element 20a and the sensitivity shaft 21c of the magnetic sensing element 20c are parallel to each other and opposite to each other. Is. The magnetic line L2 connecting the magnetic sensitive element 20b and the magnetic sensitive element 20d passes through the current path 11, and the sensitivity shaft 21b of the magnetic sensitive element 20b and the sensitivity shaft 21d of the magnetic sensitive element 20d are parallel and opposite to each other. Is.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of sensitivity axes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d is a direction along the tangential direction of the corresponding virtual circle among the plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. .. For example, the sensitivity axis 21a of the magnetic sensing element 20a is parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30a, and the sensitivity axis 21b of the magnetic sensing element 20b is parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30b. Further, the sensitivity axis 21c of the magnetic sensing element 20c is parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30c, and the sensitivity axis 21d of the magnetic sensing element 20d is parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30d.

The sensitivity axes 21a and 21c of the two magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c may be parallel to each other and in opposite directions, and may not be parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30. Similarly, the sensitivity axes 21b and 21d of the two magnetic sensing elements 20b and 20d may be parallel and opposite to each other, and may not be parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30. In addition, "parallel" does not have to be parallel in a strict sense, and may be parallel to the extent that the influence of the disturbance magnetic field n described later can be ignored.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, each of the virtual line L1 connecting the two magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c and the virtual line L2 connecting the two magnetic sensing elements 20b and 20d is a straight line passing through the center O of the current path 11. Hereinafter, when each of the virtual lines L1 and L2 is shown without distinction, it may be described as the virtual line L.

Here, it is assumed that a current flows through the current path 11 to generate an induced magnetic field, and a disturbance magnetic field n such as geomagnetism is generated downward in FIG. Further, the induced magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensing element 20a is defined as the induced magnetic field A. In this case, the voltage signal Va output from the magnetic sensing element 20a is represented by the following formula (1), and the voltage signal Vb output from the magnetic sensing element 20b is represented by the following formula (2). The voltage signal Vc output from the magnetic sensing element 20c is represented by the following formula (3), and the voltage signal Vd output from the magnetic sensing element 20d is represented by the following formula (4).
Va = k × (An1) ・ ・ ・ (1)
Vb = k × (αA-n2) ・ ・ ・ (2)
Vc = k × (βA + n1) ・ ・ ・ (3)
Vd = k × (γA + n2) ・ ・ ・ (4)

In the above equations (1) to (4), "k" is a proportionality constant, and "α", "β", and "γ" are coefficients depending on the distance from the current path 11, and the sensitivity axis 21 and The magnetic field in the same direction is positive, and the magnetic field in the opposite direction to the sensitivity axis 21 is negative. Further, "n1" is a component of the disturbance magnetic field n parallel to the sensitivity axes 21a and 21c, and "n2" is a component of the disturbance magnetic field n parallel to the sensitivity axes 21b and 21d.

As shown in the following equation (5), the arithmetic circuit 22 adds the voltage signals Va, Vb, Vc, Vd output from the magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d to the current flowing in the current path 11. Calculate the instantaneous value of.
Va + Vb + Vc + Vd
= K × (An1) + k × (αA-n2)
+ K × (βA + n1) + k × (γA + n2)
= K × (1 + α + β + γ) × A ・ ・ ・ (5)

As shown in the above equation (5), the instantaneous value of the current calculated by the arithmetic circuit 22 does not include the component of the disturbance magnetic field n. Therefore, in the current sensor 1 according to the first embodiment, the disturbance The influence of can be suppressed. Moreover, the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 are arranged on different virtual circles 30 among the plurality of virtual circles 30. Therefore, in the current sensor 1, the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 are arranged even when the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 cannot be arranged at equal intervals on the same virtual circle in the region where the plurality of magnetic sensing elements are to be arranged. This makes it possible to increase the degree of freedom in arranging the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the virtual lines L1 and L2 are straight lines passing through the center O of the current path 11, but the virtual lines L1 and L2 are straight lines passing through the current paths 11 other than the center O. It may be a straight line that does not pass through the current path 11. Also in this case, if the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c have their sensitivity axes 21a and 21c parallel and opposite to each other, and the magnetic sensitive elements 20b and 20d have their sensitivity axes 21b and 21d parallel and opposite to each other. good. As a result, the influence of disturbance can be suppressed.

When the virtual line L does not pass through the center O of the current path 11, the sensitivity axis 21 of at least one of the two magnetic sensing elements 20 is not parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30. In this case, for example, by adjusting the coefficients of the above equations (1) to (4) according to the direction of the sensitivity axis 21 which is not parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30, the arithmetic circuit 22 flows in the current path 11. The current can be calculated accurately. For example, when the sensitivity axis 21b of the magnetic sensing element 20b is not parallel to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30, by adjusting α in the above equation (2) according to the direction of the sensitivity axis 21b, the arithmetic circuit 22 causes the current. The current flowing through the road 11 can be calculated accurately.

Further, by arranging the magnetic sensing element 20 so that the virtual line L passes through the current path 11, the sensitivity axis 21 of the magnetic sensing element 20 is set to a direction parallel to or close to the tangential direction of the virtual circle 30. Can be done. Therefore, the current sensor 1 can suppress a decrease in the detection sensitivity of the magnetic sensing element 20 with respect to the magnetic field generated by the current flowing in the current path 11, and the arithmetic circuit 22 can accurately calculate the current flowing in the current path 11. ..

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the arithmetic circuit of the current sensor according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the arithmetic circuit 22 of the current sensor 1 includes a computer including a processor 101, a memory 102, and an interface circuit 103.

The processor 101, the memory 102, and the interface circuit 103 can send and receive information to and from each other by, for example, the bus 104. The processor 101 executes the function of the arithmetic circuit 22 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 102. The processor 101 is, for example, an example of a processing circuit, and includes one or more of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and a system LSI (Large Scale Integration).

The memory 102 is one or more of RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). include. The memory 102 also includes a recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded. Such recording media include one or more of non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memories, magnetic disks, flexible memories, optical disks, compact disks, and DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs). The arithmetic circuit 22 may include integrated circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

As described above, the current sensor 1 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, and an arithmetic circuit 22. The plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are a plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d having different radii around the center O of the current path 11 in a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path 11. Of these, they are placed on the corresponding virtual circles. The arithmetic circuit 22 calculates the value of the current flowing through the current path 11 based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d. In the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c, the sensitivity axes 21a and 21c are parallel and opposite to each other, and in the magnetic sensing elements 20b and 20d, the sensitivity axes 21b and 21d are parallel and opposite to each other. Thereby, for example, the current sensor 1 can arrange the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 in the region where the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 cannot be arranged at equal intervals on the same virtual circle 30, and the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 can be arranged. The influence of disturbance can be suppressed while increasing the degree of freedom in arranging the magnetic element 20.

Further, the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 include magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d arranged on different virtual circles among the plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. The magnetic sensitive element 20a is an example of a first magnetic sensitive element, the magnetic sensitive element 20b is an example of a second magnetic sensitive element, and the magnetic sensitive element 20c is an example of a third magnetic sensitive element. The element 20d is an example of the fourth magnetic sensitive element. In the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c, the sensitivity axes 21a and 21c of the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c are parallel and opposite to each other. In the magnetic sensing elements 20b and 20d, the sensitivity axes 21b and 21d are parallel and opposite to each other. As a result, the current sensor 1 can suppress the influence of disturbance without arranging the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 on the same virtual circle 30 at equal intervals. Further, since the current sensor 1 has four magnetic sensing elements 20, the current flowing through the current path 11 can be measured with high accuracy.

Embodiment 2.
In the second embodiment, the terminal cover of the circuit breaker including the current sensor according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following, components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and the points different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the circuit breaker main body and the substrate of the terminal cover according to the second embodiment.

The circuit breaker 2 shown in FIG. 4 includes a circuit breaker main body 3 and a terminal cover 4. The circuit breaker main body 3 is provided between the power supply device and the load device, and when the current flowing in the current path between the power supply device and the load device satisfies a preset condition, the power supply device and the load device are connected to each other. Cut off the current path between them. For example, when the circuit breaker 2 is a wiring breaker, the circuit breaker main body 3 changes the current path from the closed state to the open state when an overcurrent or a short-circuit current flows through the current path. Further, when the circuit breaker 2 is an earth-leakage circuit breaker, the circuit breaker main body 3 changes the current path from the closed state to the open state when an overcurrent, a short-circuit current, or a leakage current flows through the current path.

Three-phase current paths 11, 12, and 13 are connected to the circuit breaker main body 3 as current paths between the power supply device and the load device. The three-phase current paths 11, 12, and 13 are connected to a plurality of terminals provided on the circuit breaker main body 3 by screws or the like. A U-phase current flows through the current path 11, a V-phase current flows through the current path 12, and a W-phase current flows through the current path 13. The circuit breaker main body 3 includes an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) for opening / closing the current paths 11, 12, 13 and an operation handle 6 for causing the opening / closing mechanism to open / close the current paths 11, 12, 13. The operation handle 6 is located on the surface 7 side of the circuit breaker main body 3.

In the plurality of drawings including FIGS. 4 to 7, the coordinates of the XYZ axes are attached for convenience of explanation as in FIG. 2. In such XYZ-axis coordinates, the extending direction of the current paths 11, 12, and 13 is the Y-axis direction, the arrangement direction of the current paths 11, 12, and 13 is the X-axis direction, and each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The direction orthogonal to each other is the Z-axis direction. Further, when only a part of the configuration of the circuit breaker 2 is shown, each of the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction is the direction in which the circuit breaker 2 is assembled. In the following, the Z-axis positive direction may be described as upward, and the Z-axis negative direction may be described as downward.

The terminal cover 4 has a function of measuring current, voltage, electric energy, etc., in addition to the function of covering the plurality of terminals described above of the circuit breaker main body 3. Such a terminal cover 4 can also be called a terminal cover with a measurement function or a terminal cover type measurement unit. The terminal cover 4 includes a housing 5 and a measuring unit (not shown) arranged in the housing 5. Such a measuring unit includes two current sensors 1 shown in FIG. 1, and U-phase current and W-phase current are measured by the two current sensors 1. Further, the measuring unit calculates the V-phase current based on the U-phase current and the W-phase current measured by the two current sensors 1. The measuring unit has a plurality of voltage sensors for measuring the voltages of the current paths 11, 12, and 13, and is based on the voltage measured by the plurality of voltage sensors and the current measured by the two current sensors 1. Calculate the amount of power supplied to the load device.

The terminal cover 4 has a shape that individually covers the three-phase current paths 11, 12, and 13. The terminal cover 4 is provided between the ends 4a and 4d of the plurality of current paths 11, 12 and 13 in the arrangement direction and the two adjacent current paths of the plurality of current paths 11, 12 and 13. It includes 4b and 4c.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the terminal cover 4 includes a substrate 40 on which the magnetic sensing element 20 is arranged. The substrate 40 has a shape that matches the shape of the housing 5 in the terminal cover 4. Specifically, the substrate 40 includes one end 41 and the other end 44 in the X-axis direction, an interline portion 42 provided between two adjacent current paths 11 and 12 in the X-axis direction, and X. It has an interline portion 43 provided between two current paths 12 and 13 adjacent in the axial direction. Further, the substrate 40 has a connecting portion 45 for connecting the end portions 41 and 44 and the interline portions 42 and 43.

The end 41 of the board 40 is provided at the end 4a of the terminal cover 4 shown in FIG. 4, and the end 44 of the board 40 is provided at the end 4d of the terminal cover 4 shown in FIG. Further, the line-to-line portion 42 of the board 40 is provided in the line-to-line portion 4b of the terminal cover 4 shown in FIG. 4, and the line-to-line portion 43 of the board 40 is provided in the line-to-line portion 4c of the terminal cover 4 shown in FIG. Be done. The end portions 41 and 44 are examples of the first region, and the interline portions 42 and 43 are examples of the second region. Further, the connecting portion 45 is an example of a connecting region.

The substrate 40 may be composed of a plurality of separated substrates without having a connecting portion 45. In this case, each of the end portions 41, 44 and the interline portions 42, 43 is composed of, for example, the corresponding substrate among the four substrates separated from each other.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements on the substrate of the measuring unit included in the terminal cover according to the second embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the substrate 40 included in the terminal cover 4 is parallel to the XZ axis plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current paths 11, 12, and 13.

On the substrate 40, each of the plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is arranged for each current sensor 1 on the corresponding virtual circle among the plurality of virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. The two magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c have their sensitivity axes 21a and 21c parallel to each other and in opposite directions. Further, the two magnetic sensing elements 20b and 20d have their sensitivity axes 21b and 21d parallel to each other and in opposite directions. As a result, the measuring unit of the terminal cover 4 can suppress the influence of the disturbance magnetic field n while increasing the degree of freedom in arranging the plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d.

One of the two current sensors 1 measures the current flowing through the current path 11, and the other current sensor 1 measures the current flowing through the current path 13. In one of the current sensors 1, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b are arranged at the end 41 of the substrate 40, and the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d are arranged at the interline portion 42 of the substrate 40. In the other current sensor 1, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b are arranged at the end 44 of the substrate 40, and the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d are arranged at the interline portion 43 of the substrate 40.

The magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b of one of the current sensors 1 are connected portions 45 out of two regions separated by a horizontal line Lh, which is a region of the end portion 41 and is a line passing through the center O of the current path 11 in the X-axis direction. Is placed in one of the areas where That is, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b of one of the current sensors 1 are arranged in a region of the end 41 above the horizontal line Lh passing through the center O of the current path 11 in FIG. The upper region is the region on the operation handle 6 side of the circuit breaker 2 shown in FIG.

Further, the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d of one of the current sensors 1 are arranged in the other region of the two regions separated by the horizontal line Lh, which is the region of the interline portion 42. That is, the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d of one of the current sensors 1 are arranged in the region below the horizontal line Lh passing through the center O of the current path 11 in the interline portion 42. The lower region is a region on the bottom surface 8 side of the circuit breaker 2 shown in FIG.

Similarly, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b of the other current sensor 1 are arranged in the region of the end 44 above the horizontal line Lh in FIG. 8, and the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d of the other current sensor 1 are arranged. , Is arranged in the region below the horizontal line Lh in FIG. 8 in the line-to-line portion 43. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b of each current sensor 1 are arranged at positions facing each other in the Z-axis direction, and the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d of each current sensor 1 are arranged in the Z-axis direction. It is located at the opposite position. Further, of the four quadrants defined by the horizontal line Lh and the vertical line orthogonal to the horizontal line Lh and passing through the center O of the current path 11, the magnetic sensing element 20a and the magnetic sensing element 20b are in the same quadrant and are magnetically sensitive. The element 20c and the magnetic sensing element 20d are in the same quadrant. The quadrant in which the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b are present is the quadrant in which the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d are present and the quadrants facing each other via the center O of the current path 11.

In general, since a plurality of circuit breakers are often installed side by side, the terminal cover is designed so as not to be larger than the width of the circuit breaker main body. Therefore, the area where the magnetic sensitive element can be arranged in the terminal cover is limited. In the terminal cover 4 according to the second embodiment, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b are arranged in one of the two regions of the ends 41 and 44 separated by the horizontal line Lh, and the magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d are arranged. Is arranged in the other region of the two regions of the interline portions 42 and 43 separated by the horizontal line Lh. Therefore, in the terminal cover 4, the plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20 can be arranged in a limited region while suppressing the influence of the disturbance magnetic field n.

Further, not only the disturbance magnetic field n but also the induced magnetic fields from the current paths 12 and 13 affect the plurality of magnetizing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d used for measuring the current flowing through the current path 11. In some cases. Therefore, in the terminal cover 4, a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are arranged at specific locations. As a result, in the current sensor 1, the influence of the induced magnetic field from the current paths 12 and 13 can be significantly reduced.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the angle between the virtual line L2 and the horizontal line Lh connecting the magnetic sensing element 20b and the magnetic sensing element 20d is set to the first angle θ1, and the magnetic sensing element 20a and the magnetic sensing element 20c The angle between the virtual line L1 and the horizontal line Lh connecting between them is defined as the second angle θ2. Further, the radii of the virtual circles 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d are R1, R2, R3, and R4.

The radii R1, R2, R3, and R4 are selected so that a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d can be arranged on the substrate 40 according to the shape of the substrate 40. Further, as the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2, angles that can reduce the influence of the induced magnetic field by the current paths 12 and 13 are selected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the second angle when the first angle according to the second embodiment is a specific angle and the total value of the induced magnetic fields due to the non-target current paths detected by the plurality of magnetizing elements. be. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents the second angle θ2, and the vertical axis represents the total value of the induced magnetic fields due to the non-target current paths detected by the plurality of magnetizing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. The non-target current path is a current path other than the current path to be measured by the current sensor 1, and is the current paths 12 and 13 in the current sensor 1 that detects the current in the current path 11.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 are specific angles, the total value of the induced magnetic fields due to the non-target current paths detected by the plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. It turns out that becomes zero. By setting the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 to specific angles, the influence of the disturbance magnetic field component due to the non-target current path can be significantly reduced. Hereinafter, the total value of the induced magnetic fields due to the non-target current paths detected by the plurality of magnetizing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d may be described as the total value of the disturbance components for convenience.

Here, the arrangement conditions of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 with respect to the terminal cover 4 of the circuit breaker 2 will be described more specifically. As the first arrangement condition, in the terminal cover of the circuit breaker, a notch is generally formed from the lower side to the upper side in order to cover the current path from above, and the member cannot be arranged directly under the current path. Can not. As the second arrangement condition, the pitch between the terminals of the circuit breaker to which the terminal cover that can be retrofitted is attached is generally 18 mm to 30 mm. As a third arrangement condition, the distance between the terminal of the circuit breaker to which the current path to be measured is connected and the bottom surface of the circuit breaker is generally about 24 mm. This is because the metal panel of the distribution board or distribution board to which the bottom surface of the circuit breaker is attached serves as the ground plane, so if the insulation distance is secured, the lower limit is about 24 mm for a low-voltage circuit breaker. .. When it is necessary to satisfy the above-mentioned first to third arrangement conditions, the maximum values of the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 differ depending on the pitch between the terminals and are about 58 to 70 degrees.

Next, an example of the calculation results for the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2, which can reduce the influence of the disturbance magnetic field component due to the non-target current path, will be specifically described. The measurement error of the current sensor 1 given by the magnetic field due to the non-target current path when the first angle θ1 is fixed and the second angle θ2 is changed is calculated. Thereby, it is possible to specify the respective values of the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 that can reduce the influence of the induced magnetic field by the current paths 12 and 13. In the following, it is assumed that θ1 <θ2, the pitch between the terminals of the circuit breaker 2 is 18 mm, and the maximum values of the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 are 58 degrees.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the second angle and the total value of disturbance components when the first angle according to the second embodiment is 0 degrees. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the second angle and the total value of disturbance components when the first angle according to the second embodiment is 10 degrees. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the second angle and the total value of disturbance components when the first angle according to the second embodiment is 14 degrees. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the second angle and the total value of the disturbance components when the first angle according to the second embodiment is 20 degrees.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when θ1 = 0 degrees and θ1 = 10 degrees, the total value of the disturbance component does not become zero in the range of θ2 ≦ 58 degrees even if the second angle θ2 is changed. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the cases of θ1 = 14 degrees and θ1 = 20 degrees, the total value of the disturbance components may become zero in the range of θ2 ≦ 58 degrees. From FIGS. 10 to 13, it can be seen that in the region where θ1 is larger than 10 degrees, the total value of the disturbance component changes from minus to plus in the range of θ2 ≦ 58 degrees, and there is a point where the measurement error becomes zero. In the example shown in FIG. 12, θ1 = 14 degrees and θ2 = 57 degrees, the total value of the disturbance components can be set to zero.

In this way, when each of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 is arranged on the corresponding virtual circles among the plurality of virtual circles 30 that are different from each other, the influence of the non-target current path is the target current path that is the current path to be measured. There is a first angle θ1 and a second angle θ2 that do not affect the measurement of. In the terminal cover 4 of the circuit breaker 2, radii R1, R2, R3, and R4 are set so that a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 can be arranged on the substrate 40 according to the shape of the substrate 40. Further, in the current sensor 1 that measures the current in the current path 11, the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 are set to angles that reduce the influence of the induced magnetic field by the current paths 12 and 13. Therefore, in the current sensor 1 that measures the current in the current path 11, the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 can be arranged in a limited region while suppressing the influence of the non-target current path.

When the pitch between the terminals of the circuit breaker 2 is 25 mm or 30 mm, the influence of the induced magnetic field by the current paths 12 and 13 can be reduced by the same method, respectively, of the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2. The value of can be specified. Further, in the case of the current sensor 1 that measures the current in the current path 13, the influence of the induced magnetic field by the current paths 11 and 12, which are the non-target current paths, can be reduced by the same method, and the first angles θ1 and the second angle θ1 and the second. Each value of the angle θ2 can be specified.

In the above description, an example in which the current sensor 1 is applied to a three-pole circuit breaker has been described, but the same effect can be obtained when the current sensor 1 is applied to a circuit breaker having a number of poles other than the three poles. For example, the current sensor 1 can be applied to a 2-pole circuit breaker or a 4-pole or higher-pole circuit breaker. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements on the substrate of the measuring unit included in the terminal cover according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 shows a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d with respect to the substrate 40 when the current sensor 1 is applied to the two-pole circuit breaker.

On the substrate 40 shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d in one current sensor 1 are arranged. The arrangement of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d is the same as that of the substrate 40 shown in FIG. In this case, since the non-target current path is only the current path 12, the total value of the disturbance component is the total value of the induced magnetic fields by the current path 12 detected by the plurality of magnetizing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d.

As described above, a plurality of current paths 11, 12, and 13 are connected to the circuit breaker 2 according to the second embodiment, and the current paths 11, 12, and 13 are orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path 11. It is arranged with the X-axis direction, which is the direction, as the arrangement direction. When the current sensor 1 is a current sensor that measures the current flowing through the current path 11, the current path 11 is an example of the target current path, and the current sensor 1 is a current sensor that measures the current flowing through the current path 13. , The current path 13 is an example of the target current path. The terminal cover 4 of the circuit breaker 2 includes a substrate 40. Such a substrate 40 has end portions 4a, 4d in the X-axis direction, and interline portions 4b, 4c provided between two adjacent current paths among the plurality of current paths 11, 12, 13. The magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b are one of two regions that are regions of the end portion 4a or the end portion 4d and are separated by a horizontal line Lh that extends in the X-axis direction and passes through the center O of the current paths 11 and 13. It is placed in the area of. The magnetic sensing elements 20c and 20d are arranged in the other region of the two regions of the interline portion 4b or the interline portion 4c separated by the horizontal line Lh. As a result, in the terminal cover 4, a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 can be arranged in a limited area while suppressing the influence of an external magnetic field or the like.

Further, the ends 41 and 44 are arranged in the area on the operation handle 6 side of the circuit breaker 2 out of the two areas separated by the horizontal line Lh. Further, the interline portions 42 and 43 are arranged in the region on the bottom surface 8 side of the circuit breaker 2 out of the two regions separated by the horizontal line Lh. As a result, the magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20b are appropriately arranged even when the ends 41 and 44 of the substrate 40 do not exist on the bottom surface 8 side of the circuit breaker 2 in the two regions separated by the horizontal line Lh. be able to.

Further, the substrate 40 includes end portions 41, 44 provided at the end portions 4a, 4d, interline portions 42, 43 provided at the interline portions 4b, 4c, and end portions 41, 44 and the interline portion 42. , 43 is provided with a connecting portion 45 for connecting the and 43. As a result, the substrate 40 can be made into one substrate, so that the number of members constituting the circuit breaker 2 can be reduced. The end portions 41 and 44 are examples of the first region, the interline portions 42 and 43 are examples of the second region, and the connecting portion 45 is an example of the connecting region.

The current sensor 1 described above has a configuration having four magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, but the number of magnetic sensing elements 20 included in the current sensor 1 may be an even number and is not limited to four. .. The number of magnetic sensitive elements 20 may be two or six or more. That is, the current sensor 1 has at least one magnetic element pair, and the two magnetic element 20s constituting the magnetic element pair are arranged on virtual circles 30 different from each other, and the sensitivity axes 21 of each other are arranged. It may be parallel and opposite. For example, the current sensor 1 may be configured not to have a pair of magnetic sensing elements 20a and 20c or a pair of magnetic sensing elements 20b and 20d. If the number of magnetic sensing elements 20 is an even number, the influence of the disturbance magnetic field n can be suppressed.

Embodiment 3.
The current sensor of the circuit breaker according to the third embodiment can perform correction according to the positional relationship between the magnetic sensitive element and the current path when the positional relationship between the magnetic sensitive element and the current path deviates. , The current sensor according to the first embodiment and the current sensor of the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment. In the following, the components having the same functions as those of the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted, and the differences from the first and second embodiments will be mainly described.

In the current sensor 1 according to the first and second embodiments, when the positional relationship between the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 and the current paths 11 and 13 changes, the arrangement condition of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 with respect to the current paths 11 and 13 is determined. Since the value deviates from the design value, the error of the current value calculated by the arithmetic circuit 22 becomes large. Therefore, in the current sensor 10 according to the third embodiment, when the arrangement conditions for the current paths 11 and 13 of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 deviate from the design values, the current value calculated by the arithmetic circuit 22 is corrected. It has a configuration.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the current sensor according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, the current sensor 10 according to the third embodiment includes a current sensor 1a, a current sensor 1b, magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, and position detection. A unit 25 and a correction unit 26 are provided.

The current sensor 1a is a current sensor 1 that detects a current flowing through the current path 11, and includes magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and an arithmetic circuit 22 shown in FIG. The current sensor 1a outputs a voltage signal Vdet1 indicating an instantaneous value of the current flowing through the current path 11.

The current sensor 1b is a current sensor 1 that detects the current flowing in the current path 13, and includes the magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and the arithmetic circuit 22 shown in FIG. 1 in the same manner as the current sensor 1a. The current sensor 1b outputs a voltage signal Vdet2 indicating an instantaneous value of the current flowing through the current path 13.

The magnetic sensitive elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are in directions orthogonal to the Y-axis direction, which is the extending direction of the current paths 11, 12, 13 and the X-axis direction, which is the arrangement direction of the current paths 11, 12, 13. It is provided to detect the positions of the current paths 11 and 13 in the Z-axis direction.

The magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d output voltage signals V1a, V1b, V1c, V1d having a magnitude directly proportional to the detected magnetic field. These magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are examples of the first position detecting magnetic sensing elements. In the following, the Z-axis direction may be described as the vertical direction, and the deviation of the current paths 11 and 13 in the vertical direction from the reference position may be described as the vertical deviation. The reference position in the vertical direction is, for example, an intermediate position between the position of the magnetic sensing element 23a and the position of the magnetic sensing element 23b in the vertical direction.

The magnetic sensitive elements 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are provided to detect the positions of the current paths 11, 13 in the X-axis direction, which is the arrangement direction of the current paths 11, 12, 13.

The magnetic sensing elements 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d output voltage signals V2a, V2b, V2c, V2d having a magnitude directly proportional to the detected magnetic field. These magnetic sensing elements 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are examples of the second position detecting magnetic sensing elements. In the following, the X-axis direction may be described as the lateral direction, and the deviation of the current paths 11 and 13 in the lateral direction from the reference position may be described as the lateral displacement. The reference position in the lateral direction is, for example, an intermediate position between the position of the magnetic sensing element 24a and the position of the magnetic sensing element 24b in the lateral direction.

The position detection unit 25 includes voltage signals V1a, V1b, V1c, V1d output from the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d and voltage signals V2a, V2b, output from the magnetic sensing elements 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d. The positions of the current paths 11 and 13 are detected based on V2c and V2d. The position detection unit 25 includes a first position detection unit 25a and a second position detection unit 25b.

The first position detection unit 25a determines the amount of vertical deviation of the current paths 11 and 13 based on the voltage signals V1a, V1b, V1c, and V1d output from the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d. Detected as positions 11 and 13. The first position detection unit 25a outputs a position signal Sp1 indicating the amount of vertical deviation of the detected current paths 11 and 13.

The second position detection unit 25b determines the amount of lateral displacement of the current paths 11 and 13 based on the voltage signals V2a, V2b, V2c, and V2d output from the magnetic sensing elements 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d. , 13 positions are detected. The second position detection unit 25b outputs a position signal Sp2 indicating the amount of lateral displacement of the detected current paths 11 and 13.

The correction unit 26 corrects the voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 based on the voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 output from the current sensors 1a and 1b and the position signals Sp1 and Sp2 output from the position detection unit 25. Outputs Vdet1c and Vdet2c. The correction voltage signal Vdet1c is a signal indicating an instantaneous value of the current flowing through the current path 11, and the correction voltage signal Vdate2c is a signal indicating an instantaneous value of the current flowing through the current path 13.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements on the substrate of the measuring unit included in the terminal cover according to the third embodiment. The arrangement of the magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the two current sensors 1a, 1b shown in FIG. 16 on the substrate 40 is such that the magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the two current sensors 1 shown in FIG. 8 are arranged. Is the same as the arrangement on the substrate 40.

When the current paths 11, 12, and 13 are connected to the load side of the circuit breaker main body 3 by the crimp terminals, the shapes of the current paths 11, 12, and 13 differ depending on the crimp terminals to be connected. Further, since the crimp terminal to be selected is selected according to the magnitude of the current flowing on the load side, for example, when the current flowing on the load side is large, a crimp terminal having a large wire diameter is selected instead of a fixed shape. If the current flowing on the load side is small, the one with a small wire diameter is selected.

The magnetic sensitive elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d for detecting the current are designed on the assumption that the center O of each of the current paths 11 and 13 is arranged at a reference position, but the crimping terminals to be selected are selected. As a result, the center O of the current paths 11 and 13 may fluctuate, and the vertical positional relationship between the current paths 11 and 13 and the magnetic sensing elements 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d may shift. In this case, it may be difficult to accurately calculate the current value flowing through the current paths 11 and 13 by the current sensors 1a and 1b.

Therefore, in the current sensor 10 according to the third embodiment, as described above, the amount of vertical deviation is detected by using the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d and the first position detecting unit 25a. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b are arranged on the line-to-line portion 42 of the substrate 40 so that the sensitivity shafts 31a and 31b are parallel to each other and face in the negative direction of the X-axis. The 23d is arranged in the interline portion 43 of the substrate 40 so that the sensitivity axes 31c and 31d are parallel to each other and face in the positive direction of the X axis.

Here, the positional relationship between the current paths 11, 12, and 13 and the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship with a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements for detecting the vertical position of the current path according to the third embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23d are arranged at the position P1 in the vertical direction, and the magnetic sensing elements 23b and 23c are arranged at the position P2 in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, the maximum range PR1 of the vertical deviation of the current paths 11, 12, 13 is the position P1 of the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23d and the magnetic sensing elements 23b, 23c. It is arranged on the substrate 40 so as to be within the inter-element range DL1 which is the range between the position P2 and the position P2. In the following, when each of the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d is shown without distinction, it may be referred to as the magnetic sensing element 23, and each of the sensitivity shafts 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d may be referred to. When it is shown without distinction individually, it may be described as the sensitivity axis 31. In addition, in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the direction of the sensitivity axis 31 is indicated by an arrow.

In FIG. 17, the current paths 11', 12', 13'shown by virtual lines indicate the current paths 11, 12, 13 when they are at the lower limit positions in the Z-axis direction, and the current paths 11', 12'shown by virtual lines. “, 13” indicates the current paths 11, 12, 13 when they are in the upper limit position in the Z-axis direction. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the current paths 11, 12, 13 are the positions P12 in the Z-axis direction. Is located in.

As described above, the magnetic sensing element 23 is arranged so that the sensitivity axis 31 faces the X-axis direction, which is the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the magnetic sensing element 23 is arranged at the same position as the current path in the Z-axis direction, which is the vertical direction. , The direction of the sensitivity shaft 31 and the direction of the induced magnetic field generated by the current paths 11 and 13 are perpendicular to each other. The magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 23 whose sensitivity axis 31 is perpendicular to the direction of the induced magnetic field generated by the current paths 11 and 13 is theoretically zero.

Therefore, for example, when the magnetic field element 23 arranged so that the sensitivity shaft 31 is oriented horizontally is reciprocated in the vertical direction, the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic field element 23 changes, but the vertical direction of the magnetic field element 23 It can be said that the position where the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 23 becomes zero due to the movement in the direction is the position in the vertical direction of the current paths 11 and 13.

Since the magnetic sensing element 23 in which the sensitivity shaft 31 is oriented sideways is mounted on the substrate 40, it is difficult to physically move the magnetic sensing element 23 from above to below or from below to above in FIG. Therefore, in the current sensor 10, the current path is used by using the vector composite value of the magnetic field component detected by the two magnetic sensitive elements 23a and 23b and the vector composite value of the magnetic field component detected by the two magnetic sensitive elements 23c and 23d. The positions 11 and 13 are detected.

For example, the magnetic field components detected by the magnetic sensitive elements 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are φa, φb, φc, φd, the vector composite value of the magnetic field component φa and the magnetic field component φb is φab, and the magnetic field component φc and the magnetic field component are defined as φab. When the vector composite value with φd is φcd, the vector composite values φab and φcd can be expressed by the following equations (6) and (7) from the internal components of the vector. Although "t1" is represented by 0≤t1≤1, "t1" may be a range other than the range from 0 to 1 as long as the linearity is maintained.
φab = t1 × φa + (1-t1) × φb ・ ・ ・ (6)
φcd = t1 × φd + (1-t1) × φc ・ ・ ・ (7)

The first position detection unit 25a shown in FIG. 15 sweeps "t1" in the above equations (6) and (7) from 0 to 1, and the value of "t1" that minimizes the calculation result of "φab + φcd". Is searched, and the vertical positions of the current paths 11 and 13 are detected based on the value of “t1” that minimizes the calculation result of “φab + φcd”.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the vertical position of the current path according to the third embodiment and the calculation result using the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element. In FIG. 18, the vertical axis represents the magnetic flux density calculated by the calculation of “φab + φcd”, and the horizontal axis represents the position of the current path in the vertical direction. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the inter-element range DL1 shown in FIG. 17 is 4 mm, and the vertical position of the current path is 2 mm.

In the example shown in FIG. 18, since “t1” that minimizes the calculation result of “φab + φcd” is 0.5 and “t1 × DL1” is 2, the positions P12 of the current paths 11 and 13 are shown in FIG. It is an intermediate position between the position P1 and the position P2 shown in 17.

The first position detection unit 25a uses the above equations (6) and (7) as the voltage signals V1a, V1b, V1c, and V1d output from the magnetic sensing elements 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d as φa, φb, φc, and φd. Is assigned to, and "t1" is swept from 0 to 1, and the value of "t1" that minimizes the calculation result of "φab + φcd" is searched.

The first position detection unit 25a detects the vertical positions of the current paths 11 and 13 by performing the calculation of "t1 × DL1" using "t1" which minimizes the calculation result of "φab + φcd". .. The first position detection unit 25a calculates the amount of vertical deviation, which is the amount of deviation of the detected current paths 11 and 13 from the vertical reference position. The first position detection unit 25a outputs a position signal Sp1 indicating the calculated amount of vertical deviation. The reference position in the vertical direction is an intermediate position between the position P1 and the position P2 in the vertical direction, and is "2" when DL1 = 4.

Further, since the sensitivity axes 31a and 31d of the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23d are arranged in opposite directions, the disturbance magnetic field n detected by the magnetic sensing element 23a is the disturbance magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensing element 23d. The positive and negative of the component of n are reversed. Similarly, since the sensitivity axes 31b and 31c of the magnetic sensing elements 23b and 23c are arranged in opposite directions, the disturbance magnetic field n detected by the magnetic sensing element 23b is the disturbance detected by the magnetic sensing element 23c. The positive and negative directions are opposite to those of the magnetic field n. Therefore, the calculation result of "φab + φcd" is a value in which the influence of the disturbance magnetic field n is cancelled.

As described above, in the first position detecting unit 25a, the internal product of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 23a and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 23b, and the magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensing element 23c. The sum of the component and the internal product of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 23d is calculated. Then, the first position detection unit 25a searches for the minimum value of the calculated sum, and detects the positions of the current paths 11 and 13 in the vertical direction based on the calculated minimum value of the sum. As a result, the first position detection unit 25a can accurately detect the vertical positions of the current paths 11 and 13.

Further, since the sensitivity axes of the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b and the magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d are arranged in opposite directions, the first position detecting unit 25a can generate a current even when there is a disturbance magnetic field n. The vertical position of the road can be detected accurately.

The first position detection unit 25a sweeps "t1" in the above equation (6) from 0 to 1, searches for the value of "t1" that minimizes the calculation result of "φab", and searches for the value of "t1", and "φab". It is also possible to detect the vertical position of the current path 11 based on the value of “t1” that minimizes the calculation result of “”. Similarly, the first position detection unit 25a sweeps "t1" in the above equation (7) from 0 to 1, searches for the value of "t1" that minimizes the calculation result of "φcd", and " It is also possible to detect the vertical position of the current path 13 based on the value of “t1” that minimizes the calculation result of “φcd”.

Next, the positional relationship between the current path 11 and the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b and the positional relationship between the current path 13 and the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the current path according to the third embodiment and the plurality of magnetic sensitive elements for detecting the position in the lateral direction.

As shown in FIG. 19, in the magnetic sensitive elements 24a and 24b, the maximum range of lateral displacement of the current path 11 is the range between the position P3 of the magnetic sensitive element 24a and the position P4 of the magnetic sensitive element 24b. It is arranged on the substrate 40 so as to fit inside. Similarly, the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d are set so that the maximum range of the lateral displacement of the current path 13 is within the inter-element range DL3 which is the range between the position P5 of the magnetic sensing element 24c and the position P6 of the magnetic sensing element 24d. Is arranged on the substrate 40.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b are arranged on the connecting portion 45 of the substrate 40 so that the sensitivity shafts 32a and 32b are in the same vertical position and face in the positive direction of the X axis. NS. Further, the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d are arranged on the connecting portion 45 of the substrate 40 so that the sensitivity shafts 32c and 32d are in the same vertical position and face in the negative direction of the X axis. In the following, when each of the magnetic sensing elements 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d is shown without distinction, it may be described as the magnetic sensing element 24, and each of the sensitivity shafts 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d is individually shown. When shown without distinction, it may be described as the sensitivity axis 32. In addition, in FIG. 16 and FIG. 19, the direction of the sensitivity shaft 32 is indicated by an arrow.

The current path 11 is arranged at the center of the two magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b in the lateral direction with respect to the two magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b arranged so that the sensitivity shafts 32a and 32b are oriented in the lateral direction. In this case, the magnetic field components detected by the two magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b have the same value.

When the current path 11 is deviated to the right in FIG. 19 from the lateral center of the two magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b, the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24b is larger than the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24a. Become. Further, when the current path 11 is deviated to the left in FIG. 19 from the lateral center of the two magnetic sensitive elements 24a and 24b, the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensitive element 24a is larger than the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensitive element 24b. Will also grow.

As described above, there is a correlation between the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24a and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24b and the lateral position of the current path 11. Further, as described above, the vertical position of the current path 11 may deviate, and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24a and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24b may be displaced depending on the vertical position of the current path 11. The ratio of

Similarly, there is a correlation between the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24c and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24d and the lateral position of the current path 13. Further, the vertical position of the current path 13 may deviate, and the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24c to the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24d changes depending on the vertical position of the current path 13. ..

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the lateral position of the current path according to the third embodiment and the calculation result using the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element. In FIG. 20, the vertical axis represents the detected magnetic field ratio, which is the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the other magnetic field component 24 to the magnetic field component detected by one of the two magnetic field elements 24, and is horizontal. The axis indicates the amount of lateral displacement of the current path 11 or the current path 13. The detected magnetic field ratio is, for example, the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24a to the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24b, or the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24c and the magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensing element 24d. The ratio with the ingredients.

Here, the detected magnetic field ratio shown in FIG. 20 is the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24a to the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24b. In this case, the region on the right side in FIG. 19 from the intermediate position in the lateral direction between the positions P3 and P4 shown in FIG. 19 is the amount of positive deviation in the lateral direction, and the region on the left side in FIG. 19 from the intermediate position is negative in the lateral direction. Is the amount of deviation.

The second position detection unit 25b shown in FIG. 15 determines the horizontal position of the current path 11 based on the ratio of the magnetic field components detected by the two magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b and the vertical position of the current path 11. The position in the horizontal direction of the current path 13 is detected based on the ratio of the magnetic field components detected by the two magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d and the position in the vertical direction of the current path 13.

Specifically, the second position detection unit 25b shows the relationship between the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24a and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24b and the lateral position of the current path 11. The information of the first function is stored for each position in the vertical direction of the current path 11. Then, the second position detection unit 25b has the voltage signals V2a and V2b output from the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b, the position signal Sp1 output from the first position detection unit 25a, and the information of the first function. Based on the above, the lateral position of the current path 11 is detected.

Further, the second position detecting unit 25b shows the relationship between the ratio of the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24c and the magnetic field component detected by the magnetic sensing element 24d and the lateral position of the current path 13. The function information is stored for each position in the vertical direction of the current path 13. Then, the second position detection unit 25b has the voltage signals V2c and V2d output from the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d, the position signal Sp2 output from the first position detection unit 25a, and the information of the second function. Based on the above, the lateral position of the current path 13 is detected.

The first function and the second function are the same, but when the positional relationship between the magnetic sensing element 24c and the magnetic sensing element 24d is different from the positional relationship between the magnetic sensing element 24a and the magnetic sensing element 24b, The second function and the first function are different.

Here, the positional relationship of the magnetic sensitive elements 24a and 24b with respect to the reference position of the current path 11 and the positional relationship of the magnetic sensitive elements 24c and 24d with respect to the reference position of the current path 13 are the same, and the current path 11 and the current path 13 It is assumed that the same amount of lateral displacement occurs between the two. In this case, the second position detection unit 25b calculates, for example, the added value of the voltage signal V2a and the voltage signal V2c as new voltage signals V2a and V2c, and newly adds the added value of the voltage signal V2b and the voltage signal V2d. Calculated as voltage signals V2b and V2d. The second position detection unit 25b uses the calculated new voltage signals V2a, V2b, V2c, and V2d to perform an calculation using the above-mentioned function, so that even if there is a disturbance magnetic field n, the current path The lateral positions of 11 and 13 can be detected with high accuracy.

Further, the current sensor 10 includes two magnetic sensing elements 24e and 24f in the directions opposite to the directions of the sensitivity shafts 32a and 32b of the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b at positions deviated from the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b in the vertical direction. It may be. The two magnetic sensing elements 24e and 24f are not shown. In this case, the second position detection unit 25b sets the sum of the output of the magnetic sensing element 24a and the output of the magnetic sensing element 24e as a new voltage signal V2a, and sets the output of the magnetic sensing element 24b and the output of the magnetic sensing element 24f. The added value of and is calculated as a new voltage signal V2b. The second position detection unit 25b uses the calculated new voltage signals V2a and V2b to perform an operation using the above-mentioned function, so that even when there is a disturbance magnetic field n, the second position detection unit 25b performs a calculation in the lateral direction of the current path 11. The position of can be detected accurately.

Similarly, the current sensor 10 includes two magnetic sensing elements 24g and 24h in the directions opposite to the directions of the sensitivity shafts 32c and 32d of the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d at positions deviated from the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d in the vertical direction. It may be a configuration. The two magnetic sensing elements 24g and 24h are not shown. In this case, the second position detection unit 25b sets the added value of the output of the magnetic sensing element 24c and the output of the magnetic sensing element 24g as a new voltage signal V2c, and sets the output of the magnetic sensing element 24d and the output of the magnetic sensing element 24h. The added value of and is calculated as a new voltage signal V2d. The second position detection unit 25b uses the calculated new voltage signals V2c and V2d to perform an operation using the above-mentioned function, so that even when there is a disturbance magnetic field n, the second position detection unit 25b performs a calculation in the lateral direction of the current path 13. The position of can be detected accurately.

As described above, the correction unit 26 shown in FIG. 15 includes the voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 of the current sensors 1a and 1b, the position signal Sp1 of the first position detection unit 25a, and the position signal of the second position detection unit 25b. Based on Sp2, the corrected voltage signals Vdet1c and Vdet2c obtained by correcting the voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 are output.

The correction unit 26 stores the information of the correction function for calculating the correction coefficient of the voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 from the amount of the vertical deviation and the amount of the lateral deviation, and uses the information of the correction function to obtain the voltage. The correction coefficient of the signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 is calculated. Such a correction function is a function that defines the relationship between the amount of lateral deviation and the value of the correction coefficient, and is a function provided for each amount of vertical deviation.

The correction function is represented by, for example, the following equation (8). In the following equation (8), "K" is a correction coefficient, "x" is a lateral displacement amount, and "k1", "k2", and "k3" are coefficients of the correction function.
K = k1 × x ² + k2 × x + k3 ・ ・ ・ (8)

The correction unit 26 calculates the correction coefficient of the voltage signal Vdet1 using the above equation (8), and multiplies the calculated correction coefficient of the voltage signal Vdet1 by the voltage signal Vdet1 to calculate the correction voltage signal Vdet1c. Further, the correction unit 26 calculates the correction coefficient of the voltage signal Vdet2 using the above equation (8), and multiplies the calculated correction coefficient of the voltage signal Vdet2 by the voltage signal Vdet2 to calculate the correction voltage signal Vdet2c. do. The correction function described above can be obtained from, for example, a theoretical value or a simulation.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the amount of lateral displacement of the current path and the correction coefficient according to the third embodiment. The example shown in FIG. 21 shows the characteristics of the correction function when the amount of vertical deviation is 1 mm. In FIG. 21, the vertical axis indicates the value of the correction coefficient, and the horizontal axis indicates the lateral deviation of the current path. Is shown. The correction function shown in FIG. 21 is, for example, a correction function in which k1 = 1.002, k2 = 0.0063, and k3 = 0.0146 in the above equation (8).

The information of the correction function that the correction unit 26 has for each amount of vertical deviation may be the information of the calculation formula as shown in the above equation (8), and the table in which the amount of lateral deviation and the correction coefficient are associated with each other. It may be the information of. Further, the correction function may be a function that defines the relationship between the amount of vertical deviation, the amount of lateral deviation, and the value of the correction coefficient. In this case, the information of the correction function may be the information of the arithmetic expression. Often, it may be table information.

Although the above-mentioned current sensor 10 is configured to detect the current flowing through the current paths 11 and 13, it may be configured to detect the current flowing through one of the current paths 11 and 13. In this case, in the current sensor 10, the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b and the magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d are arranged at positions facing each other in the vertical direction, and the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b and the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d are arranged in the horizontal direction. It is placed at a position facing the.

Further, the current sensor 10 may have a configuration that does not have the magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d and the magnetic sensing elements 24c and 24d. In this case, the current sensor 10 detects the current in the current path 11. Further, the current sensor 10 may have a configuration that does not have the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b and the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b. In this case, the current sensor 10 detects the current in the current path 13.

In the above example, the current sensor 10 detects the current flowing in the 3-phase 3-wire current path, but the current sensor 10 detects, for example, the current flowing in the single-phase 2-wire current path, or simply. It is possible to detect the current flowing in the phase 3-wire type current path. The correction unit 26 has information on the correction function described above for each of the three-phase three-wire system, the single-phase two-wire system, and the single-phase three-wire system. The correction unit 26 corrects a method corresponding to a switching position of a switch (not shown) provided on the current sensor 10 or the terminal cover 4 among the three-phase three-wire system, the single-phase two-wire system, and the single-phase three-wire system. The voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 are corrected based on the information of the function.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the current sensor according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 22, the current sensor 10 includes a computer including a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20, 23, 24, a processor 201, a memory 202, and an interface circuit 203. The processor 201, the memory 202, and the interface circuit 203 can send and receive information to and from each other by, for example, the bus 204.

The memory 202 provides information for detecting the amount of vertical deviation and information for detecting the amount of lateral deviation in the position detecting unit 25, such as the information in the above equations (6) and (7). It is also stored, and information for correcting the voltage signals Vdet1 and Vdet2 is stored in the correction unit 26, such as the information of the correction function. The plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20, 23, 24 are connected to the interface circuit 203. The processor 201 executes functions such as the arithmetic circuit 22, the position detection unit 25, and the correction unit 26 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 202. The processor 201 is, for example, an example of a processing circuit, and includes one or more of a CPU, a DSP, and a system LSI.

The memory 202 includes one or more of RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM. The current sensor 10 may be configured only by hardware. For example, the current sensor 10 may be configured by a logic circuit or an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA.

As described above, the current sensor 10 according to the third embodiment includes a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23 and 24, a position detection unit 25, and a correction unit 26. The plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23 and 24 are examples of a plurality of position detecting magnetic sensing elements for detecting the positions of the current paths 11 and 13. The position detection unit 25 detects the position of the current path 11 based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23 and 24. The correction unit 26 corrects the value of the current calculated by the arithmetic circuit 22 based on the position of the current path 11 detected by the position detection unit 25. In the current sensor 10, when the positional relationship between the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 and the current paths 11 and 13 changes, the arrangement conditions of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 20 with respect to the current paths 11 deviate from the design values, so that the calculation circuit There is a possibility that the error of the value of the current calculated by 22 becomes large. As described above, the current sensor 10 includes a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23 and 24, a position detection unit 25, and a correction unit 26, and can accurately calculate the value of the current flowing through the current path 11. can.

Further, the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23 and 24 have sensitivity axes 31a and 31b along the X-axis direction on the XZ-axis plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path 11, and the X-axis direction on the XZ-axis plane. It has a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b arranged at intervals in the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and sensitivity axes 32a and 32b along the X-axis direction, and is arranged at intervals in the X-axis direction. Includes a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements 24a and 24b. The magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b are examples of the first position detecting magnetic sensing element, and the magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b are examples of the second position detecting magnetic sensing element. The X-axis direction is an example of the first direction, and the Z-axis direction is an example of the second direction. The position detection unit 25 includes a first position detection unit 25a and a second position detection unit 25b. The first position detection unit 25a detects the position of the current path 11 in the Z-axis direction based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b. The second position detection unit 25b detects the position of the current path 11 in the X-axis direction based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b. As a result, the current sensor 10 can accurately detect the position of the current path 11.

Further, the current sensor 10 has sensitivity axes 31c and 31d along the X-axis direction, and includes a plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d arranged at intervals in the Z-axis direction. The plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d are examples of the plurality of third position detecting magnetic sensing elements. The sensitivity axes of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b and the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d are parallel and opposite to each other. The first position detection unit 25a detects the positions of the current paths 11 and 13 in the Z-axis direction based on the outputs of the magnetic sensing elements 23a and 23b and the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 23c and 23d. As a result, the first position detection unit 25a of the current sensor 10 can accurately detect the positions of the current paths 11 and 13 in the Z-axis direction even when there is a disturbance magnetic field n.

Further, the second position detection unit 25b is a first position detection unit and a ratio of the output of one of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements 24a and 24b to the output of the other magnetic sensing element 24b. The position of the current path 11 in the X-axis direction is detected based on the position of the current path 11 in the vertical direction detected by 25a. As a result, the second position detection unit 25b of the current sensor 10 accurately detects the position of the current path 11 in the X-axis direction even when the current path 11 is displaced in the X-axis direction. Can be done.

The configuration shown in the above embodiments is an example, and can be combined with another known technique, can be combined with each other, and does not deviate from the gist. It is also possible to omit or change a part of the configuration.

1,10 current sensor, 2 circuit breaker, 3 circuit breaker body, 4 terminal cover, 4a, 4d, 41,44 end, 4b, 4c, 42,43 line-to-line part, 5 housing, 6 operation handle, 7 Front surface, 8 bottom surface, 11, 12, 13 current paths, 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 23, 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 24, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d magnetic sensory element, 21,21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 31, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 32, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d Sensitivity axis, 22 Arithmetic circuit, 25 Position detection unit, 25a First position detection unit, 25b Second position Detection unit, 26 correction unit, 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d virtual circle, 40 substrate, 45 connection unit, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d magnetic field line, L, L1, L2 virtual line, O center, θ1 first angle , Θ2 Second angle.

Claims (10)

1. A current sensor that measures the current flowing in the current path.
   A plurality of magnetic sensitive elements arranged on the corresponding virtual circles among a plurality of virtual circles having different radii around the center of the current path in a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the current path.
   It is provided with an arithmetic circuit that calculates the value of the current flowing in the current path based on the outputs of the plurality of magnetic sensing elements.
   The plurality of magnetic sensitive elements are
   A current sensor comprising at least two magnetic sensitive elements whose sensitivity axes are parallel and opposite to each other.
2. A plurality of position-detecting magnetic-sensitive elements for detecting the position of the current path, and
   A position detection unit that detects the position of the current path based on the outputs of the plurality of position detection magnetic sensing elements, and a position detection unit.
   The current sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit that corrects the value of the current calculated by the arithmetic circuit based on the position of the current path detected by the position detection unit.
3. The plurality of magnetic sensing elements for position detection are
   It has a sensitivity axis along a first direction on a plane orthogonal to the extending direction, and is arranged at intervals in a second direction on the plane and orthogonal to the first direction. A plurality of first position-detecting magnetic-sensitive elements,
   A plurality of second position detecting magnetic sensitive elements having a sensitivity axis along the first direction and arranged at intervals in the first direction are included.
   The position detection unit
   A first position detecting unit that detects the position of the current path in the second direction based on the outputs of the plurality of first position detecting magnetic sensing elements.
   2. The current sensor described in.
4. It has a sensitivity axis along the first direction, and includes a plurality of third position detecting magnetic sensitive elements arranged at intervals in the second direction.
   The plurality of first position-detecting magnetic-sensing elements and the plurality of third-position-detecting magnetic-sensing elements have their sensitivity axes parallel to each other and in opposite directions.
   The first position detection unit is
   Detecting the position of the current path in the second direction based on the outputs of the plurality of first position-detecting magnetic-sensing elements and the outputs of the plurality of third-position-detecting magnetic-sensing elements. The current sensor according to claim 3.
5. The second position detection unit is
   The ratio of the output of one of the second position-detecting magnetic-sensing elements of the plurality of second position-detecting magnetic-sensing elements to the output of the other second position-detecting magnetic-sensing element, and the first. 3 or 4, wherein the position of the current path in the second direction is detected based on the position of the current path in the first direction detected by the position detection unit of the above. Current sensor.
6. The plurality of magnetic sensitive elements are
   The plurality of virtual circles include a first magnetic sensitive element, a second magnetic sensitive element, a third magnetic sensitive element, and a fourth magnetic sensitive element, which are arranged on different virtual circles.
   The first magnetic sensing element and the third magnetic sensing element are
   The sensitivity axes are parallel and opposite to each other,
   The second magnetic sensing element and the fourth magnetic sensing element are
   The current sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensitivity axes are parallel and opposite to each other.
7. A terminal cover of a circuit breaker comprising the current sensor according to claim 6.
8. The current path is a target current path for which the current is measured by the current sensor.
   The circuit breaker
   A plurality of current paths including one or more current paths different from the target current path and the target current path are connected.
   In the plurality of current paths,
   Arranged with the direction orthogonal to the extending direction as the arrangement direction,
   The terminal cover is
   An end portion in the arrangement direction and an interline portion provided between two adjacent current paths among the plurality of current paths are provided.
   The first magnetic sensing element and the second magnetic sensing element are
   It is arranged in one of the two regions of the end region, which is separated by a line passing through the center of the target current path along the arrangement direction.
   The third magnetic sensitive element and the fourth magnetic sensitive element are
   The terminal cover of the circuit breaker according to claim 7, wherein the area between the lines is arranged in the other area of the two areas.
9. The end is
   It is arranged in the area on the operation handle side of the circuit breaker out of the two areas.
   The line-to-line portion
   The terminal cover of the circuit breaker according to claim 8, wherein the terminal cover of the circuit breaker is arranged in a region on the bottom surface side of the circuit breaker among the two regions.
10. A substrate having a first region provided at the end portion, a second region provided at the interline portion, and a connecting region connecting the first region and the second region is provided. The terminal cover of the circuit breaker according to claim 9.

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