Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for measuring direct or alternate current, particularly instantaneous current values, in a contactless manner by using a magnetic circuit having an air slot in which is disposed a magnetic field dependent element and measuring winding comprising the following steps: providing an equivalent current winding on the magnetic circuit; sending a current flow on the measuring winding to generate a magnetic field in said magnetic circuit; storing the voltage induced across said magnetic field dependent element in response to said magnetic field; sending a current flow on the equivalent current winding upon completion of said storing; changing the amount of current in the equivalent current winding in a controlled fashion to cause a corresponding voltage change across the element; and comparing the voltage across the element to the stored voltage; and determining said current in said equivalent current winding when said voltage across said element equals said stored voltage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for measuring direct or alternate current, particularly instantaneous current values, in a contactless manner by using a magnetic circuit having an air slot in which is disposed a magnetic field dependent element and measuring winding comprising the following steps: providing an equivalent current winding on the magnetic circuit; sending a current flow on the measuring winding to generate a magnetic field in said magnetic circuit; storing the voltage induced across said magnetic field dependent element in response to said magnetic field; sending a current flow on the equivalent current winding upon completion of said storing; changing the amount of current in the equivalent current winding in a controlled fashion to cause a corresponding voltage change across the element; and comparing the voltage across the element to the stored voltage; and determining said current in said equivalent current winding when said voltage across said element equals said stored voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method in accordance with claim 1, which further includes the steps of providing a field plate as the magnetic field dependent element, and feeding said field plate with a constant or control current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method in accordance with claim 1 which further includes the step of providing a Hall generator as the magnetic field dependent element; and feeding said generator with a constant or control current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method in accordance with claim 1 which includes the steps of providing a massive laminated or ferrite magnet core as the magnetic circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method in accordance with claim 1 which includes the step of controlling the change of equivalent current in equivalent current winding by a tumbler generator control.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method in accordance with any one of the preceeding claims 1 to 5, which includes the step of amplifying the output voltage of the magnetic field dependent element into a range which facilitates the storage and the comparison of the output voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
186 words
A circuit for measuring direct or alternating current in a contactless manner comprising: a magnetic circuit with an air gap; a magnetic field dependent element disposed within said air gap and adapted to generate a voltage in response to a magnetic field generated within said magnetic circuit; a measuring winding disposed on said magnetic circuit to generate a magnetic field in response to a first current; an equivalent current winding disposed on said magnetic circuit to generate a magnetic field in response to a second current; storage means for storing the voltage generated by said element in response to said first current; comparator means provided to compare the voltage stored by said storage means to the voltage generated by said element in response to said second current; power source means for supplying said second current and adapted to change said second current in a predetermined fashion; and means for measuring said second current; whereby said second current is equivalent to said first current when said comparator determines that said stored voltage and said voltage generated by said element in response to said second current are equal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
186 words
A circuit for measuring direct or alternating current in a contactless manner comprising: a magnetic circuit with an air gap; a magnetic field dependent element disposed within said air gap and adapted to generate a voltage in response to a magnetic field generated within said magnetic circuit; a measuring winding disposed on said magnetic circuit to generate a magnetic field in response to a first current; an equivalent current winding disposed on said magnetic circuit to generate a magnetic field in response to a second current; storage means for storing the voltage generated by said element in response to said first current; comparator means provided to compare the voltage stored by said storage means to the voltage generated by said element in response to said second current; power source means for supplying said second current and adapted to change said second current in a predetermined fashion; and means for measuring said second current; whereby said second current is equivalent to said first current when said comparator determines that said stored voltage and said voltage generated by said element in response to said second current are equal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said storage means provides for storage of analog values and said comparator means provides for the comparison of analog values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 8, wherein said storage means provides for storage of digital values and said comparator means provides for comparison of digital values; and means switching between analog and digital storage means and comparator means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said magnetic circuit includes a magnetic core which is passive, laminated or ferrite construction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A circuit in accordance with one of the preceeding claims 7, and 8-10, wherein a preamplifier having two inputs is provided and is coupled between the element and the storage means whereby at the one input the voltage change on the element is placed and at the other input a reference voltage is placed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said storage means is capable of storing the voltage change on the element at the peak value of the measuring current.