Fluke Corporation

Ricardo Rodriguez

Ronald Steuer

David Lawrence Epperson

Jeffrey E Worones

Ginger M Woo

Gloria M Chun

Christian Karl Schmitzer

Patrick Scott Hunter

Matthew B Marzynski

Michael F Gallavan

Clark N Huber

Paul Andrew Ringsrud

Peter Radda

Christian Schmitzer

A sensor probe includes a body having first and second channels that are spaced apart and extend through the body approximately parallel to each other. A first end of a Rogowski coil is fixed within the first channel. The Rogowski coil passes through the second channel and loops back to the first channel where a second end of the Rogowski coil is selectively insertable into the first channel opposite the first end of the Rogowski coil. A non-contact sensor coupled to the body is positioned between the first and second channels to measure a parameter of an insulated conductor situated within the loop formed by the Rogowski coil. The size of an interior region within the loop is selectively adjustable by sliding movement of the Rogowski coil within the second channel.

Non-contact voltage measurement with adjustable size rogowski coil

Non-contact voltage measurement with adjustable size Rogowski coil

A sensor probe includes a body, a sleeve that is moveable along the body between open and closed positions, a clamp having first and second jaws that contain an interior region within the clamp, and a non-contact sensor coupled to the sleeve and positioned at or near a perimeter of the interior region within the clamp. When the sleeve is in the open position, the first and second jaws create a gap that allows an insulated conductor to pass into the interior region within the clamp. When the sleeve is in the closed position, the first and second jaws close the gap and thereby close the interior region within the clamp. The size of the interior region is reduced when the sleeve is moved toward the closed position. The non-contact sensor is configured to detect an electrical parameter of the insulated conductor without requiring galvanic contact with the conductor.

Sensor probe with clamp having adjustable interior region for non-contact electrical measurement

Systems and methods provide a non-contact current measurement system which operates to measure alternating current flowing through an insulated wire without requiring galvanic contact with the insulated wire. The measurement system may include a magnetic field sensor that is selectively positionable proximate an insulated wire under test. In operation the magnetic field sensor detects a magnetic field generated by the current flowing in the insulated wire. Using an adjustable clamp assembly, the measurement system provides control over the mechanical positioning of the insulated wire relative to the magnetic field sensor to ensure consistent measurements. The non-contact current measurement system may determine information relating to the physical dimensions (e.g., diameter) of the insulated wire. Using the detected magnetic field, the known mechanical positioning, and the determined information relating to the physical dimensions of the insulated wire, the measurement system accurately determines the magnitude of the current flowing through the insulated wire without galvanic contact.

Non-contact current measurement system

Systems and methods for measuring DC voltage of an insulated conductor (e.g., insulated wire) are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode or probe. A non-contact DC voltage measurement device may include a conductive sensor that is mechanically oscillated. The device may also include a conductive internal ground guard that is galvanically isolated from the conductive sensor, and a conductive reference shield that is galvanically insulated from the internal ground guard. The device may further include a common mode reference voltage source that generates an alternating current (AC) reference voltage, and a sensor signal measurement subsystem electrically coupled to the conductive sensor. Control circuitry may receive a sensor current signal from the sensor signal measurement subsystem, and determine the DC voltage in the insulated conductor based at least in part on the received sensor current signal.

Non-contact DC voltage measurement device with oscillating sensor

Systems and methods for measuring direct current (DC) voltage of an insulated conductor (e.g., insulated wire) are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode or probe. A non-contact DC voltage measurement device may include a conductive sensor that is mechanically oscillated. The insulated conductor under test serves as a first conductive element or electrode of a coupling capacitor, and the vibrating conductive sensor serves as a second conductive element or electrode of the coupling capacitor. The oscillation of the conductive sensor provides the coupling capacitor with a time-varying capacitance value. The measurement device detects current flowing through the coupling capacitor, and determines the DC voltage in the insulated conductor using the detected current and the time-varying capacitance. The determined DC voltage may be output to a display or transmitted to an external system via a wired or wireless connection.

Systems and methods are provided for measuring electrical parameters in an insulated conductor without requiring a galvanic connection. A non-contact, electrical parameter sensor probe may be operative to measure both current and voltage in an insulated conductor. The sensor probe includes a body, a Rogowski coil coupled to the body, and a non-contact voltage sensor coupled to the body or the Rogowski coil. The size of the loop of the Rogowski coil is selectively adjustable, such that the loop may be tightened around the conductor under test until the conductor is positioned adjacent a portion of the body or Rogowski coil that includes the non-contact voltage sensor. Measured electrical parameters may be provided to a user, e.g., via a display, or may be transmitted to one or more external systems via a suitable wired or wireless connection.

Adjustable length Rogowski coil measurement device with non-contact voltage measurement

Systems and methods for operating and calibrating measurement devices are provided herein. The measurement devices generate reference current signals and sense the reference current signals in a conductor under test, which sensed signals are used to determine a calibration factor or a position of the conductor under test. A calibration system may control a calibration voltage source to selectively output calibration voltages in a calibration conductor. The calibration system may obtain data from the electrical parameter measurement device captured by the electrical parameter measurement device when measuring the calibration conductor. Such data may include one or more reference current measurements, one or more voltage measurements, etc. The calibration system utilizes the obtained measurements to generate calibration data which may be stored on the voltage measurement device for use thereby during subsequent operation. The calibration data may include one or more lookup tables, coefficients for one or more mathematical formulas, etc.

Position dependent non-contact voltage and current measurement

Systems and methods for measuring alternating current (AC) voltage of an insulated conductor are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode. A non-galvanic contact voltage measurement device includes a conductive sensor, an internal ground guard, and a reference shield. A reference voltage source is electrically coupleable between the guard and the reference shield to generate an AC reference voltage which causes a reference current to pass through the conductive sensor. Sensor subsystems may be arranged in layers (e.g., stacked layers, nested layers, or components) of conductors and insulators. The sensor subsystems may be packaged as formed sheets, flexible circuits, integrated circuit (IC) chips, nested components, printed circuit boards (PCBs), etc. The sensor subsystems may be electrically coupled to suitable processing or control circuitry of a non-contact voltage measurement device to allow for measurement of voltages in insulated conductors.

Sensor subsystems for non-contact voltage measurement devices

Systems and methods for measuring AC voltage of an insulated conductor are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode. A non-galvanic contact voltage measurement system includes a sensor subsystem, an internal ground guard and a reference shield. A common mode reference voltage source is electrically coupled between the internal ground guard and the reference shield to generate an AC reference voltage which causes a reference current to pass through the conductive sensor. Control circuitry receives a signal indicative of current flowing through the sensor subsystem due to the AC reference voltage and the AC voltage in the insulated conductor, and determines the AC voltage in the insulated conductor based at least in part on the received signal. The sensor subsystem includes a plurality of sensors that are polled to compensate for conductor position while allowing for measurement of physical characteristics of the conductor.

Multi-sensor scanner configuration for non-contact voltage measurement devices

Systems and methods for measuring AC voltage of an insulated conductor are provided, without requiring a galvanic connection between the conductor and a test electrode or probe. A non-galvanic contact (or 'non-contact') voltage measurement system includes a sensor subsystem, an internal ground guard and a reference shield. A common mode reference voltage source is electrically coupled between the internal ground guard and the reference shield to generate an AC reference voltage which causes a reference current to pass through the conductive sensor. Control circuitry receives a signal indicative of current flowing through the sensor subsystem due to the AC reference voltage and the AC voltage in the insulated conductor, and determines the AC voltage in the insulated conductor based at least in part on the received signal. The sensor subsystem includes at least two independent sensors that are used to compensate for conductor position while improving accuracy and dynamic range.

Multi-sensor configuration for non-contact voltage measurement devices

Systems and methods provide a portable, verified voltage source that allows safe testing of separate non-contact voltage measurement systems. A proving unit of the present disclosure provides a known or specified alternating current (AC) voltage output across an insulated wire, which AC voltage may be fixed or may be user-selectable through a suitable user interface. The proving unit may include a visual indicator and/or an audible indicator that provides the user with an indication confirming that the proving unit is supplying an output voltage with the specifications of the proving unit, so the user will know that the proving unit is operating normally and is ready for testing a non-contact voltage measurement system. If the proving unit cannot provide the specified voltage output, the indicator(s) provides a signal to the user that the proving unit is currently non-functional.

Proving unit for non-contact voltage measurement systems

Systems and methods provide measurement of alternating current (AC) electrical parameters in an insulated wire without requiring a galvanic connection between the insulated wire and a test probe. Measurement systems or instruments may include a housing that includes both a non-contact voltage sensor and a non-contact current sensor. The measurement system obtains measurements from the voltage sensor and the current sensor during a measurement time interval and processes the measurements to determine AC electrical parameters of the insulated wire. The AC electrical parameters may be presented to an operator via a visual indicator device (e.g., display, lights). The AC electrical parameters may additionally or alternatively be communicated to an external device via a wired and/or wireless communications interface. The measurement system may include an alignment feedback sensor that provides feedback to a user regarding the mechanical alignment of the insulated wire relative to the voltage sensor and the current sensor.

Non-contact electrical parameter measurement systems

Systems and methods provide a portable, verified voltage source that allows safe testing of separate non-contact voltage measurement systems. A proving unit of the present disclosure provides a known or specified alternating current (AC) voltage output across an insulated wire, which AC voltage may be fixed or may be user-selectable through a suitable user interface. The proving unit may include a visual indicator and/or an audible indicator that provides the user with an indication confirming that the proving unit is supplying an output voltage with the specifications of the proving unit, so the user will know that the proving unit is operating normally and is ready for testing a non-contact voltage measurement system. If the proving unit cannot provide the specified voltage output, the indicator(s) provides a signal to the user that the proving unit is currently non-functional. The proving unit may additionally verify contact voltage measurement systems (e.g., DMMs).

Growing community of inventors

Mill Creek, WA, United States of America

Ricardo Rodriguez