The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2000
Martin Bernier, Québec, CA;
Michel Mailloux, Québec, CA;
Multitel Inc., Quebec, CA;
Abstract
A float current probe measuring a float current flowing in a conductor comprises a core adapted to be magnetically coupled to the conductor. Excitation and field cancellation windings are magnetically coupled to the core. A detector detects when energy in the excitation winding reaches a predetermined threshold corresponding to a saturated core condition. A timer measures first and second delays needed to saturate the core as a result of the excitation winding being energized through a switch circuit in the forward and reverse polarity successively. A computing unit determines a magnetic field induced by the conductor based on the first and second measured delays. The field cancellation winding is energized by a current source with a current level and direction as a function of the computed magnetic field, to cancel the magnetic field induced by the conductor. The current level is representative of the float current in the conductor.