Current measuring apparatus
View Patent ↗What is disclosed is a current measuring apparatus comprising: a mains connector, such as a plug, for connecting to a wire of a mains supply; an apparatus connector, such as a socket, to provide for electrical conduction to an electrical apparatus; a coil in series between the mains connector and the apparatus connector; and a measurement circuit that is operative to measure a voltage drop across the coil. In particular the coil is one present to also filter the mains signal. Also disclosed is a mains voltage powered consumer product, a network and an adaptor utilizing the current measuring apparatus.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a mains connector having a live connector and a neutral connector for coupling to a mains supply;
an apparatus connector having a live connector and a neutral connector for coupling to an electrical apparatus;
a first coil in series between the live connector of the mains connector and the live connector of the apparatus connector;
a second coil in series between the neutral connector of the mains connector and the neutral connector of the apparatus connector;
a first measurement circuit configured to measure current in the first coil;
a second measurement circuit configured to measure current in the second coil; and
circuitry configured to determine a fault condition based upon a difference between the current in the first coil and the current in the second coil.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a current to voltage converter that is configured to convert the measured current in the first coil to a measured voltage;
an analog to digital converter configured to convert the measured voltage to a digital measured voltage; and
communication circuitry configured to communicate the digital measured voltage to a remote device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement circuit comprises a passive measurement circuit.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the passive measurement circuit comprises a measurement coil.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the measurement coil and the first coil are inductively coupled.
6. The apparatus of 4 , wherein the measurement coil has an inductance substantially between 50 mH and 10 μH.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mains connector comprises at least one pin of a mains plug that is configured to be received in a mains socket.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus connector comprises an electrical connection configured to engage with the electrical apparatus.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical connection forms part of the electrical apparatus.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus connector comprises a socket that is configured to receive a pin of a mains plug forming part of the electrical apparatus.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first coil is further operable to condition the mains supply.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first coil is further operable to change at least one electrical attribute of a mains supply signal passing to the apparatus connector.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a mains connector comprising live and neutral mains connectors, which are respectively configured to be connected to live and neutral of a mains supply;
an apparatus connector comprising live and neutral apparatus connectors, which are respectively configured to provide a path for live conduction and a path for neutral conduction to an electrical apparatus;
a first coil coupled between the live mains connector and the live apparatus connector;
a second coil coupled between the neutral mains connector and the neutral apparatus connector.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first measurement circuit comprises a passive measurement circuit.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the passive measurement circuit comprises a measurement coil.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus connector comprises an electrical connection configured to engage with the electrical apparatus.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the mains connector comprises:
a live connector operable to connect to a live connection of the mains supply; and
a neutral connector operable to connect to a neutral connection of the mains supply.
18. The apparatus of 13 , wherein the measurement circuit comprises a first measurement coil and a second measurement coil having inductance values substantially between 50 mH and 10 μH.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to communicate the fault condition to the remote device.
20. An apparatus comprising:
a mains connector comprising a live mains connector and a neutral mains connector respectively configured to be connected to live and neutral connections of a mains supply;
an apparatus connector comprising a live apparatus connector and a neutral apparatus connector respectively configured to be connected to live and neutral connections of an electrical apparatus;
a first coil coupled between the live mains connector and the live apparatus connector;
a second coil coupled between the neutral mains connector and the neutral apparatus connector;
a first measurement circuit configured to sense a first current in the first coil;
a second measurement circuit configured to sense a second current in the first coil; and
circuitry configured to determine a fault condition based upon a difference between the first current in the first coil and the second current in the second coil.