IP Library Granted Patent US 10,641,828
Granted Patent B2
US 10,641,828 · App. 15/745,848 · Granted May 5, 2020

Sensor device for measuring a current flow having a universal ground contact element

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,641,828
App. No.
15/745,848
Granted
May 5, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor device for measuring a current flow, having a sensor element for detecting the current flow, a first contact element for connecting the sensor element to the current source, a ground contact element for connecting the sensor element to a ground, wherein the ground contact element includes a first and second electrically conductive connector element, wherein the first connector element has a hole-like opening and wherein the second connector opening has a connector point, which can be pressed into the hole-like opening of the first connector element, such that the second connector element is fastened to the first connector element.

Claims (19)

1. A sensor device for measuring a current flow, from a current source comprising:

a sensor element for detecting the current flow,

a first contact element for connecting the sensor element to the current source,

a ground contact element for connecting the sensor element to ground, wherein the ground contact element comprises a first and second electrically conductive connecting element,

wherein the first connecting element has a hole-like opening, the hole-like opening having a contour with a shape defined by circular segments adjoining one another, the central points of the circular segments lying on corners of a polygon such that the circular segments do not define a continuous circle, and

wherein the second connecting element has a connecting point which can be pressed into the hole-like opening of the first connecting element such that the second connecting element is fixed to the first connecting element.

2. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hole-like opening of the first connecting element and/or the connecting point of the second connecting element has a circle-like contour.

3. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting point of the second connecting element has a cylindrical basic shape which is elastically or plastically deformable.

4. The sensor device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the connecting point of the second connecting element exhibits ductility which enables the connecting point to entirely or partially adopt the shape of the contour of the hole-like opening of the first connecting element.

5. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hole-like opening and/or the connecting point are of conical form.

6. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is a battery sensor unit.

7. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, perpendicular to a pressing-in direction, a greatest extent of the connecting point corresponds at least to a smallest extent of the hole-like opening.

8. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting point of the second connecting element is formed as a hollow cylinder.

9. The sensor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the hollow cylinder, by a rivet or a pressed-in bolt on its inner side, forms an interference-fit connection with the first connecting element.

10. The sensor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the hollow cylinder has an internal thread.

11. The sensor device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the ground contact element has a screw or screw-nut connection to the internal thread of the hollow cylinder.

12. The sensor device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the sheet-metal flange has a wall thickness which permits a deformation adequate for the pressing-together and/or has slots which permit a deformation adequate for the pressing-together.

13. The sensor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the hollow cylinder is formed as a sheet-metal flange.

14. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting point of the second connecting element projects beyond the first connecting element in the pressing-in direction, and is formed at its projecting region as a radial collar.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 070441/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: FRENZEL, HENRYK
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 045533/0527 →