Current detector configured to measure a current circulating in an electrical conductor, associated magnetic field sensor, system and method

1. A current detector configured to measure a current circulating in an electrical conductor, the current detector including:

a probe including:

a converter configured to convert the magnetic field induced by the current to be measured in the conductor into a voltage, wherein the converter is a magnetostrictive, piezoelectric composite material,

a detection circuit for detecting the voltage converted by the converter, and

an excitation winding arranged to generate a magnetic modulation field in the converter, wherein the detection circuit includes a unit for demodulating the voltage converted by the converter,

wherein the converter has an electric voltage-magnetic field feature including a linear portion and wherein the converter is configured to convert the magnetic field induced by the current to be measured in the linear portion of the electric voltage-magnetic field feature.

2. The current detector according to claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit further includes a low-pass filter positioned after the unit for demodulating.

3. The current detector according to claim 1 , wherein the current detector includes a magnetic flux concentrator having an air gap, wherein the probe is positioned in the air gap of the magnetic flux concentrator.

4. The current detector according to claim 3 , wherein the magnetic flux concentrator includes two parts.

5. The current detector according to claim 1 , wherein the current detector includes a support having two ends, a first end for holding the probe and a second end affixed to the conductor.

6. The current detector according to claim 1 , wherein the detector includes the conductor in which the current to be measured circulates, wherein the conductor delimits a loop for which a centre is defined, wherein the probe is positioned in the centre of the loop.

7. A system comprising a current detector according to claim 1 .

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the system is a motor.

9. A magnetic field sensor suited to measure a magnetic field, wherein the field sensor includes:

a probe including:

a converter configured to convert the magnetic field induced by a conductor into a voltage, wherein the converter is a magnetostrictive, piezoelectric composite material,

a circuit for detecting the voltage converted by the converter, and

an excitation winding arranged to generate a magnetic modulation field in the converter, wherein the circuit includes a unit for demodulating the voltage converted by the converter,

wherein the converter has an electric voltage-magnetic field feature including a linear portion and wherein the converter is configured to convert the magnetic field induced by the current to be measured in the linear portion of the electric voltage-magnetic field feature.

10. A method for measuring a current circulating in an electrical conductor by a current detector including a converter, a detection circuit, and an excitation winding arranged to generate a magnetic modulation field in the converter, wherein the converter is a magnetostrictive, piezoelectric composite material, wherein the detection circuit includes a unit for demodulating the voltage converted by the converter, wherein the converter has an electric voltage-magnetic field feature including a linear portion, and wherein the method includes:

converting, by the converter, the magnetic field induced by the current to be measured in the conductor into a voltage, wherein the conversion is carried out in the linear portion of the electric voltage-magnetic field feature, and

detecting, by the detection circuit, the voltage converted by the converter.