Designing and analyzing two non-invasive current sensors using Ampere's force law

Document Type : Article

Author

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

Abstract

Here two different non-invasive current sensors are proposed, modeled and analyzed. The current sensors are based on the Ampere Force Law (AFL), defining the magnetic force between two parallel wire carrying currents. These current sensors can be used for detecting/sensing DC and AC currents as well as their combination in a single wire or multiple wires, and they do not rely on any permanent magnets for operation. In the first configuration, there are two microbeams, in which one of them is at the vicinity of the wire and undergoes the mechanical vibrations due to magnetic force between the wire and the microbeam. The movement of the microbeam while it is generating a magnetic field induces a current inside the another microbeam, which is stationary, as the output signal of the current sensor. In the second configuration, a single composite piezoelectric microbeam is used. The magnetic force between the wire and the piezoelectric microbeam leads the piezoelectric microbeam to move, thus it produces a voltage. Both configurations present an extremely low power consumption, which is not dependent on the sensitivity of the current sensors. The dynamic response, sensitivity and power consumption of the current sensors are investigated, compared and discussed.

Keywords


References:
1. Cao, Xi, Xiao-Jian Tian, and Dong F. Wang "Wireless electric current sensing via integrating a magneticpiezoelectric cantilever with a microstrip antenna", Micro & Nano Letters, 12(11), pp. 871-874 (2017).
2. Kouhpanji, M.R.Z., Behzadirad, M., Feezell, D., and Busani, T. "I sufficiency of the Young's modulus for illustrating the mechanical behavior of GaN nanowires", Nanotechnology, 29(20), p. 205706 (2018).
3. Zamani Kouhpanji, M.R. "Investigating the classical and non-classical mechanical properties of GaN nanowires", MS. Thesis, Univ. New Mex. (2017).
4. Xian, W., Li, X., Wang, D.F., Kobayashi, T., Itoh, T., and Maeda, R. "Precise current sensing using a piezoelectric cantilever based current sensor", Solid-State Sensors, Actuators Microsystems (TRANSDUCERS), 2017 19th Int. Conf., pp. 1057-1060 (2017).
5. Zamani Kouhpanji, M.R., Behzadirad, M., and Busani, T. "Classical continuum theory limits to determine the size-dependency of mechanical properties of GaN NWs", Journal of Applied Physics, 122(22), 225113 (2017).
6. Zamani Kouhpanji, M.R. and Jafaraghaei, U. "A semianalytical approach for determining the nonclassical mechanical properties of materials", J. Mech. Behav. Mater., 26(5-6), pp. 193-203 (2017).
7. Alaie, S., Hossein-Zadeh, M., Baboly, M.G., Zamani, M., and Leseman, Z.C. "Enhancing mechanical quality factors of micro-toroidal optomechanical resonators using phononic crystals", J. Microelectromechanical Syst., 25(2), pp. 311-319 (2016).
8. Lao, S.B., Chauhan, S.S., Pollock, T.E., Schroder, T., Choi, I.S., and Salehian, A. "Design, fabrication and temperature sensitivity testing of a miniature piezoelectric-based sensor for current measurements", Actuators, 3, pp. 162-181 (2014).
9. Sherman, C.T., Wright, P.K., and White, R.M. "Sensors and Actuators A: Physical validation and testing of a MEMS piezoelectric permanent magnet current sensor with vibration canceling", Sensors Actuators A. Phys., 248, pp. 206-213 (2016).
10. Leland, E.S., White, R.M., and Wright, P.K. "Design and fabrication of a MEMS AC electric current sensor", Adv. Sci. Technol., 54, pp. 350-355 (2008).
11. Chattock, A.P. "On a magnetic potentiometer", The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 24(146), pp. 94-96 (1887).
12. Ward, D.A. and Exon, J.L.T. "Using Rogowski coils for transient current measurements", Eng. Sci. Educ. J., 2(3), p. 105 (1993).
13. Ramsden, E., Hall-Effect Sensors: Theory and Application, Newnes (2011).
14. Ziegler, S., Woodward, R.C., Iu, H.H.-C., and Borle, L.J. "Current sensing techniques: A review", IEEE Sens. J., 9(4), pp. 354-376 (2009).
15. Breth, L., Dimopoulos, T., Schotter, J., Rott, K., Bruckl, H., and Suess, D. "Fluxgate principle applied to a magnetic tunnel junction for weak magnetic field sensing", IEEE Trans. Magn., 47(6 PART 1), pp.1549-1553 (2011).
16. Julliere, M. "Tunneling between ferromagnetic films", Phys. Lett. A, 54(3), pp. 225-226 (1975).
17. Lin, Q. Bin and Du, G.T. "The study of a MEMS magnetic field sensor based on 'cross-shape' ferromagnetic film", In Materials Science Forum, Trans Tech Publications Ltd, 694, pp. 523-527 (2011).
18. Hui, Y., Nan, T.X., Sun, N.X., and Rinaldi, M. "MEMS resonant magnetic field sensor based on an AlN/FeGaB bilayer nano-plate resonator", 2013 IEEE 26th Int. Conf. Micro Electro Mech. Syst., 1, pp. 721- 724 (2013).
19. Wang, D.F. and Maeda, R. "Analytical study on cantilever resonance type magnet-integrated sensor device for micro-magnetic field detection", Microsyst. Technol., 21(6), pp. 1167-1172 (2015).
20. Leland, E.S., White, R.M., and Wright, P.K. "Energy scavenging power sources for household electrical monitoring", PowerMEMS, pp. 165-168 (2006).
21. Wang, D.F., Liu, H., Li, X., Li, Y., Xian, W., Kobayashi, T., Itoh, T., and Maeda, R. "Passive MEMS DC electric current sensor: Part I-Theoretical considerations", IEEE Sensors Journal, 17(5), pp. 1230-1237 (2016).
22. Shang, X., Li, Y., Liu, H., Kobayashi, T., Wang, D.F., Itoh, T., and Maeda, R. "Developing MEMS DC electric current sensor for end-use monitoring of DC power supply: Part VI-Corresponding relationship between sensitivity and magnetic induction", Des. Test, Integr. Packag. MEMS/MOEMS (DTIP), Symp., pp. 1-4 (2017).
23. Zamani Kouhpanji, M.R. "Paired-wire carrying current actuators and piezoelectric beam sensors for microelectromechanical systems", Microsyst. Technol., 24(5), pp. 2401-2408 (2018).
24. Olszewski, O.Z., Houlihan, R., Blake, A., Mathewson, A., and Jackson, N. "Evaluation of vibrational piezoMEMS harvester that scavenges energy from a magnetic field surrounding an AC currentcarrying wire", Journal of Microelectromechanical System, 26(6), pp. 1298-1305 (2017).
25. Zamani Kouhpanji, M.R. "Demonstrating the effects of elastic support on power generation and storage capability of piezoelectric energy harvesting devices", J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct., 30(2), pp. 323-332 (2019).
26. Leland, E.S., Wright, P.K., and White, R.M. "A MEMS AC current sensor for residential and commercial electricity end-use monitoring", J. Micromechanics Microengineering, 19(9), p. 094018 (2009).
27. Xian, W. and Wang, D.F. "Position and orientation correction scheme for current sensing based on magnetic piezoelectric cantilevers", 143501, pp. 1-12 (2017).
28. Zamani Kouhpanji, M.R. "Studying the dynamical response of nano-microelectromechanical devices for nanomechanical testing of nanostructures", Int. J. Mech. Aerospace, Ind. Mechatron. Manuf. Eng., 11, pp. 1802-1809 (2017).
29. Zamani Koujpanji, M.R. "Designing and analyzing nano/microelectromechanical device for fatigue and fracture characterization of nanomaterials", Adv. Nat. Sci. Nanosci. Nanotechnol., pp. 351-1356-1, #35(2017).
30. Kahrobaiyan, M.H., Asghari, M., Hoore, M., and Ahmadian, M.T. "Nonlinear size-dependent forced vibrational behavior of microbeams based on a nonclassical continuum theory", J. Vib. Control, 18(5), pp. 696-711 (2012).
31. Nayfeh, M.H. and Brussel, M.K., Electricity and Magnetism, Courier Dover Publications (2015).
32. Feynman, R.P., Leighton, R.B., and Sands, M. "The Feynman lectures on physics", vol. I, American Journal of Physics, 33(9), pp. 750-752 (1965).
33. Roundy, S. andWright, P.K. "A piezoelectric vibration based generator for wireless electronics", Smart Mater. Struct., 13(5), pp. 1131-1142 (2004).
34. Xiang, H.J. and Shi, Z.F. "Static analysis for functionally graded piezoelectric actuators or sensors under a combined electro-thermal load", Eur. J. Mech. A/Solids, 28(2), pp. 338-346 (2009).
35. Rumble, J., CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC press (2017).