SENSOR DEVICES AND METHODS FOR USE IN SENSING CURRENT THROUGH A CONDUCTOR

摘要

A utility meter (10) and related methods are disclosed. The utility meter includes a sensor device (12) positioned around a conductor to sense current flowing through the conductor. The sensor device (12) includes a non-magnetic substrate (102), a coil (104) comprising a plurality of turns wound about the substrate (102), and a dielectric material (108) having a dielectric constant and positioned between the coil (104) and the conductor. The utility meter also includes a meter control board in communication with the sensor device (12) to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through the conductor from the power source to the user over time. The dielectric constant of the dielectric material (108) is selected to reduce a capacitive coupling between the coil (104) and the conductor and to reduce a sensitivity of the sensor device (12) such that the meter control board comprises only one calibration coefficient for calibrating the sensor device over a current range.