Optical sensor assembly for installation on a current carrying cable

摘要

An optical sensor assembly, for installation on a current carrying cable, senses the current in the cable and provides an electrical output indicating the current. To sense the current, a magnetic concentrator is placed in close proximity to the cable and creates a magnetic field representing current in the cable. An optical current sensor, within the created magnetic field, exposes a beam of polarized light to the magnetic field. The beam of polarized light is rotated thereby, by Faraday effect, according to the current in the cable. The amount of rotation is analyzed and converted to electrical signals to portray the current in the cable. The electrical signals may be processed, evaluated and analyzed to provide one or more of several elements of quality of the current in the cable.

主权项

1. An optical sensor assembly for measuring electrical current and voltage in a current carrying cable, the optical sensor assembly comprising:
a base unit; a concentrator housing having a first end and a second end; a magnetic concentrator enclosed in the concentrator housing, the magnetic concentrator comprising a first end and a second end, that together define an airgap there between, wherein the magnetic concentrator at least partially encloses the current carrying cable, which in turn creates a magnetic field with concentrated magnetic field lines in the airgap, wherein the magnetic field in the airgap is indicative of the current in the current carrying cable; and an optical current sensor operatively connected to the base unit, wherein the optical current sensor comprising
a polarized light input,a light detecting or analyzing device that transmits polarized light therethrough, anda light directing device that exhibits Faraday effect, is situated in the airgap, wherein the light directing device receives a beam of polarized light from the polarized light input, whereinthe concentrated magnetic field lines in the airgap have a projection along the direction of propagation of the beam of polarized light, andthe polarized light input, the light directing device, and a light output are operably connected to the light detecting or analyzing device, wherein the polarized light input transmits a beam of polarized light into the light directing device, out of the light output, and to the light detecting or analyzing device.