1. A current sensor integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB) for sensing a current flow
through a first conductive path, comprising:
a first conductive winding forming an open shape in a plane of the PCB, wherein:
the open shape has a first end and a second end and delimits a sensitive region in the
plane of the PCB for sensing the current flow through the first conductive path arranged
within the sensitive region;
the first conductive winding is formed of a conductor having a plurality of turns
extending across a thickness of the PCB; and
the first conductive winding is spaced from an obstacle in the PCB by at least a
distance from the first end to the obstacle.
2. The current sensor according to claim 1, wherein:
the open shape is an elliptical arc, a circular arc, an arc having a U-shape, or an open polygon.
3. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the distance from the first end to the obstacle is equal to the distance from the second end to
the obstacle.
4. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
insultation along the distance from the first end to the obstacle is provided by at least one of:
PCB material,
air, and
insulation material,
arranged between the first conductive winding and the obstacle.
5. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the plurality of turns is comprised within a range of 4 to 100 turns.
6. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the plurality of turns is comprised within a range of 8 to 32 turns.
7. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the first conductive winding is electrically connected to an integrator for generating an output
voltage signal indicative of the current flow in the first conductive path.
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8. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the obstacle is a second conductive path having an electrical potential different from the
electrical potential of the first conductive path; and
the distance from the first end to the obstacle corresponds to a distance from the second
conductive path for preventing electrical interference between the second conductive path and the first
conductive winding.
9. The current sensor according to claim 8, wherein:
the first end and the second end define an opening axis passing through the first end and the
second end, and a midpoint on the axis between the first end and the second end; and
the first end and the second end are arranged relative to the second conductive path such that
an axis perpendicular to the opening axis and passing through the midpoint coincides with a location of the second conductive path.
10. The current sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the conductor comprises a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal; and
the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal are arranged together at the first end or the second end.