Patent ID: 8427133
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A current detection apparatus that sets at least one of a plurality of bus bars disposed in parallel as a subject bus bar and detects a current flowing through the subject bus bar on the basis of a magnetic field generated in the vicinity of the subject bus bar, wherein a sensor unit that detects the magnetic field in a predetermined magnetic field detection direction is disposed in the vicinity of a detection portion of the subject bus bar such that the magnetic field detection direction is substantially orthogonal to an extension direction of the subject bus bar at the detection portion, one of the plurality of bus bars that is disposed adjacent to the subject bus bar is set as an adjacent bus bar, a plane that is orthogonal to an extension direction of each portion of the adjacent bus bar is set as an extension orthogonal plane of the portion, the extension direction of each portion of the adjacent bus bar relative to the sensor unit is set such that none of the extension orthogonal planes of the respective portions of the adjacent bus bar pass through the sensor unit in a parallel direction to the magnetic field detection direction, the plurality of bus bars each include a first side parallel region that is disposed on a first side of a predetermined reference direction and has an extension direction that is parallel to the reference direction, a second side parallel region that is disposed on a second side of the reference direction relative to the first side parallel region and has an extension direction that is parallel to the reference direction, and a bent region that is disposed between the first side parallel region and the second side parallel region and has an extension direction that is different from the reference direction and is different from a direction orthogonal to the reference direction, the detection portion is provided in the bent region of the subject bus bar, the first side parallel region and the second side parallel region of the adjacent bus bar are disposed so as not to overlap the sensor unit in the reference direction, and the sensor unit detects the current flowing in a direction that is different from the reference direction.