Patent ID: 7615989

Claim:
An integrated current sensor for use in a DC electric power system, said current sensor comprising: a DC inductor including a resistive component and an inductive component, wherein a DC current passes through said DC inductor; an integrator circuit, said integrator circuit receiving a voltage associated with said DC inductor; a feedback system operationally connected to said DC inductor and to said integrator circuit, said feedback system subtracting a voltage associated with said resistive component and obtaining a voltage associated with said inductive component; a signal conditioning unit operationally connected to said DC inductor, said signal conditioning unit digitizing a second voltage proportional to a first voltage associated with said DC inductor, and outputting a third voltage; and a data processing unit in inputting said third voltage, wherein said data processing unit performs integration for said third voltage, and outputs at least one signal for parameter variation compensation, control, protection, or Prognostics Health Monitoring.