Development of an Optical Current Sensor Using Luminescent Materials for Remote Sensing

This article introduces, to the best of our knowledge, the first development of an innovative optical sensor designed for the precise measurement of electric current using a luminescent material enabling remote detection. The sensor uses NaYF4: ${Yb}^{{3}+}$ , ${Er}^{{3}+}$ particles in conjunction with a photocurable resin to coat the component to be monitored. We test the developed technique with a ceramic resistor of $0.68~\Omega $ and 5 W, with a 5% of tolerance. The temperature variation in the resistor correlates directly with the applied current intensity, enabling an accurate determination of this intensity through the calibration of the luminescent material. This sensor is validated for currents spanning from 0 to 2.2 A, a range determined by the electrical and thermal limitations of the resistor used. The measurable current range can vary depending on the selected resistive element, and thus requires specific calibration for each configuration. Calibration has been conducted at various temperatures within a range of 298–328 K. The sensor error was estimated to be 0.01 A. This relatively high precision combined with a remote detection method demonstrates its applicability in systems where conventional measurements are unfeasible or difficult.