DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EARLY FAILURE DETECTION OF A MAGNETIC FIELD-SENSITIVE CURRENT SENSOR

A device for detecting an error-free operation with a magnetic-field-monitored busbar or conductor loop for current measurement based on a magnetic-field-sensitive sensor element. The busbar or conductor loop is formed in a measurement plane of the current sensor and can be sensed at least in a measurement region by the current sensor based on a magnetic-field-sensitive effect. The test conductor loop is arranged in spatial proximity to the conductor loop sensed by the current sensor, the test conductor loop being arranged in a plane which is parallel to the measurement plane of the sensed conductor loop and is adapted to a main current path predetermined by the conductor loop such that a modulated test current introduced into the test conductor loop can be sensed in a magnetic-field-sensitive manner in the measuring region of the current sensor together with a current in the main current path.