Systems and methods for cooling inductive charging assemblies

• US 10,219,407 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Lofy, John, Marquette, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/268,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320109, 320110
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20136 Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans H05K7/202 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20845 for automotive electronic casings H05K7/2089 takes precedence

Abstract

In some embodiments, a cooling system for an inductive charger includes a thermal conditioning assembly in fluid communication with an inductive charging assembly. The inductive charging assembly can include a dock and an inductive charging module. The dock can be configured to receive a portable electronic device, such as a cell phone, that is configured to accept inductive charging from the inductive charging module. The thermal conditioning assembly can include a fluid transfer device and a thermal conditioning module, such as a thermoelectric device. In various embodiments, heat (e.g., heat produced during inductive charging) can be transferred from the inductive charging assembly to the thermal conditioning module and/or to a fluid flow produced by the fluid transfer device, thereby cooling the inductive charging assembly and/or the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of cooling for an inductive charging module, the method comprising:

directing an airflow through a thermal conditioning module comprising a duct;

directing the airflow through the duct to a dock from a first opening of a first end of the dock to a cavity of the dock;

directing the airflow along at least one rib in the cavity, the at least one rib protruding from at least one wall of the dock, the at least one wall at least partially defining the cavity, and the at least one wall configured to connect to an inductive charging module configured to charge a portable electronic device; and

directing the airflow to a second opening of a second end of the dock, the second end opposite the first end, and the second end configured to receive the portable electronic device into the cavity,

wherein the at least one rib is configured to space the portable electronic device from the at least one wall within the cavity for the airflow to flow at least along a portion of the portable electronic device to cool the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the airflow through the dock via an air moving device connected to the duct.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing the portable electric device within the cavity via the at least one rib.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a cell phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dock is disposed in an automobile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the airflow along the at least a portion of the portable electronic device at least partially offsets the heat generated by the inductive charging module during inductive charging of the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least about 6 watts of heat dissipation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling the airflow via a thermoelectric device before directing the airflow to the dock.