CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20130234656A1
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Lambert, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,331,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging system for regulating the temperature of an electronic device. The charging system includes a base having a top surface configured to support the electronic device. The base is configured to draw heat away from the electronic device. The base may include at least one channel disposed along the top surface. A charger is operable to electrically charge the electronic device and a blower is configured to blow air along the channel so as to facilitate cooling of the electronic device during charging operations.

Claims

1. A charging system for charging an electronic device, the charging system comprising:

a base having a top surface configured to support the electronic device, the base including at least one channel disposed along the top surface of the base;

a charger operable to electrically charge the electronic device; and

a blower configured to blow air along the channel so as to facilitate cooling of the electronic device during charging operations.

2. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the at least one channel extends along an axis, and the blower is configured to blow air along the axis.

3. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top surface is undulating so as to form the at least one channel.

4. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base includes a plurality of panels, each of the plurality of panels extending along an axis, and each of the plurality of panels spaced apart and parallel to the other so as to form the at least one of the plurality of channels, the blower configured to blow air along at least one of the at least one plurality of channels.

5. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top surface includes at least one pair of angled walls, one of the at least one pair of angled walls is angled relative to the other one of the at least one pair of angled walls, so as to form at least one of the at least one plurality of channels.

6. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, further including a first sensor operable to detect the temperature of the electronic device.

7. The charging system as set forth in claim 6, further including a processor configured to receive a signal from the first sensor, the processor configured to process the sensor and actuate the blower when the electronic device reaches a predetermined temperature.

8. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, further including a first actuator configured to actuate the blower.

9. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the charger is an inductive charging unit disposed beneath the base, the inductive charging unit operable to deliver an inductive charge to the electronic device.

10. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, further including a second actuator configured to actuate the charger.

11. The charging system as set forth in claim 7, further including a second sensor operable to detect the presence of an electronic device on the base, the processor further operable to actuate the charger when the electronic device is detected on the base.

12. The charging system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the charger is an inductive coil disposed beneath the base, the inductive charging coil operable to deliver an inductive charge to the electronic device.

14. The charging system as set forth in claim 1, further including a second actuator configured to actuate the charger.

15. The charging system as set forth in claim 14, further including a second sensor operable to detect the presence of an electronic device on the base, the processor further operable to actuate the charger when the electronic device is detected on the base.

13. A charging system for charging an electronic device, the charging system comprising:

a base having a top surface configured to support the electronic device, the base formed from a thermally conductive material;

a charger operable to electrically charge the electronic device; and

a thermoelectric device configured to convert heat into electricity, the thermoelectric device in communication with the base.