TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF INDUCTIVE CHARGING DEVICES IN EXTREME VEHICLE ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20140293538A1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Han, Taeyoung, Kaushik, Shailendra, Khalighi, Bahram, Lascu, Dan, Porrett, Kenneth L., Yen, Chih-Hung
• Granted Patent: US 9,356,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00271 HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20845 for automotive electronic casings H05K7/2089 takes precedence

Abstract

A thermal conditioning system for an inductive charging system. An open enclosure charging unit includes at least one surface generating an electromagnetic field for inductively charging a portable device. A primary conduit coupled to the open enclosure charging unit. The primary conduit outputs conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit. The conditioned air output by the primary conduit maintains a temperature of the portable device at a predetermined temperature range within the open enclosure charging unit.

Claims

1. A thermal conditioning system comprising:

an open enclosure charging unit including at least one surface generating an electromagnetic field for inductively charging a portable device;

a primary conduit coupled to the open enclosure charging unit, the primary conduit outputs conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit;

wherein the conditioned air output by the primary conduit maintains a temperature of the portable device at a predetermined temperature range within the open enclosure charging unit.

2. The thermal conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising:

a conditioned air source generating conditioned air wherein the primary conduit is coupled to the conditioned air source for delivering the conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit.

3. The thermal conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the conditioned air source includes a vehicle heating ventilation air conditioning unit.

4. The thermal conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the primary duct is coupled to a region of the conditioned air source where cool air is flowing.

5. The thermal conditioning system of claim 4 further comprising a secondary duct coupled between the conditioned air source and the primary duct for delivering warm conditioned air to the primary duct.

6. The thermal conditioning system of claim 5 wherein the temperature of the conditioned air delivered to the open enclosure charging unit is preferably in the range of 10°

C. to 45°

C.

7. The thermal conditioning system of claim 5 wherein the location where the secondary duct couples to the conditioned air source based on generating a maximum air flow.

8. The thermal conditioning system of claim 5 wherein the location where the secondary duct couples to the conditioned air source is selected based on a predetermined pressure drop in the secondary duct.

9. The thermal conditioning system of claim 8 wherein the preferred pressure drop is between 20-40 Pa.

10. The thermal conditioning system of claim 5 wherein the conditioned air source includes a damper downstream of a heater core, the damper operable between an open and closed position for heating air flow within the conditioned air source.

11. The thermal conditioning system of claim 10 wherein the damper is controlled based on an interior passenger compartment setting.

12. The thermal conditioning system of claim 10 wherein the secondary duct is coupled to a region of the conditioned air source downstream of the damper, wherein warm air is provided to the secondary duct when the damper is in an at least a partially open position, wherein the warm air flowing through the secondary duct blends with cool air flowing in the primary duct for delivering conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit.

13. The thermal conditioning system of claim 10 wherein the secondary duct is coupled to a region of the conditioned air source downstream of the damper, wherein only cool air is provided to the open enclosure charging unit in response to the damper being in a closed position, wherein the damper in the closed position prevents warm air flow from flowing to the secondary duct.

14. The thermal conditioning system of claim 5 wherein a portion of the primary duct downstream from where the secondary duct joins the primary duct functions as a mixing chamber for mixing cool air flow and warm air flow.

15. The thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the open enclosure charging unit includes an orifice that couples to the primary duct to the open enclosure charging unit for delivering conditioned air to the interior of the open enclosure charging unit.

16. The thermal conditioning system of claim 15 wherein the orifice is directed the portable device within the open enclosure.

17. The thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the open enclosure charging unit is disposed within an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle.

18. The thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the open enclosure charging unit is disposed within an integrated console storage unit within a center console stack of a vehicle.

19. The thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the open enclosure charging unit is disposed within pocketed area of a center console.

20. The thermal conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the primary duct is disposed within a vehicle, wherein the primary duct is a dedicated duct for only delivering conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit.