CHARGING INTEGRATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20160276865A1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adient US, LLC (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: CLARK, Ken, HOLLOWOOD, James, LAHO, Jeff, MILNER, Mark, PIKE, Mason
• Granted Patent: US 10,286,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

A charging integration system for a vehicle. The charging integration system includes a seat structure, a charging system carrier and a charging station structure. The charging system carrier is pivotably connected to the seat structure. The charging station structure is movably connected to the charging system carrier. The charging integration system allows one or more devices to be charged wirelessly or by a physical connector that connects the one or more devices to the charging station structure.

Claims

1. A charging integration system, comprising:

a seat structure;

a charging system carrier pivotably connected to said seat structure; and

a charging station structure movably connected to said charging system carrier.

2. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said charging system carrier is movable between a first carrier position and a second carrier position, said charging station structure being movable from at least a first charging station structure position to a second charging station structure position with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position.

3. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said seat structure comprises a backrest structure, said charging station structure facing in a direction of said backrest structure in said second carrier position.

4. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said seat structure comprises a first seat and a second seat, said seat structure comprising a third seat with said charging system carrier in said first carrier position, said third seat comprising a backrest structure and a seat rest structure, said seat rest structure having an occupant leg engaging surface for engaging at least a leg portion of an occupant, said charging system carrier comprising an outer trim surface, said outer trim surface defining a seat rest surface of said seat rest structure with said charging system carrier in said first carrier position.

5. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said charging carrier system comprises a first track and a second track, said charging station structure being movably connected to said first track and said second track such that said charging station structure moves in a vertical direction, relative to said first track and said second track, with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position, said vertical direction being parallel to said first track and said second track.

6. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said charging station structure comprises a friction, anti-slip coating, said friction, anti-slip coating defining an outer surface of said charging station structure.

7. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said charging station structure comprises a plastic electronics housing and one of device retention clips and a recessed cavity, said anti-slip coating and said one of device retention clips and said recessed cavity securing one or more devices connected to said charging station structure with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position.

8. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of said one or more devices comprises a rechargeable power source, said charging station structure comprising transmitter coils, circuitry and at least one battery, wherein power is wirelessly transmitted from said at least one battery to the one or more devices via said transmitter coils and said circuitry with the one or more devices connected to the charging station structure and with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position.

9. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said charging station structure comprises a layer of ferrite.

10. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said charging station structure comprises a thermal mitigation layer, said thermal mitigation layer comprising a heat sink, said heat sink removing heat produced by said transmitter coils.

11. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said charging system carrier comprises a first seat structure connecting structure and a second seat structure connecting structure, said charging station structure being pivotably connected to said first seat structure connecting structure and said second seat structure connecting structure such that charging station structure is pivotable from said first charging station structure position to said second charging station structure position with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position.

12. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said charging station structure is located in an interior of said charging system carrier with said charging system carrier in said first carrier position and with said charging station structure in said first charging station structure position, at least a portion of said charging station structure being located at a position outside of said charging system carrier with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position and with said charging station structure in said second charging station structure position.

13. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said charging station structure comprises a base portion and a device mounting portion, said base portion being pivotably connected to said first seat structure connecting structure and said second seat structure connecting structure, said device mounting portion being rotatably connected to said base portion, wherein said device mounting portion is rotatable relative to said base portion with said charging station structure in said second charging station structure position and with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position.

14. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said charging system carrier comprises foam.

15. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said seat structure comprises a storage compartment and at least one cup holder, said storage compartment and said at least one cup holder being accessible with said charging system carrier in said second carrier position.

16. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said charging station structure comprises one of a tray and an armature.

17. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said one or more devices comprise at least one of a tablet, a mobile phone and a smartphone, said charging station structure comprising a display, said display providing a visual indicator as output, said visual indicator corresponding to a recharging status of said one or more devices.

18. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said charging station structure comprises one or more universal serial bus (USB) powered ports, wherein power is supplied to said one or more devices via a physical connection, said physical connection connecting one of said one or more devices to one of said one or more USB ports.

19. A charging integration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat structure is a second row seat structure of a vehicle.

20. A vehicle seat system, comprising:

a seat structure comprising a first seat and a second seat;

a charging system support structure pivotably connected to said seat structure such that said charging system support structure is movable between a closed position and an open position, said charging system support structure defining a seat surface of a third seat of said seat structure in said closed position;

a charging station system movably connected to said charging system support structure such that said charging station system is movable, relative to said charging system support structure, with said charging system support structure in said open position.