Charging device, battery, and method for recognizing a foreign object

• US 9,178,377 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Rejman, Marcin, Mack, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): AHMED, NASIR UDDIN
• Application Number:
  US13/421,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 374/152, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

A charging device having a coil for inductive electric charging of a device, in particular of a battery, including a control unit having a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature, the temperature sensor being situated in the area of application for applying the device, and is connected to the control unit, the temperature sensor being situated laterally next to the coil and adjacent to the coil.

Claims

1. A charging device, comprising:

a coil for inductive electric charging of a device;

a control unit; and

at least one temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature generated by a foreign object external to the charging device,

wherein the temperature sensor is;

situated in a charging area for charging of the device,

connected to the control unit, and

situated adjacent to an outside of the coil,

wherein the temperature sensor is situated on a printed circuit board which has an opening, the coil is arranged inside the opening and the temperature sensor is arranged adjacent to an inner edge of the opening of the printed circuit board.

2. The charging device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is a battery.

3. The charging device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor includes multiple temperature sensors distributed in a circle, wherein adjacent ones of the multiple temperature sensors have an identical distance to one another.

4. The charging device as recited in claim 1, wherein the charging device includes a housing having a plate which is adjacent to the charging area, the plate having a recess on an inner side, and the temperature sensor being situated in the recess.

5. The charging device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a thermally conducting element situated between the temperature sensor and a housing of the charging device to increase the thermal conductivity between the temperature sensor and the housing.

6. The charging device as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is an SMD component.

7. The charging device as recited in claim 6, wherein the opening has a circular design, and the printed circuit board has an inner diameter which is approximately equal to an outer diameter of the coil.

8. The charging device as recited in claim 1, wherein the charging device further comprises a coil core.

9. The charging device as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is situated outside an outer radius of the coil.

13. The charging device as recited in claim 8, wherein the coil core has an outer contour which defines the charging area.

14. The charging device as recited in claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is situated in front of an external annular area of the coil core.

15. The charging device as recited in claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is situated outside of the coil core.

16. The charging device as recited in claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is situated outside an outer circumference of the coil core.

17. The charging device as recited in claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board has a recess, the recess is situated on the outer contour of the coil core.

10. A battery, comprising:

a coil and an electric circuit for inductively charging the battery; and

a temperature sensor configured for detecting a temperature generated by a foreign object external to the battery,

wherein the temperature sensor is;

situated in a charging area for applying a charging device,

connected to a control unit; and

situated adjacent to an outside of the coil,

wherein the temperature sensor is situated on a printed circuit board which has an opening, the coil core and the coil are arranged inside the opening and the temperature sensor is arranged adjacent to an inner edge of the opening of the printed circuit board.

11. The battery according to claim 10, wherein a signal path is provided, which enables a connection between the control unit of the battery and a control unit of the charging device.

12. A charging device, comprising:

a coil core and a coil for inductive electric charging of a device;

a control unit; and

at least one temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature generated by a foreign object external to the charging device,

wherein the temperature sensor is;

situated in a charging area for charging of the device,

connected to the control unit, and

situated adjacent to an outside of the coil core,

wherein the temperature sensor is situated on a printed circuit board which has an opening, the coil core and the coil are arranged inside the opening and the temperature sensor is arranged adjacent to an inner edge of the opening of the printed circuit board.