Apparatus for inductive charging of portable devices in vehicles

• US 9,373,974 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kaushik, Shailendra, Han, Taeyoung, Lascu, Dan, Stolicki, Jerome M., Jin, Xianxi, Khalighi, Bahram
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Thuan
• Application Number:
  US13/965,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

A portable device recharging system includes a base unit generating an electromagnetic field. A portable device includes a rechargeable battery inductively charged by the electromagnetic field. Spacers are disposed between the portable device and the base unit. The spacers support the portable device and maintain an air gap between the base unit and the portable device.

Claims

1. A portable device recharging system comprising:

a base unit generating an electromagnetic field;

a portable device including a rechargeable battery inductively charged by the electromagnetic field; and

spacers disposed between the portable device and the base unit, the spacers supporting the portable device and maintaining an air gap between the base unit and the portable device.

2. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein the spacers maintain a 2 mm air gap between the base unit and the portable device.

3. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein the spacers maintain greater than a 0 mm and less than a 2 mm air gap between the base unit and the portable device.

4. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein a shape of the spacers include studs.

5. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein a shape of the spacers include posts.

6. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein a shape of the spacers include balls.

7. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein a shape of the spacers include squares.

8. The portable device recharging system of claim 1 wherein a shape of the spacers include dimples.

9. A portable device recharging system comprising:

a base unit generating an electromagnetic field;

a portable device including a rechargeable battery inductively charged by the electromagnetic field; and

spacers disposed between the portable device and the base unit, the spacers supporting the portable device and maintaining an air gap between the base unit and the portable device;

a powermat including a powermat surface, wherein the base unit is integrated within the powermat.

10. The portable device recharging system of claim 9 wherein the spacers are integrated as part of the powermat, wherein the spacers and the powermat include a same material composition.

11. The portable device recharging system of claim 9 wherein the spacers are separately formed from the powermat.

12. The portable device recharging system of claim 9 wherein a material composition of the spacers is selected for minimizing thermal conduction of heat stored in the powermat to a contacting exterior surface of the portable device.

13. The portable device recharging system of claim 9 wherein a configuration of the spacers on the powermat surface is selected for maximize air flow between the powermat surface and the portable device.

14. The portable device recharging system of claim 13 wherein a configuration of the spacers on the powermat surface includes a square configuration.

15. The portable device recharging system of claim 13 wherein a configuration of the spacers on the powermat surface includes a triangular configuration.

16. The portable device recharging system of claim 13 wherein a configuration of the spacers on the powermat surface includes a rectangular configuration.

17. The portable device recharging system of claim 13 wherein a configuration of the spacers on the powermat surface includes a polygon configuration.

18. The portable device recharging system of claim 13 wherein a configuration of the spacers on the powermat surface includes a non-linear configuration.

19. The portable device recharging system of claim 9 wherein a number of spacers on the powermat surface is selected to maximize air flow between the powermat surface and the portable device.