Systems and methods for thermoelectrically cooling inductive charging stations

• US 9,445,524 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Lofy, John, Marquette, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DUKE, EMMANUEL E
• Application Number:
  US13/935,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20140007594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20136 Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans H05K7/202 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20845 for automotive electronic casings H05K7/2089 takes precedence

Abstract

In some embodiments, a cooling system for an induction charger includes a thermal conditioning module in fluid communication with an induction charging assembly, which includes a dock and an induction charging module. The dock can be configured to receive a portable electronic device, such as a cell phone, that is configured to accept inductive charging from the induction charging module. The thermal conditioning module can include a fan or other fluid encouraging assembly, ducting, and a thermoelectric device (e.g., a Peltier device). A fluid, such as air, can flow from the fan and across and/or through the thermoelectric device, thereby conditioning the fluid. The conditioned fluid can be provided to the dock to at least partially offset the heat generated by the inductive charging and/or the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an induction charger, the system comprising:

a thermal conditioning module in fluid communication with an induction charging assembly comprising an induction charging module, the thermal conditioning module comprising;

a fan assembly;

a thermoelectric device; and

ducting fluidly connecting the fan assembly, the thermoelectric device, and a dock of the induction charging assembly, wherein the dock has a partially-enclosed portion and an aperture at a first end of the dock defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive and to provide inductive charging functionality to a portable electronic device;

wherein the induction charging module is connected to a first side of the dock and the ducting delivers air to an opening in a second side of the dock opposite the first side, the opening located between the first end of the dock and a second end of the dock opposite the first end such that air flows down at least part of an interior surface of the second side of the dock; and

wherein the fan is configured to encourage air across a portion of the thermoelectric device, thereby cooling the air, and the cooled air is subsequently provided to the induction charging assembly, thereby offsetting at least a portion of the heat generated by the induction charging assembly during induction charging of the portable electronic device.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the system is disposed in an automobile.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a cell phone.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the ducting connects with a bottom of the dock, thereby providing air to the bottom of the dock and the air flowing toward the top of the dock along at least a portion of the portable electronic device.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the ducting connects with a middle portion the dock, and the air is directed toward the bottom of the dock before flowing toward the top of the dock along at least a portion of the portable electronic device.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the ducting connects with an induction changing module, and the induction changing module connects with the dock.

7. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the fan and the thermoelectric device are located in a single housing.

8. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to at least partially offset the heat generated by the induction charging assembly during induction charging of the portable electronic device.

9. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to provide at least about 6 watts of the heat dissipation.

10. A method of cooling an inductive charging assembly in a vehicle, the method comprising:

drawing air into a fan;

providing the air to a thermoelectric device;

reducing the temperature of the air with the thermoelectric device;

providing the air to a dock comprising a partially-enclosed portion and an aperture at a first end of the dock defining a configured to receive a portable electric device, the dock being positioned adjacent to an inductive charging module connected to a first side of the dock that is configured to provide inductive charging capability to the portable electric device received in the dock;

passing the air along a channel of the dock and at least along a portion of the portable electric device, the channel being partially defined by ribs extending into the cavity;

increasing the temperature of the air with heat generated by the inductive charging of the portable electric device; and

expelling the air into the ambient interior of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising securing the portable electric device within the cavity with the ribs.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the air is provided to the bottom of the dock.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the air is provided to a middle portion of the dock.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the air to the inductive charging module prior to providing the air to the dock.