SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COOLING INDUCTIVE CHARGING ASSEMBLIES

• US 20140062392A1
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Lofy, John, Marquette, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,451,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 inductive charger includes a thermal conditioning assembly in fluid communication with an inductive charging assembly. The inductive charging assembly can include a dock and an inductive 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 inductive charging module. The thermal conditioning assembly can include a fluid transfer device and a thermal conditioning module, such as a thermoelectric device. In various embodiments, heat (e.g., heat produced during inductive charging) can be transferred from the inductive charging assembly to the thermal conditioning module and/or to a fluid flow produced by the fluid transfer device, thereby cooling the inductive charging assembly and/or the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A thermally conditioned inductive charging system comprising:

a dock having a portion configured to receive a portable electronic device;

a thermal conditioning assembly;

wherein the dock is positioned adjacent an inductive charging module such that the portable electronic device received in the dock can be selectively inductively charged; and

wherein the thermal conditioning assembly is configured to selectively cool the portion of the dock.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal conditioning assembly further comprises a thermal conditioning module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermal conditioning module is configured to conductively cool the portion of the dock.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermal conditioning assembly further comprises a fluid transfer device configured to produce a fluid flow, wherein the thermal conditioning module is configured to cool the fluid flow, and wherein the cooled fluid flow convectively cools the portion of the dock.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermal conditioning module is a thermoelectric device.

6. A cooling system for an inductive charger, the system comprising

a thermal conditioning assembly in fluid communication with an inductive charging assembly;

wherein the inductive charging assembly comprises a dock and an inductive charging module, the dock having an interior configured to receive a portable electronic device, the inductive charging module configured to provide inductive charging to the portable electronic device;

the thermal conditioning assembly comprising a fluid transfer device configured to produce a fluid flow; and

wherein the fluid flow is delivered to the interior of the dock, thereby cooling the portable electronic device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the thermal conditioning assembly further comprises a thermal conditioning module.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermal conditioning module is configured to cool the fluid flow.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermal conditioning module is configured to cool a conduction member in conductive thermal communication with the dock.

10. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein the thermal conditioning module comprises a thermoelectric device.

11. The cooling system of claim 7, further comprising ducting that fluidly connects the fluid transfer device and the thermal conditioning module.

12. The cooling system of claim 6, further comprising the inductive charging assembly.

13. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the system is at least partly integrated into an automobile.

14. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a cell phone.

15. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the heat from a waste side of the thermal conditioning module is convectively transferred away from the thermal conditioning module.

16. A cooled inductive charging system comprising:

a thermal conditioning assembly; and

a charging assembly operatively integrated with the thermal conditioning assembly;

wherein the thermal conditioning assembly is configured to provide a flow of air to selectively cool the charging assembly.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the charging assembly is configured to selectively charge a portable electronic device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the thermal conditioning assembly is further configured to selectively cool the portable electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the thermal conditioning assembly comprises a fluid transfer device configured to provide the flow of air and a thermoelectric device configured to cool the flow of air.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the thermal conditioning assembly comprises a thermal conditioning module configured to conductively cool the portable electronic device.