System and method for reducing thermal conditions during wireless charging

• US 9,065,157 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Hrecznyj, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US13/672,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/107, 320/108, 320/114, 320/115, 320/150, 320/153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method is provided for reducing unsafe thermal conditions in an inductive charging system within a vehicle. The method includes inductively charging a chargeable device with an inductive charger. The method also includes adjusting an amount of power provided to the chargeable device by the charger based on the detected temperature information. The method further includes storing temperature metrics related to at least one chargeable device in a database. The method also includes shutting off the inductive charger if it detects the device on the inductive charger is also connected to a wired charging source.

Claims

1. A method for reducing thermal conditions in a wireless charging system, the method comprising:

detecting a chargeable device via at least one of a vehicle connectivity system and a wireless charging protocol;

wirelessly charging the chargeable device with a wireless charger;

detecting temperature information related to said wireless charging; and

adjusting an amount of power provided to the chargeable device by the charger based on the detected temperature information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing temperature metrics related to at least one chargeable device in a database.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of identifying the chargeable device by at least one temperature metric of the chargeable device stored in the database.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one temperature metric is an operating range of temperature for the chargeable device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing the detected temperature information with a determined temperature metric of the chargeable device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining cabin temperature inside a vehicle and comparing the cabin temperature with a determined temperature metric of the chargeable device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of suspending power provided to the chargeable device by the charger if the chargeable device is detected as proximate to or on a surface of a wirelessly powered module and identified as a chargeable device by a vehicle connectivity system.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a warning to a user about charging the chargeable device at an excessive thermal condition.

9. A wireless charging system comprising:

a wirelessly powered charger;

a chargeable device;

a controller that detects temperature information related to the wirelessly powered charger, and adjusts an amount of power provided to the chargeable device by the charger based on the detected temperature information; and

a vehicle connectivity system configured to suspend power provided to the chargeable device by the charger if the chargeable device is detected proximate to a wirelessly powered, module and identified as a chargeable device by the vehicle connectivity system.

10. The charging system of claim 9 further comprising a connectivity system that stores temperature metrics related to at least one chargeable device in a database.

11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein the chargeable device is identified by at least one temperature metric of the chargeable device stored in the database.

12. The charging system of claim 11, wherein said at least one temperature metric is an operating range of temperature for the chargeable device.

13. The charging system of claim 10, wherein the connectivity system further determines cabin temperature inside a vehicle and compares the cabin temperature with a determined temperature metric of the chargeable device.

14. The charging system of claim 10, wherein a port and/or wireless charging protocol of the connectivity system detects the chargeable device.

15. The charging system of claim 9, wherein the connectivity system further compares the detected temperature information with a determined temperature metric of the chargeable device.

16. The charging system of claim 9 further comprising a display showing a warning about charging the chargeable device at an excessive thermal condition.

17. An in-vehicle system for reducing thermal conditions in a wireless charging system comprising:

a wirelessly powered charger;

a chargeable device;

a controller that detects temperature information related to the wirelessly powered charger and adjusts an amount of power provided to the chargeable device by the charger based on the detected temperature information; and

a connectivity system that stores temperature metrics related to at least one chargeable device in a database, a port and/or wireless charging protocol of the connectivity system configured to detect the chargeable device.

18. The in-vehicle system of claim 17, wherein the connectivity system further determines cabin temperature inside a vehicle and compares the cabin temperature with a determined temperature metric of the chargeable device.