Wireless charging assembly for a vehicle

• US 9,819,211 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vu, Long Ngoc, Johnson, Randall, Cat, Quan, Adams, Aaron, Galler, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thapa, Sailesh
• Application Number:
  US14/316,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20150380970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• 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

Abstract

A wireless charging assembly for a passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a vehicle component, a wireless charger and a connection structure. The wireless charger includes a charger housing and at least one primary induction coil disposed in the charger housing. A support structure is connected to the charger housing for securing the portable electronic device to the charger housing. The connection structure movably connects the charger housing to the vehicle component such that the charger housing is movable between a stowed position and an in-use position.

Claims

1. A vehicle configured for wirelessly charging a portable electronic device within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle power system;

a driver seat;

a windshield positioned forward of the driver seat;

a rear-view mirror mounted to the windshield and facing the driver seat, the rear-view mirror having a mirror housing and a resilient detent extending outwardly from an outer surface of the mirror housing;

a wireless charging assembly including

a charger housing having a charging surface and a notch disposed in a rear outer surface of the charger housing;

at least one primary induction coil disposed in the charger housing;

a support structure connected to the charger housing for securing the portable electronic device to the charger housing, the support structure including

a pair of support members movable relative to the charging surface of the charger housing; and

a flange extending from the charger housing, the flange including a lip extending from the flange substantially parallel with the charger housing, the charger housing, the flange and the lip defining a channel configured to receive the portable electronic device;

and a controller disposed in the mirror housing, the controller being positioned proximate to the charger housing and being electrically coupled to the vehicle power system and to the at least one primary induction coil; and

a connection structure for rotatably connecting the charger housing to the mirror housing such that the charger housing is rotatable between a horizontal stowed position and an in-use position, the detent engaging the notch to substantially prevent accidental movement of the charger housing when the charger housing is in the horizontal stowed position.

2. The wireless charging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pair of support members are flexible members, each of the flexible members including a pair of ends pivotably coupled to the charger housing and a body portion extending between the pair of ends, the body portions being movable relative to a charging surface of the charger housing.

3. The wireless charging assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pair of flexible members are arcuately shaped such the body members bow towards each other, and the body members flex apart from each other when the support structure receives the portable electronic device.

4. The wireless charging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connection structure is a friction hinge configured to rotate the charger housing about an axis to adjust a position of the charger housing relative to the vehicle component.

5. The wireless charging assembly according to claim 4, wherein the friction hinge includes a locking detent to secure the position of the charger housing at a desired angle.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a hinge movably connecting the charger housing to the rear-view mirror, a first plane parallel to a mirror surface of the rear-view mirror being substantially perpendicular to a second plane parallel to a charging surface of the charger housing when the charger housing is in the stowed position.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an opening in the charger housing is configured to be aligned with a camera of the portable electronic device.