Charging device for charging process of mobile equipment in vehicle

Abstract

A charging device (10) for a charging process of a mobile device (200) in a vehicle, comprising a charging plane (20) for contact placement of the mobile device (200) and a charging device (30) for charging the mobile device (200) placed on the charging plane (20), and also comprising a housing (40) which at least partially surrounds the charging plane (20), the housing (40) having at least one inlet section (42), the at least one inlet section having at least one inlet (44), the at least one inlet being used to allow interior air (IL) from the interior of the vehicle to enter as cooling air (KL) for cooling the mobile device (200) and / or the charging plane (20); the housing having at least one outlet section (46), the at least one outlet section having at least one outlet (48), the at least one outlet being used to discharge the cooling air (KL) into the interior of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a charging device for a charging process of a mobile device in a vehicle and to a center console for an interior of a vehicle having at least one such charging device. Background Art

[0002] It is known that charging devices are arranged in vehicles in order to charge mobile devices. Usually, such charging devices are designed as contact plates or charging plates, on which the corresponding mobile device can be placed and can be charged in a contact manner. For this purpose, it is no longer necessary to plug a cable into the mobile device, but the charging process can be generated in the mobile device by wireless charging process and induction. Known solutions have such a charging plane in particular in the area of ​​the center console, that is, a charging plane that is incorporated into the center console. If the mobile device is placed on this charging plane, the charging process can be automatically started and ended, so to speak, while the mobile phone is stored there.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known solutions is that the charging surface and the mobile device heat up during this charging process. Therefore, during the charging process, especially over a longer period, the temperature on the charging surface can reach a temperature of up to 50° C. and therefore also in the mobile device. Since the temperature can be adversely affected in the interior of the center console, the charging surface and the mobile device exceed a temperature threshold that limits charging. Therefore, mobile devices are usually provided with a temperature threshold of 35° C. to 45° C., so that the charging power is reduced as soon as such a temperature threshold is reached. In the known solutions, this results in: when the mobile device is placed on the charging surface in the vehicle, the charging process is only carried out until this threshold temperature is reached. Therefore, a complete charging of the mobile device cannot be provided, because the charging process is interrupted in advance or the charging power is reduced after reaching the threshold temperature. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, the object of the present invention is to ensure a charging power of the charging device that is as constant and complete as possible in a cost-effective and simple manner.

[0005] Features and details described in conjunction with the charging device according to the invention naturally also apply in conjunction with the center console according to the invention, and vice versa, so that reference is always made or can be made to the disclosure of the various aspects of the invention.

[0006] The charging device according to the invention is used for the charging process of a mobile device in a vehicle. For this purpose, the charging device has a charging plane for contact placement of the mobile device. In addition, the charging device is equipped with a charging device for charging the mobile device placed on the charging plane. In addition, the charging device has a housing, which at least partially surrounds the charging plane. Here, the housing is equipped with at least one inlet section, which has at least one inlet, and the at least one inlet is used to allow interior air from the interior of the vehicle to enter as cooling air for cooling the mobile device and / or the charging plane. In addition, the housing has at least one outlet section, which has at least one outlet section, and the at least one outlet is used to discharge cooling air into the interior of the vehicle.

[0007] According to the invention, the charging device provides a charging plane based on known solutions, which provides wireless charging by placing the mobile device. This charging plane has corresponding charging means, for example, the charging plane is designed in the simplest way with a cable, which supplies the charging plane with current. Inductive means can be provided in the charging plane as charging means, so that inductive charging or inductive charging in the mobile device can be produced. In this case, it is insignificant in the first step whether the charging plane and the charging means are fixedly integrated into the housing or are subsequently placed. Therefore, the charging device according to the invention can also be realized by subsequently installing such a charging plane with such a charging means in the housing.

[0008] According to the invention, a housing is now provided, which serves as a charging surface and as a storage space for the mobile device. As described below, the housing can be a center console or a part of such a center console. In particular, such a center console can also be at least partially closed, for example with a corresponding cover device. If a mobile device is now inserted and placed on the charging surface of the charging device, charging can be performed wirelessly. During this charging process, the charging surface and the mobile device heat up in the manner described.

[0009] According to the invention, in particular, cooling designed in a passive manner can now be provided. To ensure this, the housing is designed with an inlet section, which has at least one inlet. The at least one inlet can be designed, for example, in the form of a groove, in a circle or with any other geometric shape. Depending on the actual geometry and the corresponding cooling requirements, two or more inlets can also be provided in the inlet section. Naturally, it is also conceivable in principle to provide two or more inlet sections, which each have one, two or more inlets.

[0010] Via the inlet of the inlet section, interior air can now enter the interior of the housing from the vehicle interior. The interior air can thus be used as cooling air for cooling the mobile device. The interior air is usually set to a defined temperature by virtue of the fact that a temperature-controlled atmosphere is usually present in the interior of the vehicle. Independent of the outside temperature, the interior temperature in the vehicle is usually in the range of approximately 18° C. to 24° C. As a rule, the occupants feel comfortable in the range of between 20° C. and 22° C. At low outside temperatures, the interior temperature can also be lower, for example, but is usually heated in this case. In critically warm situations, i.e. if the outside temperature around the vehicle exceeds 25° C. or even 30° C. or more, the air conditioning system usually cools the interior of the vehicle and thus provides a constant or substantially constant interior temperature in the range of approximately 20° C.

[0011] Based on the above relationship between the external temperature of the vehicle surroundings and the interior temperature in the vehicle, it can be determined that the interior temperature is suitable for cooling air regardless of the actual operating conditions and temperature conditions around the vehicle, because the interior temperature in the range of about 20°C is usually below the temperature threshold of 35°C to 45°C at which the charging process in the mobile device is disconnected.

[0012] Thus, significantly cooler interior air can now be introduced through the inlet, which interior air is cooling air in the range of about 20° C. for cooling the mobile device or the charging surface. In order to prevent the accumulation of cooling air in the housing, in particular when the housing is designed with a cover device, the housing is now additionally designed with an outlet section, which has at least one outlet. Thus, in particular after the cooling air has been at least partially exposed to the heat of the mobile device or the charging surface, the cooling air can be led or discharged again from the housing. This allows a convection flow to be provided, which introduces cold interior air as cooling air and, after transferring heat to the cooling air, the heated cooling air is led out of the housing again.

[0013] As can be clearly seen based on the above-described method of operation, a cooling function can now be provided for the mobile device and the charging surface, in particular in a passive manner, i.e. by convection of cooling air through the housing. This allows a significantly better temperature control during the charging process and in particular to be kept below a temperature threshold which would otherwise lead to a reduction in the charging power or even to a complete shutdown of the charging process. Thus, with the charging device according to the invention, the charging power can be increased in a cost-effective and simple manner and in particular a complete charging of the mobile device can also be ensured.

[0014] Advantageously, in the charging device according to the invention, the housing is closed or substantially closed, the housing in particular having a housing cover. This design is particularly possible by arranging the inlet section and the outlet section in the manner according to the invention. In known solutions, the closing of the housing can usually lead to a temperature threshold being exceeded due to heat accumulation in the closed interior of the housing, so that the charging power is reduced to a minimum or even completely cut off. According to the invention, convection of cooling air through the interior of the housing can now be achieved even if the cover device is closed, so that reaching the temperature threshold is completely prevented or at least delayed. Even during the charging process of a mobile device in a closed center console with a charging device according to the invention, an increased charging power can be obtained or complete charging of the mobile device can be ensured.

[0015] It is also advantageous that, in the charging device according to the invention, the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are arranged at different heights of the housing. In particular, the at least one outlet is designed above the at least one inlet to provide a corresponding chimney effect. The arrangement at different heights of the housing allows for circulation of the housing from bottom to top or from top to bottom. In this way, the volume of circulation is expanded, which can also influence the volume of the expanded air exchange and thus the cooling effect. In particular, free convection can be fully utilized in this way. It is also preferred that the inlet and outlet are even arranged on different sides of the housing to further improve or expand the volume of the circulating cooling air.

[0016] It is also advantageous that in the charging device according to the invention, the at least one inlet is arranged below the charging plane. Such an arrangement supports the chimney effect, as described in the above paragraph. In particular, air can flow from below into the charging plane and therefore also into the mobile device, so that a flow can be achieved partially or even completely around the charging plane and the mobile device, especially from bottom to top. In this case, the rising heat pulls the interior air, so that the air heated up above the mobile device rises and thus produces a suction effect. This achieves the described chimney effect or, in particular, free convection.

[0017] Another advantage can be achieved if, in the charging device according to the invention, the at least one outlet is arranged above the charging plane. This embodiment is in particular combined with one or both embodiments of the two above-mentioned paragraphs. In other words, the rising heat from the mobile device can now be discharged in particular upwards through the outlet arranged above. This further strengthens the described attraction effect for the inlet. This effect is further strengthened and in particular optimized if the inlet is located below the charging plane and the outlet is located above the charging plane.

[0018] Furthermore, it is advantageous that in the charging device according to the invention a ventilation device for generating forced convection of cooling air is arranged between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet. This means that, whether the forced convection is provided in a supporting manner or in a fully operational manner, the forced convection on the one hand causes the cooling air to swirl in the housing and on the other hand supports or provides convection. This enables effective cooling even at low heat differences, so that the advantages according to the invention can be achieved independently of the actual ambient conditions. In this case, the electrical connections of the charging device can also be used to put the ventilation device into operation.

[0019] A further advantage can be achieved if, in the charging device according to the invention, the flow cross section of at least one inlet is equal or substantially equal to the flow cross section of at least one outlet. In particular, the number of inlets is equal to the number of outlets, and the total cross-sectional area of ​​all corresponding inlets is also equal to the total cross-sectional area of ​​all outlets. This avoids heat accumulation, since the incoming air can also be discharged again from the interior of the housing with the same volume flow rate per the same unit of time. If there is a difference, it is meaningful to design the flow cross section of the outlet to be slightly larger than the flow cross section of the inlet, so as to ensure the discharge of heat accumulation with a higher probability.

[0020] It is also advantageous that, in the charging device according to the invention, a guiding device for guiding cooling air onto the charging plane is arranged in the housing. This can be a passive guiding device, but it can also be an active guiding device. In the simplest case, it is a flow section that deflects the orientation or flow direction of the interior air flowing in as cooling air and turns it in the direction of the charging plane or the mobile device. Such a guide plate or flow plate can be arranged as part of the inlet, for example. In addition to influencing and orienting the flow direction, other flow parameters, in particular the turbulence of the flow, can also be adjusted in this way. In free convection, eddies are intentionally generated so that the cooling air appears at a defined position of the mobile device or the charging plane or provides a defined residence time in order to absorb and dissipate heat from there as efficiently as possible.

[0021] It brings a further advantage that in the charging device according to the invention, the charging plane has at least one cooling section, which is used to contact the cooling air in order to transfer heat to the cooling air. Such a cooling section can, for example, have an enlarged surface. The cooling section can thus provide heat sinks in order to improve the heat transfer in a correspondingly enlarged manner. It is also conceivable to provide such a sheet or cooling section in the edge region of the charging plane next to the charging plane or next to the mobile device. Additionally or alternatively, a corresponding cooling section can also be formed on the back side, i.e. the bottom side of the charging plane.

[0022] The invention also relates to a central console for the interior of a vehicle, which has at least one charging device according to the invention. The central console according to the invention thus brings the same advantages as have already been explained in detail with reference to the charging device according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The drawings schematically show:

[0024] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a charging device according to the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 2 Another embodiment of the charging device according to the present invention is shown, and

[0026] Figure 3 Another embodiment of the charging device according to the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 The simplest design of the charging device 10 according to the invention is shown in a schematic cross-section. In this case, a housing 40 is provided, which forms part of a center console 100. In the interior of this center console 100, i.e. inside the housing 40, a charging plane 20 is arranged, on which a mobile device 200 is placed. This may be a mobile phone in particular. In order to enable electrical and wireless charging of the mobile device 200, charging means 30 are provided, which extend in particular below the charging plane 20 as inductive charging means. During the charging process of the mobile device 200, the mobile device is in a state of being charged. Figure 1 The position shown in FIG. 1 is placed on the charging surface 20.

[0028] from Figure 1 It can further be seen that the housing 40 is closed by a housing cover 41. This allows the view into the housing 40 to be blocked and ensures additional protection for the mobile device 200. However, this generally leads to heat accumulation in the interior of the housing 40, since the mobile device 20 and the charging surface 20 release heat during the charging process. In order to prevent this heat accumulation, the housing 40 now has an inlet section 42 and an outlet section 46 in the manner according to the invention.

[0029] Via the inlet section 42 (which has an inlet 44 here), interior air IL can enter the interior of the housing 40. Here, the interior air usually has a conditioned temperature in the range of about 20° C. Therefore, the interior air is now suitable as cooling air KL to flow around the charging plane 20 and the mobile device 200. When flowing around these two components, the cooling air KL absorbs heat and heats itself in this way. The heated cooling air KL rises due to the increase in temperature and is discharged again into the interior of the vehicle at the upper left through the outlet 48 of the outlet section 46.

[0030] As from Figure 1 It is well understood that the simplest solution can be achieved by free convection. Due to the arrangement of the outlet section 46 at the upper left, the rising heat and thus the rising, heated cooling air KL are discharged there. In order to avoid negative pressure in the interior of the housing 40, the interior air IL is sucked in as cooling air KL from the lower right through the inlet 44 by the suction effect formed.

[0031] Figure 2 An improved solution is shown which has essentially two additional components. On the one hand, this involves a ventilation device 50 which can support or even completely produce the free convection described in the previous paragraph. The ventilation device is designed in the region of the inlet 44 in this embodiment, but can be arranged arbitrarily in the housing 40 and in particular can also be arranged at the outlet 48. In order to ensure a defined flow direction of the cooling air KL, a guide device 60 is provided here, which guides the cooling air KL to the bottom side of the charging plane 20 and there to the cooling surface formed by definition as a cooling section 22. In this case, the cooling section 22 is used to provide an enlarged surface to improve the discharge possibility.

[0032] Figure 3 The embodiment of the charging device 10 according to the invention is also shown, which is here displayed in the area of ​​the center console 100. Here again it can be clearly seen that the interior air IL is introduced into the housing 40 in the same way through the inlet 44 of the inlet section 42. When the cooling air KL is guided through the charging plane 20, heat can be absorbed by the charging plane 20 or the mobile device 200 arranged there, and then flows out again as warmed cooling air KL through the outlet 48 of the outlet section 46.

[0033] The above description of the embodiments describes the invention only within the scope of examples. Individual features of the embodiments can naturally also be freely combined with one another (as long as this makes technical sense) without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A charging device (10) for passive cooling of a charging process of a mobile device (200) in a vehicle, the charging device comprising: A housing having an interior space defined by walls, a first one of the walls having at least one inlet (44) leading to the vehicle interior space, and a second one of the walls having at least one outlet (48) leading to the vehicle interior space; a charging assembly arranged in the interior space of the housing between the first wall and the second wall, the charging assembly having an upward charging plane facing the outlet and configured to place the mobile device in contact on the charging plane; the charging assembly also having a cooling surface facing away from the charging plane and facing the inlet; and A charging device for charging a mobile device arranged on a charging plane, wherein: At least one inlet is located at a first vertical height position of the shell, at least one outlet is located at a second vertical position above the first vertical position, the charging component is located at a third vertical position higher than the first vertical position but lower than the second vertical position, the cooling surface faces the at least one inlet, and the interior space of the shell is configured so that cooling air flows from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet, so that the air heated by the charging device in the closed interior space of the shell flows upward due to the chimney effect and leaves the closed shell upward through the outlet, so that the flow is partially or even completely around the charging plane and the mobile device from bottom to top, wherein the rising heat pulls the air in the interior space, thereby causing the air heated on the mobile device to rise and thereby producing a suction effect.

2. The charging device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (40) is closed or substantially closed and has a housing cover (41).

3. The charging device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A ventilation device (50) for generating a forced convection flow of cooling air (KL) is arranged between at least one inlet (44) and at least one outlet (48).

4. The charging device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The flow cross section of the at least one inlet (44) is equal or substantially equal to the flow cross section of the at least one outlet (48).

5. The charging device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A guide device (60) for guiding cooling air (KL) onto the charging plane (20) is arranged in the housing (40).

6. The charging device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The charging plane (20) has at least one cooling section (22) for contacting cooling air (KL) to transfer heat to the cooling air (KL).

7. A center console (100) for an interior space in a vehicle, comprising at least one charging device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

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