Vehicle including a passenger compartment equipped with a wireless induction charger and a cooling system with a Peltier element and fan

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment (300) equipped with a wireless induction charger (30), the wireless induction charger (30) being configured to charge a mobile phone (M) supported by a support surface (93) in the passenger compartment. The vehicle further comprises a cooling device (1) configured to cool said mobile phone (M), wherein the cooling device (1) comprises: - a Peltier element (40) having a cold surface (41) facing the support surface (93) and a hot surface (42) located opposite the cold surface (41); - a heat sink (50) in contact with the hot surface (42); and - a fan (60) arranged to circulate air over and / or through the heat sink (50). Figure 5

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle comprising a passenger compartment equipped with a wireless induction charger and a cooling device with a Peltier element and fan technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment equipped with an induction wireless charger. Technological background

[0002] In the automotive sector, it is increasingly common to equip the passenger compartment of a vehicle with a wireless induction charger. Such a charger allows a mobile phone to be recharged, enabling the driver or a passenger to use the mobile phone inside the vehicle.

[0003] However, in practice, wireless induction chargers tend to cause the mobile phone to overheat. This is problematic because a mobile phone is designed to modify its operation when its internal temperature becomes too high. In particular, the mobile phone may automatically degrade its performance, or even shut down completely, when its internal temperature becomes excessive. This is a source of inconvenience, especially when the mobile phone is being used as a road navigation system via a navigation application installed on the phone.

[0004] To avoid this problem, it is possible to adapt the charger to a particular mobile phone model to prevent excessive overheating of the mobile phone. However, this solution is impractical for car manufacturers, because to be an attractive option, the charger must be able to charge as many mobile phone models as possible.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a solution that allows a mobile phone to be cooled while being charged by a wireless induction charger. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment equipped with a wireless induction charger, the wireless induction charger being configured to recharge a mobile phone supported by a support surface in the passenger compartment.

[0007] According to the invention, the vehicle further comprises a cooling device configured to cool said mobile phone, and the cooling device comprises: - a Peltier element having a cold surface facing the support surface and a hot surface located opposite the cold surface; - a radiator in contact with the hot surface; and - A fan designed to circulate air over and / or through the heatsink. With such a cooling device, when the Peltier element and the fan are powered, the heat generated in the mobile phone during charging is dissipated via the Peltier element, then through the heatsink, and finally into the air drawn by the fan and circulating over and / or through the heatsink. Thus, the cooling device effectively cools the mobile phone while being very simple in design.

[0008] According to one possible feature of the invention, the radiator is a finned radiator and the fan is arranged to circulate air between the fins of the finned radiator. A finned radiator is particularly advantageous in the context of the cooling device, firstly because its main body is capable of storing a significant amount of heat generated in the mobile phone and secondly because its fins offer a large heat exchange surface which allows this heat to be dissipated quickly and efficiently.

[0009] According to one possible feature of the invention, the fan comprises a housing which has a collar, the collar being fixed, for example by gluing, to the ends of said fins. This collar guides the air between the fins of the radiator.

[0010] According to one possible feature of the invention, the air circulating over and / or through the radiator is drawn from the passenger compartment, and the cooling device further includes a pipe arranged to expel the air that has circulated over and / or through the radiator from the passenger compartment. In this way, the air heated by the radiator is prevented from circulating again around the mobile phone, which could degrade the performance of the cooling device.

[0011] According to one possible feature of the invention, the radiator is attached, for example by gluing, to the hot surface of the Peltier element. This maximizes the heat transfer rate between the hot surface of the Peltier element and the radiator.

[0012] According to one possible feature of the invention, the cooling device further comprises a thermally conductive plate which is attached, for example by gluing, to the cold surface of the Peltier element. In this way, the heat generated in the mobile phone is efficiently transferred by conduction from the plate to the Peltier element, then to the heat sink, and finally to the air drawn in by the fan.

[0013] According to one possible feature of the invention, the thermally conductive plate has a through-hole allowing the passage of electromagnetic waves generated by the wireless induction charger. Thus, the thermally conductive plate does not appreciably interfere with the wireless induction charging of the mobile phone by the charger.

[0014] According to one possible feature of the invention, the housing comprises a visible thermally conductive element that materializes said support surface while concealing the thermally conductive plate. Thus, the thermally conductive plate does not disrupt the visual appearance of the housing, and the visible thermally conductive element does not prevent the heat generated in the mobile phone from reaching the thermally conductive plate.

[0015] According to one possible feature of the invention, the visible thermally conductive element is in contact with the thermally conductive plate. The cooling of the mobile phone is then more efficient, and all the more so as the contact surface between the visible element and the thermally conductive plate is large.

[0016] According to a possible feature of the invention, the cooling device further includes a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature of the thermally conductive plate, the operation of the fan being controlled at least according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. Brief description of the figures

[0017] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the accompanying figures:

[0018] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a wireless induction charger and a cooling device configured to cool a mobile phone being charged by the wireless induction charger,

[0019] [Fig.2] represents the cooling device in exploded view,

[0020] [Fig.3] schematically represents a Peltier element of the cooling device,

[0021] [Fig.4] represents the cooling device in section according to IV-IV on the [Fig.1],

[0022] [Fig.5] represents the cooling device in section according to VV on [Fig.1], the cooling device being arranged under a central console between two front seats of the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Description of method(s) of implementation

[0023] In the figures, and unless otherwise specified, identical elements shall bear the same reference symbols.

[0024] For the purposes of this description, reference will be made to a direct orthonormal coordinate system XYZ, classically used in automotive design, in which the X-axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, and the Y-axis designates the transverse direction and is oriented towards the right of the vehicle, the Z axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented upwards.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wireless induction charger 30. The wireless induction charger 30, hereinafter referred to as "the charger 30" for convenience, is configured to recharge a mobile phone supported by a mounting surface in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, by powering the mobile phone's battery through electromagnetic induction. Since the principle of such wireless induction charging is known, it is not described in detail here. It is only recalled that the charger 30 includes induction coils (not shown) for generating electromagnetic waves, and that these electromagnetic waves induce an electric current in an induction coil integrated into the mobile phone, this electric current being used to recharge the mobile phone's battery.

[0026] Since wireless induction charging tends to heat up the mobile phone, a cooling device 1 is provided, configured to cool the mobile phone being charged by the charger 30. This cooling device 1 is shown assembled in [Fig.1] and in exploded view in [Fig.2].

[0027] The cooling device 1 includes in particular a Peltier element 40, a radiator 50, and a fan 60.

[0028] In a manner known per se, the Peltier element 40 is an element which, when supplied with electricity by any electricity source 43 (cf. [Fig.3]), absorbs heat at the level of a surface, called the cold surface, 41 of the Peltier element 40 and releases heat at the level of a surface, called the hot surface, 42 of the Peltier element 40 opposite to the cold surface 4L. The Peltier element 40 is for example made of a semiconductor material according to known techniques.

[0029] Referring to [Fig. 4], which is a sectional view along IV-IV of [Fig. 1], the heater 50 is in contact with the hot surface 42, and the fan 60 is arranged to circulate air over and / or through this heater 50. The cold surface 41, on the other hand, faces the support surface that holds the mobile phone. As will be detailed below, the cold surface 41 is in direct or indirect contact with an element that constitutes this support surface. In this way, when the Peltier element 40 and the fan 60 are powered, the heat generated in the mobile phone during its charging by the charger 30 is dissipated via the Peltier element 40, then via the heater 50, and finally into the air that is drawn in by the fan 60 and circulates over and / or through the heater 50.Thus, cooling device 1 cools the mobile phone efficiently while being of very simple construction.

[0030] The air drawn in by the fan 60 and circulating over and / or through the radiator 50 can be taken from the passenger compartment.

[0031] The air that has circulated over and / or through the radiator 50 can be released into the passenger compartment. However, it is preferable that this air be expelled from the passenger compartment by means of a suitably arranged hose 80. In this way, the air heated by the radiator 50 is prevented from circulating again around the mobile phone, which could degrade the performance of the cooling device 1. The hose 80 is partially shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2]. The hose 80 can terminate at any suitable location on the vehicle, for example, at the bottom of the vehicle body.

[0032] It is preferable that the radiator 50 be a finned radiator, that is to say, that the radiator 50 comprises a main body 58 and a plurality of fins 59 projecting from this main body 58, as can be seen more clearly in [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 4]. In this case, as shown in [Fig. 4], the fresh air FC drawn in by the fan 60 flows between the fins 59, after which the air FH heated by contact with the fins 59 is expelled by the fan 60. Advantageously, and to better guide the fresh air FC and the heated air FH, the fan housing 60 comprises a collar 69 which is fixed to the ends of the fins 59.

[0033] A finned radiator 50 is particularly advantageous in the context of the cooling device 1, firstly because the main body 58 is capable of storing a significant amount of heat generated in the mobile phone and secondly because the fins 59 offer a large heat exchange surface which allows this heat to be evacuated quickly and efficiently.

[0034] Advantageously and to maximize the rate of heat transfer between the hot surface 42 of the Peltier element 40 and the radiator 50, the radiator 50 is fixed to the hot surface 42. In the case of a finned radiator 50, the surface 52 (see [Fig.2]) of the main body 58 opposite the fins 59 is fixed to the hot surface 42 (see [Fig.4]).

[0035] The fan 60 can, in particular, be an axial fan, as can be seen in [Fig. 4]. This allows the pipe 80 to be attached very simply by inserting the pipe 80 into the housing of the fan 60, which carries the collar 69. Alternatively, other types of fans can be used instead of the fan 60. To simplify the drawing, the power supply to the fan 60 and the Peltier element 40 has not been shown in the figures.

[0036] With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4, the cooling device 1 preferably comprises a plate 10 which is fixed to the cold surface 41 of the Peltier element 40. The plate 10 has a through-hole 20 which allows the passage of electromagnetic waves generated by the charger 30, so that the plate 10 does not appreciably interfere with the wireless inductive charging of the mobile phone by the charger 30. The through opening 20 may possibly open onto one of the edges of the plate 10, but it is preferable that the through opening 20 does not open onto any of the edges of the plate 10 as shown in figures 1, 2 and 4.

[0037] The plate 10 is made of a thermally conductive material, in particular aluminum, aluminum alloy, or another metal or metal alloy. In this way, and since the plate 10 is fixed to the cold surface 41, the heat generated in the mobile phone is efficiently transferred by conduction from the plate 10 to the Peltier element 40, then to the heat sink 50, and finally to the air drawn in by the fan 60. It should be noted that, within the scope of the invention, the total thermal capacity of the plate 10 is less important than the plate 10's ability to rapidly dissipate the heat generated in the mobile phone. It is therefore preferable for the plate 10 to be of relatively small thickness, for example, between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0038] The connections described above between the plate 10, the Peltier element 40, the heat sink 50, and the flange 69 of the fan 60 can be made in a number of ways. However, advantageously, some of these connections are made by bonding, and even more advantageously, all of these connections are made by bonding. Indeed, the surfaces involved, and in particular the cold surface 41 and the hot surface 42, can be flat, which makes bonding very simple. Furthermore, since the heat generated in the mobile phone is not extreme, various adhesives can be used as long as they have adequate temperature resistance.

[0039] In some simple embodiments, the fan 60 is switched on when the charger 30 is switched on and remains on as long as the charger 30 remains on. However, it is preferable for the operation of the fan 60 to be controlled based on a temperature measurement. For this purpose, the cooling device includes a temperature sensor 70 arranged to measure the temperature of the plate 10, and the operation of the fan 60 is controlled at least based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 70. In one example embodiment, the fan 60 is switched on when the charger 30 is on and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 70 exceeds a temperature threshold.The activation of the fan 60 according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 70 can be controlled by a control unit of the cooling device 1, this control unit may or may not be integrated into the charger 30.

[0040] In the example shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the temperature sensor 70 is arranged on one of the edges of the through opening 20. The temperature sensor 70 is, for example, a capacitive temperature sensor.

[0041] The plate 10 itself can form the support surface for the mobile phone. However, in most cases, the mobile phone being charged by the charger 30 is intended to remain visible to the driver of the vehicle and / or to a passenger seated in the vehicle's interior. It is therefore desirable that the plate 10 not disrupt the visual appearance of the passenger compartment, especially since the plate 10 can be made of an alloy or a metallic alloy as mentioned above. Preferably, and to meet this requirement, the support surface for the mobile phone being charged by the charger 30 is formed by a visible element that is separate from the plate 10 and conceals the plate 10.The term "visible element" refers to any element that is visible to the driver of the vehicle and / or to a passenger seated in the vehicle's passenger compartment and that thus contributes to the visual appearance of the passenger compartment. This could, for example, be a rigid element such as a portion of the dashboard, or a flexible element such as a carpet, the upholstery of one of the vehicle's seats, etc. It should be noted that any orientation of the visible element and the plate 10 relative to the XYZ coordinate system is permissible, as long as the visible element provides a support surface for the mobile phone and obscures the plate 10. Naturally, the visible element may include various features, such as raised sections or stops, to hold the mobile phone in place on the support surface.

[0042] Purely by way of example, [Fig. 5] represents an alternative embodiment in which the visible element is a mat 90 located near a center console 100, the center console 100 being situated between two front seats of the passenger compartment 300 of a vehicle. The cooling device 1 is located under the center console 100. The mat 90 is situated in front of the center console 100 along the X-axis of the vehicle and extends in a horizontal and transverse plane of the vehicle, i.e., the mat 90 extends in a plane that is parallel to the X and Y axes of the vehicle. The mat 90 has a flat surface 93 which represents the support surface for a mobile phone M (partially represented in dotted lines on [Fig.5]) being charged by the charger 30. This flat surface 93 may bear a pictogram which indicates to a person sitting in one of the front seats where to place the mobile phone M.Advantageously, the mat 90 has a raised side edge 92 and / or a stop 91 to hold the mobile phone M in place on the flat surface 93.

[0043] Since the mat 90 covers part of the plate 10 by being in contact with the plate 10, it is suitable that the mat 90 be made of a thermally conductive material, so that the heat generated in the mobile phone M can be transmitted by conduction to the plate 10 via the mat 90. More generally, it is suitable that the visible element forming a support surface for the mobile phone be made of a thermally conductive material, and preferably, the element The apparent element is in contact with plate 10. The larger the contact area between the apparent element and plate 10, the more effective the cooling of the mobile phone.

[0044] Referring to [Fig. 5], it will be understood that since the plate 10 is in contact with the Peltier element 40, which itself is in contact with the radiator 50, which itself is in contact with the fan 60, the cooling device 1 is compact and therefore easy to integrate into the passenger compartment 300 of a vehicle. Advantageously, the plate 10 is attached to the charger 30. In this way, it is sufficient to attach the charger 30 to secure the cooling device 1 in the passenger compartment 300. The charger 30 can be attached in various ways, for example by means of clips 35, 36 (see [Fig. 1], [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 4]) formed on a housing of the charger 30.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle comprising a passenger compartment (300) equipped with a wireless induction charger (30), the wireless induction charger (30) being configured to charge a mobile phone (M) supported by a support surface (93) in the passenger compartment, the vehicle further comprising a cooling device (1) configured to cool said mobile phone (M), in which the cooling device (1) comprises: - a Peltier element (40) having a cold surface (41) facing the support surface (93) and a hot surface (42) located opposite the cold surface (41); - a radiator (50) in contact with the hot surface (42); and - a fan (60) arranged to circulate air over and / or through the radiator (50).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the radiator (50) is a finned radiator and the fan (60) is arranged to circulate air between fins (59) of the finned radiator.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, in which the fan (60) comprises a housing which has a collar (69), the collar (69) being fixed, for example by bonding, to the ends of said fins (59).

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air flowing over and / or through the radiator is taken from the passenger compartment (300) and the cooling device (1) further includes a pipe (80) arranged to vent the air that has flowed over and / or through the radiator (50) out of the passenger compartment (300).

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the radiator (50) is fixed, for example by gluing, to the hot surface (42) of the Peltier element (40).

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cooling device (1) further comprises a thermally conductive plate (10) which is fixed, for example by gluing, to the cold surface (41) of the Peltier element (40).

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the thermally conductive plate (10) has a through opening (20) allowing the passage of electromagnetic waves generated by the wireless induction charger (30).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the passenger compartment includes an apparent thermally conductive element (90) which materializes said support surface (93) while masking the thermally conductive plate (10).

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the apparent thermally conductive element (90) is in contact with the thermally conductive plate (10).

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the cooling device (1) further comprises a temperature sensor (70) arranged to measure a temperature of the thermally conductive plate (10), the operation of the fan (60) being controlled at least as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (70).

Images