Wireless power transmitter that recovers and reuses cold energy from peltier element

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmitter is provided, comprising: a blower fan for suctioning air from above and below and discharging the suctioned air through a side surface part thereof; a Peltier element including a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface; and a frame to which the blower fan and the Peltier element are mounted, wherein the air discharged from the blower fan is divided and supplied to the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element and the heat generating surface of the Peltier element by the frame.

Description

A wireless power transmitter that recovers and reuses the cold heat of a Peltier element.

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless power transmitter that recovers and reuses the cold heat of a Peltier element.

[0002] A wireless power transmitter transmits power to a wireless power receiver, charging the battery embedded in the wireless power receiver. To prevent temperature increases during the wireless charging process, the wireless charger may be equipped with a Peltier element. However, in the past, the cooling energy generated by the Peltier element was used only once and then dissipated, and no technology existed to recover and reuse this cooling energy.

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to solve all of the problems of the above-mentioned prior art.

[0004] In addition, another object of the present invention is to propose a novel heat dissipation structure inside a wireless power transmitter that can recover and reuse the cold heat generated in the Peltier element.

[0005] In addition, another object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of a Peltier element during a wireless charging process by recovering cold heat generated in a Peltier element and reusing the cold heat as energy for heat dissipation.

[0006] A representative configuration of the present invention to achieve the above purpose is as follows.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a wireless power transmitter is provided, which includes a blower fan that sucks air from the top and bottom and discharges the sucked air to the side, a Peltier element including a heat-absorbing surface and a heat-generating surface, and a frame on which the blower fan and the Peltier element are mounted, wherein air discharged from the blower fan is divided and supplied to the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element and the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element by the frame.

[0008] In addition, another wireless power transmitter according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention is further provided.

[0009] According to the present invention, a novel heat dissipation structure can be implemented inside a wireless power transmitter that enables recovery and reuse of cold heat generated from a Peltier element.

[0010] In addition, according to the present invention, the efficiency of the Peltier element can be improved during the wireless charging process by recovering the cold heat generated from the Peltier element and reusing the cold heat as energy for heat dissipation.

[0011] In addition, unlike the conventional method where a fan for recovering or radiating the upper cooling energy of the Peltier and a fan for radiating the lower heating energy had to be separately configured, the present invention enables the same function to be implemented with a single fan.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exploded perspective view of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of some internal components of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing a bottom view of a component of FIG. 3 and a cross-sectional view thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the entire wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the results of a simulation performed according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exploded perspective view of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of some internal components of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing showing a bottom view of a component of FIG. 8 and a cross-sectional view thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the entire wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating the results of a simulation performed according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exploded perspective view of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exploded perspective view of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The following detailed description of the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, while different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be modified and implemented from one embodiment to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components within each embodiment may also be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is to be construed to encompass the scope of the claims and all equivalents thereof. Like reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar elements throughout the several aspects.

[0026] Hereinafter, various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily practice the present invention.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless power transmitter (10) and a wireless power receiver (20) are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the wireless power transmitter (10) and the wireless power receiver (20) can be basically configured as a pair for wireless power transmission (or wireless charging). The wireless power transmitter (10) and the wireless power receiver (20) configured as a pair in this way can perform wireless power transmission using a magnetic induction method. Wireless power transmission using a magnetic induction method generally follows the Qi standard established by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). The Qi standard basically defines a Baseline Power Profile (BPP) and an Extended Power Profile (EPP), and a Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) has been newly defined recently. Compared to the existing BPP and EPP, the MPP is characterized by the addition of an additional element, i.e., a magnet, to align and fix the wireless power transmitter (10) and the wireless power receiver (20). The wireless power transmitter (10) and wireless power receiver (20) mentioned in this specification are based on the premise that MPP can be applied as well as BPP and EPP. Hereinafter, the description of the components of the wireless power receiver (20) will be omitted, and the components of the wireless power transmitter (10) will be specifically examined. The case where BPP or EPP is applied to the wireless power transmitter (10) will be described as the first embodiment, and the case where MPP is applied to the wireless power transmitter (10) will be described as the second embodiment.

[0028] Example 1: When BPP or EPP is applied

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a wireless power transmitter (10). FIG. 3 also illustrates a perspective view of some of the internal components of the wireless power transmitter (10). FIG. 4 also illustrates a view of the components of FIG. 3 viewed from below (FIG. 4(a)) and a cross-sectional view thereof (FIG. 4(b)). FIG. 5 also illustrates a cross-sectional view of the entire wireless power transmitter (10).

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the wireless power transmitter (10) may include various components. Among them, a blower fan (101), a Peltier element (102), and a frame (103) may form a heat dissipation structure within the wireless power transmitter (10). Below, the present embodiment will be described with a focus on these components.

[0031] First, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a blower fan (101) and a Peltier element (102) may be mounted on the frame (103). Specifically, the blower fan (101) may be placed on a side portion of the frame (103), and the Peltier element (102) may be placed on a central portion of the frame (103). The Peltier element (102) may include a heat-absorbing surface and a heat-generating surface, and when the Peltier element (102) is mounted on the frame (103), the heat-absorbing surface may be placed facing upward, and the heat-generating surface may be placed facing downward. Meanwhile, a cooling plate (200), a coil assembly (104), and an upper case (105) may be sequentially arranged on the upper side of the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102), and a heat sink (106), a separation case (107), a PCB (108), and a lower case (109) may be sequentially arranged below the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element (102).

[0032] In particular, the cooling plate (200) positioned on the upper portion of the heat-absorbing surface according to one embodiment of the present invention has excellent thermal conductivity, enabling it to quickly absorb the low-temperature cold air of the Peltier element. Furthermore, the cooling plate can also effectively amplify the cold air transferred into the air via the fan by expanding the heat transfer area.

[0033] Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, a cover (110) may be additionally placed between the coil assembly (104) and the upper case (105), which will be described later.

[0034] Continuing, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the blower fan (101) may perform a function of sucking air from the top and bottom and discharging the sucked air to the side portion. Here, the side portion of the blower fan (101) may be referred to as an air discharge path, and this air discharge path may be arranged inwardly of the wireless power transmitter (10). As the air discharge path of the blower fan (101) is arranged inwardly of the wireless power transmitter (10), the air discharged from the blower fan (101) may be supplied to the Peltier element (102). At this time, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) may not be supplied to only one side of the Peltier element (102), but may be supplied to both sides of the Peltier element (102), that is, both the heat-absorbing side and the heat-generating side of the Peltier element (102).

[0035] Specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, as the blower fan (101) is mounted on the frame (103), the frame (103) can divide the air discharge path of the blower fan (101) into a first air outlet (101a) and a second air outlet (101b) (see FIG. 4 (b) and FIG. 5, etc.). At this time, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) through the first air outlet (101a) can be supplied to the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102), and the air discharged from the blower fan (101) through the second air outlet (101b) can be supplied to the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element (102). That is, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) can be divided and supplied to the heat-absorbing surface and the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element (102) by the frame (103).

[0036] In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) to the first air outlet (101a) can be recovered (or sucked) back into the blower fan (101). Specifically, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) to the first air outlet (101a) can be recovered into the blower fan (101) through a circulation path formed based on the frame (103) (the circulation path in this embodiment will be referred to as a first circulation path). Here, the first circulation path may be designed to have a structure in which only internal air is circulated and external air is not introduced in order to lower the internal temperature, but this will be described in detail later.

[0037] More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame (103) may form a first circulation path together with a cover (110) arranged to simultaneously surround the heat-absorbing surface of the blower fan (101) and the Peltier element (102). The first circulation path may be configured as a path in which, when air is discharged through the first air outlet (101a), it passes through the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102) and moves along the inner wall surface of the cover (110) before being sucked back into the blower fan (101). The air sucked back into the blower fan (101) may be discharged not only through the first air outlet (101a) but also through the second air outlet (101b) depending on the division structure of the air discharge path. Here, the air sucked back into the blower fan (101) through the first circulation path has absorbed the cold heat generated on the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102), so that the air can lower the temperature of the heating surface of the Peltier element (102) when discharged through the second air outlet (101b).

[0038] Figure 6 illustrates the results of a simulation performed according to the present embodiment. Figure 6 shows that when the cold heat generated from the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102) is recovered through the first circulation path, the cold heat can be reused as energy for heat dissipation. This cold heat recovery and reuse continuously creates a virtuous cycle during the wireless power transmission process, which not only improves the efficiency of the Peltier element (102), but also enables heat dissipation to be effectively performed in the wireless power transmitter (10).

[0039] Example 2: When MPP is applied

[0040] According to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a wireless power transmitter (10). FIG. 8 also illustrates a perspective view of some of the internal components of the wireless power transmitter (10). FIG. 9 also illustrates a view of the components of FIG. 8 as viewed from below (FIG. 9(a)) and a cross-sectional view thereof (FIG. 9(b)). FIG. 10 also illustrates a cross-sectional view of the entire wireless power transmitter (10).

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the wireless power transmitter (10) may include various components. Among them, a blower fan (101), a Peltier element (102), and a frame (103) may form a heat dissipation structure within the wireless power transmitter (10). Below, the present embodiment will be described with a focus on these components.

[0042] First, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a blower fan (101) and a Peltier element (102) may be mounted on the frame (103). Specifically, the blower fan (101) may be placed on a side portion of the frame (103), and the Peltier element (102) may be placed on a central portion of the frame (103). The Peltier element (102) may include a heat-absorbing surface and a heat-generating surface, and when the Peltier element (102) is mounted on the frame (103), the heat-absorbing surface may be placed facing upward, and the heat-generating surface may be placed facing downward. Meanwhile, a cooling plate (200), a coil assembly (104) (the coil assembly (104) of the present embodiment may include a magnet) and an upper case (105) may be sequentially arranged on the upper side of the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102), and a heat sink (106), a separation case (107), a PCB (108) and a lower case (109) may be sequentially arranged below the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element (102).

[0043] In particular, the cooling plate (200) positioned on the upper portion of the heat-absorbing surface according to one embodiment of the present invention has excellent thermal conductivity, enabling it to quickly absorb the low-temperature cold air of the Peltier element. Furthermore, the cooling plate can also effectively amplify the cold air transferred into the air via the fan by expanding the heat transfer area.

[0044] In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment discussed above, a cover (110) may not be placed between the coil assembly (104) and the upper case (105), which will be described later.

[0045] Continuing, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the blower fan (101) may perform a function of sucking air from the top and bottom and discharging the sucked air to the side portion. Here, the side portion of the blower fan (101) may be referred to as an air discharge path, and this air discharge path may be arranged inwardly of the wireless power transmitter (10). As the air discharge path of the blower fan (101) is arranged inwardly of the wireless power transmitter (10), the air discharged from the blower fan (101) may be supplied to the Peltier element (102). At this time, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) may not be supplied to only one side of the Peltier element (102), but may be supplied to both sides of the Peltier element (102), that is, both the heat-absorbing side and the heat-generating side of the Peltier element (102).

[0046] Specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, as the blower fan (101) is mounted on the frame (103), the frame (103) can divide the air discharge path of the blower fan (101) into a first air outlet (101a) and a second air outlet (101b) (see FIG. 9 (b) and FIG. 10, etc.). At this time, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) through the first air outlet (101a) can be supplied to the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102), and the air discharged from the blower fan (101) through the second air outlet (101b) can be supplied to the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element (102). That is, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) can be divided and supplied to the heat-absorbing surface and the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element (102) by the frame (103).

[0047] In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) to the first air outlet (101a) can be recovered (or sucked) back into the blower fan (101). Specifically, the air discharged from the blower fan (101) to the first air outlet (101a) can be recovered into the blower fan (101) through a circulation path formed based on the frame (103) (the circulation path in this embodiment will be referred to as a second circulation path). Here, the second circulation path may be designed to have a structure in which only internal air is circulated and external air is not introduced in order to lower the internal temperature, but this will be described in detail later.

[0048] More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a second circulation path may be formed in the frame (103) along the periphery of the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102). At this time, unlike the first embodiment, in this embodiment, a cover (110) may not be additionally arranged between the coil assembly (104) and the upper case (105), and the second circulation path may be formed only by the shape (specifically, a protruding shape) of the frame (103) itself. The second circulation path may be configured as a path in which, when air is discharged through the first air outlet (101a), it moves about half a turn around the periphery of the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102) and then is sucked back into the blower fan (101). The air sucked back into the blower fan (101) may be discharged not only through the first air outlet (101a) but also through the second air outlet (101b) depending on the divided structure of the air discharge path. Here, the air sucked back into the blower fan (101) through the second circulation path has absorbed the cold heat generated on the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102), so that the air can lower the temperature of the heating surface of the Peltier element (102) when discharged through the second air outlet (101b).

[0049] FIG. 11 illustrates the results of a simulation performed according to the present embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 11 (a) is a diagram illustrating the simulation results when some of the internal components of the wireless power transmitter (10) are viewed from above, and FIG. 11 (b) is a diagram illustrating the simulation results when the components are viewed from below. FIG. 11 shows that when the cold heat generated on the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element (102) is recovered through the second circulation path, the cold heat can be reused as energy for heat dissipation. This cold heat recovery and reuse can continuously form a virtuous cycle during the wireless power transmission process, which can not only improve the efficiency of the Peltier element (102), but also enable heat dissipation to be effectively performed in the wireless power transmitter (10).

[0050] Meanwhile, FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic drawings illustrating exploded perspective views of a wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Specifically, the first circulation path and the second circulation path may be designed to have a structure in which only internal air is circulated and external air is not introduced to lower the internal temperature.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the lower case (109) according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured in a sealed form to block the inflow of external air.

[0053] More specifically, the lower case (109) according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured in a sealed form to block the inflow of external air (high temperature), thereby blocking the possibility that the temperature of the internal air may increase when external air is introduced, thereby inhibiting the Peltier effect.

[0054] The first and second embodiments have been described in detail above. Components performing similar functions in the first and second embodiments are designated by the same drawing reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the specific shape, function, and detailed components of each component may vary depending on the embodiment.

[0055] Furthermore, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the wireless power transmitters according to the first and second embodiments, but can be applied to wireless power transmitters according to various embodiments. Furthermore, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the wireless power transmitter, and can be applied to any device requiring a heat dissipation structure, regardless of the function of the device.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described above with specific details such as specific components and limited examples and drawings, these are provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and changes based on this description.

[0057] Therefore, the idea of ​​the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and not only the scope of the patent claims described below but also all scopes equivalent to or equivalently modified from the scope of the patent claims are considered to fall within the scope of the idea of ​​the present invention.

Claims

1. A blower fan that sucks in air from the top and bottom and discharges the sucked air to the side. A Peltier element including a heat-absorbing surface and a heat-generating surface, and Including a frame in which the above blower fan and the above Peltier element are mounted, The air discharged from the above blower fan is divided and supplied to the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element and the heat-generating surface of the Peltier element by the above frame. Wireless power transmitter.

2. In paragraph 1, The above frame divides the air exhaust path of the side portion of the above blower fan into a first air outlet and a second air outlet. Wireless power transmitter.

3. In paragraph 2, The air discharged from the above blower fan to the first air outlet is supplied to the heat absorption surface of the Peltier element. Wireless power transmitter.

4. In paragraph 2, The air discharged from the above blower fan to the second air vent is supplied to the heating surface of the Peltier element. Wireless power transmitter.

5. In paragraph 1, The above frame forms a first circulation path together with a cover arranged to simultaneously surround the heat-absorbing surface of the blower fan and the Peltier element. Wireless power transmitter.

6. In paragraph 5, The air discharged from the above blower fan is re-inhaled into the above blower fan through the first circulation path. Wireless power transmitter.

7. In paragraph 1, In the above frame, a second circulation path is formed along the perimeter of the heat-absorbing surface of the Peltier element. Wireless power transmitter.

8. In paragraph 7, The air discharged from the above blower fan is re-inhaled into the above blower fan through the second circulation path. Wireless power transmitter.

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