Thermoelectric Cooling for Inductive Charging Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductive charging systems for portable electronic devices generate heat, which can increase the temperature of the devices and degrade their performance, and also impose a load on vehicle heating and air-conditioning systems, leading to reduced fuel economy and comfort issues.
Innovation Solution
A thermoelectrically cooled inductive charging system that incorporates a thermal conditioning module with a hot side and a cold side, a waste side heat exchanger, and a conduction member to promote conductive heat transfer, along with a fluid transfer device to facilitate convective heat transfer, effectively cooling the charging assembly and the devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inductive charging is used to eliminate physical electrical connections, then convenience is improved, but heat generation increases causing device temperature rise and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat generation problem from the inductive charging system by introducing a dedicated cooling mechanism. The cooling device is separate from the charging assembly, allowing the charging function to maintain its wireless convenience while the thermal management is handled independently through active cooling components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cooling device as an intermediary between the inductive charging assembly and the portable electronic device. This intermediary component absorbs and dissipates heat, preventing direct thermal transfer to the device while maintaining the benefits of wireless charging.
2Power
If inductive charging assembly generates heat, then charging function is achieved, but vehicle climate system load increases reducing fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat byproduct of inductive charging into a manageable thermal flow that can be directed and dissipated independently. The cooling device captures the heat at its source and dissipates it through dedicated pathways, preventing it from burdening the vehicle's climate system and thus improving fuel economy.
3Temperature
If cooling device is added to manage heat, then device temperature is controlled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal management system into distinct functional components: a cooling device with cold and hot sides, a conduction member, and a heat exchanger. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system modularity and manageability despite the increased complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently dissipates heat generated during inductive charging, maintaining the devices at a safe temperature, reducing the load on vehicle climate systems, and enhancing the performance and comfort of portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric device configured to cool the flow of fluid
Implementation Method 2
a waste side heat exchanger configured to transfer heat away from the hot side
Implementation Method 3
a conduction member configured to promote conductive heat transfer from the cold side to the inductive charging station
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
In some embodiments, a cooling system for an inductive charger includes a thermal conditioning assembly in fluid communication with an inductive charging assembly. The inductive charging assembly can include a dock and an inductive charging module. The dock can be configured to receive a portable electronic device, such as a cell phone, that is configured to accept inductive charging from the inductive charging module. The thermal conditioning assembly can include a fluid transfer device and a thermal conditioning module, such as a thermoelectric device. In various embodiments, heat (e.g., heat produced during inductive charging) can be transferred from the inductive charging assembly to the thermal conditioning module and/or to a fluid flow produced by the fluid transfer device, thereby cooling the inductive charging assembly and/or the portable electronic device.