Wireless device charger with cooling device

Abstract

A wireless device charger is configured to produce an alternating magnetic field, thereby inducing an alternating electrical current within a capture coil of a personal electronic device proximate to the wireless device charger. The wireless device charger includes a source coil having a ferrite element configured to generate the alternating magnetic field, a housing formed of a thermally conductive material in thermal communication with the ferrite element, and an air movement device configured to produce a turbulent air flow across a surface of the housing flowing from an air inlet to an air outlet, thereby reducing a housing temperature.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wireless device charger configured to produce an alternating magnetic field, thereby inducing an alternating electrical current within a capture coil of a personal electronic device proximate to the wireless device charger, said wireless device charger comprising:
 a source coil having a ferrite element configured to generate the alternating magnetic field;   a housing formed of a thermally conductive material in thermal communication with the ferrite element;   an air movement device configured to produce a turbulent air flow across a surface of the housing flowing from an air inlet to an air outlet, thereby reducing a housing temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the ferrite element is in intimate contact with the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the housing is formed of an aluminum material. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the housing defines a plurality of fins extending along the housing in a direction of the air flow. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein at least one fin in the plurality of fins extends in a nonlinear path along the housing in the direction of the air flow. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the surface of the plurality of fins is roughened. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is generally perpendicular to the air outlet and wherein the wireless device charger further comprises an air duct configured to redirect the air flow from air inlet to the air outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the air duct is characterized as having a semicircular cross section and wherein the radius of the air duct is substantially equal to a thickness of the wireless device charger. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device charger further comprises controller circuitry configured to modulate the air flow from the air movement device based on a personal electronic device temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein surface of the housing is separated from the source coil and the ferrite element. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein surface of the housing is sealed from the source coil and the ferrite element. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless device charger in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the seal between the surface of the housing and the source coil and the ferrite element meets the IP5K2 standard as defined by International Standards Organization 20653:2013.