Systems and methods for cooling inductive charging assemblies

Abstract

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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cooling system for an induction charging module, the cooling system comprising:
 a dock configured to connect to an induction charging module on a first side, the dock comprising:
 walls defining a cavity; 
 a first opening at a first end of the dock; 
 a second opening at a second end opposite the first end, the cavity configured to receive a portable electronic device; and 
 a protrusion extending from one of the walls on the first side for spacing the portable electronic device away from the one of the walls and promoting fluid flow along the portable electronic device; and 
   a thermal conditioning assembly comprising an air moving device and ducting fluidly connecting the air moving device to the dock via both the first opening and the second opening,   wherein the thermal conditioning assembly is configured to supply a flow of air through the dock using the first opening and the second opening for cooling the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         22 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the thermal conditioning assembly moves air via the air moving device and the ducting through the dock by the air moving at least partially about the protrusion in the spacing between the one of the walls and the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         23 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the first end of the dock corresponds to a top of the dock and the second end of the dock corresponds to a bottom of the dock. 
     
     
         24 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the ducting connects to and directs air proximate to a top of the dock. 
     
     
         25 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the thermal conditioning assembly further comprises a thermoelectric device configured to cool the flow of air in the ducting supplied to the dock. 
     
     
         26 . The cooling system of  claim 25 , wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to cool the flow of air in the ducting prior to being delivered to the dock. 
     
     
         27 . The cooling system of  claim 25 , further comprising a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a waste side of the thermoelectric device to transfer waste heat away. 
     
     
         28 . The cooling system of  claim 27 , wherein the thermal conditioning assembly is configured to pass air over the heat exchanger to transfer waste heat away from the heat exchanger by convection. 
     
     
         29 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the cavity is configured to receive all of a longitudinal length of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         30 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a part of the flow of air emerges into ambient environment from the cavity. 
     
     
         31 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a part of the flow of air enters the thermal conditioning assembly from ambient environment. 
     
     
         32 . The cooling system of  claim 21 , wherein the dock is configured to be included in a center console of a vehicle. 
     
     
         33 . A thermal conditioning system for an induction charging module, the cooling system comprising:
 a dock configured to connect to an induction charging module on a first side, the dock comprising:
 a wall at least partially defining a cavity, the cavity configured to fully receive a portable electronic device; 
 a first end of the cavity; 
 a second end opposite the first end; and 
 a protrusion extending from the wall on the first side for spacing the portable electronic device away from the wall and promoting fluid flow along the portable electronic device; and 
   a thermal conditioning assembly comprising an air moving device and ducting fluidly connecting the air moving device to the dock via both the first end and the second end,   wherein the thermal conditioning assembly is configured to supply a flow of air through the dock via the first end and the second end for cooling the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         34 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 33 , further comprising a vane adjacent the ducting, the vane configured to direct at least a portion of the flow of air from the ducting toward the second end of the dock. 
     
     
         35 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 33 , wherein at least a portion of the flow of air is directed toward the second end of the dock to be circulated through the dock. 
     
     
         36 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 33 , wherein the ducting fluidly connects to the dock a distance above the second end to direct the flow of air toward the second end of the dock. 
     
     
         37 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 33 , wherein the ducting comprises a fluid passage fluidly connected to the air moving device, wherein the fluid passage fluidly connects to the dock above a location where the dock is configured to connect to the induction charging module. 
     
     
         38 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 33 , further comprising a support member or a rib configured to position the portable electronic device relative to the first or second end. 
     
     
         39 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 38 , wherein the support member or the rib is configured to promote air flow relative to the first or second end. 
     
     
         40 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 33 , wherein at least a part of the flow of air enters the thermal conditioning assembly from ambient environment. 
     
     
         41 . A method of cooling for an inductive charging module, the method comprising:
 directing an airflow through a thermal conditioning assembly comprising ducting;   directing the airflow through the ducting toward at least one of a first end of a dock or a second end of the dock, the second end opposite the first end;   directing at least a part of the airflow along a protrusion in the dock, the protrusion extending from a wall of the dock, the wall at least partially defining the dock, and the wall connected to an inductive charging module configured to charge a portable electronic device; and   wherein the protrusion is configured to space the portable electronic device from the wall of the dock for the airflow to flow at least along a portion of the portable electronic device to cool the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising cooling the airflow via a thermoelectric device before directing the airflow to the dock. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising directing at least a portion of the airflow toward the second end of the dock and circulating the airflow through the dock. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising directing at least a portion of the airflow through the dock via both the first end and the second end.