DEVICE FOR WIRELESS TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Abstract

A device for wireless transmission of electrical energy to an energy receiver, including a support surface, on which the energy receiver is arranged during energy transmission. The device includes an induction coil for transmitting electrical energy and an air duct extending within the device from an opening formed in the support surface into the device. The opening is arranged over the induction coil. The air duct is routed through a winding of the induction coil, which is preferably arranged directly under the support surface. Advantageously, the support surface is essentially rectangular, and the opening is formed on or at least close to a longitudinal axis of the support surface and is formed at a distance from an edge of the support surface. At least one projection is formed on the support surface for holding the receiving unit at a distance from the support surface so that air conducted into the air duct can better flow underneath.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A device for wireless transmission of electrical energy to an energy receiver, comprising: a support surface, on which the energy receiver is arrangeable during the energy transmission; at least one induction coil for the transmission of the electrical energy; and at least one air duct extending within the device from an opening formed in the support surface into the device, wherein the opening is arranged over the induction coil.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the air duct is routed through a winding of the induction coil.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the induction coil is arranged directly under the support surface.

17. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a carrier for holding the induction coil, the carrier having a recess through which the air duct extends.

18. The device according to claim 18, wherein the carrier is a carrier plate.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein the support surface is essentially rectangular and the opening is formed on or at least close to a longitudinal axis of the support surface.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein the opening is formed at a distance from an edge of the support surface.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the opening is formed at a distance at least 1.5 cm from the edge of the support surface.

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein the opening is formed at a distance at least 2 cm from the edge of the support surface.

23. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a turbomachine for generating an air flow in the air duct, the turbomachine being configured to forming the air flow in a direction from the support surface into the air duct.

24. The device according to claim 14, further comprising means for directing air conducted through the air duct toward the induction coil and/or at least one further electrically operated component.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the air duct is closed at least in an area in which the air duct extends past the induction coil and/or the further electrically operated component.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the air duct extends into an outlet area of the device through which liquid entering the device can flow out of the device.

27. The device according to claim 14, wherein at least one projection is formed on the support surface so as to hold the receiving unit at a distance from the support surface so that air to be conducted into the air duct flows underneath.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the projection comprises at least one fin and/or nub.

29. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device is configured as a component of a passenger compartment interior.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the device is configured for arrangement at a center console, an interior door trim, in a glove compartment, at a dashboard, and/or at a back side of a backrest of a seat of the passenger compartment interior.

31. A built-in unit of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising a device according to claim 14.

32. A vehicle, comprising a device according to claim 14.

33. A method for wireless transmission of electrical energy to an energy receiver, comprising the steps of: arranging the energy receiver on a support surface for purposes of energy transmission; transmitting the electrical energy with aid of at least one induction coil; and moving air for cooling the energy receiver and/or the induction coil through at least one air duct extending within the device from an opening formed in the support surface into the device, the opening being arranged over the induction coil.

Description

[0028] The invention is explained in greater detail in the following with reference to exemplary embodiments and the attached drawings, which relate to the exemplary embodiments. Wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in various views,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the device according to the invention, according to FIG. 1, during energy transmission onto an energy receiver,

[0031] FIG. 3 schematically shows a vehicle,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows components of the device according to FIG. 1 in various views,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in the longitudinal section,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a further device according to the invention in a top view,

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a further device according to the invention in a perspective view, and

[0036] FIG. 8 shows the device according to FIG. 7 in the longitudinal section.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention for the wireless transmission of electrical energy, which comprises a support surface 2 for accommodating an energy receiver. The support surface 2 has an essentially rectangular shape and a size such that smartphones of a currently usual size can be placed thereon. For this purpose, the longer sides of the support surface 2 can have a length between 12 cm and 17 cm and the shorter sides can have a length between 5 cm and 10 cm. It is understood that the device can also have other shapes, which are adapted to the shape of the particular energy receiver, depending on the size and shape of the energy receiver.

[0038] A smartphone 20 can be placed onto the support surface 2 as shown in FIG. 2 by way of example, in order to charge its battery and/or to supply it with current during operation.

[0039] The device 1, which is preferably designed as a prefabricated component, can be provided in a glove compartment 22, in a center tunnel 23, 24, in an arm rest 25, or in an interior door trim 26, 27, as FIG. 3 schematically shows with reference to a vehicle 21, in particular an automobile or a boat. It is understood that other uses can also be considered. The device 1 could be provided, for example, in a piece of furniture or in a mobile battery charger.

[0040] Two openings 5 are formed in the support surface 2, through which air can be moved into or out of the device 1. The openings 4 are provided in a central area of the support surface 2. For this purpose, they are preferably formed at a distance from an edge 8 of the support surface 2, preferably at least 2 cm from the shorter sides and at least 1.5 cm from the longer sides of the support surface 2. They can be arranged on a longitudinal axis L of the support surface 2, as FIG. 1c shows.

[0041] The device 1 comprises lateral walls 14 and a base 15. One opening 16 is provided in the base 15, through which air can be moved into or out of the device 1.

[0042] As is apparent, in particular, from FIGS. 4 and 5, three induction coils 3 are arranged directly under the support surface 2, offset with respect to one another, which are utilized for transmitting the electrical energy onto the energy receiver 20. It is understood that the device could comprise only one, two, or more induction coil(s).

[0043] As FIG. 4a shows, the induction coils 3 in the present exemplary embodiment are fastened on a carrier 6 and are fitted on a ferrite core 31. The winding of the outer induction coils 3 is provided in such a way that an open area remains in its particular center. In order to be able to route the air ducts 4 through the open areas in the center of the outer induction coils 3, recesses 7 are formed adjacent to the areas, in which the open areas are formed, in the carrier 6, and in the ferrite core 31. Walls 28 of the air ducts 4 and, therefore, the air ducts 4 themselves are routed through the outer induction coils 3 and the recesses 7 in the carrier 6. The arrangement of individual parts of the device 1 is apparent in the exploded representation shown in FIG. 4b.

[0044] The routing of the air ducts 4 through the induction coils 3 makes it possible to provide the openings 5 in a central area of the support surface 2. If the energy receiver 20, as shown in FIG. 2, is placed onto the support surface 2 and the turbomachine 9 is operated, air is drawn through the area between the support surface 2 and the energy receiver 20 and, in so doing, cools the energy receiver 20 and the device 1 not only in the edge area, but rather particularly well also in the central area.

[0045] The walls 28 of the air ducts 4, as is apparent, in particular, in FIG. 6, are designed to be closed so far into the device 1 that, when liquid reaches the support surface 2 and passes through the air ducts 4 into the device 1, the liquid can not come into direct contact with the induction coils 3 and further electrical components 11 provided in the device 1. Rather, the design of the device 1 can be provided in such a way that the liquid, when it has penetrated through the air ducts 4, can flow directly downward out of the device 1.

[0046] FIG. 1e shows that a turbomachine 9, which is preferably formed by an axial, diagonal, or radial ventilator, can be provided for moving air at the opening 16 formed in the base 15 of the device 1.

[0047] If the turbomachine 9, as provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is operated in such a way that the air is moved downward through the turbomachine 9 out of the device 1, air is drawn into the device 1 from the surroundings of the device 1, as explained above, through the air ducts 4.

[0048] In order to achieve a preferably good ventilation of the device 1 and, in particular, of the induction coils 3 as well as of the further electrically operated components 11, the device 1—apart from the air ducts 4 and the lateral walls 14—is designed to be as open as possible, i.e., in particular in such a way that no vertically arranged, closed walls are provided within the device 1, apart from the walls of the ducts 4. The air drawn in through the air ducts 4 can then circulate in the device 1 and, in so doing, cool the induction coils 3 as well as the components 11.

[0049] As is apparent, in particular, in FIG. 1c, linear projections 13 are formed on the support surface 2, which hold the smartphone 20, when placed thereon, at a distance from the bottom surface of the support surface 2, so that the air can flow uniformly between the support surface 2 and the smartphone 20. An alternative arrangement of linear projections 13a on a support surface 2a is shown in FIG. 6. The projections 13a are arranged radially toward openings 4a.

[0050] In a further exemplary embodiment (not shown here), the projections are provided on the support surface in the form of nubs. The nubs can be arranged, for example, in a grid-like manner, at regular intervals, or while forming the shapes shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

[0051] The projections can comprise an elastomer at least at the top side facing away from the support surface 2, in order to prevent the smartphone 20 from slipping when the device 1 is moved.

[0052] The openings 5 can be provided with bars 29, in order to prevent objects, such as coins or the like, from penetrating the device 1 through the openings 5.

[0053] The device 1 is provided with fastening means, which comprise detent lugs 17 and a recess 18 for the engagement of a counterholder. With the aid of the fastening means, the device 1 can be fastened at an object, at which it is to be arranged. The reference number 19 characterizes contacting means for supplying the device 1 with electric current as well as for the electronic signal connection and/or data connection of the device 1 to another device.

[0054] With the aid of the fastening means 17, 18, the device can be mechanically fastened in the vehicle 21 and supplied with current with the aid of the contacting means 19 and, if necessary, connect a regulation and/or control device of the vehicle 21.

[0055] A further device 1a according to the invention, which is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, differs from that according to FIG. 1 due to the fact that, among other things, a turbomachine 9a is arranged within the device 1a. The turbomachine 9a, which is designed as a centrifugal fan, is arranged on a base 15a. In order to be able to guide the air out of the device 1a, multiple openings 16a are formed in the base 15 directly next to the turbomachine 9. Further openings 16b, through which air can emerge from the device 1 through the base 15a, are shown on the right side in FIG. 7.

[0056] In the device 1a, in the sectional representation according to FIG. 8, a convexity 30 is shown on the left side, which is utilized for conducting an air flow arising from the centrifugal fan 9a toward induction coils 3a and further electrically operated components 11a, in order to achieve a better cooling effect there.