WIRELESS CHARGING DEVICE

A wireless charging device is configured to charge two electronic devices. The wireless charging device includes a casing, a wireless charging module and a fan. The casing has an interior space, an air inlet, an air outlet and a support surface. The air inlet and the air outlet are in fluid communication with the interior space. The support surface faces away from the interior space, the support surface has two placement regions, the air inlet is located between the two placement regions, and the two placement regions are configured for the two electronic devices to be placed thereon. The wireless charging module is disposed in the interior space and corresponds to the two placement regions. The fan is disposed in the interior space and configured to suck air into the interior space through the air inlet and blow air out of the interior space through the air outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U. S. C. § 119(a) on Provisional Patent Application No(s). 63,394,010 filed in U.S.A., on Aug. 1, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a charging device, more particular to a wireless charging device.

Description of the Related Art

As the development and progress of technology, mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablet computers, can be connected to the vehicle system through application programs (e.g., CarPlay). In order to let users not to worry about the power consumption of mobile devices, wireless chargers are further applied to the vehicles so that the mobile devices can be connected to the vehicle system through the application programs while placed on the wireless chargers for charging.

When a mobile device is placed on a wireless charger for charging, the wireless charger and the mobile device both generate heat. Under the influence of these two kinds of heat, the charging efficiency of the wireless charger may be reduced. Therefore, how to solve the aforementioned issue is one of the crucial topics in this field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a wireless charging device which is capable of preventing heat generated by itself and the mobile device from adversely affecting the charging efficiency. One embodiment of the disclosure provides a wireless charging device. The wireless charging device is configured to charge two electronic devices. The wireless charging device includes a casing, a wireless charging module and a fan. The casing has an interior space, an air inlet, an air outlet and a support surface. The air inlet and the air outlet are in fluid communication with the interior space, the support surface faces away from the interior space, the support surface has two placement regions, the air inlet is located between the two placement regions, and the two placement regions are configured for the two electronic devices to be placed thereon. The wireless charging module is disposed in the interior space and corresponds to the two placement regions. The fan is disposed in the interior space and configured to suck air into the interior space through the air inlet and blow air out of the interior space through the air outlet.

According to the wireless charging device as disclosed in the above embodiment, the air inlet of the casing is located between the two placement regions for the electronic devices to be placed thereon, such that when the fan sucks air into the interior space through the air inlet, the airflow can firstly pass by the electronic devices to cool the electronic devices, and then the airflow enters into the interior space to cool the wireless charging module. Therefore, the electronic devices and the wireless charging device can be maintained in desired temperatures for maintaining the charging efficiency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In addition, the terms used in the present invention, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present invention. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present invention.

Refer toFIGS.1and2, whereFIG.1is a perspective view of two electronic devices2and a wireless charging device1according to one embodiment of the invention, andFIG.2is an exploded view of the wireless charging device1inFIG.1.

In this embodiment, the wireless charging device1can charge the two electronic devices2, where the electronic devices2are, for example, smartphones. The wireless charging device1includes a casing10, a wireless charging module20and a fan30. In addition, the wireless charging device1may further include a partition40and two support pads50.

Then, refer toFIG.2andFIGS.3to7, whereFIG.3is a perspective view of a baffle12of the wireless charging device1inFIG.2,FIG.4is a perspective view of the partition40of the wireless charging device1inFIG.2,FIG.5is a top view of the wireless charging device1inFIG.1,FIG.6is a cross-sectional view of the wireless charging device1taken along a line6-6in FIG. andFIG.7is a cross-sectional view of the wireless charging device1taken along a line7-7inFIG.5.

The casing10includes a main body11and a baffle12. The main body11includes a base111and a cover112assembled with each other, and the base111and the cover112together form an interior space113. The cover112has a support surface1121, an inner top surface1122and two vent holes1123. The support surface1121faces away from the interior space113, and the support surface1121has two placement regions1121a. The inner top surface1122faces away from the support surface1121. The vent holes1123penetrate through the support surface1121and the inner top surface1122, and the vent holes1123are located between the two placement regions1121aof the support surface1121. The baffle12includes a cover portion121and an annular wall portion122. The annular wall portion122is connected to a periphery of the cover portion121, and the annular wall portion122and the cover portion121together form a guide space123. The annular wall portion122has four recesses1221located at one side of the annular wall portion122located farther away from the cover portion121. The annular wall portion122is in contact with the support surface1121and surrounds the vent holes1123. The four recesses1221and the support surface1121together form four air inlets13. Two of the air inlets13are located at two opposite sides of one of the vent holes1123, and the other two of the air inlets13are located at two opposite sides of the other of the vent holes1123. The air inlets13are in fluid communication with the interior space113via the guide space123and the two vent holes1123.

In this embodiment, the wireless charging device1may further include a plurality of screws60. The baffle12is fixed to the cover112via the screws60, but the disclosure is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the baffle may be adhered to the cover.

Note that the quantity of the vent holes1123is not restricted and may be modified to be one in some other embodiments. In addition, the quantity of the recesses1221of the baffle12is not restricted and may be modified to be two in some other embodiments, and the two recesses and the support surface form two air inlets. Moreover, the air inlets may not be formed by the baffle and the support surface; in some other embodiments, the air inlets may be directly formed on the support surface. In another embodiment, the quantity of the air inlet may be one.

The partition40is fixed to the inner top surface1122of the cover112of the main body11so as to divide the interior space113into a drainage channel1131and an accommodation area1132. The accommodation area1132accommodates the wireless charging module20and the fan30. The air inlets13are in fluid communication with the accommodation area1132via the guide space123, the two vent holes1123and the drainage channel1131.

Specifically, the partition40is fixed to the inner top surface1122of the cover112of the main body11via adhering manner. The partition40has a drainage groove41, and the base111has an inner bottom surface1111and an inner lateral surface1112. The inner bottom surface1111faces the inner top surface1122, and the inner lateral surface1112is connected to the inner top surface1122and the inner bottom surface1111. The inner top surface1122of the cover112, the inner bottom surface1111and the inner lateral surface1112of the base111and the drainage groove41together form the drainage channel1131. An opening 0 is formed between the partition and the inner bottom surface1111of the base111, and the opening 0 is in fluid communication with the drainage channel1131and the accommodation area1132.

The drainage groove41of the partition40has a narrow portion411, a tapered portion412and a wide portion413. The tapered portion412is located between and connected to the wide portion413and the narrow portion411, and the narrow portion411is located farther away from the inner lateral surface1112than the wide portion413. A width D1of the wide portion413is greater than a width D2of the narrow portion411, and a width of the tapered portion412gradually increases along a direction from the narrow portion411towards the wide portion413. In addition, a depth H1of the wide portion413is greater than a depth H2of the narrow portion411, and a depth of the tapered portion412gradually increase along the direction from the narrow portion411towards the wide portion413.

In this embodiment, the base111further has an embankment wall1113, a plurality of drainage holes1114and an air outlet1115. The embankment wall1113protrudes from the inner bottom surface1111and covers the opening 0. The embankment wall1113divides the inner bottom surface1111of the base111into a first region1111aand a second region1111b. At least part of the first region1111acorresponds to the drainage channel1131, and the second region1111bcorresponds to the accommodation area1132. The drainage holes1114are located at the first region1111aand in fluid communication with the drainage channel1131. The first region1111ahas two drainage slopes1111c. Each of the two drainage slopes1111chas a first side1111dand a second side1111elocated opposite to each other, where a distance T1from the first side1111dto the inner top surface1122is smaller than a distance T2from the second side1111eto the inner top surface1122. The two drainage slopes1111care symmetrical with each other, and the first sides1111dof the drainage slopes1111care located between the second sides1111e. The drainage slopes1111care located between some of the drainage holes1114and the others. In each of the drainage slopes1111c, the second side1111eis located between the first side1111dand some of the drainage holes1114. The air outlet1115is located at the second region1111band in fluid communication with the accommodation area1132.

In this embodiment, the embankment wall1113can prevent liquid from directly entering into the accommodation area1132after entering into the drainage channel1131through the air inlets13and landing on the first region1111a, and thus prevent liquid from adversely affecting the wireless charging module20and the fan30in the accommodation area1132.

Moreover, the drainage slopes1111chelp the liquid entering into the drainage channel1131through the air inlets13and landing on the first region1111ato leave the drainage channel1131through the drainage holes1114so as to prevent the liquid from accumulating and overflowing the embankment wall1113.

Note that the quantities of the drainage slopes1111cand the drainage holes1114are not restricted in the invention and may be modified to be one in some other embodiments.

In this embodiment, the drainage groove41of the partition40with the narrower and shallower portion and the wider and deeper portion help to gather liquid entering into the drainage channel1131and guide liquid to land on the first region1111a. Note that the drainage groove41of the partition40is not restricted to having the narrower and shallower portion and the wider and deeper portion; in some other embodiments, the drainage groove of the partition may have an uniform width and an uniform depth.

Moreover, the partition40, the embankment wall1113and the drainage holes1114of the base111are optional structures. When there is no need to discharge liquid and prevent liquid from affecting the wireless charging module20and the fan30, the partition40, the embankment wall1113and the drainage holes1114of the base111may be omitted.

The wireless charging module20includes a circuit board21and two coil assemblies22. The circuit board21is fixed to the base111, and the circuit board21has a plurality of heat sources211located at a surface of the circuit board21facing the inner bottom surface1111of the base111. The heat sources211are, for example, electronic components, such as chips. The coil assemblies22are fixed to the circuit board21and located at one side of the circuit board21located farther away from the inner bottom surface1111of the base111. The coil assemblies22respectively correspond to the placement regions1121aof the support surface1121of the cover112. The coil assemblies22are respectively configured to charge the electronic devices2placed on the placement regions1121avia a wireless manner.

The fan30is, for example, an axial fan. The fan30is fixed to the base111and located at the air outlet1115of the base111. An air inlet side31of the fan30is located close to the heat sources211of the circuit board21, such that the airflow entering into the fan30from the air inlet side31can cool the heat sources211of the circuit board21.

The support pads50are, for example, made of rubber material. The support pads50are respectively disposed on the placement regions1121aof the support surface1121of the cover112. The support pads50are the same in structure, and thus the follow descriptions merely introduce one of them. The support pad50has a plurality of protrusions51. The protrusions51are configured to support the electronic device2. The protrusions51form a plurality of channels52(e.g., along lines C shown inFIG.5) towards the air inlets13. Specifically, the protrusions51are triangular protrusions and arranged along a first line L1, a second line L2, a third line L3and a fourth line L4which are parallel to one another. The first line L1, the second line L2, the third line L3and the fourth line L4are parallel to a plane S where the air inlets13are located, and the second line L2and the third line L3are located between the first line L1and the fourth line L4. Corners511of some the protrusions51arranged along the first line L1and the third line L3point towards a first direction D1, and corners511of the others of the protrusions51arranged along the second line L2and the fourth line L4point towards a second direction D2, where the first direction D1is opposite to the second direction D2. Some of the protrusions51arranged along the first line L1and the second line L2are in a staggered arrangement, and the others of the protrusions51arranged along the third line L3and the fourth line L4are in a staggered arrangement.

In this embodiment, the protrusions51can support the electronic devices2and prevent the electronic devices2from moving accidentally. In addition, the protrusions51can uplift the electronic devices2, such that, during the operation of the fan30, the channels52formed by the protrusions51can guide the external airflow towards the air inlets13from the bottoms of the electronic devices2.

Note that the arrangements and shapes of the protrusions51of the support pad50are not restricted and may be modified according to actual requirements.

In this embodiment, the support pads50are the same in structure instead of being symmetrical with each other, and thus there is no need to produce two support pads symmetrical with each other, thereby saving cost. Note that the support pads50are optional components and may be omitted in some other embodiments.

During the operation of the fan30, the airflow entering into the interior space113through the air inlets13flows into the accommodation area1132along the drainage channel1131, such that the airflow can cool the heat sources211of the circuit board21and the coil assemblies22of the wireless charging module20, thereby maintaining the charging efficiency. Then, the fan blows air out of the accommodation area1132, where the pressure, flow field and the temperature distributions of the airflow passing through the wireless charging device1are shown inFIGS.8to10. The pressure distribution shown inFIG.8shows that the flow resistance and the pressure of the airflow between the electronic devices2and the protrusions51of the support pads are low, the pressure of the airflow in the interior space113is about 21.2 Pa, and the pressure of the airflow between the electronic devices2and the protrusions51of the support pads50falls within a range from 0.222 Pa to 15 Pa. As shown in the flow field inFIG.9, the velocity of the airflow between the electronic devices2and the protrusions51of the support pads50and the velocity of the airflow around the fan30fall within a range from 0.375 m/s to 0.5 m/s, and the velocity of the airflow at the rest part of the wireless charging device1falls within a range from 0 to 0.375 m/s. Since the flow resistance of the airflow between the electronic devices2and the protrusions51of the support pads50is low, the velocity of the airflow between the electronic devices2and the support pads50and in the partition40is fast during the operation of the fan30, and thus the electronic devices2can be cooled more efficiently. In the structural arrangements of the wireless charging device1as described above, the temperature distribution shown inFIG.10shows that the overall temperature distribution of the wireless charging device1is relatively uniform, where the temperature of the airflow passing by the electronic devices2falls within a range from 37.5° C. to 45° C., and the overall temperature of the wireless charging device1is about 37.5° C.

Accordingly, the air inlets13of the casing10are located between the two placement regions1121afor the electronic devices2to be placed thereon, such that when the fan30sucks air into the interior space113through the air inlets13, the airflow can firstly pass by the electronic devices2to cool the electronic devices2, and then the airflow enters into the interior space113to cool the wireless charging module20. Therefore, the electronic devices2and the wireless charging device1can be maintained in desired temperatures for maintaining the charging efficiency.

According to the wireless charging device as disclosed in the above embodiment, the air inlets of the casing are located between the two placement regions for the electronic devices to be placed thereon, such that when the fan sucks air into the interior space through the air inlets, the airflow can firstly pass by the electronic devices to cool the electronic devices, and then the airflow enters into the interior space to cool the wireless charging module. Therefore, the electronic devices and the wireless charging device can be maintained in desired temperatures for maintaining the charging efficiency.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wireless charging device may be applied in a vehicle, such as self-driving vehicle, electric vehicle, or semi-self-driving vehicle.