Methods and apparatus for thermal dissipation in vehicle pads for wireless power transfer applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017129344-A1
Application number	US-201514934625-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2015
Publication date	May 11, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for thermal dissipation in vehicle pads for wireless power transfer applications are provided. In some implementations, an apparatus for wirelessly receiving charging power is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one receive coil configured to wirelessly receive the charging power. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrical components configured to convert the charging power to a direct current. The apparatus further comprises a primary heat sink comprising a plurality of fins configured to dissipate heat generated by the plurality of electrical components. The plurality of fins are disposed adjacent to the plurality of electrical components. The apparatus further comprises at least one thermally conductive structure configured to physically connect at least some of the plurality of electrical components to the primary heat sink.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for wirelessly receiving charging power, the apparatus comprising:
at least one receive coil configured to wirelessly receive the charging power; a plurality of electrical components configured to convert the charging power to a direct current; a primary heat sink comprising a plurality of fins configured to dissipate heat generated by the plurality of electrical components, the plurality of fins disposed adjacent to the plurality of electrical components; and at least one thermally conductive structure configured to physically connect at least some of the plurality of electrical components to the primary heat sink.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary heat sink comprises a recessed portion configured to support the plurality of electrical components.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a secondary heat sink configured to cover the recessed portion and thermally connect the at least one thermally conductive structure to the primary heat sink.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the recessed portion defines a hole configured to accommodate a termination socket configured to receive ends of the at least one receive coil and electrically connect the at least one receive coil to at least some of the plurality of electrical components.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical components are directly physically mounted to the primary heat sink.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins dissipate a greater amount of heat when the apparatus wirelessly receives the charging power while in motion than while stationary.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical components comprise capacitors and the at least one thermally conductive structure comprises a heat spreader thermally connecting the capacitors to the primary heat sink.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical components comprise diodes and the at least one thermally conductive structure comprises a diode cover thermally connecting the diodes to the primary heat sink.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a ferrite structure in thermal contact with the primary heat sink.

10 . A method for wirelessly receiving charging power, the method comprising:
wirelessly receiving the charging power via at least one receive coil, converting the charging power to a direct current via a plurality of electrical components, and dissipating heat generated by the plurality of electrical components via a primary heat sink comprising a plurality of fins, the plurality of electrical components disposed adjacent to the plurality of fins and at least some of the plurality of electrical components physically connected to the primary heat sink.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the primary heat sink comprises a recessed portion configured to support the plurality of electrical components.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one thermally conductive structure is thermally connected to the primary heat sink via a secondary heat sink.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the recessed portion defines a hole configured to accommodate a termination socket configured to receive ends of the at least one receive coil and electrically connect the at least one receive coil to at least some of the plurality of electrical components.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical components are directly physically mounted to the primary heat sink.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising dissipating a greater amount of heat via the plurality of fins when wirelessly receiving the charging power while in motion than while stationary.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical components comprise capacitors and a heat spreader thermally connects the capacitors to the primary heat sink.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical components comprise diodes and a diode cover thermally connects the diodes to the primary heat sink.

18 . An apparatus for wirelessly receiving charging power on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
at least one receive coil configured to wirelessly receive the charging power; a plurality of electrical components configured to convert the charging power to a direct current; a primary heat sink configured to dissipate heat generated by the plurality of electrical components; and a controller configured to adjust an amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on a temperature of the primary heat sink.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to disable the at least one receive coil from receiving the charging power based on the temperature of the primary heat sink.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on whether the vehicle is in motion.

21 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on an identifier of a wireless power transmitter transmitting the charging power.

22 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on a configurability of a wireless power transmitter to transmit the charging power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

23 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil from a first value for a first interval of time to a second value lower than the first value after the first interval of time.

24 . A method for wirelessly receiving charging power at a vehicle, the method comprising:
wirelessly receiving the charging power via at least one receive coil; converting the charging power to a direct current via a plurality of electrical components; dissipating heat generated by the plurality of electrical components via a primary heat sink; and adjusting an amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on a temperature of the primary heat sink.

25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising disabling the wirelessly receiving the charging power via the at least one receive coil based on the temperature of the primary heat sink.

26 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising adjusting the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on whether the vehicle is in motion.

27 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising adjusting the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on an identifier of a wireless power transmitter transmitting the charging power.

28 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising adjusting the amount of the charging power drawn by the at least one receive coil based on a configurability of a wireless power transmitter to transmit the charging power to the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

29 . The method of claim 24 , further co

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Islinger Simon Peter
• Niederhauser Steven Daniel
• Beaver Jonathan
• Huang Chang-Yu
• Budhia Mickel Bipin
• Keeling Nicholas Athol
• Hao Hao
• Kissin Michael Le Gallais
• Scibor Rafal Krzysztof
• Samuelsson Johan Gabriel

Classifications

• H02J2105/37

  exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/975

  in response to temperature · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• H02J50/12

  of the resonant type · CPC title