BACKGROUND

Field

This disclosure relates to a system, method, apparatus and/or device for temperature management of a charging pad.

Description of the Related Art

The demand for wireless charging in consumer products continues to increase. Current wireless chargers operate charge around 5 W at approximately 50% efficiency. Newer wireless devices, such as smartphones, however, are able to charge at much greater rates, such as approximately 10 W-15 W. When these newer wireless devices charge at these higher rates between approximately 10 W-15 W, the batteries of these wireless devices increase in temperature. Moreover, these wireless devices are sometimes left to rest in a charger tray or bin for upwards of 2 hours depending on the size and state of charge of the battery. Charging the wireless devices for this length of time can cause excessive heat buildup in the wireless charger and/or the wireless device. Additionally, charging at high (above 10 Watts) power levels speed up the charging but also cause the wireless device to overheat.

Consequently, some consumer products limit the rate of charge or deactivate charging altogether when the temperature reaches a threshold amount to prevent overheating and/or injury to the customer. This, however, decreases the efficiency of charging the consumer product, causes user dissatisfaction and increases the amount of time necessary to charge the consumer product.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system, apparatus and/or method to control the temperature of the device that is charging to increase the overall charging efficiency.

SUMMARY

In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be embodied in a wireless charger for charging an electronic device within a vehicle. The wireless charger includes a first sensor. The first sensor is configured to measure or detect a temperature of the electronic device. The wireless charger includes a thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric device is configured to adjust the temperature of the electronic device or a surface of the charging pad. The wireless charger includes a processor coupled to the first sensor and the thermoelectric device. The processor is configured to determine that the temperature of the electronic device exceeds a first threshold temperature and control the thermoelectric device to increase or decrease the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad.

These and other embodiments may optionally include one or more of the following features. The processor may be configured to determine that the temperature of the electronic device is greater than or equal to the first threshold temperature. The processor may be configured to decrease the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad when the temperature of the electronic device is greater than or equal to the first threshold temperature. The processor may be configured to determine that the temperature of the electronic device is less than the first threshold temperature. The processor may be configured to increase the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad when the temperature of the electronic device is less than the first threshold temperature.

The processor may be configured to decrease the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad when the temperature of the electronic device is greater than or equal to the first threshold temperature. The processor may be configured to increase the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad when the temperature of the electronic device is less than or equal to a second threshold temperature. The second threshold temperature may be less than the first threshold temperature.

The wireless charger may include a second sensor. The second sensor may be configured to measure or detect an ambient temperature within the vehicle. The processor may be configured to control the thermoelectric device to increase or decrease the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad based on the ambient temperature and the temperature of the electronic device. The processor may be configured to control the thermoelectric device to increase or decrease the temperature of the electronic device or the surface of the charging pad until the temperature of the electronic device no longer exceeds the first threshold temperature.

In another aspect of the subject matter may be embodied in a charging apparatus. The charging apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to measure or detect a temperature of an electronic device that is charging. The charging apparatus includes a thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric device is configured to adjust the temperature of the electronic device. The charging apparatus includes a processor coupled to the temperature sensor and the thermoelectric device. The processor is configured to determine that the temperature of the electronic device exceeds a temperature range. The processor is coupled to the thermoelectric device. The processor is configured to cause the thermoelectric device to increase the temperature of the electronic device when the temperature of the electronic device is below the temperature range. The processor is configured to cause the thermoelectric device to decrease the temperature of the electronic device when the temperature of the electronic device is above the temperature range.

In another aspect, the subject matter may be embodied in a method for adjusting a temperature of a charging device within a vehicle. The method includes measuring or detecting, by a temperature sensor, a temperature of the charging device. The method includes determining, by a processor, that the temperature of the charging device is greater than a first threshold temperature. The method includes decreasing, by the processor and using a thermoelectric device, the temperature of the charging device when the temperature of the charging device is greater than the first threshold temperature.

