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DE-102024137829-A1 - WIRELESS CHARGING SYSTEM FOR CHARGING AN ACCESSORY IN A VEHICLE

DE102024137829A1DE 102024137829 A1DE102024137829 A1DE 102024137829A1DE-102024137829-A1

Abstract

A wireless charging system (100) for charging an accessory in a vehicle is described. The system comprises a housing (102) functionally attached to a console unit (200) of the vehicle, a charging pad (104), and a mechanism configured to facilitate integral movement of the housing (102) and the charging pad (104) between a standard position and an actuated position. The mechanism comprises at least two guide elements (106, 108) attached to the console unit (200) and an actuator (110) rigidly connected to the housing (102). The actuator (110) comprises a first pinion (112) functionally received in a first guide element (106) of the at least two guide elements (106, 108). The actuator (110) is configured to facilitate the movement of the housing (102) between the standard position and the actuated position. Integrating the wireless charging system into the console unit offers user benefits and enhances the vehicle's aesthetics.

Inventors

  • Anushekhar Grandhi
  • Tejas Jagadeesh
  • Shylendra Hegde

Assignees

  • Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241216
Priority Date
20241112

Claims (10)

  1. Wireless charging system (100) for charging an accessory in a vehicle, the system (100) comprising: a housing (102) functionally attached to a console unit (200) of the vehicle, the housing (102) being configured to move between a standard position and an actuated position; a charging pad (104) configured for wirelessly charging the accessory, the charging pad (104) being fixed to the housing (102); a mechanism configured to facilitate integral movement of the housing (102) and the charging pad (104) between the standard position and the actuated position, the mechanism comprising: at least two guide elements (106, 108) attached to the console unit (200); an actuator (110) that is rigidly connected to the housing (102), wherein the actuator (110) comprises a first pinion (112) that is functionally received in a first guide element (106) of the at least two guide elements (106, 108); wherein the actuator (110) is configured to facilitate the movement of the housing (102) between the standard position and the actuated position.
  2. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a second pinion (114) which is arranged opposite the first pinion (112), wherein the second pinion (114) is rotatably connected to the housing (102).
  3. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 2 , wherein the first pinion (112), the second pinion (114) and the actuator (110) are aligned along a longitudinal axis XX passing through the center of the actuator (110), wherein the actuator (110) is configured to facilitate a pivoting movement of the housing (102) about the longitudinal axis XX from an extended position to the actuated position as soon as the housing (102) is moved linearly into the extended position.
  4. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 2 , wherein the second pinion (114) is functionally received in a second guide element (108) of the at least two guide elements (106, 108).
  5. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 4 , wherein the first guide element (106) and the second guide element (108) have a first channel (106a) and a second channel (108a), respectively, such that each channel is defined with a plurality of internal teeth configured to engage with a plurality of external teeth of the first pinion (112) and the second pinion (114), respectively, wherein each guide element of the at least two guide elements (106, 108) has a proximal end (106b, 108b) and a distal end (106c, 108c), wherein the proximal end (106b, 108b) is mounted on the console unit (200) and forms a cantilever attachment for each guide element.
  6. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 5 , wherein the system (100) comprises a support element (116) attached to the distal ends (106c, 108c) of the at least two guide elements (106, 108) to support the at least two guide elements (106, 108) and the housing (102).
  7. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 3 , wherein the system (100) comprises a stopper attached to one of the at least two guide elements (106, 108), the stopper being configured to prevent the housing (102) from rotating beyond the actuated position.
  8. Wireless charging system m (100) after Claim 1 , wherein the system (100) comprises a control unit that is communicatively connected to a user input interface configured to receive inputs from a user and the actuating element (110) to facilitate the actuation of the actuating element (110) in a predefined direction based on the input provided by the user.
  9. Wireless charging system (100) after Claim 1 , wherein the console unit (200) is defined with a cutout (208a) adapted to allow the housing (102) to fit flush into the cutout (208a) when the housing (102) is in the standard position.
  10. Console unit (200) for a vehicle, the console unit (200) comprising: an armrest (202) designed to facilitate the resting of a user's arm; a storage compartment (204) provided with a movable flap (204a); a rotary knob (206) configured to change the vehicle's driving modes; and a wireless charging system (100) for charging an accessory in the vehicle, the wireless charging system (100) comprising: a housing (102) functionally attached to the console unit (200), the housing (102) being configured to move between a standard position and an actuated position; a charging pad (104) configured for wireless charging of the accessory, wherein the charging pad (104) is fixedly attached to the housing (102); a mechanism configured to facilitate integral movement of the housing (102) and the charging pad (104) between the standard position and the actuated position, the mechanism comprising: at least two guide elements (106, 108) attached to the console unit (200); an actuator (110) fixedly connected to the housing (102), the actuator (110) comprising a first pinion (112) operationally received in a first guide element (106) of the at least two guide elements (106, 108); the actuator (110) configured to facilitate movement of the housing (102) between the standard position and the actuated position.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present disclosure relates generally to the field of motor vehicles. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a wireless charging system integrated into the vehicle. Further embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a wireless charging system configured to charge an accessory, preferably a user's smartwatch. BACKGROUND Motor vehicles have evolved over several decades to offer optimal comfort to their occupants. Today, the focus is on making the interior more pleasant and luxurious for passengers. Plush and luxurious cabins offer greater comfort and convenience. To ensure the desired comfort for passengers in the front seats of vehicles, various features are incorporated into the passenger compartment. These include armrests, headrests, and adjustable seats, which are typically found in vehicles. As part of efforts to improve passenger comfort and convenience, vehicles are being equipped with chargers configured to charge users' mobile phones, thus giving users or passengers the ability to charge their mobile phones while on the go. Existing chargers typically include a USB port configured to electrically connect the mobile phone being charged to an electronic circuit connected to the vehicle. This electronic circuit may contain electrical components configured to supply the mobile phone with the required power or current to facilitate charging. The mobile phone must also be connected to the electronic circuit or the vehicle via a live cable or wire. The need for the cable to establish the electrical connection between the mobile phone and the vehicle (or the vehicle's electronic circuit) can lead to user dependence on the cable and require more space near the USB port or the console unit housing the USB port. The cable's appearance can detract from the vehicle's aesthetics, particularly the interior. The cable can also become entangled with other cables or objects in the vehicle's console. Furthermore, these same chargers are configured to charge other electronic devices via a wired connection. Vehicle manufacturers have sought, proposed, and implemented various solutions to address the aforementioned problems. More recently, vehicle manufacturers have developed wireless chargers configured to facilitate wireless charging of mobile phones belonging to users or occupants inside the vehicle. These wireless chargers are typically external devices installed in the vehicle's passenger compartment. This type of wireless charger requires dedicated installation space within the passenger compartment, resulting in additional costs for the user, who must purchase the wireless charger separately and then pay a technician for installation. Furthermore, such wireless chargers are configured to charge only mobile phones and not other electronic devices/gadgets belonging to the user, such as a smartwatch. These days, people typically use a smartwatch as their primary timepiece to monitor various data and gather different information, such as... B. Information about the health of the user wearing the smartwatch, etc. Smartwatches need to be recharged regularly, and there are no wireless charging devices integrated into the vehicle to charge electronic devices, such as the user's smartwatches, while simultaneously improving the comfort and aesthetics of the vehicle. There are conventional wireless chargers for charging a user's electronic devices. The patent with the number CN115528821A For example, a structure for intelligent wireless body charging is disclosed. The structure comprises a charging mechanism, a watch mechanism, two fastening mechanisms, and two positioning rails. The charging mechanism includes a charging base, the watch mechanism includes a watch seat, the underside of which is fixedly connected to the charging base. The fastening mechanism includes a clamping plate, which is slidably connected to the top of the charging base, the clamping plate is fixedly connected to a connecting arm on one side next to the deflection groove, and a transmission arrangement is fixedly provided at the lower end of the connecting arm. In the CN115528821 However, the exposed structure is an external charging structure that is connected to the vehicle via a cable, so that The charging structure cannot be integrated into the vehicles. The present invention aims to overcome one or more of the above-mentioned limitations or other limitations associated with the prior art. The information disclosed in this section concerning the background of the invention serves only to provide a better understanding of the general background of the invention and is not to be understood as an acknowledgment or an indication that this information constitutes prior art already known to the person skilled in the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wireless charging system for charging an accessory in a vehicle, as claimed in the present disclosure, overcomes one or more shortcomings of conventional sy