The present invention refers to a wireless charging device, in particular for an elec- trie appliance, as well as a detection device.

Wireless charging of electric appliances, such as smartphones, tablets or music players is increasingly used. The wireless charging devices known from the prior art may comprise a movable charging coil and plurality of position detection coils configured for detecting the position of an electric appliance placed on a place- ment plate of the charging device. The movable charging coil of the charging de- vice may be moved to the detected position of the electric appliance, in order to allow an efficient charging of an electric appliance. During wireless charging of an electric appliance the risk of overheating of said electric appliance may occur, and the wireless charging process may be interrupt- ed due to overheating. By arranging a cooling fan for generating an air flow for the cooling of said electric appliance, the risk of overheating may be reduced. Howev- er, the arrangement of a cooling fan may negatively affect the outer dimensions of the wireless charging device. The installation of such wireless charging device, for example, within a vehicle may therefore be difficult.

It has therefore been an object of the present invention to provide a wireless charging device which allows an efficient charging and also cooling of an electric appliance, while at the same time allowing an installation in limited space. It has further been an object of the present invention to provide a detection device which allows reliable position detection of an electric appliance and at the same time en- ables an efficient cooling. In view of the wireless charging device, said object has been solved with the fea- tures of claims 1 , 18 and/or 19, respectively. A detection device according to the present invention comprises the features of claim 20. Preferred embodiments are subject to the dependent claims, and will be discussed in the following.

The wireless charging device according to the present invention is particularly suitable for inductive charging of an electric appliance, such as for example a smartphone, tablet computer and/or music player.

The wireless charging device according to the present invention comprises a sup- porting structure for placing thereon an electric appliance to be charged, an elec- tronic module with a transmission coil being movable relative to the supporting structure and configured for transmitting electric energy to an electric appliance placed on the supporting structure, and a fan for providing cooling air to the sup- porting structure, said fan being arranged within the electronic module and/or at- tached to at least one component of the electronic module.

In the present context, the attachment of the fan to at least one component of the electronic module may be provided in the form of a direct attachment to at least one component of the electronic module. Such direct attachment would particularly not encompass any direct attachment of the fan to the supporting structure and therewith indirectly to the electronic module. Nevertheless, any direct attachment of the fan to a component of the electronic module may be realized by attachment means, such as screws or bolts.

By arranging the fan within the electronic module and/or attaching it to at least one component of the electronic module, a specifically compact and/or uniform overall design may be achieved. The arrangement of the fan within the electronic module or its attachment to at least one component of the electronic module may, in par- ticular, allow a design of the electronic module and/or the supporting structure with a compact and/or uniform outer shape and/or outer contour. Arrangements of the fan, which would require a large or ununiform installation space, may be avoided.

It may, for example, be avoided that the fan is arranged to protrude from an outer contour and/or an outer casing of the wireless charging device. Installation of the wireless charging device in arrangements with limited installations space is there- with enabled, while at the same time ensuring an efficient charging and cooling functionality.

The supporting structure for placing thereon an electric appliance to be charged may comprise a contact pad and/or a contact surface. Such a contact pad and/or contact surface may be dimensioned for smartphones, tablet computers and/or music players, and may therefore ensure a comfortable and safe positioning of the respective appliance to be charged. The contact pad or contact surface may be made of rubber or a rubber-like material, or also coated therewith, in order to pro- vide anti-slip properties.

The transmission coil may be configured for inductive charging and/or be movable relative to the supporting structure for alignment with a receiving coil included in said electric appliance. Accordingly, the movement of the transmission coil for alignment with a receiving coil included in said electric appliance may be conduct- ed in response to a detecting result of a detection device.

The electronic module may preferably be arranged adjacent to and/or attached to the supporting structure. A compact overall design, efficient charging and/or cool- ing as well as simple installation may thereby be ensured.

According to an embodiment, the fan may be arranged on a side of the supporting structure facing the electronic module, preferably on a bottom side of the support- ing structure. Arrangements of the fan on or outside the side edges of supporting structure or outside of the outer contour of the electronic module may thereby be avoided.

It may further prove beneficial when the fan, in a plan view onto the supporting structure, is at least section wise arranged within a projection of the supporting structure and/or the contact surface of the supporting structure. The contact sur- face is preferably configured for placing thereon an electric appliance to be charged and/or cooled. When seen in a plan view onto the supporting structure, the outer dimensions of the supporting structure and/or the electronic module may thereby be suitably limited. In particular, the outer dimensions of the electronic module, when seen in a plan view onto the supporting structure, may be limited to and/or aligned with the outer dimensions of the supporting structure and/or the contact surface of the supporting structure. The risk of unfavourable protruding arrangements of the fan may thereby be further reduced.

Furthermore, the fan may be arranged within or attached to a casing of the elec- tronic module and/or arranged within at least an outer casing and/or attached to an inner casing, frame and/or support plate for an electronic component of the elec- tronic module. The fan may thereby be suitably protected and at the same time securely maintained at a desired position, in particular within the electronic module and/or relative to the supporting structure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the supporting structure comprises a closed top surface, in particular a closed contact surface and/or a contact surface free of openings. Liquids being poured onto the supporting structure may thereby be se- curely prevented from entering the electronic module. The waterproof properties of the wireless charging device, in particular in an installation situation inside a vehi- cle, may thereby be improved. It is also possible that the supporting structure comprises a top surface or contact surface with an opening for discharging liquid out of the wireless charging device. In this case, the liquid may be directed out of the wireless charging device without contacting components of the electronic module. A specific guiding structure or guiding channel may be provided therefore, said guiding structure or guiding channel being connected to the opening in the top surface or contact surface. The guiding structure or guiding channel for spilled liquids may lead to a discharging opening arranged on a side of the electronic module. It is furthermore possible that the top surface or contact surface of the supporting structure comprises an air inlet opening, in particular in the form of an upper air inlet opening. The fan may then preferably be designed as a waterproof fan, and also the relevant components of the electronic module may be designed in a wa- terproof manner.

Furthermore, the supporting structure may be configured for cooling an electric appliance placed thereon via thermal conduction, in particular via thermal conduc- tion only. Thermal conduction may, for example, be realized by cooling the sup- porting structure via an air flow on the side of the supporting structure facing the electronic module. By placing an electric appliance onto the cooled supporting structure, also said electric appliance may be cooled, in particular without a direct air flow over the said electric appliance. That is, cooling via thermal conduction allows avoiding openings in the supporting structure, such that a closed top sur- face may be provided.

According to a further embodiment, the fan may be arranged for sucking cooling air into the electronic module and/or for sucking cooling air along a surface of the supporting structure facing the electronic module and/or for sucking cooling air through an air inlet opening, preferably a side inlet opening, arranged between the supporting structure and the electronic module and/or enclosing an angle with the contact surface of the supporting structure.

Cooling air may thereby be efficiently guided into the electronic module and/or along the side of the supporting structure facing the electronic module. The sup- porting structure may thereby be cooled efficiently, which in turn allows a cooling of an electric appliance placed onto the supporting structure via thermal conduc- tion. Providing a direct cooling air flow over the electric appliance to be charged is no longer required. In addition to this, the sucking of a cooling air flow into the electronic module may allow to suitably direct cooling air to selected components of the electronic module, which may improve the operational safety of the wireless charging device.

It is further possible to provide more than one air inlet opening, preferably more than one side inlet opening. These inlet openings may, for example, be arranged at opposite longitudinal ends of the wireless charging device, in particular at oppo- site longitudinal ends of the supporting structure and/or the electronic module. The air inlet openings or the at least one air inlet opening may also be arranged at a lengths side of the supporting structure and/or the electronic module, said lengths side extending between two opposite longitudinal ends.

It may further be advantageous to provide a spacing and/or an air flow channel between the supporting structure and the electronic module. A cooling air flow may thereby be suitably guided or conveyed from the at least one air inlet opening along the supporting structure and into the electronic module. In order to maintain the spacing and/or the air flow channel between the supporting structure and the electronic module, at least one distance element is provided between the support- ing structure and the electronic module. The air inlet opening may be arranged at a length end of the supporting structure and/or the electronic module. The fan may in turn be arranged at a distance from the air inlet opening, in particular at a distance in a length orientation along the supporting structure, and/or arranged at or close to a length end of the supporting structure and/or of the electronic module opposite to the air inlet opening. This al- lows cooling air to be directed along a comparably long surface portion of the sup- porting structure, which in turn allows efficient cooling.

The fan may also be arranged at or close to a length end of the supporting struc- ture and/or of the electronic module at which the air inlet opening is arranged. In this case the cooling air flow may preferably be directed along a comparably long surface portion of the supporting structure, through at least one opening of a com- ponent of the electronic module, and subsequently redirected back to the fan. The cooling air may thus be guided in a zig zag manner starting from the air inlet open- ing up to the fan. Cooling efficiency may thereby be further improved.

According to yet a further embodiment, the electronic module may comprise a de- tection device for detecting the position of a receiving coil included an said electric appliance placed on the supporting structure and/or wherein the transmission coil is movable relative to the supporting structure in response to a detecting result of a detection device. The positioning accuracy of the transmission coil and therewith the charging efficiency may be further improved.

The detection device may be arranged adjacent to the supporting structure and/or between the supporting structure and the transmission coil. A high detection accu- racy may be ensured in this case. Furthermore, a spacing and/or air flow channel may be arranged between the supporting structure and the detection device.

According to a further embodiment, the fan may be arranged on a side of the de- tection device facing away from the supporting structure. Furthermore, the detec- tion device may be arranged between the fan and the supporting structure. On the one hand, this allows a compact design while ensuring a reliable position detection functionality. On the other hand, the detection device may provide a guiding func- tionality for cooling air, thereby further improving cooling efficiency.

The detection device may comprise a detection board, in particular a printed circuit board, which may be designed particularly flat and with an outer geometry match- ing the dimensions of the contact surface of the supporting structure.

According to a yet further embodiment, the detection device and/or detection board may comprise at least one air flow opening for cooling air, in particular for directing cooling air from the side of the detection device facing the supporting structure to the side of the detection device facing away from the supporting struc- ture or vice versa. Preferably a plurality of air flow openings may be provided in the detection device, in particular the detection board, which allow further improv- ing the air guiding functionality. The plurality of air flow openings may have differ ent sizes depending on the position on the detection device, in particular depend- ing on the distance of an air inlet opening of the wireless charging device.

According to a further embodiment, a pipe may be attached to the at least one air flow opening of detection device, through which cooling air may be sucked by the fan. The pipe may specifically be arranged on a side of the detection device facing away from the supporting structure. This allows a more flexible positional ar- rangement of the fan. In particular, by providing a pipe the sucking of air through the air flow opening of the detection device may be facilitated even in case the fan is located at a distance from the air flow opening. The air inlet of the fan may be connected to the opposite end of said pipe for this purpose.

The fan and/or the air inlet opening may be arranged for providing and/or directing an air flow through the air flow channel and/or the spacing between the supporting structure and the electronic module, in particular the detection device of the elec- tronic module, and/or along a surface of the supporting structure facing the detec- tion device of the electronic module. The cooling efficiency may be further im- proved thereby, while enabling a compact design of the electronic module.

According to a further embodiment, the fan may be arranged within or attached to the detection device, in particular within an opening of a detection board and/or arranged within the plane of a detection board. The detection device may thereby provide suitable support functionality for the fan. In addition to this, the fan may reliably suck a cooling air flow from the side of the detection device facing the supporting structure and discharge said cooling air flow to an opposite side, in par- ticular a side of the detection device facing away from the supporting structure.

According to yet a further embodiment, the electronic module may comprise a coil unit including said movable transmission coil and/or including an inner casing, support frame and/or support plate for at least said transmission coil. The coil unit may be suitably arranged within the electronic module and a suitable support for the transmission coil may be provided. In case of an inner casing or frame, also a reliable protection of the transmission coil may be provided.

In a further embodiment, the fan may be attached to the inner casing, support frame and/or support plate of the coil unit, in particular to a bottom wall of the coil unit and/or within an opening of a bottom wall of the coil unit. Said bottom wall may preferably be arranged on a side of the transmission coil facing away from the support structure and/or detection device. Furthermore, the bottom wall may be the bottom wall of the inner casing, the support frame or the support plate. There- by, the fan may be suitably arranged at a desired position within the electronic module and cooling air may be reliably sucked through air flow openings of the detection device, said detection device being arranged adjacent to the coil unit. The electronic module may furthermore comprise a main board unit, in particular for providing control functions, for example control functions with regard to charg- ing and/or cooling functionality. The fan may be arranged between the main board unit and the supporting structure and/or between the main board unit and the de- tection device and/or between the main board unit and a coil unit including said transmission coil. Thus, the fan may be sandwiched between the main board unit and a further component of the wireless charging device. Thereby, an efficient cooling air flow between the main board unit and a further component of the wire- less charging device may be provided. Also, the risk of damaging the fan during installation of the wireless charging device, for example, the installation in the in- side of a vehicle, may be reduced.

Furthermore, the fan may be arranged within, adjacent or attached to the main board unit, in particular within an opening of said main board unit, and/or arranged within the plane of said main board unit. Thus, the main board unit may provide a suitable support for the fan. Such an arrangement may be particularly compact, as the design of the main board unit may be adapted in view of the arrangement of the fan. It is also possible for the fan to be arranged for discharging air along said main board unit, whereby the main board unit or at least components thereof may be suitably cooled for improved operational safety.

It may prove advantageous to provide a fan, which is designed as axial fan or as radial fan and/or comprises a rotor axis enclosing an angle with the contact sur- face of the supporting structure, in particular perpendicular to the contact surface. An axial fan may reliably suck in and also discharge air perpendicular to the longi- tudinal extent of the supporting structure and or the longitudinal extent of the de- tection device, therewith enabling an easy discharge of cooling air out of the elec- tronic module. On the other hand, a radial fan may suck in air perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the supporting structure and or the longitudinal extent of the detection device and discharge said cooling air parallel to the longitudinal extend of the main board, the coil unit and/or the detection device. This may improve the cooling efficiency, as also further components may be cooled by the discharge of cooling air through the fan.

According to a further embodiment, the detection device may comprise a plurality of position detection coils for detecting the position of a receiving coil included in said electric appliance placed on the supporting structure. The detection device may further comprise at least one antenna for establishing a wireless data connec- tion with an electric appliance to be charged. The detection device may also corn- prise a plurality of antennas, in particular for establishing different and/or inde- pendent data connections with said electric appliance.

Thus, the detection device on the one hand may enable to reliably detect the posi- tion of a receiving coil included in an electric appliance placed on the supporting structure, and initiate a movement of the transmission coil in response thereto. Furthermore, by providing an antenna for establishing a wireless data connection with the respective electric appliance, the possibilities for operating the electric appliance during wireless charging may be improved. For example, the wireless data connection may facilitate the coupling of an electric appliance with an info- tainment system of a vehicle. Improved access to the functionality of the electric appliance during wireless charging may thereby be provided. Furthermore, the wireless data connection via the at least one antenna of the detection device may reduce the risk of erroneously identifying an unsuitable object or device for wire- less charging, therewith increasing the operational safety of the wireless charging device.

Such wireless data connection may in particular be established in addition and/or independent to the position detection process, the movement of the transmission coil and/or an inductive coupling for wireless charging purposes. The position de- tection process, the movement of the transmission coil and/or an inductive cou- pling for wireless charging purposes may also be dependent on the establishment of such wireless data connection and/or the data respectively exchanged.

It is furthermore possible to provide a detection device comprising a detection board, in particular a printed circuit board, with at least two lamination layers. The position detection coils may be arranged within one lamination layer and the at least one antenna may be arranged within the other lamination layer. The at least one air flow opening of the detection device may extend through the detection board and/or through the layer structure of the detection board. Thereby, a suita- ble mechanical stability and also a high functionality may be provided despite the arrangement of air flow openings. The air flow openings may particularly be ar- ranged at a distance from position detection coils, and or from the at least one an- tenna.

A further independent aspect of the present invention refers to a wireless charging device comprising a supporting structure for placing thereon an electric appliance to be charged, a detection device for detecting the position of a receiving coil in- cluded in an electric appliance placed on the supporting structure, a transmission coil being movable relative to the supporting structure in response to a detecting result of the detection device and configured for transmitting electric energy to the receiving coil of said electric appliance placed on the supporting structure, and a fan for providing cooling air to the supporting structure, said fan being arranged on a side of the detection device facing away from the supporting structure. Thereby, arrangements of the fan on or outside the side edges of supporting structure or outside of the outer contour of the electronic module may be avoided.

A yet further independent aspect of the present invention refers to a wireless charging device comprising a supporting structure for placing thereon an electric appliance to be charged, a detection device for detecting the position of a receiv- ing coil included in an electric appliance placed on the supporting structure, a transmission coil being movable relative to the supporting structure in response to a detecting result of the detection device and configured for transmitting electric energy to the receiving coil of said electric appliance placed on the supporting structure, and a fan and/or an air inlet opening for providing cooling air to the sup- porting structure, wherein the supporting structure comprises a closed top surface, in particular free of air flow openings. Liquids poured onto the supporting structure may thereby be securely prevented from entering the detection device and/or transmission coil or a coil unit including said transmission coil. The waterproof properties of the wireless charging device, particularly, in an installation situation, for example inside a vehicle, may thereby be improved. Instead of a fan, such wireless charging device may also be connected to an outlet of an air conditioning system of a vehicle, which may likewise allow an efficient cooling.

A yet further independent aspect of the present invention refers to a detection de- vice, in particular for a wireless charging device described above, comprising a plurality of position detection coils for detecting the position of a receiving coil in- cluded in an electric appliance, and at least one air flow opening for directing cool- ing air between two sides of the detection device. Such an air follow opening par- ticularly allows to direct cooling air from a side of the detection device, which in an assembled situation faces a supporting structure of a wireless charging device, to an opposite side of the detection device, which in an assembled situation faces away from a supporting structure of a wireless charging device. Therewith a suita- ble air flow guiding functionality may be achieved, in particular in cases with an internal arrangement of a cooling fan. In other words, in case a cooling fan is ar- ranged within an electronic module of a wireless charging device or attached to a component thereof, such a detection device with air flow openings may improve the cooling efficiency. But such a detection device may also improve the cooling efficiency in case of the attachment of an accordingly equipped wireless charging device to an outlet of an air conditioning system of a vehicle. According to a preferred embodiment, the detection device may comprise at least one antenna for establishing a wireless data connection with an electric appliance and/or wherein the plurality of position detection coils and the at least one antenna are arranged in a multilayer structure and/or integrated in one board, in particular a printed circuit board, and/or wherein the air flow openings extend in a thickness orientation of the multilayer structure.

A further aspect of the present invention refers to a vehicle, in particular to a car or truck, comprising an above described wireless charging device and/or an above described detection device. Such a vehicle may also be equipped with a Bluetooth and/or a WiFi unit and/or comprise an infotainment system, which may be coupled with an electric appliance, such as a smartphone. The infotainment system may be configured for wireless data connection with an electric appliance via Bluetooth and/or WiFi, whereas the initiation of said data connection may be achieved by identification of said electric appliance vie Near Field Communication.

The details and/or advantages described above with regard to the wireless charg- ing device apply also to the detection device and the vehicle described above.

The features and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention will, in the following, be described with reference to the schematic Figures.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a wireless charging device ac- cording to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 2 shows an upper perspective view of a wireless charging de- vice according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 3 shows a lower perspective view of a wireless charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a wireless charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a wireless charging device according to a further embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a wireless charg- ing device according to a yet further embodiment of the pre- sent invention,

Fig. 7 shows a top view of a detection device according to an em- bodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 shows a layer of the detection device of Fig. 7 in sectional view,

Fig. 9 shows a further layer of the detection device of Fig. 7 in sec- tional view, illustrating a Near Field Communication antenna, and

Fig. 10 shows a further layer of the detection device of Fig. 7 in sec- tional view, illustrating a passive coupling antenna, Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a wireless charging device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless charging device 10 is particu- larly suitable for inductive charging of an electric appliance, such as a smartphone, tablet computer and/or music player. The wireless charging device 10 comprises a supporting structure 12 for placing thereon an electric appliance to be charged, which is not shown here. The sup- porting structure 12 may be designed as a contact pad and comprise a contact surface 14, on which an electric appliance may be placed for charging. The con- tact pad or the contact surface 14 may be made of or coated with a rubber materi- al or a rubber-like material, in order to provide anti slip properties.

As may be seen from Fig. 1 , the supporting structure 12, in particular the contact surface 14, is closed and accordingly free of any openings. In other words, the supporting structure 12 does not contain any air flow openings in the contact sur- face 14. Liquids spilled onto the contact surface 14 may not enter the components below, which are described in greater detail hereinafter.

The wireless charging device 10 further comprises a transmission coil 16 for transmitting electric energy to an electric appliance placed on the supporting struc- ture 12, in particular for inductive charging. The transmission coil 16 may be part of a coil unit 18, wherein the transmission coil 16 may at least partly be enclosed within the coil unit 18. The coil unit 18 may particularly comprise a coil unit casing 19, which encases the transmission coil 16.

Furthermore, the wireless charging device 10 comprises a detection device 20 for detecting the position of a receiving coil included in an electric appliance for re- ceiving energy transmitted by the transmission coil 16, in particular an electric ap- pliance placed onto the contact surface 14 of the supporting structure 12. The de- tection device 20 may also detect the placement of an electric appliance on the supporting structure 12. The detection device 20 may comprise and/or be formed as a printed circuit board 22, which is described in greater detail below.

The transmission coil 16 is movable relative to the supporting structure 12 in re- sponse to a detecting result of the detection device 20. The transmission coil 16 is particularly movable relative to the supporting structure 12 in an assembled state of the wireless charging device 10. Therewith, the transmission coil 16 of the coil unit 18 may be positioned in a position suitable for an efficient charging process of an electric appliance placed on the supporting structure 12, in particular in align ment with a receiving coil inside such electric appliance.

The detection device 20 comprises a plurality of position detection coils and may furthermore comprise at least one antenna for establishing a wireless data con- nection with said electric appliance. The plurality of position detection coils and the at least one antenna of the detection device 20 are described in greater detail be- low. As may be comprehended from Fig. 1 , the detection device 20, in particular the printed circuit board 22 may comprise a plurality of air flow openings 23. A cooling air flow may be directed from the side of the detection device 20 facing the supporting structure 12 through the air flow openings 23 to the opposite side of the detection device 20, which faces away from the supporting structure 12 and/or faces the coil unit 18.

The wireless charging device 10 may furthermore comprise a main board unit 24, which may, for example, provide control functions for the wireless charging device 10 or single components thereof. The main board unit 24, the coil unit 18 with the transmission coil 16, and the detection device 20 may constitute an electronic module 26. The electronic module 26 may be arranged within a casing 28, which may be made of a metal material. The casing 28 may also be part of the electronic module 26.

The casing 28 may constitute an outer casing of the electronic module 26, and the coil unit casing 19 may constitute an inner casing of the electronic module 26.

The electronic module 26, including the casing 28, may be mounted to the sup- porting structure 12. In a mounted state, the electronic module 26, in particular the electronic components of the electronic module 26, may be encased by the casing 28 and/or the supporting structure 12. In an assembled state of the wireless charg- ing device 10, the detection device 20 may be arranged between the coil unit 18 and the supporting structure 12. A sealing means, which is not shown here, may be arranged between the supporting structure 12 and the electronic module 26, in particular between the supporting structure 12 and the detection device 20.

The wireless charging device 10 may furthermore comprise a fan 30 for generating a cooling air flow during inductive charging of an electric appliance placed onto the supporting structure 12. The fan 30 shown in Fig. 1 may be designed as axial fan or radial fan. The fan 30 is arranged within the electronic module 26 and/or at- tached to at least one component of the electronic module 26. The fan 30 may particularly be arranged within the casing 28 and/or attached to the coil unit casing 19 of the electronic module 26. Accordingly, the fan 30 may be arranged on a side of the supporting structure 12 facing the electronic module 26. Furthermore, the specific position of the fan 30 may be chosen such that, in a plan view onto the supporting structure 12 - as seen from the upper side in Fig. 1 , the fan 30 is at least section wise arranged within a projection of the contact surface 14 of the supporting structure 12.

Due to the above described arrangement of the fan 30, a specifically compact and/or uniform overall design of the wireless charging device 10, in particular of the supporting structure 12 and/or the electronic module 26, may be achieved.

The compact and/or uniform overall design may further be comprehended from Fig. 2 and 3, which show perspective views of the wireless charging device 10 in an assembled state. That is, Fig. 2 shows an upper perspective view of a wireless charging device 10, particularly from a side of the supporting structure 12, and Fig. 3 shows a lower perspective view of the wireless charging device 10, particularly from a side of the electronic module 26 with its casing 28. It may be comprehended from Fig. 2 and 3 that the fan 30 is arranged within the electronic module 26, particularly encased by the casing 28 of the electronic mod- ule 26. Therefore, the fan 30 does not protrude from the outer contour of the wire- less charging device 10, neither from the outer contour of the supporting structure 12, nor from outer contour of the electronic module 26. Installation of the wireless charging device 10 within a comparatively small installation space, for example inside a vehicle, is possible accordingly.

Fig. 4 to 6 show different cross sectional views of different embodiments of a wire- less charging device 10. The cross sectional views in Fig. 4 to 6 extend along a longitudinal axis 32 of the wireless charging device 10, and orthogonal to the con- tact surface 14 of the supporting structure 12. The cross sections of Fig. 4 to 6 are also indicated with A-A in Fig. 2.

As may be comprehended from the embodiment in Fig. 4, the fan 30 is arranged between the main board unit 24 and the coil unit 18. The fan 30 may in particular be attached to a bottom wall 34 of the coil unit 18. For this purpose, the bottom wall 34 of the coil unit 18 may be provided with an opening 36, through which the fan 30 may suck cooling air. In this embodiment, the fan 30 may be a radial fan, which discharges cooling air out of a fan outlet 38 along the main board unit 24 for cooling the same. The fan 30 may also be attached to the main board unit 24, in particular to its top surface 40.

It may further be comprehended from Fig. 4 that the wireless charging device 10 comprises an air inlet opening 42, which is specifically designed as a side inlet opening. The air inlet opening 42 is arranged between the supporting structure 12 and the electronic module 26, in particular between the supporting structure 12 and the detection device 20. The air inlet opening 42 encloses an angle with the contact surface 14 of the supporting structure 14. The air inlet opening 42 is con- nected to a spacing or air flow channel 43 arranged between the supporting struc- ture 12 and the electronic module 26, in particular between the supporting struc- ture 12 the detection device 20

Furthermore, the air inlet opening 42 is arranged at a length end 44 of the support- ing structure 12 and/or the electronic module 26, and the fan 30 is arranged at a distance from the air inlet opening 42, in particular at a distance in a length orien- tation along the longitudinal axis 32. Accordingly, the fan 30 may be arranged at or close to a length end 46 of the supporting structure 12 and/or of the electronic module 26 opposite to the air inlet opening 42, the latter being arranged at or close to the length end 44. In particular, the fan 30 may be arranged closer to length end 46 than to length end 44.

For this reason, cooling air entering the air inlet opening 42 may be directed along the lower surface 48 of the supporting structure 12 and therewith provide a suffi cient cooling effect to the supporting structure 12. Subsequently the cooling air may be sucked through the air flow openings 23 of the detection device 20, further through the coil unit 18 and into the fan 30. The fan 30 discharges the cooling air flow towards and/or along the main board unit 24. The cooling air flow may exit the electronic module 26 through openings in the casing 28.

Due to the sealing means between the supporting structure 12 and the detection device 20, which are not not shown here, a suitable air pressure may be achieved in the spacing or air flow channel between the supporting structure 12 and the de- tection device 20.

The wireless charging device 10 according to the embodiment in Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment in Fig. 4 in the arrangement of the fan 30 and the specific design of the detection device 20. It may be comprehended from Fig. 5 that the detection device 20 merely comprises one air flow opening 23. Said air flow opening 23 may be arranged at or close to a length end 46 of the supporting structure 12 and/or of the electronic module 26 opposite to the air inlet opening 42. Furthermore, the fan 30 may be arranged at or close to a length end 44 of the supporting structure 12 and/or of the electronic module 26 at which also the air inlet opening 42 is ar- ranged. In particular, the fan 30 may be arranged closer to length end 44 than to length end 46.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, cooling air entering the air inlet opening 42 may be directed along the lower surface 48 of the supporting structure 12 and therewith provide a sufficient cooling effect to the supporting structure 12. Subsequently the cooling air may be sucked through the air flow opening 23 at the opposite end 46 and redirected backwards to the fan 30. By this redirection of air flow also the coil unit 18 may be sufficiently provided with cooling air. The fan 30 discharges the cooling air flow towards the outside of the electronic module 26.

The wireless charging device 10 according to the embodiment in Fig. 6 differs from the embodiment in Fig. 4 in the design and arrangement of the fan 30 and the specific design of the main board unit 24. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, as in the embodiment of Fig 4, the fan 30 is arranged between the coil unit 18 and the main board unit 24. Flowever, the fan 30 is designed as an axial fan in the embodiment of Fig. 6. Accordingly, the fan 30 may be attached to a bottom wall 34 of the coil unit 18, in particular in the region of opening 36, through which the fan 30 may suck cooling air. On the other hand, also the main board unit 24 may comprise an opening 50, through which cooling air may be discharged by the fan 30. The fan 30 may accordingly be attached to and/or arranged at the main board unit 24 in the region of the opening 50, in particular with a discharge opening 52 of the fan 30 being in alignment with the opening 50 of the main board unit.

During operation of the wireless charging device 10 of Fig. 6, cooling air entering the air inlet opening 42 may be directed along the lower surface 48 of the support- ing structure 12 and therewith provide a sufficient cooling effect to the supporting structure 12. Subsequently the cooling air may be sucked through the air flow openings 23 of the detection device 20, further through the coil unit 18 and into the fan 30. The fan 30 discharges the cooling air flow through the main board unit 24, which is then blown out of the electronic module 26 through openings in the casing 28.

The arrangements of the fan 30 and the further components of the wireless charg- ing device 10 discussed above, may enable an efficient cooling during wireless charging while at the same time allowing the wireless charging device 10, in par- ticular its supporting structure 12 and/or its electronic module 26, to be designed in a compact and/or uniform manner.

Fig. 7 to 10 show a detection device 20 of a wireless charging device 10, as de- scribed above with reference to Fig. 1. The detection device 20 of Fig. 7 to 10 may particularly be designed as printed circuit board 22, preferably having a multilayer structure. Fig. 7 illustrates a top view onto the printed circuit board 22, and Fig. 8 to 10 illustrate different layers of the printed circuit board 22. Even though not spe- cifically shown, the detection device 20 of Fig. 7 to 10 may likewise be provided with at least one air flow opening 23, as shown in Fig. 1 and 4 to 6.

As may be comprehended from Fig. 7, the printed circuit board comprises a plural ity of position detection coils 134. The position detection coils 134 are arranged in a matrix structure 135, thereby covering substantially the entire length and/or sub- stantially the entire width of the printed circuit board 22. The arrangement of the position detection coils 134 in a matrix structure 35 may particularly be compre- hended from Fig. 8, which shows a layer of the printed circuit board 22.

Fig. 9 shows a further layer of the printed circuit board 22. The layer shown in Fig. 9 contains a Near Field Communication antenna 136. The Near Field Communica- tion antenna 136 extends substantially along the length of the printed circuit board 22 and/or substantially along the width of the printed circuit board 22. The Near Field Communication antenna 136 may have two substantially rectangular portions denoted with numeral 138 and 140. Portion 138 of the Near Field Communication antenna 136 is smaller and arranged within portion 140 of the Near Field Commu- nication antenna 136. The matrix structure 135 of the position detection coils 134 is also indicated in Fig. 9, but arranged in an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board 22. That is, the layer shown in Fig. 9 may be arranged adjacent to the layer shown in Fig. 8 in a thickness orientation of the printed circuit board 22.

Fig. 10 shows a yet further layer of the printed circuit board 22. The layer shown in Fig. 10 contains a passive coupling antenna 142. The passive coupling antenna 142 extends substantially along the length of the printed circuit board 22 and/or substantially along the width of the printed circuit board 22.

The passive coupling antenna 142 may have two trace and/or connector portions denoted with numerals 144 and 146, and two end portions 148 and 150. The two end portions 148 and 150 constitute the main antenna surface and may be located at the lengths ends of the printed circuit board 22. The two end portions 148 and 150 constitute portions with an increased width, particularly relative to the trace and/or connector portions 144 and 146.

The layer shown in Fig. 10 may be arranged adjacent to the layer shown in Fig. 9 in a thickness orientation of the printed circuit board 22.

The passive coupling antenna 142 may be connected to a signal amplifier, which may particularly be arranged on or in the roof of a vehicle. Such a signal amplifier may be part of a telematic unit of a vehicle and may enable to amplify signals ex- changed between an electric appliance arranged on the supporting structure 12 and a mobile network, such as a GSM network or the like. It may thus be concluded that the printed circuit board 22 may comprise three lay ers, or more, and in addition to this also at least one air flow opening 23, which is not specifically shown in Fig. 7 to 10, but may extend through the layer structure of the printed circuit board 22. The layer shown in Fig. 8 may constitute a top layer, which, in an assembled state of the wireless charging device 10, may face the supporting structure 12. The layer shown in Fig. 9 may be adjacent to the layer of Fig. 8, and the layer of Fig. 10 may be adjacent to the layer of Fig. 9. In other words, the layer of Fig. 9 may be sandwiched by the layers of Fig. 8 and 10. Ac- cordingly, in an assembled state of the wireless charging device 10, the layer of Fig. 10 may face away from the supporting structure 12, in particular face towards the coil unit 19.

It is also possible that the order of layers is different than described above. For example, the layers of Fig. 9 or 10 may likewise face the supporting structure 12 in an assembled state of the wireless charging device 10, respectively followed by the further layers in a thickness orientation. The order of layers may be chosen in view of the coupling preferences and in view of a low interference between wire- less data transmission and electromagnetic fields generated for position detection of a receiving coil inside an electric appliance to be charged.

The Near Field Communication antenna 136 as well as the passive coupling an- tenna 140 may both be configured for establishing a wireless data connection with an electric appliance placed on the supporting structure 12. By providing at least one of these antennas, the possibilities for operating the electric appliance during wireless charging may be improved. A wireless data connection established by the Near Field Communication antenna 136 may facilitate the coupling of an electric appliance with an infotainment system of a vehicle. Access to the functionality of the electric appliance during wireless charging may thereby be provided. Further- more, the wireless data connection via the Near Field Communication antenna 136 may reduce the risk of erroneously identifying an unsuitable object or device for wireless charging. The passive coupling antenna 140 may ensure a good data connection with a mobile network also in regions with poor signal quality. The overall usability of an electric appliance during wireless charging is thereby im- proved.

List of reference signs

10 wireless charging device

12 supporting structure

14 contact surface

16 transmission coil

18 coil unit

19 coil unit casing

20 detection device

22 printed circuit board

23 air flow openings

24 main board unit

26 electronic module

28 casing

30 fan

32 longitudinal axis

34 bottom wall

36 opening in bottom wall

38 fan outlet

40 top surface of main board

42 air inlet opening

43 air flow channel

44 longitudinal end

46 longitudinal end

48 lower surface of supporting structure

50 opening in main board

52 fan outlet

134 position detection coils

135 matrix structure 136 Near Field Communication antenna

138 portion of Near Field Communication antenna

140 portion of Near Field Communication antenna

142 passive coupling antenna

144 trace and/or connector portion of passive coupling antenna 146 trace and/or connector portion of passive coupling antenna 148 end portion of passive coupling antenna

150 end portion of passive coupling antenna