Wireless power antenna winding including heat pipe and method therefor
An inductor at a wireless power antenna includes a conductive winding. A portion of the conductive winding consists of a heat pipe. The heat pipe employs thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor. A heat sink is coupled to the heat pipe.
1. A wireless power antenna device comprising:
an inductor including a conductive winding, wherein at least a portion of the conductive winding consists of a heat pipe, the heat pipe employing thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor; and
a heat sink coupled to the heat pipe.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is arranged in a continuous loop.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes two ends.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes an electrically non-conductive portion that separates one conductive portion from another conductive portion.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises more than one winding turn.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises less than one complete winding turn.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a source antenna to transmit power to a target antenna.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a target antenna at a data processing device, the target antenna to receive power from a source antenna.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises a fluid to fluid heat exchanger.
10. A method comprising:
providing an inductor at a wireless power antenna, wherein at least a portion of a conductive winding of the inductor consists of a heat pipe, the heat pipe employing thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor;
providing a heat sink for dissipating heat conducted by the heat pipe; and
incorporating the antenna at a wireless power charging system.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe is arranged in a continuous loop.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe includes two ends.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe includes an electrically non-conductive portion that separates one conductive portion from another conductive portion.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion comprises more than one winding turn.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion comprises less than one complete winding turn.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the antenna is a source antenna to transmit power to a target antenna.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the antenna is a target antenna at a data processing device, the target antenna to receive power from a source antenna.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat sink comprises a fluid to fluid heat exchanger.
19. A wireless power system comprising:
an antenna, the antenna including:
an inductor comprising a conductive winding, wherein at least a portion of the conductive winding consists of a heat pipe, the heat pipe employing thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor; and
a heat sink coupled to the heat pipe; and
a wireless power controller to supply radio frequency power to the antenna.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the heat pipe includes an electrically non-conductive portion that separates one conductive portion from another conductive portion.