Thermoelectric device structures
AssigneeSheetak, Inc.
InventorUttam Ghoshal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is related to structures for and methods for producing thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric devices include multiple stages of thermoelements. Each stage includes alternating n-type and p-type thermoelements. The stages are sandwiched between upper and lower sets of metal links fabricated on a pair of substrate layers. The metal links electrically connect pairs of n-type and p-type thermoelements from each stage. There may be additional sets of metal links between the multiple stages. The individual thermoelements may be sized to handle differing amounts of electric current to optimize performance based on their location within the multistage device.
Claims19
A thermoelectric apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a first substrate layer;
- a first set of metal links disposed on one side of the first substrate layer;
- a first stage of thermoelements disposed on and in electrical and thermal communication with the first set of metal links and comprising:
- a first plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- and
- a first plurality of p-type thermoelements alternating with the first plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- a second stage of thermoelements disposed on and in direct electrical and thermal communication with the first stage of thermoelements and comprising:
- a second plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- and
- a second plurality of p-type thermoelements alternating with the second plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- a second set of metal links disposed on and in electrical and thermal communication with the second stage of thermoelements;
- and
- a second substrate layer disposed on the second set of metal links.
A thermoelectric apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a first substrate layer;
- a first set of metal links disposed on one side of the first substrate layer;
- a first stage of thermoelements disposed on and in electrical and thermal communication with the first set of metal links and comprising:
- a first plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- and
- a first plurality of p-type thermoelements alternating with the first plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- a second stage of thermoelements disposed on and in direct electrical and thermal communication with the first stage of thermoelements and comprising:
- a second plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- and
- a second plurality of p-type thermoelements alternating with the second plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- a third stage of thermoelements disposed on and in direct electrical and thermal communication with the second stage of thermoelements and comprising:
- a third plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- and
- a third plurality of p-type thermoelements alternating with the third plurality of n-type thermoelements;
- a second set of metal links disposed on and in electrical and thermal communication with the third stage of thermoelements;
- and
- a second substrate layer disposed on the second set of metal links.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.