US 2006/0219286 A1Published application

Thermoelectric transducer and manufacturing method for the same

AssigneeDenso Corporation

InventorsIsao Kuroyanagi, Akio Matsuoka, Takashi Yamamoto, Makoto Uto, Yukinori Hatano, Hirokazu Yoshino, Fumiaki Nakamura

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Abstract

A thermoelectric transducer includes a thermoelectric device assembly and a pair of heat exchanging member assemblies arranged at both sides of the thermoelectric device assembly. The thermoelectric device assembly includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices, a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices, a first holding plate for holding the thermoelectric devices, and a plurality of electrode members for electrically connecting the thermoelectric devices. Each of the heat exchanging member assemblies includes a plurality of heat exchanging members provided in correspondence with the plurality of electrode members, and a second holding plate located for holding the plurality of heat exchanging members. Each of the plurality of electrode members has an outer periphery that contacts one surface of the second holding plate in a state where the electrode member is connected to the heat exchanging member.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A thermoelectric transducer comprising:

a thermoelectric device assembly that includes a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices, a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices, a first holding plate for holding the plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and N-type thermoelectric devices, and a plurality of electrode members for electrically connecting the plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and N-type thermoelectric devices in series, wherein the plurality of electrode members are arranged in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and N-type thermoelectric devices;
and
a pair of heat exchanging member assemblies each of which includes a plurality of heat exchanging members provided in correspondence with the plurality of electrode members, and a second holding plate for holding the plurality of heat exchanging members, the plurality of heat exchanging members being held in an arrangement corresponding to the predetermined arrangement of the electrode members, wherein:
the thermoelectric device assembly is located between the pair of heat exchanging member assemblies;
and
each of the plurality of electrode members has an outer periphery that contacts one surface of the second holding plate in a state where the electrode member is connected to the heat exchanging member.

3 more elements

A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric transducer, comprising the step of:

forming a plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices;
arranging the plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices in a predetermined arrangement to be held by a first holding plate;
electrically connecting the plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and plurality of N-type thermoelectric devices in series by using a plurality of electrode members so as to form a thermoelectric device assembly, wherein the plurality of electrode members are arranged in a predetermined arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric devices and N-type thermoelectric devices;
forming a plurality of heat exchanging members;
holding the plurality of heat exchanging members by a second holding plate, wherein the plurality of heat exchanging members are held by the second holding plate in an arrangement corresponding to the predetermined arrangement of the electrode members so as to form a heat exchanging member assembly;
temporarily fixing the thermoelectric device assembly between a pair of the heat exchanging member assemblies such that an outer periphery of each electrode member contacts one surface of the second holding plate;
and
bonding together the electrode members to the respective heat exchanging members in a contact state where the outer periphery of each electrode member contacts the one surface of the second holding plate.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.