Thermoelectric device technology
AssigneeCardinal CG Company
InventorKlaus Hartig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermoelectric device for use with solar cells or other heat sources. A substrate has a manufactured surface with a plurality of highland features and lowland features. Each highland feature defines a peak adjacent to which there is an interface of two different film regions (formed of two different metals, two different semiconductors, or one metal and one semiconductor). The two film regions diverge away from each other with increasing distance from the interface and terminate at distal end regions. In response to a temperature difference between the interface and the distal end regions, the device produces a voltage.
Claims9
1-32. (canceled)
A method of producing a thermoelectric device, the method comprising:
- a) providing a substrate having a manufactured surface comprising a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys, wherein a set of first surfaces face a first common direction, and a set of second surfaces face a second common direction, the first surfaces being on one side of the peaks, the second surfaces being on another side of the peaks,
- b) performing a first directional coating operation so as to deposit a first film composition on the first surfaces, and performing a second directional coating operation so as to deposit a second film composition on the second surfaces,
- such that after performing said first and second coating operations, adjacent each peak there is an interface of two different film regions, one comprising the first film composition, the other comprising the second film composition, the two different film regions diverging away from each other with increasing distance from the interface and terminating at distal end regions, wherein in response to a temperature difference between the interface and the distal end regions of the two different film regions, the device produces a voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.