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US 2021/0202818 A1Published application
Flexible thermoelectric devices
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsRavi Palaniswamy, Donato G. Caraig, Jian Xia Gao, Alejandro Aldrin A. Narag, II, Siang Sin Foo, Antonny E. Flor
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Abstract
Flexible thermoelectric devices including an array of slot openings on a flexible substrate, and methods of making and using the same are provided. The slot openings on the flexible substrate can help remove the tension or compression induced during bending of the devices. Slot openings each extend along a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate.
Claims20
A thermoelectric device comprising:
- a flexible substrate having opposite first and second sides, the flexible substrate extending along a longitudinal direction;
- a first set of electrodes on the first side of the flexible substrate;
- a second set of electrodes on the second side of the flexible substrate;
- and
- an array of thermoelectric elements supported by the flexible substrate, the plurality of thermoelectric elements being electrically connected by the first set of electrodes on the first side and the second set of electrodes on the second side,
- wherein the flexible substrate has an array of slot openings each extending along a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
3 more elements
A method of making a thermoelectric device on a moving web comprising:
- providing a web path to move the web along a machine direction, the web having opposite first and second sides;
- providing a first set of electrodes on the first side of the web;
- creating an array of slots on the first surface of the web, each extending along a cross direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction;
- and
- providing a plurality of thermoelectric elements supported by the web, the plurality of thermoelectric elements being electrically connected by the first set of electrodes on the first side.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.