Fast-rate thermoelectric device

A method of providing thermotactile stimulation, the method comprising:

• disposing a fast-rate thermoelectric device against a surface, the fast-rate thermoelectric device comprising:
• a thermoelectric actuator array disposed on a wafer, the thermoelectric actuator array including a thin-film thermoelectric (TFTE) actuator configured to generate one or both of a heating effect and a cooling effect in response to an electrical current;
• at least one sensor configured to measure a temperature associated with one or both of the heating effect and the cooling effect and to output a feedback signal indicative of the measured temperature;
• and
• a controller in communication with the fast-rate thermoelectric device and the at least one sensor, the controller configured to control the electrical current based at least in part on the feedback signal,
• wherein the TFTE actuator comprises a p-n couple disposed on the wafer, the p-n couple comprising:
• a p-type controlled hierarchical engineered superlattice structure (CHESS);
• an n-type CHESS;
• and
• a thermally conductive layer in contact with the p-type CHESS and the n-type CHESS, and is configured to vary in temperature in response to an electrical current flowing therethrough,
• wherein the p-type CHESS and the n-type CHESS each include superlattice periods of varying thicknesses and associated layers of varying thicknesses to scatter a range of phonons;
• providing an electrical current to the fast-rate thermoelectric device;
• selectively generating one or both of a heating effect and a cooling effect via the fast-rate thermoelectric device in response to a direction of the electrical current;
• and
• providing the heating effect or the cooling effect to the surface.