US 6,388,185 B1 · Microfabricated thermoelectric power-generation devices

Abstract

A device for generating power to run an electronic component. The device includes a heat-conducting substrate (composed, e.g., of diamond or another high thermal conductivity material) disposed in thermal contact with a high temperature region. During operation, heat flows from the high temperature region into the heat-conducting substrate, from which the heat flows into the electrical power generator. A thermoelectric material (e.g., a BiTe alloy-based film or other thermoelectric material) is placed in thermal contact with the heat-conducting substrate. A low temperature region is located on the side of the thermoelectric material opposite that of the high temperature region. The thermal gradient generates electrical power and drives an electrical component.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A thermoelectric device comprising:

,
a high thermal conductivity and high electrical resistivity substrate adapted for thermal coupling with a first higher-temperature surface, coupled to allow heat to flow between the high temperature surface and the substrate;
and
at least 1000 thermoelectric legs, each said thermoelectric leg having a diameter less than or equal to 60 μm, and comprising:
a thermoelectric film material in thermal couple with the substrate;
and
a multilayer stack structure disposed between the substrate and the thermoelectric material, the multilayer stack structure comprising thermally and electrically conductive layers for supplying heat between the substrate and the thermoelectric material and also conducting current from the thermoelectric material,
wherein at least a plurality of said at least 1000 thermoelectric legs are electrically in series and thermally in parallel.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/198,069Filed 23 Nov 1998 · us provisional application

Priority

7 Aug 1998

Granted

14 May 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H10N 10/01
Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects: manufacture or treatment
H10N 10/17
Operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects: characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
H10N 10/852
Comprising inorganic compositions: comprising tellurium, selenium or sulfur
H10N
Electric solid-state devices not otherwise provided for

Microfabricated thermoelectric power-generation devices

Life of this patent

Microfabricated thermoelectric power-generation devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15