Pin coupling based thermoelectric device

• US 10,290,794 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nimbus Materials Inc
• Original Assignee: Sridhar Kasichainula
• Inventors: Kasichainula, Sridhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mershon, Jayne L
• Application Number:
  US15/368,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 136248
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/742 the conduits being parallel to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 70/60 characterised by the structure or construction absorbing coatings or surface treatment for increasing absorption F24S70/20; auxiliary coatings F24S70/30
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/50 Elements for transmitting incoming solar rays and preventing outgoing heat radiation; Transparent coverings
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/30 Thermophotovoltaic systems photovoltaic cells specially adapted for conversion or sensing of infrared [IR] radiation H01L31/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/44 Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/0525
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/01 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/817 the junction being non-separable, e.g. being cemented, sintered or soldered
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/60 Thermal-PV hybrids

Abstract

A method includes coupling a number of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs to a substrate. Each set includes an N thermoelectric leg and a P thermoelectric leg electrically contacting each other through a conductive material on the substrate. The method also includes forming a conductive thin film on another substrate, and coupling the each set on an end thereof away from the substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the another substrate through a pin several times longer than a height of the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set to form a thermoelectric device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs to a first substrate, each set comprising an N thermoelectric leg and a P thermoelectric leg electrically contacting each other through a conductive material on the first substrate, and the first substrate being a flexible substrate;

forming a conductive thin film on a second substrate, the second substrate being a rigid substrate;

coupling the each set on an end thereof away from the first substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the second substrate through a pin several times longer than a height of the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set to form a thermoelectric device;

applying one of;

heat and cold to the formed thermoelectric device at an end of one of;

the first substrate and the second substrate; and

controlling a temperature difference across the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set on the first substrate based on at least one of;

varying a height of the pin, a thickness of the pin and replacing the pin with a pin having a different area therefrom.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

depositing the plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs on the first substrate through a roll-to-roll sputtering process.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the pin is a pogo pin.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising forming the conductive thin film on the second substrate through sputtering.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the formed thermoelectric device to a solar panel device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the formed thermoelectric device to a solar thermal collector.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a set of terminals on the first substrate to measure potential difference generated based on the application of the one of:

the heat and the cold to the formed thermoelectric device.