Pin coupling based thermoelectric device
First Claim
1. A hybrid solar-thermoelectric device comprising:
- a solar device; and
a thermoelectric device coupled to the solar device, the thermoelectric device comprising;
a flexible first substrate;
a plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs coupled to the 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;
a rigid second substrate;
a conductive thin film formed on the second substrate; and
a plurality of pins corresponding to the plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs, each pin coupling the each set on an end thereof away from the first substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the second substrate, and the each pin being several times longer than a height of the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set,wherein a temperature difference across the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set on the first substrate is controlled based on at least one of;
varying a height of the each pin, varying a thickness of the each pin and replacing the each pin with another pin having a different area therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid solar-thermoelectric device includes a solar device and a thermoelectric device coupled thereto. The thermoelectric device includes a flexible first substrate, and a number of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs coupled to the first substrate. Each set includes an N and a P thermoelectric leg electrically contacting each other through a conductive material on the first substrate. The thermoelectric device also includes a rigid second substrate, a conductive thin film formed on the second substrate, and a number of pins corresponding to the number of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs. Each pin couples the each set on an end thereof away from the first substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the second substrate, and is several times longer than a height of the N and P thermoelectric legs.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hybrid solar-thermoelectric device comprising:
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a solar device; and a thermoelectric device coupled to the solar device, the thermoelectric device comprising; a flexible first substrate; a plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs coupled to the 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; a rigid second substrate; a conductive thin film formed on the second substrate; and a plurality of pins corresponding to the plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs, each pin coupling the each set on an end thereof away from the first substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the second substrate, and the each pin being several times longer than a height of the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set, wherein a temperature difference across the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set on the first substrate is controlled based on at least one of;
varying a height of the each pin, varying a thickness of the each pin and replacing the each pin with another pin having a different area therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A hybrid solar-thermoelectric device comprising:
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a solar device; and a thermoelectric device coupled to the solar device, the thermoelectric device comprising; a flexible first substrate; a plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs coupled to the 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; a rigid second substrate; a conductive thin film formed on the second substrate; and a plurality of pins corresponding to the plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs, each pin coupling the each set on an end thereof away from the first substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the second substrate, and the each pin being several times longer than a height of the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set, wherein one of;
heat and cold is configured to be applied at an end of one of;
the first substrate and the second substrate, andwherein, in accordance with the application of the one of;
the heat and the cold at the end of the one of;
the first substrate and the second substrate, a temperature difference across the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set on the first substrate is controlled based on at least one of;
varying a height of the each pin, varying a thickness of the each pin and replacing the each pin with another pin having a different area therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A hybrid solar-thermoelectric device comprising:
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a solar device; and a thermoelectric device coupled to the solar device, the thermoelectric device comprising; a flexible first substrate; a plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs coupled to the 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; a rigid second substrate; a conductive thin film formed on the second substrate; a plurality of pins corresponding to the plurality of sets of N and P thermoelectric legs, each pin coupling the each set on an end thereof away from the first substrate to the conductive thin film formed on the second substrate, and the each pin being several times longer than a height of the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set; and a set of terminals formed on the first substrate to measure potential difference generated based on application of one of;
heat and cold at an end of the thermoelectric device,wherein a temperature difference across the N thermoelectric leg and the P thermoelectric leg of the each set on the first substrate is controlled based on at least one of;
varying a height of the each pin, varying a thickness of the each pin and replacing the each pin with another pin having a different area therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification