Thermoelectric module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermoelectric module comprising:
- an upper substrate having an upper internal surface and an upper external surface;
a lower substrate having a lower internal surface and a lower external surface;
a plurality of n-diode and p-diode pairs disposed between the lower internal surface and the upper internal surface, electrically connected to effect cooling of the external surface of the lower substrate, wherein the upper external surface has areas of highly thermally conductive material integrated therein; and
a heat removal device integrated directly to at least one of the areas of highly thermally conductive material into the upper external surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermoelectric module having areas of highly thermally conductive material integrated into a substrate layer. For one embodiment copper pads are integrated into the external surface of the substrate of the hot side of the thermoelectric module. The copper pads allow direct connection of a heat removal device to the thermoelectric module thereby reducing thermal resistance. Thermal vias may be formed through the substrate to further reduce thermal resistance.
58 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A thermoelectric module comprising:
-
an upper substrate having an upper internal surface and an upper external surface; a lower substrate having a lower internal surface and a lower external surface; a plurality of n-diode and p-diode pairs disposed between the lower internal surface and the upper internal surface, electrically connected to effect cooling of the external surface of the lower substrate, wherein the upper external surface has areas of highly thermally conductive material integrated therein; and a heat removal device integrated directly to at least one of the areas of highly thermally conductive material into the upper external surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
-
-
7. A thermoelectric module comprising:
-
an upper substrate having an upper internal surface and an upper external surface; a lower substrate having a lower internal surface and a lower external surface; a plurality of n-diode and p-diode pairs disposed between the lower internal surface and the upper internal surface, electrically connected to effect cooling of the lower external surface, wherein the upper external surface has areas of highly thermally conductive material integrated therein; and one or more thermal vias extending from the upper external surface to the upper internal surface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
-
9. A method comprising:
-
providing a microelectronic device; attaching a cold side of a thermoelectric module to the microelectronic device to effect cooling of the microelectronic device, the thermoelectric module having areas of highly thermally conductive material integrated into an external surface of a hot side; and integrating a heat removal device directly to at least one of the areas of highly thermally conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system comprising:
-
a thermoelectric module having areas of highly thermally conductive material integrated into a substrate comprising a hot side of the thermoelectric module; a processor mechanically coupled to a substrate comprising a cold side of the thermoelectric module; and a heat removal device directly integrated to at least one of the areas of highly thermally conductive material into the substrate comprising a hot side of the thermoelectric module. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification