Thermoelectric devices and applications for the same
First Claim
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1. A thermoelectric power source comprising:
- a flexible substrate having an upper surface; and
a plurality of thermoelectric couples with the plurality thermoelectric couples comprising;
(a) a co-sputter deposited thin film p-type thermoelement positioned on the upper surface of the flexible substrate;
(b) a co-sputter deposited thin film n-type thermoelement positioned on the upper surface of the flexible substrate adjacent the thin film p-type thermoelement;
(c) an electrically conductive member positioned on the flexible substrate, and electrically connecting a first end of the thin film p-type thermoelement with a second end of the thin film n-type thermoelement, wherein the thin film p-type or the thin film n-type thermoelements comprise BixTey, SbxTey, and BixSey, wherein x is about 2 and y is about 3; and
wherein the thermoelectric couples are formed on a single substrate and the flexible substrate is in a coil configuration or an accordion configuration.
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Abstract
High performance thin film thermoelectric couples and methods of making the same are disclosed. Such couples allow fabrication of at least microwatt to watt-level power supply devices operating at voltages greater than one volt even when activated by only small temperature differences.
55 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric power source comprising:
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a flexible substrate having an upper surface; and a plurality of thermoelectric couples with the plurality thermoelectric couples comprising; (a) a co-sputter deposited thin film p-type thermoelement positioned on the upper surface of the flexible substrate; (b) a co-sputter deposited thin film n-type thermoelement positioned on the upper surface of the flexible substrate adjacent the thin film p-type thermoelement; (c) an electrically conductive member positioned on the flexible substrate, and electrically connecting a first end of the thin film p-type thermoelement with a second end of the thin film n-type thermoelement, wherein the thin film p-type or the thin film n-type thermoelements comprise BixTey, SbxTey, and BixSey, wherein x is about 2 and y is about 3; and wherein the thermoelectric couples are formed on a single substrate and the flexible substrate is in a coil configuration or an accordion configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A thermoelectric power source comprising:
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a flexible substrate having an upper surface; and a thermoelectric couple comprising; (a) alternating thin film p-type and thin film n-type thermoelements positioned on the upper surface of the flexible substrate; (b) an electrically conductive member positioned on the flexible substrate, and electrically connecting a first end of the thin film p-type thermoelement with a second end of the thin film n-type thermoelement, wherein the thin film p-type or the thin film n-type thermoelements comprise BixTey, SbxTey, and BixSey, wherein x is about 2 and y is about 3; and (c) wherein the flexible substrate is in a coil configuration. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification