Thermoelectric device and method of making same
First Claim
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1. A thermoelectric device comprising:
- at least two thermoelectric elements;
coupling means for coupling said elements electrically in series and thermally in parallel; and
absorbing means for absorbing the thermal expansion of said thermoelectric elements and said coupling means when a temperature differential is applied across said device.
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Abstract
A thermoelectric device includes first and second sets of spaced apart copper plate segments. Thermoelectric elements which generate electricity are disposed between the sets of copper plate segments. The elements are electrically and thermally fastened thereto by a solder paste screen printed on the inner surfaces of the sets of copper plate segments. A ceramic potting compound which absorbs thermal expansion of the device fills the voids between the thermoelectric elements and the copper plate segments and a thick film ceramic insulator coats the outer surfaces of the sets of copper plate segments.
Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the device of the present invention.
74 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric device comprising:
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at least two thermoelectric elements; coupling means for coupling said elements electrically in series and thermally in parallel; and absorbing means for absorbing the thermal expansion of said thermoelectric elements and said coupling means when a temperature differential is applied across said device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A thermoelectric device comprising:
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first conducting plate segment means having an inner surface; second conducting plate segment means having an inner surface spaced from said first conducting plate segment means inner surface; at least two thermoelectric elements disposed between said first and second conducting plate segment means and being fastened to the inner surfaces of said first and second conducting plate segment means; a first insulating material surrounding said elements between the conducting plate segment means, said insulating material also being capable of absorbing the thermal expansion of said thermoelectric elements and said conducting plate means when a temperature differential is applied across said device; said first and second conducting plate segment means being fastened to said at least two thermoelectric elements such that said elements are electrically coupled in series and are thermally coupled in parallel; and wherein the outer surfaces of said first and second conducting plate segment means are coated with a second insulating material exhibiting high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A thermoelectric device comprising:
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a first set of copper plate segments having an inner surface; a second set of copper plate segments having an inner surface spaced from said first set of copper plate segments; a plurality of thermoelectric elements electrically and thermally connected to the inner surfaces of said first and second sets of copper plate segments; said first and second sets of copper plate segments defining a lead pattern which connect said thermoelectric elements electrically in series and thermally in parallel; a ceramic potting compound for absorbing the thermal expansion of said thermoelectric elements and said copper plate segments when a temperature differential is applied across the device, said compound having high electrical and thermal resistivity, said compound filling in voids between said thermoelectric elements and said first and second sets of copper plate segments; and a coating of a material having high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity over the individual outer surfaces of at least one of said first and second sets of segments. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A thermoelectric device comprising:
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at least two thermoelectric elements; coupling means for coupling said elements electrically in series and thermally in parallel, said coupling means having an outer surface; and a coating material over at least part of said outer surface of said coupling means, said material having a high thermal conductivity and a low electrical conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric device comprising the steps of:
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fastening at least two thermoelectric elements to the inner surface of a substantially planar first conducting layer; fastening the inner surface of a substantially planar second conducting layer to said at least two thermoelectric elements on the side thereof opposite said first conducting layer; injecting an insulating material between said elements and said layers, said insulating material also for absorbing the thermal expansion of said thermoelectric device when a temperature differential is applied across said device; and etching said first and second conducting layers in a pattern to form first and second conducting plate segment means such that said at least two thermoelectric elements are connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel by said first and second conducting plate segment means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric device comprising the steps of:
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electrically and thermally fastening a plurality of thermoelectric elements to the inner surface of a thin, substantially planar first copper plate; electrically and thermally fastening the inner surface of a thin substantially planar second copper plate to said plurality of thermoelectric elements on the side thereof opposite said first copper plate; flowing a ceramic potting compound having a high electrical and thermal resistivity between said thermoelectric elements and said first and second copper plates, said compound for both insulating and absorbing thermal expansion in said device when a temperature differential is applied across said device; and etching said first and second copper plates to form copper plate segments which define a lead pattern coupling said thermoelectric elements electrically in series and thermally in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification