Thermoelectric module having reduced spacing between semiconductor elements
First Claim
1. In an improved thermoelectric module havingfirst and second substrates, each having a surface bearing an electrically conductive pattern, and an array of first and second different type material elements between and in contact with said electrically conductive pattern of each substrate to form an electrical circuit, said first and second type thermoelectric material elements serially connected, said first and second type material elements alternating in said circuit, each said electrically conductive pattern comprisingrepeating columns of individual rectangular conductive patterns in a first direction, said conductive patterns in each column staggered with respect to conductive patterns in each neighboring column.
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Abstract
An improved thermoelectric module is described. A first electrically conductive pattern is defined on a first substrate and a second electrically conductive pattern is defined on a second substrate. Alternating bars of a first thermoelectric material and a second thermoelectric material are arranged parallel to each other. The bars are fixed into place on the first conductive pattern by an effective thermal and electrical connection with the conductive pattern. One such connection means is soldering. Then the bars are separated into elements. The second substrate is positioned over the elements and fixed to the elements to complete the manufacture of the TEM.
74 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In an improved thermoelectric module having
first and second substrates, each having a surface bearing an electrically conductive pattern, and an array of first and second different type material elements between and in contact with said electrically conductive pattern of each substrate to form an electrical circuit, said first and second type thermoelectric material elements serially connected, said first and second type material elements alternating in said circuit, each said electrically conductive pattern comprising repeating columns of individual rectangular conductive patterns in a first direction, said conductive patterns in each column staggered with respect to conductive patterns in each neighboring column.
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5. In an improved thermoelectric module having
first and second substrates, each having a surface bearing an electrically conductive pattern, and an array of first and second different thermoelectric type material elements between and in contact with said electrically conductive pattern of each substrate to form an electrical circuit, said first and second type material elements serially connected, said first and second type material elements alternating in said circuit, each said electrically conductive pattern comprising a plurality of individual, rectangular, equally sized, conductive patterns, said conductive patterns arranged in at least 3 repeating columns in a first direction, said conductive patterns in each column offset with respect to conductive patterns in said neighboring column.
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11. An improved thermoelectric module comprising:
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a first substrate having a surface bearing a first electrically conductive pattern; a second substrate having-a surface opposing said first substrate surface and bearing a second electrically conductive pattern; an array of first and second different thermoelectric type material elements between said surfaces of said first and second substrates, each first and second type material element having a first side contacting said first conductive pattern and a second side contacting said second electrically conductive pattern, said first and second conductive patterns arranged with respect to said array to form an electrical circuit of said first and second type material elements serially connected, said first and second type material elements alternating in said circuit, said array arranged in alternating rows of first and second type material elements, each row containing a single element type; and said electrically conductive patterns having at least three repeating columns of individual rectangular conductive patterns in a first direction, said conductive patterns in each column staggered with respect to conductive patterns in a neighboring column; whereby said first and second type material elements can cover an increased fraction of the area of said surfaces of said first and second substrates to form an improved thermoelectric module. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification