Multistage thick film thermoelectric devices

摘要

The present invention generally provides multistage thermoelectric coolers and methods for their fabrication. For example, in one aspect, a multistage thermoelectric cooler is disclosed that includes at least two cooling stages, each of which comprises a p-type leg portion and an n-type leg portion coupled to form a p-n junction. The p-n junctions of the two stages are thermally and electrically coupled such that at least a portion of a current flowing, during operation of the device, through one stage is coupled to the other. Further, at least one of the p- or n-type leg portions of one stage forms a unitary structure with a corresponding p- or n-type leg portion of the other stage.

主权项

1. A multistage thermoelectric cooler, comprising
a plurality of p-type legs each having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of n-type legs each having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of p-type legs being non-parallel to the longitudinal axes of the plurality of the n-type legs, the plurality of p-type legs and the plurality of n-type legs being coupled at a plurality of p-n junctions to form a plurality of thermoelectric cooling stages in which at least a portion of a current flowing, during operation of the cooler, through one stage is coupled into a subsequent stage, wherein at least one of said p or n-type legs is a unitary continuous leg spanning a plurality of cooling stages; wherein each of the plurality of cooling stages includes a p-n junction; wherein the plurality of n-type legs are oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the plurality of p-type legs such that the p-type legs and the n-type legs are arranged in a cross-bar configuration in which at least one of the n-type legs forms contact p-n junctions with three different ones of the p-type legs at a first end region, a central region, and a second end region of the at least one of the n-type legs and at least one of the p-type legs forms contact p-n junctions with three different ones of the n-type legs at a first end region, a central region, and a second end region of the at least one of the p-type legs; wherein the plurality of n-type legs are arranged entirely in a first single layer such that the longitudinal axes of the n-type legs are parallel to one another and entirely disposed in a first plane; and wherein the plurality of p-type legs are arranged entirely in a second single layer such that the longitudinal axes of the p-type legs are parallel to one another and entirely disposed in a second plane, the second plane being parallel to the first plane and distinct from the first plane and the second single layer being distinct from the first single layer.