ENERGY HARVESTING FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH A THIN FLEXIBLE THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE

摘要

A method and/or apparatus of energy harvesting for wearable technology through a thin flexible thermoelectric device is disclosed. A lower conduction layer is deposited onto a lower dielectric layer. An active layer, comprising at least one thin film thermoelectric conduit and a thermal insulator, is above the lower conduction layer. An internal dielectric layer is deposited above the active layer, and conduit holes are drilled above each thermoelectric conduit. An upper conduction layer and upper dielectric layer are deposited, connecting the thermoelectric conduits in series. The resulting flexible thermoelectric device generates a voltage when exposed to a temperature gradient.

主权项

1. A flexible thermoelectric device, comprising:
a lower dielectric layer; a lower conduction layer, comprising at least one electrically conductive pad on the lower dielectric layer; an active layer, comprising at least one thin film thermoelectric conduit, wherein the at least one thin film thermoelectric conduit is vacuum deposited on top of each electrically conductive pad using at least one mask; and an upper conduction layer, comprising at least one electrically conductive contact coupled to the top of each of the at least one thin film thermoelectric conduit, wherein the active layer is no thicker than 50 microns such that the minimum distance between the lower conduction layer and the upper conduction layer is no more than about 50 microns, wherein heat flows vertically between the lower conduction layer and the upper conduction layer through the active layer, wherein each of the at least one thin film thermoelectric conduit comprises at least one thermoelectric material, and wherein the active layer further comprises a thermal insulator filling at least a space around each of the at least one thin film thermoelectric conduit.