发明名称 |
SOLID STATE ENERGY CONVERTER |
摘要 |
<p>A solid-state energy converter with a semiconductor or semiconductor-metal implementation is provided for conversion of thermal energy to electric energy, or electric energy to refrigeration. In n-type heat-to-electricity embodiments, a highly doped n<*> emitter region made of a metal or semiconductor injects carriers into an n-type gap region. A p-type layer is positioned between the emitter region and gap region, allowing for discontinuity of corresponding Fermi-levels and forming a potential barrier to sort electrons by energy. Additional p-type layers can optionally be formed on the collector side of the converter. One type of these layers with higher carrier concentration (p<*>) serves as a blocking layer at the cold side of the converter, and another layer (p<**>) with carrier concentration close to the gap reduces a thermoelectric back flow component. Ohmic contacts on both sides of the device close the electrical circuit through an external load to convert heat to electricity. In the case of a refrigerator, the external load is substituted by an external power supply.</p> |
申请公布号 |
EP1611617(B1) |
申请公布日期 |
2015.05.06 |
申请号 |
EP20040757469 |
申请日期 |
2004.03.15 |
申请人 |
MICROPOWER GLOBAL LIMITED |
发明人 |
KUCHEROV, YAN, R.;HAGELSTEIN, PETER, L. |
分类号 |
H01L35/00;H01L;H01L31/00 |
主分类号 |
H01L35/00 |
代理机构 |
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代理人 |
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主权项 |
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地址 |
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