THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE USING SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY

摘要

The invention relates to an integrated thermoelectric device using semiconductor technology including a hot side (Th) arranged next to a heat source, and a cold side (Tc) outputting a signal (U) that depends on the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides. The hot and cold sides are arranged such that the temperatures thereof tend to equalise when the temperature of the heat source varies, in other words, when the sensor has poor operating conditions. A measurement circuit generates useful information depending on a continuously variable portion (t0-t1) of the signal from a time (t0) at which the temperature of the heat source varies. If the temperature of the heat source stops varying, the temperatures of the hot and cold sides end up equalised and the signal is cancelled and stops varying. The distance between the hot and cold sides can be less than 100 µm.