Low power thermoelectric generator

Details Low power thermoelectric generator Low power thermoelectric generator

2006-02-10

2009-12-08

Nguyen, Nam X (Department: 1795)

Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric

Thermoelectric

Electric power generator

C136S236100, C136S238000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07629531

ABSTRACT:
A thermoelectric generator has a top plate disposed in spaced relation above a bottom plate. A series of foil segments are electrically and mechanically connected end-to-end to generate a foil assembly that is spirally wound and in thermal contact with the bottom and top plates. Each foil segment comprises a substrate having a series of spaced alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs disposed in parallel arrangement on the front substrate surface. Each of the n-type and p-type legs is formed of a bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric material having a thickness of about 10-100 microns, a width of about 10-100 microns and a length of about 100-500 microns. The alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs are electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel such that a temperature differential between the bottom and top plates results in the generation of power.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3554815 (1971-01-01), Osborn
patent: 3758346 (1973-09-01), Falkenbert et al.
patent: 3900603 (1975-08-01), Rittmayer et al.
patent: 3981751 (1976-09-01), Dashevsky et al.
patent: 4249121 (1981-02-01), Dahlberg
patent: 5286304 (1994-02-01), Macris et al.
patent: 5712448 (1998-01-01), Vandersande et al.
patent: 5769943 (1998-06-01), Fleurial et al.
patent: 5883563 (1999-03-01), Horio et al.
patent: 5959341 (1999-09-01), Tsuno et al.
patent: 6046398 (2000-04-01), Foote et al.
patent: 6288321 (2001-09-01), Fleurial et al.
patent: 6300150 (2001-10-01), Venkatasubramanian
patent: 6388185 (2002-05-01), Fleurial et al.
patent: 6458319 (2002-10-01), Caillat et al.
patent: 2003/0041892 (2003-03-01), Fleurial et al.
patent: 2005/0115601 (2005-06-01), Olsen et al.
patent: 2005/0139250 (2005-06-01), DeSteese et al.
patent: 2008/0057611 (2008-03-01), Stordeur et al.
patent: 677421 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 2124465 (1972-11-01), None
patent: 2457586 (1975-06-01), None
patent: 297 23 309 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 29723309.2 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 10333084 (2005-02-01), None
patent: 102006040576.5 (2006-08-01), None
patent: 0034538 (1981-08-01), None
patent: 0408572 (1993-06-01), None
patent: S51-013587 (1976-02-01), None
patent: S53-031985 (1978-03-01), None
patent: H2-155280 (1990-06-01), None
patent: H3-201577 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 07007186 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 10051037 (1998-02-01), None
patent: H11-177154 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 2000-261052 (2000-09-01), None
patent: 2003092432 (2003-03-01), None
patent: WO 89/07836 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 99/54941 (1999-10-01), None
patent: WO 2006/001827 (2006-01-01), None
Stark et al. (New Micro Thermoelectric Devices Based On Bismuth Telluride-Type Thin Solid Films) IEEE 18th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (1999) p. 465-472.
Kim et al. (Effects of a Reduction Treatment and Te Doping on Thermoelectric Properties of (Bi1-xSb)2Te3 Fabricated by Mechanical Alloying) IEEE 16th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (1997) p. 127-130.
Stark, Ingo and Stordeur, Matthias, “New Micro Thermoelectric Devices Based on Bismuth Tellride-Type Thin Solid Films”, 18th International Conference on Thermoelectronics, 1999, pp. 465-472, Germany.
Stordeur, Matthias and Stark, Ingo, “Low Power Thermoelectric Generator-self sufficient energy supply for micro systems”, 16th International Conference of Thermoelectric, 1997, pp. 575-577, Germany.
Stolzer, M. et al., “Preparation of Highly Effective p-Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and n-Bi2Te2.7Se0.3. Films”, 15th International Conference on Thermoelectronics, 1996, pp. 445-449, Germany.
Yamashita, Osamu et al., “Bismuth telluride compounds with high thermoelectric figures of merit”, Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 93 No. 1, Jan. 1, 2003, pp. 368-374, American Institute of Physics, Japan.
Weber, J. et al., “Coin-size coiled-up polymer foil thermoelectric power generator for wearable electronics”, Sensors and Actuators A 132 (2006), pp. 325-330, Elsevier B.V., Barcelona, Spain.
Osamu Yamashita and Shoichi Tomiyoshi, Bismuth Telluride Compunds with High Thermoelectric Figures of Merit, Journal of Applied Physics, Jan. 1, 2003, vol. 93, No. 1, United States.
M. Stolzer, Ms. Stordeur, I. Stark, Preparation of Highly Effective p-Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and n-Bi2Te2.7Se0.3Films, 15th International Conference on Thermoelectrics, 1996, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany.
Ingo Stark, Matthias Stordeur, New Micro Thermoelectric Devices Based on Bismuth Tellride-Type Thin Solid Films, 18th International Conference on Thermoelectrics, 1999, Halle, Germany.
Harald Bottner, Joachim Nurnus, Alexander Gavrikov, Gerd Kuhner, Martin Jagle, Christa Kunzel, Dietmar Eberhard, Gerd Plescher, Axel Schubert, and Karl-Heinz Schlereth, New Thermoelectric Components Using Microsystem Technologies, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, Jun. 2004, vol. 13, No. 3 H. Bottner, Micropelt Miniaturized Thermoelectric Devices: Small Size, High Cooling Power Densities, Short Response Time, Fraunhofer Institut Physikalische Messtechnik, Freiburg, Germany (2005).
M. Stolzer, “Crystalline structure and thermoelectric properties versus growing conditions of sputtering-deposited (Bi1-xSbx)2Te3 films with 0< x < 0.85,” Proceedings ICT 1997 XVI International Conference on Thermoelectrics 1997, Dresden, Germany Aug. 26-29, 1997, pp. 93-96, available at <http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/articleSale/Sarticle.jsp?arnumber=666982>, last visited Apr. 4, 2009.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Low power thermoelectric generator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Low power thermoelectric generator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Low power thermoelectric generator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4083245