Patent ID: 7557487
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermoelectric device, comprising: a first non-electrically conducting portion having a plurality of first vias, and a plurality of first conductive portions disposed within the plurality of first vias; and a second non-electrically conducting portion having a plurality of second vias, and a plurality of second conductive portions disposed within the plurality of second vias; the second non-electrically conducting portion being bonded to the first non-electrically conducting portion such that the first and second conductive portions are aligned and spaced apart to form a plurality of vacuum gaps between the first and second conductive portions, the gaps allowing thermotunneling between opposing conductive portions, wherein opposing vias are electrically connected but thermally isolated; wherein the first and second non-electrically conducting portions further include trenches around the entire peripheral edges of the gaps to further improve thermal isolation, and wherein adjacent vacuum gaps are laterally separated by two trenches and the bonded first and second non-electrically conducting portions.