Patent ID: 8962970
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for making a Seebeck effect thermoelectric microstructure, comprising the following steps: forming an insulating substrate provided with a first and a second connection area, the insulating substrate having a first face and a second face; forming a first assembly of conductor or semiconductor elements on the first face of the substrate, said elements extending in parallel and in a first direction from the first connection area to the second connection area, and said elements having a first Seebeck coefficient; forming a second assembly of conductor or semiconductor elements electrically insulated from the elements of the first assembly on the second face of the substrate, said elements extending in parallel and in a second direction other than the first direction, from the first connection area to the second connection area, the elements of the second assembly having a second Seebeck coefficient other than the first Seebeck coefficient; and providing electric connection elements in the first and second connection areas of the substrate, said connection elements passing through the substrate to connect the conductor or semiconductor elements on the first face of the substrate with the conductor or semiconductor elements on the second face of the substrate, the dimensions of said connection elements being selected so that each of said connection elements electrically connects a plurality of elements of the first assembly with a plurality of elements of the second assembly, determining a first average of separation distances between respective adjacent pairs of conductor or semiconductor elements in a predetermined direction in the connection areas of the first assembly; determining a second average of separation distances between respective pairs of adjacent conductor or semiconductor elements in the predetermined direction in the connection areas of the second assembly; wherein the average dimension of connection elements in the predetermined direction is greater than the first average and the second average; and wherein a distance between adjacent connection elements in the predetermined direction is less than the first average and the second average.