Patent ID: 6660926
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A thermoelectric device, comprising:a first substrate at a first temperature; a second substrate at a second temperature, said second temperature being different from said first temperature to form a temperature gradient across said first substrate and said second substrate; at least one piece of p-type thermoelectric material disposed between said first substrate and said second substrate, having a first end surface in thermal contact with said first substrate and a second end surface in thermal contact with said second substrate; at least one piece of n-type thermoelectric material disposed between said first substrate and said second substrate relative to said p-type thermoelectric material, having a first end surface in thermal contact with said first substrate and a second end surface in thermal contact with said second substrate; at least one of said p-type thermoelectric material and said n-type thermoelectric material having a filled skutterudite lattice structure; an electrical conducting element, disposed to electrically connect said first surface of said p-type thermoelectric material with said first surface of said n-type thermoelectric material to provide a first electrical conduit therebetween; an electrical circuit, having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminal connecting to said second surface of said p-type thermoelectric material, said second terminal connecting to said second surface of said n-type thermoelectric material, said electrical circuit operating to provide a second electrical conduit between said p-type thermoelectric material and said n-type thermoelectric material; said p-type thermoelectric material, said electrically conducting element, said n-type thermoelectric material, and said electrical circuit forming an electrical loop to have an electrical current therein; and said p-type thermoelectric material and said n-type thermoelectric material operating to correlate said electrical current with said temperature gradient.