Patent ID: 8269097
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermoelectric element, comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate facing said first substrate; a thermoelectric material as a thin film placed between said first substrate and said second substrate and generating a thermo-electromotive force by a temperature gradient in a lateral direction of said thermoelectric thin film; a first electrode electrically connected to a high temperature portion of said thermoelectric film; a second electrode electrically connected to a low temperature portion of said thermoelectric thin film; one or more first stress mitigating sections having flexibility and electrical conductivity, wherein each of the one or more first stress mitigating sections thermally and electrically connects said first electrode at a first end of each of the one or more first stress mitigating sections and said thermoelectric thin film at a second end of the one or more first stress mitigating sections via an electrically conductive flat portion composed by a part of said first stress mitigating section, and the electrically conductive flat portion is substantially parallel with a surface of said thermoelectric thin film; said thermoelectric thin film placed on said second substrate via a spacer so that the second substrate and said thermoelectric thin film are substantially in parallel with each other; and said second electrode and said conductive flat portion do not overlap with each other as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of said thermoelectric thin film.