Patent ID: 6391676
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a thermoelectric module, said module composed of:a plurality of thermoelectric chips of P-type and N-type for subsequently separating the bars into a plurality of thermoelectric chips of P-type and N-type arranged in a matrix between a set of first contacts and a set of second contacts both arranged in said matrix to form a series connected electrical circuit which is adapted to flow an electric current therethrough in a selected direction for heating and cooling one side of the first and second contacts due to the Peltier effect at said chips, a first carrier carrying the set of said first contacts and including first bridges each integrally joining two adjacent first contacts to define first discrete couples for electrical connection of said chips in each of said chip arrays, said first carrier further including at least two inter-array bridges which are solely responsible for electrical connection between the adjacent chip arrays, a second conductive plate carrying the set of said second contacts and including second bridges each integrally joining the two adjacent second contacts to give second discrete couples for electrical connection of the two adjacent chips in each of said chip arrays on opposite side of said first contacts, said second conductive plate further including second beams which integrally connect said second discrete couples in order that all of said second discrete couples are retained to said second conductive plate, said chips being arranged to provide at least three chip arrays each having a limited number of said chips, said method comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of said thermoelectric bars of P-type and N-type along the rows of said matrix in such a manner that P-type bars alternate the N-type bars in a spaced relation along the column of said matrix; bonding said thermoelectric bars to the rows of said first contacts as well as to the rows of said second contacts to form a consolidated structure in which said thermoelectric bars are held between the first and second contacts; and cutting said thermoelectric bars as well as said second beams simultaneously to divide said thermoelectric bars into said chips and to isolate said second discrete couples from each other; wherein both said first contacts and said second contacts are bonded prior to said cutting step, and said second beams are aligned in parallel with the column of said matrix, said cutting being made through the entire length of said second conductive plate along lines in which said second beams are aligned.