Patent ID: 7838759
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a thermoelectric device, the method comprising: forming a pattern of conductive traces on a process substrate wherein the pattern of conductive traces comprises a pattern of spaced apart conductive traces and wherein each spaced apart conductive trace comprises a mesa on the process substrate; after forming the pattern of conductive traces, electrically and mechanically coupling each of a plurality of thermoelectric elements to respective ones of the conductive traces of the pattern of conductive traces, wherein electrically and mechanically coupling the plurality of thermoelectric elements comprises electrically and mechanically coupling a first pair of thermoelectric elements to a first one of the conductive traces, and electrically and mechanically coupling a second pair of thermoelectric elements to a second one of the conductive traces, wherein each of the first and second pairs of thermoelectric elements comprises thermoelectric elements of opposite conductivity types, and wherein the first conductive trace is spaced apart from the second conductive trace; forming an electrically insulating matrix between the conductive traces of the pattern of conductive traces wherein the plurality of thermoelectric elements are free of the electrically insulating matrix; and after electrically and mechanically coupling the plurality of thermoelectric elements to the respective conductive traces and after forming the electrically insulating matrix, removing the process substrate from the pattern of conductive traces while maintaining the pattern of conductive traces on the thermoelectric elements and while maintaining the electrically insulating matrix between the conductive traces.