Patent ID: 6519947
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A thermoelectric module defining a hot surface a hot surface area, a cold surface and a cold surface area, said module comprising:A) a crate having the form of an egg crate defining a plurality of thermoelectric element spaces, B) a plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements, C) a plurality of n-type thermoelectric elements, said p-type and said n-type thermoelectric elements being positioned in said thermoelectric element spaces in said crate and all of said p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements defining a total element cross sectional area substantially smaller than said hot surface area, D) a metallized cold surface coating connecting thermoelectric elements at said cold surface in a desired electrical configuration, E) a metallized hot surface coating connecting thermoelectric elements at said hot surface in a desired electrical configuration, wherein said metallized cold surface coating and said metallized hot surface coating form heat funnels between said hot and cold surfaces and said thermoelectric elements resulting in heat fluxes through said thermoelectric elements substantially larger than heat fluxes across said hot and cold surfaces.